Velocity: How much is enough?
MANY hunters are obsessed with bullet speed and worship at the altar of ultra-high velocity. Whenever a hot new cartridge or loading is introduced which launches a bullet out of the muzzle faster than its predecessor, gun nuts start running around in circles and baying at the moon. Inevitably, they praise every new hotshot to the skies, and it is heartily recommended as a cartridge worth buying.
Manufacturers release every new speed demon with a fanfare of trumpets, and gun writers are obligated to lavish it with praise.
The implication is that an accurate laser rangefinder, a high-magnification tactical-type scope and a more accurate rifle with heavy barrel will make a 1000m shot as easy as falling off a log. Of course, this is all made possible by higher muzzle velocity, which offers an edge for those shots at game way out yonder.
Anyway, that’s the way these guys are wired to think.
Scant consideration is given to bullet weight, ballistic coefficient (BC) and the great amount of propellant consumed, let alone muzzle disturbance, bore fouling and throat erosion.
Gun writers rarely mention the shooting problems associated with
