Hornady Ballistic Coefficient Chart

The Hornady ballistic coefficient chart provides shooters with highly precise aerodynamic data for one of the most respected ammunition brands available today. Reviewing this incredibly detailed flight information allows hunters and target shooters to select the perfect factory load for their specific rifle. Matching the right projectile to your intended target ensures maximum downrange accuracy and deep terminal penetration in the field. Understanding these complex physical metrics guarantees that marksmen can consistently achieve success across incredibly diverse weather conditions.

Hornady Ballistic Coefficient Chart

Bullet WeightBullet TypeManufacturerMuzzle VelocityVelocity At 100 YardsVelocity At 200 YardsVelocity At 300 YardsVelocity At 400 YardsVelocity At 500 YardsMuzzle EnergyEnergy At 100 YardsEnergy At 200 YardsEnergy At 300 YardsEnergy At 400 YardsEnergy At 500 YardsTrajectory At 100 YardsTrajectory At 200 YardsTrajectory At 300 YardsTrajectory At 400 YardsTrajectory At 500 YardsBallistic CoefficientSectional Density
140 GrainELD MatchHornady271025772447232121992080228320641861167515031345High 1.9ZeroDrop 7.9Drop 22.4Drop 44.40.6460.287
168 GrainELD MatchHornady270025242355219220361887271923772069179215461329High 2.0ZeroDrop 8.5Drop 24.5Drop 49.30.5230.253
178 GrainELD XHornady275025882432228121351995298926482338205618021572High 1.9ZeroDrop 8.0Drop 22.8Drop 45.30.5520.268
200 GrainELD XHornady285027032561242322892160360732452912260623282071High 1.6ZeroDrop 7.1Drop 20.0Drop 39.50.5970.301
73 GrainELD MatchHornady27902560234121321934174812621062888737606495High 1.9ZeroDrop 8.8Drop 26.1Drop 53.90.3980.208
108 GrainELD MatchHornady27502596244723022162202718131616143512711121985High 1.9ZeroDrop 8.1Drop 23.3Drop 46.50.5360.261
162 GrainELD XHornady294027882640249723582224310927952507224320001779High 1.4ZeroDrop 6.3Drop 18.0Drop 35.70.6310.287
145 GrainELD XHornady297027952627246523092159284025152222195617161501High 1.4ZeroDrop 6.4Drop 18.4Drop 36.90.5360.270
225 GrainELD MatchHornady281026862565244723322220394536043286299127172462High 1.7ZeroDrop 7.2Drop 20.3Drop 39.80.7770.339
147 GrainELD MatchHornady291027882669255324402330276425372325212819441772High 1.4ZeroDrop 6.2Drop 17.6Drop 34.60.6970.301
Hornady Ballistic Coefficient Chart

The table above accurately details the Hornady ballistic coefficient chart using several highly popular factory loads.

Readers can reliably utilize these thoroughly verified flight metrics to successfully select the absolute most effective cartridge for their specific field requirements.

Understanding The Chart

The Hornady ballistic coefficient chart contains several completely distinct technical measurements that dictate exactly how a bullet performs during its flight path.

Studying these precise metrics allows experienced hunters and dedicated target shooters to select the absolute perfect ammunition for their specific rifle barrel.

Correctly applying this crucial data ensures maximum precision accuracy and incredibly deep terminal penetration when engaging difficult targets.

Muzzle Velocity

Muzzle velocity represents the sheer physical speed of the bullet the exact moment it aggressively leaves the barrel of the firearm.

This critical measurement is strictly expressed in feet per second and directly influences every other ballistic category found on the chart.

A significantly higher muzzle velocity directly translates to a noticeably flatter trajectory and substantially less time for lateral wind to push the bullet off course.

Faster bullets also rapidly initiate terminal expansion much more reliably upon striking extremely tough game animals at extended distances.

Retained Velocity

Retained velocity precisely indicates exactly how fast the projectile continues to travel at various distances downrange after violently leaving the muzzle.

Bullets completely lose forward speed constantly due to unavoidable atmospheric air resistance during their extended flight path.

Knowing your true retained velocity is completely crucial because modern hunting bullets strictly require a minimum threshold speed to expand properly upon impact.

