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Defining ELR with muzzleloaders……….. 800yds +
Consistency isn’t good enough anymore.
Things I’ve learned.
Measuring propellant by weight is a must. Measuring and verifying the weights twice or more is a requirement. Velocity from shot to shot must be as identical as possible. SD’s must be as low as possible.
Bullet weights must be identical.
Higher bullet loading force increases velocities therefore bullets must be sized exactly identical for loading forces. Simultaneously, the higher loading force also provides quicker and fuller bullet obturation. Pressures are higher.
Seating force for bullet to propellant must be identical. Changes in seating forces can also affect velocities, which will change POI.
The longer and higher BC bullets have an advantage in supersonic flight but are more unstable at their transonic flight before going subsonic. Shorter bullets are more stable during the transonic flight period before going subsonic.
Wind and time can be your worst enemy. When shooting ELR, the amount of time between loading and shooting can have extreme wind changes and observation and corrections are a requirement. Learning it isn’t easy.
Drop tubes are not a gimmick. They put the entire propellant charge directly to the ignition source. The drop tube funnel is also necessary for pouring in windy conditions.
Optics must have a large amount of vertical adjustment, along with using an angled rail to increase vertical travel. Bullet drop becomes excessive as the bullet speed slows at ELR.
Barrel twist rates matter.
To be continued………
Consistency isn’t good enough anymore.
Things I’ve learned.
Measuring propellant by weight is a must. Measuring and verifying the weights twice or more is a requirement. Velocity from shot to shot must be as identical as possible. SD’s must be as low as possible.
Bullet weights must be identical.
Higher bullet loading force increases velocities therefore bullets must be sized exactly identical for loading forces. Simultaneously, the higher loading force also provides quicker and fuller bullet obturation. Pressures are higher.
Seating force for bullet to propellant must be identical. Changes in seating forces can also affect velocities, which will change POI.
The longer and higher BC bullets have an advantage in supersonic flight but are more unstable at their transonic flight before going subsonic. Shorter bullets are more stable during the transonic flight period before going subsonic.
Wind and time can be your worst enemy. When shooting ELR, the amount of time between loading and shooting can have extreme wind changes and observation and corrections are a requirement. Learning it isn’t easy.
Drop tubes are not a gimmick. They put the entire propellant charge directly to the ignition source. The drop tube funnel is also necessary for pouring in windy conditions.
Optics must have a large amount of vertical adjustment, along with using an angled rail to increase vertical travel. Bullet drop becomes excessive as the bullet speed slows at ELR.
Barrel twist rates matter.
To be continued………
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