Rain Ballistics

[david3544]

When hunting or shooting in the rain, what effect does the rain have on ballistics? Anyone got any experience shooting wet bullets? Curious. Thanks.

[Mikecr]

I've never seen rain affect anything except raise BC a touch.

[david3544]

Thanks Mike....must be a stupid question...just never seen any info on it.

[Buffalobob]

Once a few years ago there was a thread on another forum and I made a calculation that involved a bullets flight to 1000 yards and a 1 inch per hour rainfall intensity. I calculated the probablity that the bullet would be hit by a water drop and the deflection of the bullet from the collision. As it turned out there had been a rain of similiar magnitude a few days earlier at a 1K benchrest match and that was enough to obscure the targets and the match was called.

The conclusion I remember from the thread and the calcualtion is that long before there is a high probablity of a collision and a deflection you will not be able to see to shoot.

Now then, there are other considerations to look at that are more important. Water is not only the universal solvent but a good lubricant and putting a wet cartridge in your chamber will reduce the sidewall friction and increase bolt thrust. This is similar to shooting with an oily chamber. Moral of the story is keep your cartridges dry.

[goodgrouper]

Remember driving down the freeway at 80 mph while it is snowing? You don't even have to use your wipers. The flakes never make it to your windshield. Water is of course heavier, but your bullet goes a lot faster than your car!

[P KUNDA]

As a part of my testing experience, I've found that drops can and w'll be hit by a bullet and it can be seen if the drops are big enough. Shooting group of ten shots at 200metres in a heavy rain and one can nearly double the group size, as at least one bullet will spoil the normal expected size of the group.

Peter

[goodgrouper]

Originally Posted by P KUNDA

As a part of my testing experience, I've found that drops can and w'll be hit by a bullet and it can be seen if the drops are big enough. Shooting group of ten shots at 200metres in a heavy rain and one can nearly double the group size, as at least one bullet will spoil the normal expected size of the group.

Peter

That sure goes against all the agg's for short range benchrest matches shot in the rain. If the rain is light enough that one can see the target boards, the aggs are right in line with what they should be. Are you sure you didn't have a raindrop hanging off your crown on certain shots?