devserv.eu

The 22 rifle isn’t what it used to be. For ages, your average 22 was more serious than a bb gun, sure—but not a lot more serious. That’s all changed now. With the growing popularity of long-range rimfire matches and an increase in ammo costs driving people to shoot more trainer-style guns, the standard for an affordable rimfire has been elevated, and there may be no better example of what you can now get in a 22 for under $500 than the Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire rifle.

This 22 is not brand new (except for a few new colors available this year), but we hadn’t really taken a good look at it until recently—and it’s just too good not to do so now The Model 2020 Rimfire comes in a wood-stocked Classic option and a polymer-stocked Target model. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been shooting and testing the latter. Overall, it’s an extremely well-thought-out rimfire that you can use to train, compete, or put meat on the table. Here is a closer look at the guns features and how it performed in my tests.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Target Specs

• Caliber: 22 LR
• Color: Black, Sage, OD Green With Black Webbiing, or Coyote With Black Webbing
• Barrel: 20-inch heavy profile, 1:16-twist, threaded 1/2×28
• Stock: Target-style, reinforced polymer
• Trigger: Adjustable Remington 700-style trigger group
• Magazines: (1) 10-Round 10/22-style rotary
• Weight: 7 pounds, 7 ounces
• Overall Length: 38 inches
• Price: $434-$499, depending on color

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire Target Specs

Out of the box, the 2020 Rimfire comes with everything you need to start shooting, except for ammo and an optic, and Springfield throws in a quality zippered soft case, which is a nice extra. The first thing you’ll notice about the rifle is a very sturdy polymer stock. It’s the kind of stock that would put some polymer centerfire stocks to shame. I’ve shot a Model 2020 Waypoint centerfire, and the stock does feel very similar. It has a slight palm swell, and overall feels like a rifle made for a grown-up.

The rifle is matte blued, which is durable enough for what it’s designed for, and it has a 4140 high-polish steel bolt. The bolt features dual extractors, and it runs smoothly. The entire rifle is built on a Remington 700 footprint, including the trigger, so you can swap out parts, such as the stock and trigger, should you want an upgrade. An extended magazine release comes standard, and the rifle accepts Ruger 10/22-style magazines, which are very easy to find. Finally, the muzzle is threaded for a suppressor or other muzzle device.

Related: Best 22 LR Rifles of 2024

How We Tested the 2020 Rimfire

After giving the rifle a once over and putting a little oil on the bolt, I mounted a Maven RS.1 riflescope. The 15 power, first-focal-plane scope might seem to be a bit much for squirrel hunting and plinking, but I decided to use it for two reasons. One, I could adjust the parallax, which makes close shots easier and more precise. Two, more rimfire competition shooters are using first-focal-plane target scopes and dialing turrets for matches. With capped turrets, the RS.1 doesn’t exactly fit that category, but it’s pretty darn close.

Next I zeroed the rifle before shooting five, 5-shot groups at 50 yards with five different kinds of ammo. I also shot the rifle from various positions and from barricades, and I took it on a woods walk to see how it would feel to carry around while hunting. Throughout the test, I evaluated things like fit-and-finish, durability, and reliability, noting any jams or failures.

First Impressions of the Model 2020 Rimfire

In the hand, this rifle feels more like a centerfire than a rimfire. And that’s a good thing. For target shooting—which this Target model is obviously meant for—the extra weight is helpful. And for training purposes, it’s really helpful, as it simulates shooting a bigger rifle. The RS.1 made it even heavier, though, and while this didn’t make it impossible to carry around, it did bog me down a bit on the woods walk. In the end, the rifle’s weight is just right for a target gun or trainer and not too heavy for the woods, but if you’re setting it up primarily for hunting, you’ll want to go with a lighter optic.

Manipulating the rifle was extremely easy and intuitive. The magazine release works flawlessly, the bolt is smooth, the safety snaps back and forth positively, and the trigger—while a bit heavy—is consistent. The stock also feels extremely solid when shooting off of a barricade, and the flat surface on the bottom of the forend is really nice for shooting off of a bag. Everything about this rifle is user-friendly and solid with excellent fit-and-finish and a ton of quality for the money.

