I am constantly asked where to get ballistic coefficient tables for various bullets. I use to have several pages of such data but keeping things up to date was a chore and I dropped them. I recently updated the built in BC table for RSI's Shooting Lab and have been given permission to publish the table here. In addition I generated a table of G7/G8 BCs for military bullets from data provided by Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Both are in MS Excel format.
Every attempt has been made to insure that these tables are accurate and up to date but no warranty is expressed or implied as to their accuracy or usefulness. For the most current information you should always contact the manufacturer's directly, and most companies have the data on their websites. If you discover a glaring error please let me know by clicking here.
Commercial G1 BC Table
This is a list of the manufacturer’s published "G1" ballistic coefficients (BCs) for commercial rifle bullets currently manufactured by Barnes, Berger, Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, Speer, Swift, and Woodleigh as of data provided by them in August, 2006. Handgun bullets are not included in the compilation. Bullets listed as "Govt' are various US military bullets converted to the G1 multiple BC Sierra format to closely match published government trajectory data.
"G1" BCs means they were calculated using the original blunt-nosed, flat-based standard projectile drag model designed in the 1870's by Krupp of Germany. Ballistic coefficients were originally defined by Ingals as a number indicating velocity erosion due to air drag for a given bullet compared to a standard projectile of the same shape- 1 inch in diameter and weighing 1 pound. By sticking with this 120-year-old non-aerodynamic standard, bullet companies ensure their BCs will be as large as possible. This explains why some 30 caliber VLD bullets claim a BC of over 1.0 (obviously impossible). As long as there are shooters who believe their rifle can be made to shoot like a laser with the proper bullet selection, there will be a marketing value to inflated BC's; and the industry will be hesitant to publish properly calculated BCs.
The G1 model is not really a suitable standard projectile shape for modern bullets, it is still the most commonly published basis for BCs. However, owners of Shooting Lab can convert these G1 BCs to other more appropriate drag models.
The velocity "Limit' columns given for some bullets provide additional information that is used by Sierra's ballistic software. Rather then calculating a proper BC from a standard projectile of the same shape as the bullet, Sierra employs multiple G1 based BCs within specified velocity ranges to adjust the G1 drag model. This attempt to make G1 work with modern bullets is not the preferred or best way to model trajectories for modern aerodynamic bullets as it create velocity discontinuities in the data.To download the Excel spreadsheet of commercial BCs click here.
Military G7 BC Table
This table provides the G7 or G8 BCs for some current US Military bullets and several foreign and commercial bullets as determined by Aberdeen Proving Grounds. This data is only usable if you have software capable of handling the G7 and G8 drag models.
To download the Excel spreadsheet of military G7/G8 BCs click here.
Please email comments or questions to Fr. Frog by clicking here.
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Disclaimer
Every attempt has been made to
insure that these tables are accurate and up to date but no warranty is
expressed or implied as to their accuracy or usefulness.
For the most current information you should contact the manufacturers
directly
Updated 2006-08-28