Rain Ballistics
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Mikecr
Well-Known Member
I've never seen rain affect anything except raise BC a touch.
Buffalobob
Well-Known Member
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.
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
Well-Known Member
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!
Yes rain will have an effect
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
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
Well-Known Member
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?
goodgrouper
Well-Known Member
Even when the rain drops are huge (like back in Virginia) and falling in such high volume that the target can't be seen, rail guns set up pointing at the target before the rain started still shoot normal sized groups for the unlimited agg during the rain.
Hunting in heavy rain?
I don't worry about the effect of a heavy rain on my trajectory or accuracy because if the raindrops are the size of cherries, I'll surely have taken cover and won't be hunting. But it's nice to know that if I do hunt in some rain, I shouldn't have to be too concerned about the effect on ballistics.
I don't worry about the effect of a heavy rain on my trajectory or accuracy because if the raindrops are the size of cherries, I'll surely have taken cover and won't be hunting. But it's nice to know that if I do hunt in some rain, I shouldn't have to be too concerned about the effect on ballistics.