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Rimfire: Shooting Test Results

I used five different kinds of ammo to test the 2020 Rimfire: Augila Subsonic, CCI Standard Velocity, CCI Mini Mag, American Eagle, and CCI Clean. Springfield guarantees their rifle will shoot three-shot groups of 1 inch or less at 50 yards. I took five-shot groups, as this is a more demanding test of accuracy. Even with the five-shot groups, Springfield can stand behind its guarantee. My biggest group measured .99 inch with the American Eagle ammo, while the best groups measured .56 with Aguila Subsonic and .59 with CCI Standard. I even took a 10-shot group with the Aguila, emptying an entire magazine, and it came in at just .79 inches. Whether it’s ringing steel or taking headshots at squirrels, this rifle will do the job.

I did have a couple of feeding problems with my test rifle, but it was mostly ammo dependent. Overall the dual-extractor design of the bolt and the well-made magazine work very well together. Should you have a jam, its pretty easy to clear with the extended magazine release. You could also play around with different magazines, as there are many to choose from in the 10/22 world. However, the Springfield magazine that comes with the rifle is put together very well.

The trigger on the Waypoint is a bit stiff, but it is consistent. Once I got used to it, it was very easy to shoot. At one point I put the rifle in the hands of a novice shooter, and she was able to hit 2-inch steel plates at 50 yards almost every time. Should you really have an issue with the trigger, you can upgrade with a number of Remington 700 triggers on the market. Still, I wouldn’t have a problem taking this rifle to a precision rimfire match out of the box.

Final Thoughts on the Model 2020 Rimfire

Bottom line: This rifle is a screaming deal. At under $500, you get a 22 that anyone would be proud to own. For the competitive shooter, it represents a huge value, and would serve as a great base to build a clone of any Remington 700 centerfire. The best thing is, though, that you don’t have to. This rifle is built well enough from the factory that it can keep up with a number of higher-priced rifles at a match as is.

For the hunter, the Target version of the 2020 Rimfire is a bit on the heavy side. But that’s OK. Springfield makes a walnut version that weighs more than a pound less, and looks really good in the bargain. Couple that with a lightweight rimfire scope, and you’ll have a go-anywhere hunting rifle that should last you a lifetime. If you’ve been eyeing up a rimfire trainer or just want a really accurate 22 to shoot, I highly recommend the Model 2020 Rimfire.

The post Springfield Amory Model 2020 Rimfire Rifle Review appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Even as airgun technology evolves, several companies continue to produce guns that use multi-pump pneumatic power plants. They are flexible, reliable, self-contained, quiet, and relatively affordable. The Seneca Dragonfly MK2 is a rifle that combines tried-and-true multi-pump technology with innovative features that take its convenience and performance to the next level.

First and foremost, the rifle offers a rotary magazine, eliminating the need to load a pellet by hand before each shot. Then there’s the gun’s pumping mechanism, which utilizes a unique “butterfly” multi-link design to keep pumping effort relatively consistent even as the air chamber fills. I’ve been shooting the Dragonfly MK2 for the past few months while noting its accuracy, groupings, features, handling, and overall performance. Here are my thoughts:

Seneca Dragonfly MK2 Overview

Specs

• Type: Multi-pump pneumatic
• Action: Bolt with rotary magazine or single-shot tray
• Caliber: .22 (tested); .177
• Projectile type: Pellets, slugs
• Minimum pumps: 3
• Maximum pumps: 15
• Max feet per second (lead pellets): 850 fps (.177); 730 fps (.22)
• Energy at muzzle:  19.7 foot-pounds (.22)
• Sights: Fiber optic front blade; elevation- and windage-adjustable rear sight
• Optics rail: 11 mm dovetail
• Length: 40 inches
• Weight: 6.5 pounds
• Barrel length: 22.75 inches
• Required accessories: None
• Price: $229.99 (MSRP)