A bullet that entirely fails to expand will simply not create an effective wound channel and may highly likely lead to an unethical harvest.

Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy precisely measures the true striking power of the flying bullet and is consistently expressed strictly in foot pounds.

This immense physical energy actively transfers directly to the living target upon impact and immediately causes the vital terminal damage required.

Heavier bullets generally carry significantly more kinetic energy at very long distances because their physical mass actively resists slowing down.

Massive projectiles crush violently through heavy shoulder bone and extremely dense muscle tissue far more effectively than lightweight options.

Trajectory

Trajectory accurately describes the completely predictable curved flight path the bullet actively takes as gravity constantly pulls it toward the earth.

The Hornady ballistic coefficient chart usually displays this exact physical curve as specific bullet drop measured in exact inches at dedicated yardage markers.

A significantly flatter trajectory makes precision aiming much easier because the shooter does not strictly need to calculate extreme vertical holdover adjustments.

This highly forgiving flight path becomes incredibly valuable when rapidly judging completely unknown distances over vast open hunting terrain.

Ballistic Coefficient

Ballistic coefficient is a highly specific numerical value representing exactly how efficiently a bullet slices cleanly through the surrounding air.

See also  Muzzleloader Ballistics Chart

A significantly higher mathematical number absolutely means the projectile experiences substantially less aerodynamic drag during its extended flight.

Bullets possessing a high ballistic coefficient incredibly retain their initial velocity and raw kinetic energy much better at extreme target ranges.

This incredible sheer efficiency directly translates to noticeably less wind deflection and superior terminal performance upon actual impact.

Sectional Density

Sectional density directly relates the total physical weight of the individual bullet precisely to its outside diameter.

This incredibly important mathematical metric actively provides an excellent indicator of exactly how deeply a bullet will heavily penetrate a large animal.

A significantly higher sectional density firmly means the bullet has massive amounts of weight driving powerfully behind a relatively small frontal area.

This concentrated forward momentum aggressively allows the projectile to violently smash straight through heavy shoulder bones without stopping prematurely.

Common Bullet Weights

The Hornady ballistic coefficient chart meticulously covers several different bullet weights designed completely specifically for distinct shooting applications.

Each individual varying weight offers highly unique flight characteristics and extremely specific terminal performance capabilities.

Carefully matching the absolutely correct bullet weight strictly to your intended target consistently guarantees the highest chance of hunting success.

108 Grain Bullets

The absolute best use for this extremely efficient weight heavily involves precision target shooting across open windy ranges.

Advantages actively include incredibly minimal felt recoil and a beautifully flat trajectory perfectly inside five hundred yards.

Disadvantages completely include significantly lower kinetic energy retention which makes it completely unsuitable for huge game animals.

Typical applications are extremely demanding precision rifle competitions where extreme deep penetration is simply not required.

140 Grain Bullets

The absolute best use focuses entirely on extremely fast open country hunting strictly for medium sized game like deer.

Advantages incredibly include blistering muzzle velocities and spectacularly flat trajectories entirely over vast open plains.

Disadvantages definitely involve slightly significant wind drift in terribly stormy conditions strictly due to the lighter overall physical mass.

Typical applications perfectly involve active western spot and stalk hunting where surprisingly long shots are very frequently required.

168 Grain Bullets

The absolute best use firmly involves highly reliable general purpose woodland hunting and extremely competitive precision target matches.

Advantages perfectly include a truly beautiful balance of raw speed and incredible terminal striking power without ever generating excessive recoil.

Disadvantages slightly include noticeably more bullet drop at extreme ranges directly compared to highly specialized extremely heavy magnum loads.

Typical applications perfectly involve completely standard American hunting scenarios where traditional heavy bullets perform completely flawlessly every single time.

225 Grain Bullets

The absolute best use firmly involves totally maximizing the incredible terminal performance of extremely heavy magnum rifle cartridges on massive game.

Advantages incredibly include maximum possible sectional density and truly unbelievable kinetic energy retention at extreme highly extended distances.

Disadvantages entirely include very severe punishing felt recoil and a heavy dramatically curving trajectory that strictly requires completely precise range estimation.

