Does the BC on the box match what the bullet’s own drag data says? Mostly. Some manufacturers more than others. And there’s a free gift for Hornady shooters at the end.
TL;DR (for the attention-challenged)
- Hornady’s "200 yard" BC has nothing to do with 200 yards. What it does have to do with, nobody quite knows.
- At 300 yards you can’t tell it from the truth. At 1500 yards it can put your bullet 60 inches from where you think it is.
- The honest BC exists. It’s buried in the support pages.
- Two radar labs measured the same Lapua bullet and disagreed by 8%. Everyone is right, the bullets are fine.
- Free table of better BCs at the end, for people who don’t like being a meter off.
The last post ended on a mildly reassuring note: published G7 BCs and my own numbers agree within 1.4–1.9% on average. Reassuring until you remember what averages are good at, which is hiding things. So I went back and checked them one at a time, each published number against the drag data of the bullet it belongs to.
What I checked, and against what
112 published BCs, in four sets:
- Hornady’s own bullets: 24 ELD-M, ELD-X and ELD-VT. Hornady publishes three BCs per bullet (at Mach 2.25, 2.0 and 1.75), so that’s 72 numbers, checked against the drag curves inside Hornady’s own 4DOF calculator.
- Berger: 12 bullets, against Hornady’s radar data. The 4DOF calculator carries plenty of other makers’ bullets too.
- Lapua: 20 bullets, against Lapua’s own published radar curves. Lapua’s list has 23 entries, but three pairs (69 gr, 77 gr and 154/155 gr) are a Scenar and a Scenar-L with identical radar curves, mass and published BC, so I counted each pair once. The 90 gr pair looks the same on paper, but its curves differ by up to 2%, so those two stay separate.
- Lapua again: 8 bullets that Hornady also measured, 7 of which are among the 20 above. Same bullets, two labs. A free reality check.
Hornady doesn’t publish its drag curves. The calculator only gives you trajectories, so I reverse-engineered the curves from those. Everything here therefore assumes that what Hornady’s calculator flies is Hornady’s real data for that bullet. If it isn’t, then every trajectory Hornady has ever shown you is wrong too, and we have bigger problems.
Muzzle velocities come from the same place for everyone: the manufacturer’s data if there’s a factory load with that bullet, otherwise Vihtavuori reloading tables (a sensible velocity near max load).
For every published number I asked two things.
Could it have come from the curve at all? A drag curve doesn’t give you one BC. Read it at a different speed and you get a slightly different number (that was the whole point of the last post). So each bullet has an honest range: the lowest and highest BC you can read off its curve anywhere it actually flies, Mach 3 down to Mach 1.1. A published number inside that range could have been arrived at honestly. Above it is high, below it is low. I allow a 2% margin on both sides for small differences in calculation method and for rounded diameters and weights.
How far is it from the best single BC? That’s the BC with which a plain BC-based solver reproduces the bullet’s true drop most closely, from the muzzle to the edge of transonic, at the bullet’s muzzle velocity. Brute force, nothing clever. (The gift BCs at the end are a slightly different animal, since they have to work across a range of muzzle velocities.)
Results
| Set | Bullets | Published numbers | Outside the honest range | Which way | Average miss, either direction | Worst miss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady, on Hornady’s curves | 24 | 72 | 17 | 16 too high, 1 too low | 3.0% | +10.1% |
| Berger, on Hornady’s curves | 12 | 12 | 0 | none | 2.3% | +5.3% |
| Lapua, on Lapua’s curves | 20 | 20 | 1 | 1 too low | 1.4% | −3.6% |
| Lapua, on Hornady’s curves | 8 | 8 | 3 | 2 too low, 1 too high | 2.6% | −7.0% |
Only 21 of the 112 numbers, about one in five, sit outside their bullet’s honest range even with the margin. 17 of those 21 are Hornady’s. 13 are 5% or more away from the best BC, and 11 of those 13 are Hornady’s.
To see what a miss means on the range, I flew every bullet twice: once on its real drag curve, once in a plain solver that only knows a G7 BC and gets the published number. Both start at the bullet’s muzzle velocity and run to the transonic edge, where the bullet is down to Mach 1.1 (somewhere between about 630 and 1420 m depending on the bullet), and I measured how far apart they end up. Flat shot, no zero, standard atmosphere. Real-world numbers will be a bit different; it’s the order of magnitude that matters. The average gap along the way is in mrad, the scope-click unit (a click is usually 0.1 mrad, and 0.01 mrad is 1 cm at 1000 m). Misses at a given distance are in centimetres and inches, and "high" means the solver thinks the bullet lands higher than it really does.