Pros

• Accurate
• Great performance for the price
• Flexible
• Classic appearance

Cons

• Would be even better with an adjustable trigger
• Screws can loosen with use
• You still have to pump it before every shot

My introduction to airgun shooting came through multi-pump pneumatic rifles. First was the Crosman 760 Pumpmaster that Santa brought for me when I was in second grade. Later, I saved up and bought a larger, more powerful Crosman 766. My brother went the Daisy Powerline route. We shot the daylights out of those rifles, which were handy, practical, reliable, and plenty accurate for our pest and small game hunting needs. I still have a soft spot for multi-pumps, so I jumped at the chance to test a loaner Dragonfly MK2 from Seneca, a division of Air Venturi.

With its wooden stock and clean lines, the Dragonfly MK2 is a pretty rifle. It feels solid in hand, too, and the build quality seems quite good, especially for a gun that costs about $200. That said, after several hundred shots, I realized that one of the screws attaching the pumping mechanism to the forestock had fallen out. When I tested the others, they were loose, too. I was able to buy a replacement screw at my local hardware store, but it’s zinc and not black, so it’s a noticeable fix. I removed all the other screws, too, and slathered the threads with Loctite. They have held well since. I’d recommend adding Loctite to all the screws before shooting the gun and testing screw tightness regularly.

The Dragonfly MK2 has an adjustable rear sight and a fiber optic front blade. The open sights work just fine for general plinking. But to better test the rifle’s accuracy, I added a CenterPoint 4X32 scope. The short scope rings required me to remove the rear sight, and I could still see the orange fiber optic blade at the bottom of the scope picture. If this were my rifle, I’d use medium rings, if not larger.

The rifle’s trigger is metal and feels solid. It’s a two-stage trigger that broke consistently at a fairly stout 5 pounds. It is not adjustable. The side bolt felt solid and smooth, and the rotary magazine worked well and was convenient. The butterfly pumping mechanism works as advertised, helping keep pumping effort fairly consistent even as the air chamber fills up to its maximum at 15 pumps. I didn’t test the actual force required for pumping, but it’s something even younger shooters would be able to manage. My young adult daughter had no trouble pumping the gun, though the long pumping stroke was a challenge with her relatively short wingspan. Pumping still takes some effort, so this isn’t one of those guns where you’ll blow through a couple hundred pellets in a session.

The Dragonfly MK2 features a mildly snappy report that increases as you work up from the minimum of three pumps to the maximum of 15. The barrel features 1/2×20 threads for the addition of a suppressor. Even though I’d consider the gun backyard-friendly, even at full power, I put a small DonnyFL suppressor on the rifle, and it turned the snap into a quiet thump.

At The Range

Arguably, the biggest benefit of a multi-pump pneumatic is power flexibility. Want to plink? Pumping it up a few times before each shot means you can do more shooting and less pumping. Need more power for a hunt in the squirrel woods? Pump it 10 or 15 times and have at it.

The flip side to that coin is that you’ll need to know how the rifle performs at those different power levels. As expected, hours of target time with the Dragonfly MK2 confirmed that impact points shifted based on different power levels and pellets. Over the course of a couple months, I put probably 500 pellets through my test gun. Its performance was impressive.

First, I tested velocity with FX 18.1-grain domed pellets. At 15 pumps, velocity ranged from 691 to 697 feet per second, good for just under 20 foot-pounds of energy. At 10 pumps, the velocity range was 647 to 659 fps (about 17 fps), and at five pumps, the rifle was pushing those pellets down range at about 550 fps (12 fps). Consistent power like that is the first step toward accuracy.

As expected, based on the buzz since its introduction, this rifle is quite accurate. Because I used a 4-power scope, I did all my testing at 25 yards, shooting off a Caldwell Lead Sled. While I usually shoot five-shot groups, I shot seven-shot groups with the Dragonfly MK2 to correlate with the magazine’s capacity.