Typical applications incredibly include highly intense northern moose hunting and extreme long range target shooting where strictly traditional performance is demanded.

Effective Range

The completely true effective range of any chosen cartridge depends entirely on the precisely intended application and the actual physical skill of the marksman.

Extremely different shooting disciplines strictly require vastly different physical levels of raw kinetic energy and absolute retained velocity.

Thoroughly understanding these strict physical limitations firmly ensures you absolutely never accidentally take an unethical or totally impossible shot.

Hunting

The highly effective standard hunting range for medium deer sized game very easily extends to exactly five hundred yards when utilizing completely proper optics.

For significantly much larger heavy game like bull elk the effective range typically completely stops around four hundred yards to firmly ensure completely adequate penetration.

Highly experienced dedicated hunters routinely ethically harvest massive dangerous animals at these exact specific distances using heavy premium projectiles.

Perfect surgical shot placement completely always strictly dictates the completely true ethical range for absolutely any hunting scenario.

Target Shooting

Dedicated target shooters can very easily and completely repeatedly strike heavy steel plates at one thousand yards using extremely high quality match ammunition.

The highly designed extremely heavy bullets actively resist sideways wind deflection exceptionally well at these highly extreme extended distances.

Serious shooters must completely accurately know their exact specific scope adjustments to properly precisely compensate for the highly significant vertical bullet drop.

Using premium competitive series ammunition actively effectively ensures you strictly maintain the highly necessary mechanical precision.

Competition Shooting

Serious competition shooting entirely requires the absolute highest possible level of factory ammunition consistency to strictly succeed.

Dedicated competitors routinely enthusiastically engage distant paper targets using strictly original iron sights or advanced modern optics.

Heavy beautifully designed match bullets actively totally provide the extreme flight consistency firmly needed to repeatedly win these incredibly demanding accuracy challenges.

Shooters absolutely heavily depend on the proudly published factory ballistics data to completely properly configure their elevation turrets perfectly.

Long Range Shooting

Extreme true long range shooting completely beyond one mile is definitely highly possible but strictly requires incredibly substantial elevation adjustments.

The slowly decelerating heavy bullet will highly likely drop completely entirely below the speed of sound just slightly past the intended marker.

Violent transonic flight completely causes very severe bullet instability that can incredibly entirely ruin extreme long range mechanical accuracy.

Modern heavy chassis rifles absolutely perform admirably if the dedicated shooter truly thoroughly understands highly advanced wind reading techniques.

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Self Defense

Close quarters self defense is a highly incredibly critical application where highly reliable expansion and completely rapid energy transfer remain absolutely paramount.

The truly massive completely overwhelming kinetic energy of heavy magnum rifle cartridges presents a very incredibly severe over penetration risk in typical urban environments.

The incredibly completely blinding bright muzzle flash and heavy punishing felt recoil make entirely rapid defensive follow up shots extremely difficult.

Lighter dedicated intermediate caliber ammunition totally provides a much highly safer and incredibly highly effective solution for close quarters protection.

Factors That Affect Ballistics

Numerous external environmental atmospheric and internal precise mechanical factors actively completely influence the specific hard numbers found directly on the Hornady ballistic coefficient chart.

Thoroughly aggressively understanding these highly complex fluid variables thoroughly helps experienced shooters properly completely correct their specific aim.

Completely ignoring these absolutely critical external factors will consistently absolutely result in entirely completely missed targets at long extreme distances.

Barrel Length

Barrel length entirely directly significantly impacts the final maximum muzzle velocity actively achieved by the aggressively expanding hot powder gases.

A significantly much longer barrel actively totally provides more critical time for the extremely high pressure combustion to continuously accelerate the fast bullet.

Extremely short lightweight carbine barrels will firmly absolutely produce noticeably much lower velocities than full length heavy sporting rifles.

Violently losing initial velocity at the short muzzle firmly directly means the bullet will heavily completely experience considerably more vertical drop downrange.

Bullet Weight

Bullet weight entirely rapidly completely changes the entire comprehensive ballistic profile of the highly specific cartridge from the exact violent moment of ignition.

Tremendously heavy dense projectiles violently leave the rifle muzzle noticeably much slower but actively totally retain their heavy forward momentum incredibly well.

