Understanding Ballistics of Common Hunting Calibres

Energy = Mass x Velocity Squared

If someone had told us we’d need math and physics to understand ballistics, we’d have paid more attention in high school. When you’re choosing your bullet, you’ll find there is a dizzying variety of types, weights, shapes and promises.

Then there’s the speed of the bullet and its ‘ballistic coefficient’. Basically, if fast is good, faster is better (so long as your bullet is built for speed, and most have a maximum speed rating to let you know how hard you can push it). The speed of the bullet refers to muzzle velocity. The terminal velocity is affected by muzzle velocity, but also by the ballistic coefficient (its ability to overcome air resistance in flight) of the particular bullet.

If you’re using factory ammunition (rather than hand-loads or specialty ammo), it won’t be going really fast. Heavy bullets are often in the 2600 – 2650 fps range while most factory .308 cartridges are in the 2650 – 2750 range. The smaller varmint rounds are often much faster and that helps make up for their relatively small payload. (Ammo manufacturers quote their muzzle velocity for a particular barrel length. If you use a barrel of a different length you will get different results.)

Below is the ballistics of common hunting calibres. For more on taking long shots, see the related story in the 2014 Hunting Annual.

100200300400500600Meters

Our 7mm WSM
Drop	0	1.5	3.75	6	8.75	11.5	MOA
Velocity	2808	2714	2622	2532	2443	2356	fps
Energy	2694	2517	2348	2190	2039	1896	ft-lb
7mm WSM
Drop	0	1.25	3.25	5.75	8.25	11.5	MOA
Velocity	2985	2780	2584	2394	2212	2037	fps
Energy	2967	2573	2223	1909	1629	1382	ft-lb
300 Win Mag
Drop	0	1	3	5	7.5	10.5	MOA
Velocity	3143	2900	2670	2446	2231	2027	fps
Energy	3290	2801	2374	1993	1657	1368	ft-lb
270 Winchester
Drop	0	1.75	4.25	7	10.25	13.75	MOA
Velocity	2717	2539	2363	2204	2042	1887	fps
Energy	2758	2147	1868	1618	1388	1186	ft-lb
30-06 Springfield
Drop	0	1.5	4	7	10.25	14.25	MOA
Velocity	2765	2539	2320	2111	1913	1727	fps
Energy	2545	2147	1792	1484	1219	Below 1000	ft-lb
308 Winchester
Drop	0	1.75	4.5	7.5	11.25	15.5	MOA
Velocity	2670	2446	2231	2027	1834	1653	fps
Energy	2374	1992	1657	1368	1121	Below 1000	ft-lb
303 British
Drop	0	2.25	5.5	9.5	14	19.25	MOA
Velocity	2457	2226	2006	1801	1608	1435	fps
Energy	2010	1649	1340	1080	Below 1000	Below 1000	ft-lb
243 Winchester
Drop	0	1.5	4	6.75	10	13.5	MOA
Velocity	2791	2587	2391	2204	2016	1938	fps
Energy	1730	1486	1269	1079	Below 1000	Below 1000	ft-lb
22-250 Remington
Drop	0	1.5	3.75	6.5	9.5	13	MOA
Velocity	2834	2629	2432	2243	2056	1877	fps
Energy	1427	1227	1050	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	ft-lb
45-70 Marlin
Drop	0	5	12	22	34	49	MOA
Velocity	1822	1496	1181	Subsonic	Subsonic	Subsonic	fps
Energy	2212	1490	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	ft-lb
30-30 Winchester
Drop	0	4	10	17	26	36.5	MOA
Velocity	1949	1671	1448	1264	1127	Subsonic	fps
Energy	1264	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	Below 1000	ft-lb

Technical Specifications

All with 26″ barrel unless otherwise noted, sight 1.7″ above bore
Velocity based on reloading manual maximum velocities (except our 7mm WSM)
Data from Sierra Infinity Ballistics software
Our 7mm WSM with 154 gr Hornady Interbond at 3100 (27″ barrel)
7mm WSM with 150 gr Sierra SBT bullet at 3200 fps
300 Win Mag with Sierra 150 gr spitzer boat tail at 3400 fps
270 Winchester with 150 gr Sierra at 2900 fps
30-06 Springfield with 150 gr Sierra spitzer boattail bullet at 3000 fps
308 Winchester with Sierra SBT at 2900 fps
303 British with 150 gr Sierra SBT at 2700 fps
243 Winchester with Sierra 100 gr Sierra spitzer boat tail at 3000 fps (22″ barrel)
22-250 with 80 gr Sierra HPBT bullet at 3050 fps
45-70 Marlin with 300 gr Sierra at 2200 fps
30-30 Winchester with 150 gr bullet at 2300 fps