Berger: close to Hornady’s radar data
One caveat first. For Berger I’m comparing two labs, Berger’s published BCs against Hornady’s radar. That tells you how well the two agree, not who’s right. Whose data you trust is up to you.
Only one Berger bullet is 5% or more off Hornady’s data: the .308 180 gr Elite Hunter, published 5.3% above the best BC for Hornady’s curve. All 12 numbers are inside the honest range, though five only make it thanks to the margin (they sit 0.1–1.8% above the range). The other four of those five are about 2–3% above the best BC, the sort of thing two labs would argue about. Used as one BC for the whole flight, the published Berger numbers are 0.072 mrad off Hornady’s curves on average, which is 19 cm (7.6 in) at the transonic edge. The biggest gap is 40 cm (16 in), for the 7 mm 195 gr Elite Hunter. Per-bullet results are in Annex A3.
Lapua: the only ones who under-promise
Lapua is the mirror image of everyone else. Their only number outside the honest range, the .338 300 gr Scenar at 2.1% below it, is low. The published BC is under the best BC for 14 of the 20 bullets, nothing is more than 3.6% off, and the average miss is 1.4%. As a single BC for the whole flight they cost 0.046 mrad on average, 12.5 cm (4.9 in) at the transonic edge. Worst is that same .338 300 gr Scenar at 69 cm (27 in). Annex A4 has the details.
Lapua says it calculates BC from a fit over the first 100 m of flight, so I did exactly that. Doesn’t match either: the 100 m fit comes out about 1.7% above the published BC, for 19 of the 20 bullets. I also tried every muzzle velocity from 715 to 1020 m/s (2345–3350 fps) in case some plausible speed closes the gap. None does. You’d need the velocity to be off by anything from −190 to +210 m/s, which isn’t credible. Most likely Lapua rounds down or keeps a safety margin. Someone give them a medal. And preferably a marketing department.
Same Lapua bullets, two labs
Eight Lapua bullets have both a Lapua and a Hornady radar curve. Same caveat as with Berger: two labs, not a hunt for the right number. For six of them the labs agree on the best BC within about 1–3%. For the other two, the 6.5 mm 136 gr and the .308 220 gr Scenar-L, they’re 8.4% and 7.8% apart.
That’s why the biggest mismatch between a published Lapua BC and Hornady’s data, −7.0% for the 136 gr Scenar-L, disappears on Lapua’s own curve: there the published BC is inside the honest range and only +0.8% from the best. Against Hornady’s curves the published Lapua numbers are 0.102 mrad off on average (31 cm, 12 in, at the transonic edge), and 78 cm (31 in) for that 136 gr. Lapua’s published number lands between the two labs’ answers for six of the eight, and neither lab is consistently closer to it. Per-bullet results on Hornady’s curves are in Annex A5.
Which tells you how to read all this. A 2–4% miss is within what two professional radar labs disagree on when they measure the same bullet. That’s not a finding. Hornady missing by 5–10% on its own numbers, against its own curves, is.
Hornady: where it gets interesting
What Hornady say about their BCs (and what I think of it)
Hornady explain their BCs on a support page, hornady.com/bc. Worth reading. All quotes below are from it, as of September 2026.
Short version of the history. Hornady used to publish "800 yard" average BCs for ELD-X and ELD Match, which they call "the most usable BC from a trajectory prediction standpoint". Trouble was, "many shooters did not understand" that other manufacturers list "200 yard" BCs, so "the increased performance of the ELD Match and ELD-X bullets wasn’t always realized in a head-to-head BC comparison". Now Hornady publish "200 yard" Mach 2.25 (2512 fps) G1 and G7 BCs, with Mach 2.0 and Mach 1.75 values "also available".
"200 yard" is technically meaningless. A BC belongs to a speed, not a distance. How far a bullet has flown by the time it’s down to 2512 fps depends entirely on how fast it started. Hornady’s page more or less admits this, noting that industry BCs are measured over 100 to 300 yards, "which corresponds to velocities around 2500 fps depending on muzzle velocities". Whoever in marketing came up with the label pulled off something rare: making an excellent bullet maker look like it’s massaging its numbers.
In fairness, the page does say what the Mach 2.25 value is for: "velocities above 2,500 fps and distances out to 300 yards". Conveniently, at those distances you can hardly notice a wrong BC (numbers below: half a centimetre of drop error at 300 yards, at most). It also says the Mach 2.25 BCs "should be used when comparing to other published BC values within the industry". For comparing, then. Not for shooting. Except that it’s also the BC on every bullet’s product page, which makes it the one an unsuspecting shooter will type into a ballistic app. The app will then happily fly it to 1000 yards and beyond, where the bullet is nowhere near Mach 2.25. The ELD Match product page, by the way, says its BCs are "measured and verified by Doppler radar".