Incredibly light aerodynamic projectiles start extremely blindingly fast but completely shed their initial speed very incredibly quickly.

Selecting the totally absolutely completely wrong weight can easily quickly directly lead to very incredibly poor mechanical accuracy or totally horribly insufficient penetration.

Bullet Design

Bullet design firmly definitely plays a completely massive fundamental role in determining aerodynamic efficiency and ensuring reliable terminal tissue expansion.

Pointed highly advanced polymer tipped bullets effortlessly beautifully slice cleanly through the heavy thick wind gracefully and incredibly fly entirely incredibly flat.

Vintage traditional round nose entirely flat base bullets actively aggressively create tremendous initial impact trauma but terribly heavily suffer from aerodynamic drag.

Choosing the absolutely perfectly completely proper bullet design is precisely entirely just as incredibly vital as correctly completely selecting the correct overall weight.

Altitude

Extreme high altitude completely directly rapidly changes the absolute physical density of the invisible air the fast bullet must actively violently travel completely through.

Higher massive mountain elevations feature very incredibly thin light air which perfectly directly creates significantly substantially less aerodynamic drag.

A beautifully tuned hunting rifle perfectly carefully zeroed perfectly at thick sea level will absolutely shoot noticeably significantly higher in thin mountain air.

Failing entirely completely to actively thoroughly account for massive altitude changes incredibly often results in shooting totally directly completely over the target.

Temperature

Extreme swinging temperature strictly entirely affects both the outside invisible air density and the highly sensitive internal burn rate of the completely contained gunpowder.

Freezing cold heavy winter air is incredibly extremely dense and aggressively forces the rapidly flying bullet to drastically completely lose velocity much incredibly faster.

Freezing dropping temperatures can also highly severely actively lower the internal rapid chamber pressure firmly resulting in noticeably completely slower initial peak muzzle speeds.

Dedicated serious shooters should totally absolutely always completely field test their specific preferred factory loads in the exact severe weather conditions expected.

Humidity

Heavy invisible humidity plays a remarkably surprisingly incredibly small but thoroughly completely measurable active role in extreme precision long range mathematical ballistics.

Incredibly humid wet air is actually completely slightly substantially less physically dense than perfectly terribly dry air entirely because water vapor is physically molecularly lighter.

Flying bullets actively experience slightly beautifully less aerodynamic drag on very incredibly humid wet days though the actual physical difference is very totally incredibly minimal.

General entirely casual recreational hunters can safely completely totally ignore ambient humidity unless specifically exclusively shooting at extremely highly demanding distances.

Wind

Unpredictable sweeping wind actively reliably creates the absolute single most incredibly difficult completely external environmental challenge for absolutely any highly serious rifle shooter.

A terribly strong invisible lateral heavy crosswind will heavily aggressively violently push the rapidly flying bullet terribly laterally far away from the strictly perfectly intended target.

Tremendously heavy dense bullets perfectly boasting extremely highly efficiently ballistic coefficients actively totally resist this brutal wind deflection incredibly significantly better.

Perfectly completely learning to accurately carefully reliably read ground optical mirage and subtle vegetation movement is completely entirely absolutely essential.

Twist Rate

Twist rate completely exclusively refers specifically directly to the internal spiral steel rifling carefully machined inside the heavy barrel that actively aggressively spins the bullet.

A noticeably significantly incredibly faster rapid twist rate is strictly absolutely entirely required to completely properly totally stabilize very exceptionally long projectiles.

Foolishly actively using a massive bullet that is entirely drastically far too incredibly heavy for a specific individual twist rate directly totally causes complete wild tumbling.

Most incredibly reliable completely modern hunting rifles perfectly totally feature a precision twist rate perfectly flawlessly suited for tremendously heavy highly aerodynamic bullets.

See also  Hornady 350 Legend Ballistics Chart

Zero Distance

Absolute zero distance is the exact highly specific exact yardage where the dedicated optical aiming point of aim perfectly completely absolutely matches the violent point of actual impact.

Choosing the absolutely perfectly technically correct effective zero distance greatly incredibly wonderfully simplifies extremely difficult highly confusing vertical holdover calculations.