The FX pellets I used for the velocity tests are almost always the first I use in any accuracy tests because they consistently perform well. They did in this rifle, too. My best groups were at five pumps and typically in the ½-inch to ¾-inch range. Groups opened up a bit at 10 pumps and 15 pumps. I got similar groups with 18-grain Air Arms domed pellets, another of my go-to test pellets.

One of my favorite .22 rounds for higher-powered guns is the 21.14-grain Baracuda Match domed pellets. These produced one of my best groups. At 10 pumps with those beefy pellets, five out of seven pellets went into a single, 3/8-inch hole. Frustratingly, that group also featured two flyers, but they were likely shooter’s error.

As I was wrapping up testing, one of my daughters—a 22-year-old recent college grad—asked if she could shoot the gun. I loaded up a magazine with the Air Arms pellets and gave her a quick lesson on how to operate the rifle. A casual but not avid shooter, she shot off a sandbag-topped tripod at a 25-yard target. The result? The best group the gun had produced in two months of shooting. Six of the seven rounds went into a single ¼-inch hole. It showed just how accurate this rifle can be in the hands of a steady shooter with young eyes.

The Seneca Dragonfly MK2 would be even more of a tack-driver with a better trigger and higher magnification scope. Shooters who love to experiment with different power levels and different pellets will enjoy fiddling with the Dragonfly to get the most out of the rifle’s capabilities. But the gun is easy enough to zero that if you don’t want to do a lot of testing, you can still be shooting good groups in a hurry.

Is the Seneca Dragonfly MK2 Worth It?

Accurate. Flexible. Pretty. Affordable. There’s a lot to like about the Seneca Dragonfly MK2—whether you’re a backyard plinker, a small game hunter, or both. The butterfly pumping technology is not only innovative, but works well. And the rotary magazine adds to shooting convenience. The loose stock screws were a bit frustrating, especially given that the rifle is otherwise solidly built. That’s far from a deal-breaker, however, and easily remedied with a little effort and Loctite.

Will the Seneca Dragonfly MK2 become a long-lived classic like the Sheridan Silver Streak or the Crosman 760 Pumpmaster? Given rapid advancements in airgun technology, it’s hard to say. From a looks and performance perspective, it certainly has the potential.

The post Seneca Dragonfly MK2 Air Rifle, Expert Tested appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

J.P. Sauer & Sohn, more commonly known as just Sauer, is part of the Blaser Group which also includes Blaser, Mauser, and John Rigby & Company. The 505 is the newest rifle from Sauer, who claim it was “designed to be the most beautiful bolt action rifle in the world.” Beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder, but still, you expect a new rifle from an iconic company like Sauer—the oldest gunmaker in Germany—to be something special. And the new 505 is just that.

How beautiful you find Sauer’s latest bolt gun will have a lot to do with which stock you choose, and you have eight to choose from, including one carbon-fiber, three polymer, and four highly figured walnut options, several featuring thumbholes and adjustable combs. I tested the 505 Synchro XT model, which features a polymer thumbhole stock. I can’t say I found this particular model to be the “most beautiful” bolt, but I was still very impressed—partly because you can change the look and functionality of this remarkably versatile rifle with a single tool. Let’s take a closer look.

Related: Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Rifle Review

Sauer 505 Synchro XT Specs

• Length: 40 inches
• Weight: 7.87 pounds
• Barrel: 22 inches, threaded at 15×1 w/ protector
• Action: Sauer bolt action
• Trigger: 1.0 pound (as tested)
• Capacity: 3+1 or 5+1 (detachable magazine)
• Finish: DLC
• Stock: Two-piece, polymer thumb hole
• Available Standard American chamberings: 222 Rem., 223 Rem., 243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win., 270 WSM, 308 Win., 30-06 Springfield, and 375 H&H. Special order only chamberings: 6.5×55 SE, 7×64, 8×57 IS, 8.5×55 Blaser, 9.3×62, and 10.3×60 R
• Price: $3500.00

