Thought I would toot my own horn here. I sat down over the past few weeks and put down some notes. With these notes I wrote an article on Sectional Density. I have always heard that the higher the Sectional Density the better the bullet for certain game, ie: the larger and more heavy boned & skinned the larger the SD should be.

With the number of premium bullets on the market I have come to the conclusion that SD numbers Don't mean Squat. This is my personal opinion, based on logic and experiences. Please if you have the time and if you have some interest read what I have put down. Let me know what you think. Personally I think that it may help some new to reloading and give them an insite into picking a bullet for their needs.

To all that do read it, Thank You in advance.

Hi Flint 54

SD is a figure that I never use. I use the BC to determine it's flight path and if it's within say 250 yards with the caliber's that we use for deer, it's not worth using. Sort of irrelavent(?)

Daveyboy

Hi Flint54....excellent presentation.

Sectional density, historically, was primarily used for Ballistic Coefficient estimates using bullet shape charts. Today,manufacturers use chronographs .
Sectional Density is an short-cut calculation,having no practical use which sort of represents weight per cross-sectional area but is in fact just weight/diameter squared.

Consider Barnes TSX vs Barnes MRX for the .308 caliber.
Equal weights have the identical sectional densities,yet one is 100% copper with a density of 9.0 vs another with core of tungsten (19.3).
Same sectional densities.

So...I totally agree with you.

Shootist

Hey Flinty...Where did you place the article?

Articles: Topics -> Reloading.

Or heres a direct link: www.huntingnut.com/ind...cle&sid=35

We've had some great articles submitted reciently and I was going to make a bigger announcment telling people to check'em out along with a call to submit more... be it official info or even stories.

Thanks Flint, it is good info. I use SD.

-DallanC

Found it, finally. But thanks Dallan.

Flinty. Very good. I have always felt that mathimatical equations were a good thing except that they rarely partain to real life. So I do agree with what you wrote...SD does not take into account bullet design.

Well Fint54, I wrote this neat reply to you on this subject & couldn't get it to post, so, I'm going to try again, only a condensed version.

I read your article, but I'm an amateur with 30 years of reloading experience. Bullet diameter & weight are all I considered & utilize available loading data to get the job done. The only loads I've worked up on my own were for the S & W 460 XVR, which, wasn't much of a challenge as it's just a 454 on steroids. Now where can I get those bullets that Hornady is using in their Leverevolution loads so I can get going on my Marlins in 45 LC & 45-70?
Keep it coming...

George...They ain't going to sell them to us. Already checked. For me? No bother as I load pointed bullets for my Winchester 94 anyway. Just don't load them in the tubular magazine. Chamber load by hand each one and back them up with flat points in the tube.

Bushmaster...Sorry to hear the manufacturers won't be selling those bullets, it'll be their loss. I thought about loading some pointed rounds & chambering one while putting another in the tube magazine. Two shots should do it...
Keep it coming...

George...If you do try pointed bullets and put one in the magazine, make sure that you use a bullet that has a cannalure and use a good crimp. I use the Lee FCD. I have been using Hornady Flat Base Spire Point 165 grain bullets and W-748.

Flint54 wrote:

Thought I would toot my own horn here. I sat down over the past few weeks and put down some notes. With these notes I wrote an article on Sectional Density. I have always heard that the higher the Sectional Density the better the bullet for certain game, ie: the larger and more heavy boned & skinned the larger the SD should be. With the number of premium bullets on the market I have come to the conclusion that SD numbers Don't mean Squat. This is my personal opinion, based on logic and experiences. Please if you have the time and if you have some interest read what I have put down. Let me know what you think. Personally I think that it may help some new to reloading and give them an insite into picking a bullet for their needs. To all that do read it, Thank You in advance. I don’t profess that I have all of the answers but hopefully this layman’s article will possibly assist at least one person.

Nothing wrong with "tooting your own horn" Flinty, so long as the right sounds come out.

Thanks for the article mate. I read it, then re-read it and intend to read it again just to make sure that the info soaks into this thick head of mine.

What you say makes a lot of sense. I remember getting my first reloading manual 25 yrs ago (Sierra) and it had a section on SD and BC and it almost used "lawyer speak" to describe the principles of both. You have done it in layman's terms and in a much shorter and easier to digest article. Well done my friend. You have achieved your aim....this is one person who has been assisted...greatly.

Time to revisit the article and my .243 hunting projectiles.

Cheers, Vince

Bushmaster, thanks for the info, but what load are you talking about? Is that for a 30-30?
Keep it coming...

George...Check your PM...Getting a little off topic.

Flint: GOOD atricle! Very commonsense. Maybe those old guys, like Keith and O'Connor knew something.

"Modern Technology" has produced some products that would make the "old guys" dance and sing, and keeps the newer gun scribes writing reams and reams of copy in praise of whatever it may be this month.

As you stated, any good bullet, regardless of a few points one way or the other in BC or SD, if used within its design limitations, that is accurate in an individual rifle, will be sufficient for the job, even if used on a beastie slightly larger than the recommended size.

For years we hunter/handloaders have been led to believe that a few thousandths here, and a grain or three there, and 1/8in. tighter groups will make us INVINCIBLE in the field.

Precision and consistency in reloading are necessary, and good, but how much better is it to load a round we know will do what we need it to the first time, every time, while still providing humane kills, reasonable velocity (2700-2900 fps.) and excellent hunting accuracy ~ 1 1/2 in @ 100yds. in the field?

Probably changing primers, powder, charge weight and bullet brand/weight has a relatively small effect for the effort expended.

Good effort! I'll look forward to future submissions.

Sorry fellows...