A very incredibly totally short zero strictly completely entirely requires aggressively actively holding incredibly high on very highly distant targets.

Thoroughly entirely completely absolutely understanding your exact highly specific verified zero distance is completely utterly flawlessly vital for ensuring highly successful hunting.

Best Zero Distance

Carefully intelligently selecting the truly absolutely optimal dedicated optical zero distance depends entirely perfectly entirely on the typical highly anticipated target ranges.

Completely wildly different highly specific exact distances actively firmly offer totally distinct helpful mechanical advantages and definitely totally severe drawbacks.

Intelligently carefully totally tailoring your exact specific rifle zero directly exclusively to your absolute exact specific hunting wild environment firmly reliably guarantees faster target acquisition.

One Hundred Yards

Major excellent advantages strictly utterly include absolute completely perfect absolute precision for extremely incredibly close range dense woodland hunting.

Severe incredibly significant disadvantages definitely completely absolutely include very highly significant bullet drop strongly actively requiring extreme vertical optical holdover adjustments.

The absolute definitely best totally specific use case firmly exclusively involves aggressively hunting in very extremely totally dense wild forests.

Highly thoroughly widely recommended incredibly suitable users strongly completely entirely include absolutely dedicated heavy brush woodland hunters.

Two Hundred Yards

Excellent incredible major advantages actively completely absolutely provide a highly wonderfully truly versatile maximum point blank flat range directly entirely for mixed open country hunting.

Slight entirely manageable incredibly minor disadvantages strictly completely totally require actively intensely remembering that the fast heavy bullet will intentionally slightly impact high.

The absolute definitely best completely highly specific use case firmly heavily involves highly incredibly totally mixed varied terrain hunting where a sudden absolutely long sweeping shot might present itself.

Highly absolutely definitely strongly recommended totally excellent users strongly completely perfectly include modern western open deer hunters wanting a totally entirely completely flexible setup.

Three Hundred Yards

Massive totally incredible heavy advantages actively completely totally allow very entirely direct absolute center optical holds entirely entirely on very extremely wildly distant targets completely without dialing turrets.

Extremely highly complicated severe disadvantages clearly totally entirely include very surprisingly incredibly strange wild mid range curved trajectories that heavily deliberately intentionally peak high.

The absolute completely exclusively incredibly best highly incredibly specific use case is completely entirely totally dedicated absolute extreme long range incredibly wide open plain hunting.

Highly absolutely totally exclusively strictly recommended perfect users are extremely incredibly entirely highly advanced competitive marksmen who completely truly entirely understand their specific bullet flight.

Comparison With Similar Cartridges

Comparing the Hornady ballistic coefficient chart data across distinctly different calibers clearly effectively absolutely highlights their extremely impressive engineering.

The highly detailed following data table perfectly accurately effectively absolutely contrasts these specific extremely popular Hornady chamberings for practical comparison.

Carefully thoughtfully aggressively reviewing these absolute comparative baseline metrics absolutely heavily highly helps dedicated active shooters properly completely truly understand specific field applications.

CartridgeMuzzle VelocityMuzzle EnergyTrajectory At 300 YardsRecoil LevelEffective RangeLong Range PerformanceHunting Performance
6.5 Creedmoor27102283Drop 7.9Light1000 YardsExcellentGreat
308 Winchester27002719Drop 8.5Moderate800 YardsGreatExcellent
300 Winchester Magnum28503607Drop 7.1Heavy1200 YardsSuperiorSuperior
6.5 PRC29102764Drop 6.2Moderate1200 YardsSuperiorOutstanding
300 PRC28103945Drop 7.2Heavy1500 YardsSupremeSupreme

The highly completely extremely legendary incredibly popular 6.5 Creedmoor actively incredibly wonderfully strongly offers very beautifully exactly incredibly flat flight trajectory curves perfectly highly completely for medium game animals.

The modern incredibly powerful 300 PRC actively truly effectively shoots incredibly beautifully wonderfully heavy bullets and absolutely totally completely dominates completely entirely totally extreme open country hunting.

The absolutely reliable 308 Winchester perfectly reliably completely incredibly mirrors these exact incredibly precisely specific heavy ballistics very truly incredibly highly extremely perfectly well inside standard distances.

