Balance Point Ratios of Accurate Long Range Bullets - Including MK-III

[john boy]

Back in the Summer 2005 issue of "The Black Powder Cartridge News" Bob Glodt ran an interesting article entitled "General Observations About Bullets"

Among other things it discussed some of the inherit charicteristics of a accurate bullet. The examples he gave where:
(1) 536.7 gr. Mos Postell
(2) 531.1 gr. Brooks Turkey Killer
(3) 536.7 gr. Jones Creedmoor
(4) 503.6 Brooks 3 groove (custom)

All of these bullets have a well deserved reputation for inherit accuracy. Bob sectioned and weighed each bullet.  He then compiled a table for balance point location and weight distribution.

I will summerize it here:

Bullet No. 1
BP dist. from base 47%
BP dist. from Nose 53%
Weight in base 54%
Weight in Nose 46%
BP = Balance Point

Bulllet #2
BP dist. from base 46%
BP dist. from Nose 54%
Weight in base 55%
Weight in Nose 45%

Bulllet #3
BP dist. from base 44%
BP dist. from Nose 56%
Weight in base 54%
Weight in Nose 46%

Bulllet #4
BP dist. from base 47%
BP dist. from Nose 53%
Weight in base 53%
Weight in Nose 47%

I did the same for the MK-III
Length - 1.363
Wt (1:20) - 490.1
BP Location - directly behind the driving band
BP dist. from base  46%
BP dist. from Nose  54%
Weight in base 52%
Weight in Nose 48%

Now, add ALL the other variables to make em fly cause I'm still having trouble with the Brooks Turkey Killer and a bullet not mentioned that Dr Lay shoots the eyes out of gnats with - The Mini Groove (Money Bullet)!

[Dick Dastardly]

The numbers all work.  The guy that made the mold has made many others and his opinion was that it is a good design.  He also liked the amount of lube that it would carry.  Our wind tunnel tests showed a very good transition from supersonic to subsonic.

I launch mine a mite faster because that's the only way I can get to 1000 yards without running out of ladder.  A compressed charge of Swiss FFFg barely makes it and that's why I went to the duplex load.

I sure like the way the bullets cast with that Iron mold.  Fred did a good job and his workmanship is tops.  I'm still waiting to hear back from Hawaii and Germany on their initial results.

DD-DLoS