Related: Proof Research Elevation 2.0 Rifle Review

Sauer 505 Overview

The heart of the 505 is a completely new action which offers modular versatility. Along with the eight stock options, the rifle can be had in 19 different chamberings. What is so unique about the 505 is that you can swap between these eight stocks and 19 chamberings on your own, and without any special tools. The key to this system’s unique versatility is one of the quick-detach sling swivel studs on the rifle. When you remove it, you’ll see it has a hex-head wrench that’s hidden in the rifle’s stock. This single wrench is the tool you use to swap stocks, change barrels, and adjust the comb height. It is simply ingenious.

The action is new, made of steel, and features integration with the one-piece Blaser saddle scope-mount system that allows for removal and reinstallation without loss of zero. It features a one-piece, six-lug bolt, with a Sako-style extractor and plunger ejector. The action does not have a traditional safety. On the rear of the bolt, there’s a sliding actuator that you push forward and serves as the safety. You noiselessly push it forward with your thumb to cock the rifle and depress a red button that becomes visible when the rifle is cocked, to uncock or “safe” the rifle. What’s amazing is that the 60-degree bolt operation requires nearly the same minimal force after firing as it does before.

The action feeds from either a 3+1 (provided) or 5+1 (optional) detachable magazine, which is held in place by a recessed release button located just forward of the magazine well. Interestingly, this magazine-release button can be locked to circumvent accidental release. The Quattro trigger on this rifle is the best trigger I’ve ever pulled on any rifle. It’s user adjustable between 0.77, 1.65, 2.20, and 2.75 pounds, and when you press the trigger is does not feel like you’re pulling a conventional trigger; it feels more like you’re touching a button—a button that seems to move almost imperceivibly—that makes the rifle fire.

The stock is a two piece design that includes a buttstock and a forend. The butt stock is attached by a single hex screw and the forend is attached by a latch that clamps onto a spigot system on the action. At no point does the stock forend contact the barrel. Both stock sections are attached and removed with the hex wrench/sling swivel stud. Sauer offers a quick attach bipod adapter that replaces the front sling swivel, and it interfaces with Spartan Precision bipods and tripods.

With the forend removed, you’ll see three hex screws located at the front-bottom of the receiver. When you loosen these screws with the supplied wrench, you can rotate the forend spigot mount 90 degrees and remove the barrel. This is how you swap between different chamberings. If you opt for a cartridge with a different rim diameter than your current chambering, you’ll need a different bolt, which will cost you $600. Extra barrels retail for between $1000 and $1300, and the Blaser scope mount with 1-inch, 30mm, 34mm, 36mm, or 40mm rings, costs $526.

Related: Aero Precision SOLUS Hunter Rifle Review

Sauer 505 Synchro XT Shooting Results

Let’s be clear about one thing, this rifle operates with the precision of a Swiss watch. No matter what control you attempt to manipulate, part you try to adjust, remove, or attach, there are no hitches, glitches, or hang ups whatsoever. As you would expect of a finely crafted German-made rifle, everything works to perfection and with utter smoothness. With most any bolt-action rifle, you can apply torque to the bolt in a way to make it either not work or drag a bit. Not with this rifle. The bolt glides inside the action as effortlessly as poking your thumb in a warm bowl of pudding. The trigger was also fantastic, allowing you to almost think the rifle into firing.

Regarding the rifle’s precision performance, I shot multiple five-shot groups with three different hunting loads from the bench and the average group size for all three was 1.18 inches. This is good but not great for a $3500 rifle. But remember, this is a switch-barrel rifle delivering near-MOA performance.

Though generally not a big fan of thumbhole stocks, I was surprised I liked this one as much as I did. I do not wrap my shooting thumb around the wrist of a rifle’s stock, and even with the thumbhole design, I could comfortably keep it on the right side of the stock just above my trigger finger. There was a sort of shelf there that provided a comfortable reference for thumb placement. I also adjusted the comb so it allowed for a perfect cheek weld while aligning my eye with the riflescope. This helped while shooting from the bench and off-hand.

