Is there any free ware around for establishing a ballistic coefficient for conical muzzle loading bullets when the maker has failed to do so? My main reason for this is to figure trajectories for any conical I choose to shoot like the 50cal. 260,320gr Lee REALS and the Lyman 400gr minnie.

Thanks savage99
Im off to get my calipers and conicals.

PW

If you want to figure out the BC empirically and over the range that you normally shoot (BC changes with velocity so it's not the same at 100 yds and 300 yds for example), then gather some velocities at two knon distances from your muzzle and punch them into the following:
http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/ballistics.html

I wager that the BC you actually experience will be lower than the one you calculate from bullet shape measurements.

Brent

SO The bottom line is setting up my chrony at 25,50,75 and 100yds and recording the velocities and powder charges out of a specific pistol or rifle is the only true way to establish trajectories and remaining energy for a given projectile at a given distance. For large diameter muzzle loading projectiles that is. WHEW

Randy Wakeman,

Since the Ingalls charts were used for years before chronographs for military and sporting use I wonder at your statement. Perhaps you could provide some facts?

I have used the Ingalls charts as provided by Dupont and found that they were very close to what Sierra publishes. Since Sierra tests their bullets this seems that the charts are indeed close.

And why should they not be close anyway?