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Maximum Distance

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Is there any scientific formulas to figure out the maximum distance a round ball will travel with a given muzzle velocity at optimum trajectory with no wind at sea level?


I am sure a scientific explanation exists, and I am not against scientific, but I just experiment, I find that more fun.
 
Is there any scientific formulas to figure out the maximum distance a round ball will travel with a given muzzle velocity at optimum trajectory with no wind at sea level?
Download the phone app BALISTIC ARC. Load the data under the firearm section.
I have several of my frontstuffers set up. You get a chart (and a lot more) that gives velocity and energy over the distance of the flight at the intervals you set.
This app will also let you use the geosats to lay out your shots, measure distances, auto calc your drops - and a lot more!
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Balistic arc also has a local weather lookup to set wind, temp pressure etc or will read from a weather dongle. It auto incorporates all variables. It was designed for HUNTERS instead for rapid shot determination and you do not have to guess how long your shot is. It pulls up the satelite map and you simply stake out your shooting position and using the satelite view pin your target. It calculates all variables including the weather and gives you a shot resolution in microseconds. And it's CHEAP (especially when compared to JBM)
And yes, I so have the JBM also, just don't use it when I am out in the bush
 
The important thing to consider when using a muzzleloader with round balls is terminal energy.
Even though my .45 will shoot out to a 1000 yards the terminal energy when it gets there is only 9 foot pounds, and the velocity is only 179 ft/s
The speed at which a projectile must travel to penetrate skin is 163 fps and to break bone is 213 fps, (Belkin, 1978)
 
I was trying to read about the drop of a .65 round ball out of a smoothbore, but figured I'd just go to the range and find out myself.
 
I'm just trying to figure out the minimum safe zone for a .54 cal round ball at 1000fps muzzle velocity.

Well, a rough estimate says about 1137 yards, To be safe I would double that distance or have a backstop with enough height to force the shooter to elevate the weapon above 25 degrees in order to miss the backstop..

Lastly, if you ever have a doubt, don't pull the trigger.
 
I say watch your background. If you cannot see pass the target or absolutely, positively, know the shot stops in a benign spot don't pull the trigger.

They are round balls not shot.

Having had a #2 lead removed from my left chest where I was shot and never heard the shot as it was to far away in the woods. it is a plus you are asking whish the idiot who hunts pheasant with 2's could say the same. It hurt and made me miss 3 days of work never mind dealing with the F&G who investigated like it was my fault.[1973 in MA at a Wildlife management area]

Hope it is ok and you are on your own.
 
Kinda reminds me of the fella shooting the .54 looking at the unhappy range officer and saying "Aw now everybody knows that falling shot caint hurt nobody."
 
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