The sliding safety/cocking button took some getting used to, just because it is so different from your average bolt-action rifles. The more I shot the rifle, however, the better I liked the system. What really stands out, and maybe cannot be repeated enough, is just how smooth the safety and everything else about this rifle worked. The rifle is a bit butt heavy, balancing about 2 inches behind the front of the action, which explains the nimble handling. But with the Banish Backcountry suppressor attached, the rifle balanced perfectly for field work. A carbon-fiber stock is available for the 505, and it will cut a pound and a half off the weight. Here’s a breakdown of the precision-testing results.

Related: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Redline Rifle Review

Final Thoughts on Sauer’s New 505 Synchro XT Rifle

Pros

• Fantastic trigger
• Extremely versatile
• Excellent workmanship

Cons

• Pricey

In the interest of full disclosure, the rifle I tested was the German version of the rifle that will be sold in America. This is why the muzzle was threaded at 15×1 and why I needed an adapter to 5/8×24 for the suppressor. American rifles will have more conventional and varying muzzle thread pitches depending on the chambering. For example, the American 308 Winchester will have a 9/16×24 thread pitch. Also, this rifle had the black stock that will be on the 505 as sold in Germany. American rifles will have a Titanium Grey stock. Other than those differences, the rifle I tested will be the rifle you can purchase in America, along with a version with the carbon-fiber stock ($6500) and a grade 5 wood stock ($4500). There’s also the least expensive ($3200) version with a traditionally styled synthetic stock. The other stocks along with all 19 chamberings will be available on special order.

This is not the most-precise shooting rifle I’ve ever tested, nor the lightest. However, this is clearly one of the best-made, most versatile, smartly configured, and innovative rifles I’ve ever seen or evaluated. Admittedly, the cartridge and even stock interchangeability may not be appealing to hunters who like a different rifle for every pursuit. But this is a very practical one-rifle answer to about any hunting question, from prairie dogs to Cape buffalo.

Read Next: Ruger American Gen II Rifle Review

The post Sauer 505 Rifle Review—Expert Tested appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Fourth of July is a time to celebrate being an American—and what’s more American than a new gun? Whether you’re looking for a handgun, shotgun, or rifle, there are some fantastic 4th of July gun sales going on this week at major retailers like Cabela’s and Palmetto State Armory. You can currently score up to 50 percent off top firearm brands including Browning, Smith & Wesson, Remington, and Sig Sauer.

Below are all the best 4th of July gun sales we’ve seen so far. We’ll update this list leading up to the holiday, so check back as more deals go live. Many of these prices are only available for a limited time so it’s a good idea to shop sooner rather than later.

Best 4th of July Gun Sales

Handguns

• Smith & Wesson M&P Shield EZ Semi-Auto Pistol for $249 (Save $200)
• Ruger MAX-9 9mm Pistol for $349 (Save $100)
• Kimber R7 Mako Semi-Auto Pistol for $399 (Save $150)
• Sig Sauer P320 9mm Pistol for $449 (Save $150)
• Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 9mm Pistol for $449 (Save $100)
• S&W Performance Center Shield M2.0 Pistol for $449 (Save $450)
• CZ P-09 Semi-Auto Pistol for $469 (Save $100)
• CZ 75 BD 9mm Pistol for $636 (Save $260)

Shotguns

• Savage Stevens 320 Security Pump-Action Shotgun for $189 (Save $60)
• Retay GPS 12-Gauge Pump Shotgun for $299 (Save $110)
• Winchester SXP Extreme Defender FDE Tactical Pump-Action Shotgun for $469 (Save $100)
• Stoeger Model 3500 Semi-Auto Shotgun for $549 (Save $80)
• CZ Drake Over/Under Shotgun for $689 (Save $100)
• Remington 700 SPS 6.5 Creedmoor Bolt Action Rifle for $752 (Save $165)
• CZ Drake All-Terrain Over/Under Shotgun for $789 (Save $100)
• Savage Arms Renegauge Turkey Semi-Auto Shotgun for $1,199 (Save $350)