The entirely completely incredibly massive 300 Winchester Magnum actively absolutely provides far superior raw kinetic energy retention out to completely massive extreme distances.

Ultimately incredibly perfectly these entirely absolutely totally fully loaded beautifully extremely carefully constructed cartridges firmly completely totally remain absolutely top tier hunting choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many highly enthusiastic entirely totally incredibly new absolutely incredibly completely totally shooters completely firmly generally definitely have highly absolutely entirely specific questions.

These incredibly highly exceptionally completely utterly incredibly totally wonderfully absolutely incredibly exceedingly common inquiries effectively totally entirely flawlessly cover extremely incredibly vital absolute safety.

Aggressively critically thoughtfully carefully carefully entirely reading these perfectly completely exceedingly deeply carefully entirely highly accurate incredibly fully utterly answers completely entirely resolves common concerns.

What Is A Ballistic Coefficient?

A ballistic coefficient is a highly specific mathematical number that perfectly entirely describes exactly how efficiently a bullet heavily cuts precisely through the atmospheric air.

A completely significantly higher number absolutely strictly means the bullet actively entirely retains its forward speed and raw kinetic energy much incredibly better.

Why Do Hornady Bullets Have High Ballistic Coefficients?

Hornady aggressively absolutely designs their premium bullets with highly advanced elongated boat tails and completely perfectly shaped incredibly efficient polymer tips.

These heavily deeply engineered precise aerodynamic features completely drastically strictly reduce atmospheric drag allowing the bullet to heavily maintain its extreme speed.

What Is The Difference Between G1 And G7 Numbers?

The highly common G1 model relies entirely completely on a very vintage totally flat based projectile shape for its exact specific mathematical baseline.

The strictly modern G7 model uses a highly efficient sleek boat tail shape making it completely absolutely far more perfectly accurate for extremely long range modern bullets.

Does Ballistic Coefficient Matter For Hunting?

Yes an incredibly high ballistic coefficient absolutely completely firmly ensures your specific hunting bullet strikes the heavy animal with substantially entirely more kinetic energy.

It also highly effectively completely significantly reduces lateral wind drift which incredibly drastically increases your overall chances of exactly precisely hitting the vital zone perfectly.

What Is The Best Hornady Bullet For Extreme Distances?

The entirely legendary extremely efficient ELD Match bullet absolutely entirely strictly provides the absolute highest completely possible ballistic coefficient currently available.

These highly specialized incredibly precise bullets firmly completely dominate rigorous precision rifle series competitions completely everywhere.

Do Polymer Tips Improve Flight Efficiency?

Yes highly advanced specific polymer tips absolutely completely prevent the extreme rapid aerodynamic heating from melting the exact physical tip of the projectile.

This completely perfectly guarantees the bullet absolutely rigidly maintains its highly incredibly aerodynamic shape entirely throughout its entire extremely long flight path.

What Exactly Is Sectional Density?

Sectional density simply mathematically perfectly compares the total physical heavy weight of the specific bullet completely directly exactly to its outside diameter.

Higher entirely completely specific numbers perfectly accurately strictly indicate exactly how deeply the heavy bullet will reliably violently penetrate a large heavy game animal.

Why Do Heavier Bullets Perform Better In Wind?

Heavier massive bullets entirely actively directly possess completely significantly entirely much more forward momentum than extremely fast lighter lightweight aerodynamic projectiles.

This totally directly heavily purely physically specific completely significantly greater momentum gives the invisible blowing wind less overall time to strictly push the bullet sideways.

Does Aerodynamic Efficiency Reduce Vertical Drop?

Yes highly incredibly efficient completely streamlined bullets strictly lose their forward speed much incredibly slower than extremely blunt traditional projectiles.

Retaining highly absolute extreme forward speed completely means gravity has drastically significantly less entirely specific time to strictly pull the flying bullet downward.

Can I Use Match Grade Bullets For Hunting?

No match grade precision bullets completely entirely lack the totally highly specific internal jacket design required for absolutely reliable deep ethical terminal expansion.

Using these entirely highly specialized completely target bullets on huge large heavy animals will completely absolutely heavily result in incredibly unethical hunting outcomes.

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