Rifles

• Remington 700 Compact ADL Bolt-Action Rifle for $524 (Save $75)
• Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic Bolt-Action Rifle for $539 (Save $150)
• Winchester XPR Hunter Bolt-Action Rifle w/ Scope for $749 (Save $100)
• Browning X-Bolt Composite Stalker Bolt-Action Rifle for $779 (Save $150)
• Savage 110 High Country Bolt-Action Rifle for $899 (Save $200)
• Savage 110 Ultralite Bolt-Action Centerfire Rifle for $1,099 (Save $400)
• Christensen Arms Ridgeline Bolt-Action Rifle for $1,299 (Save $700)
• Browning X-Bolt Pro Bolt-Action Rifle for $1,699 (Save $380)

The post The Best 4th of July Gun Sales Going on This Week appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

The term “ballistic coefficient”(BC) is on everybody’s lips these days. It’s the driving force behind the latest wave of cartridge innovation, to the point where ammo manufacturers can hardly offer a new load without touting the bullet’s high-BC. That’s fine, but given that few things are what they’re cracked up to be (especially when someone is trying to sell you something), you might wonder how important BC really is to the average hunter and shooter?

For years, hunters pretty much ignored ballistic coefficient. The term only became widely used during the last two decades, as shooters and hunters began to stretch the distance. Technically, ballistic coefficient is a numerical expression of a bullet’s aerodynamic properties, but most shooters look at it as just a number you enter into a ballistic calculator to see how much your bullet will drop or drift in the wind. You don’t need a physics degree to know that a football has better flight characteristics than a basketball, but with bullets the differences are much more subtle. Ballistic coefficient is just a way to very precisely define those aerodynamic differences. The question is: Are those differences big enough to affect your success in the field or on the range?

How Ballistic Coefficient is Computed

One problem with BC is that shooters and hunters cannot readily compute it like they can bullet weight or bullet length. Another problem is that a bullet’s BC changes with velocity. This means we must take the word of bullet manufacturers when it comes to a bullet’s BC. They estimate it based on how a bullet compares to a standard projectile with what is known as a G1 or G7 shape. (This is why we have BCs that are listed as G1 or G7.) Alternatively, the bullet’s BC is calculated by actual shooting. Most bullet manufacturers do a great job of establishing BC, but sometimes they fudge the numbers slightly for marketing purposes.

This is because BC gets so much attention these days, and because some shooters and hunters believe they must use a bullet with the highest BC possible to hit or even kill anything. This is preposterous. A high-BC bullet can help with trajectory and wind drift, but except in extreme comparisons and/or in extreme long-range situations, the advantage high-BC bullets offer is negligible. Let’s look at how high- and low-BC bullets compare and how high-velocity bullets compare to slower more aerodynamic bullets to get a better understanding of how BC influences bullet flight.

The Truth About High BC vs Low BC

The biggest advantage with a higher-BC bullet comes when you’re comparing drastically different bullets of the same weight and caliber. A good comparison is Hornady’s 150-grain Interlock bullet with a round nose, and their 150-grain Interlock bullet of the BTSP design. The round-nose bullet has a BC of 0.186 and the BTSP bullet has a BC of 0.349. If both are fired with a muzzle velocity of 2700 fps, the higher-BC bullet will drop about 6 inches less at 300 yards. That’s substantial—and a real advantage for many hunters in the field.

However, BC discrepancies this large are rare. Most often, a hunter might be deliberating between something like a 150-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip with a 0.435 BC and a 150-grain Hornady SST bullet with a 0.415 BC. Both will deliver very similar terminal performance due to their construction, and with identical launch velocities of 2700 fps, the higher-BC Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet only drops about a quarter inch less at 300 yards. This is not enough difference to matter, unless you’re shooting M&Ms or flies at that distance.

High Ballistic Coefficient vs High Velocity

Rifles shoot lighter bullets faster, and for a long time, velocity was how we flattened trajectories. For example, if you compare a 308 Winchester firing a 150-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip with one firing a 180-grain Ballistic Tip, you can see the advantage that high velocity provides. Even though the 180-grain bullet is more aerodynamic, from a trajectory standpoint, it cannot overcome the higher initial velocity of the 150-grain bullet. It takes a tremendous BC advantage to overcome a velocity advantage of 275 fps.

For example, if you wanted a 180-grain bullet from a 308 Winchester to deliver the same 52.54 inches of drop as the 150-grain Ballistic Tip at 500 yards, the velocity of the 180-grain bullet would either have to be increased by 205 fps or its BC would have to be doubled. The problem: a 180-grain 0.30-caliber bullet with a BC that high does not exist. This is one of the main reasons BC was not talked about so much until shooting at extreme range become more commonplace.

Ballistic Coefficient and Wind Drift

To shoot at long range effectively you need to be able to predict the trajectory of your bullet, and that’s been made very easy with modern ballistic calculators. You also need to be able to predict wind drift, which is easier now too. But wind drift predictions can never be exact because you cannot accurately estimate wind speed from the muzzle all the way to the target. This has made bullets with a high BC more popular with long-range shooters, because they drift less in the wind, making minor wind estimation errors less critical.

If we return to our 150 and 180 Ballistic Tip comparison, we see that the 180-grain Ballistic Tip drops a predictable 45 inches more than the 150-grain bullet at 1000 yards. The wind drift is very similar out to 500 yards, but at extreme range, the higher-BC 180-grain bullet drifts less. If we look at a .30-claiber bullet with an even higher BC, like the 178-grain Hornady ELD-X, you can see how it is even more advantageous as it relates to wind drift. And, because we can very accurately predict trajectory, the true advantage of higher-BC bullets is how well they deal with wind.

Related: Best Long-Range Hunting Cartridges

BC and Terminal Performance

The other advantage of a high-BC bullet is its ability to retain velocity. This is important to hunters for reasons unrelated to trajectory and wind drift. The more velocity a bullet retains, the harder it hits the target. And bullets need to impact at a certain velocity—with a certain amount of energy—to initiate bullet upset or expansion. As you can see in the chart below, once you get to 500 yards, the 180-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip hits just as hard as the faster-moving 150-grain bullet, and it still retains enough velocity to initiate bullet upset. The same is truer for the even higher BC 178-grain ELD-X bullet.

The Bottom Line with Ballistic Coefficient

In the end, there’s no question that high-BC bullets have ballistic advantages of low-BC bullets. But that doesn’t mean you should swap your favorite hunting load for one with a higher-BC bullet—because except at very long range or extreme cases (like when comparing a round nose to a spitzer bullet), BC simply doesn’t make much of a real-world difference. Even though high-BC bullet compatibility is one thing that make cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC so popular, for hunters who shoot inside or not far beyond 300 yards, you don’t need to waste your time worrying about it. The same is also true for targets shooters who play at similar distances.

Where high-BC bullets have an advantage is at long, and especially extremely long distances. In these situations, where wind can be very hard to predict and sometimes range estimations can be slightly off, the more aerodynamic high-BC bullets can make getting hits easier. And for hunters who want to stretch the range to near ridiculous lengths, higher-BC bullets can hit harder because of better velocity and energy retention.

Maybe the best representation of the advantage of a high-BC bullet is to look at it this way. If you wanted to throw a ball through a hula-hoop at about 15 yards, it’s about as easy to do it with a basketball or a football. But take that hoop out to 80 yards, and the higher BC—better aerodynamics—of the football will make the throw much easier. But that doesn’t mean you can throw a football 80 yards—or should even try.

The post Ballistic Coefficient: How Much Does It Really Matter? appeared first on Field & Stream.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.