And as we’ll see, a lot of these Mach 2.25 values are way too "optimistic" to say anything meaningful about the bullet’s drag, worst of all for the flagship ELD-M line.
I put a fair amount of effort into connecting the "200 yard" BC to the bullet’s actual Cd–Mach curve, the one in Hornady’s own 4DOF calculator. I tried:
- every reasonable definition of "BC at Mach 2.25": the value at that speed, averages over bands around and above it, averages from the muzzle, fits over anything from 100 to 600 yards starting at speeds up to Mach 3;
- G1 instead of G7, and the other way round (turns out Hornady’s G1 and G7 columns are the same number in two costumes, converted with the standard tables’ ratio to within 0.03%, not measured twice);
- twist rate, mass, caliber, atmosphere conventions, constant scale factors.
Nothing. Every recipe leaves a bullet-to-bullet scatter of 2.5–3.4%, where rounding alone would give 0.2%, and the offset depends on the bullet family, so it isn’t some convention either. What’s left is "creative" marketing. That’s my working hypothesis, not a proven fact. The page itself calls BC "becoming somewhat irrelevant" except for "those still using BC based trajectory calculators or when using BC as rating criteria for bullet performance". Rating criteria. (To be fair, there could be a more innocent story: the published numbers might come from a different data set than the calculator curves. The page does mention early prototype-based values that were later revised upward, "a positive gain".)
Why list a Mach 2.0 value at all? According to Hornady, the Mach 2.0 and 1.75 values "offer comparisons to other manufacturers that publish multiple BC’s based on velocity", and Mach 2.0 is for "mid-range shooting where the bullet spends time in flight after slowing down". No distance, no word on when to use it. Nobody really knows what it’s for. My unkind guess: three numbers in a row make the crazy-high Mach 2.25 value look less like an outlier and more like the top of a natural downward trend.
The Mach 1.75 value is the one Hornady actually recommend for trajectories: it "should be used when calculating trajectories for shooting beyond 600 yds". To get it you have to leave the product page, find the three-value list in the support section and actually read the text. Few people do. So how do the two values that matter hold up against the real drag curves?
The Mach 2.25 BC
| Mach 2.25 BC, 24 bullets | Result |
|---|---|
| Average vs. best BC (highs and lows netted) | +4.0% (average miss, ignoring direction: 4.1%) |
| Above the best BC | 20 of 24 |
| Above the honest range (with the margin) | 11 of 24 (none below) |
| 5% or more too high | 8 of 24 |
| By line, average vs. best BC | ELD-M +5.3% (11 bullets), ELD-X +2.8% (11), ELD-VT +2.4% (2) |
| Worst | 7 mm 180gr ELD-M +10.1%, 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M +9.6% |
| Average error over the whole flight | 0.138 mrad on average, 0.122 median (1.4 / 1.2 scope clicks); worst 0.394 mrad (3.9 clicks), the 7 mm 180gr ELD-M |
| Drop error at 300 yd | 0.2 cm / 0.08 in on average, 0.5 cm / 0.2 in worst |
| Drop error at 600 yd | 2.4 cm / 1.0 in on average, 6.2 cm / 2.4 in worst |
| Drop error at the transonic edge | 44 cm / 17 in on average (too high for 22 of 24), 153 cm / 60 in worst |
Some examples at the transonic edge (best BCs are for each bullet’s own muzzle velocity):
- 7 mm 180gr ELD-M, 2975 fps: specs BC 0.391, best BC 0.355. At 1548 yd (1416 m) the solver puts the bullet 153 cm (60 in) high.
- .338 285gr ELD-M, 2745 fps: 0.417 vs. 0.387. 116 cm (46 in) high at 1522 yd (1392 m).
- 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M, 2910 fps: 0.351 vs. 0.320. 110 cm (43 in) high at 1345 yd (1230 m). That 0.351 is higher than any BC you can read off this bullet’s curve at any speed, so no way of averaging the curve will ever get you there.
- .308 225gr ELD-M, 2810 fps: 0.391 vs. 0.369. 91 cm (36 in) high at 1512 yd (1383 m).
- And the counter-example: for the .277 145gr ELD-X the specs BC is 0.270, spot on, and the error at the transonic edge is 2.3 cm (0.9 in).
So:
- For what Hornady say it’s for, it’s fine. Out to 300 yards nobody could tell. The error averages a fifth of a centimetre.
- It doesn’t describe the bullet’s drag. It’s above the best BC for 20 of 24 bullets and above the honest range for 11, and worst for the flagship ELD-M line: +5.3% on average, up to +10.1%.
- Used for a long shot, which is exactly what an app will do with it, it gets expensive. 0.2 cm at 300 yd, 2.4 cm at 600 yd, 44 cm on average at the transonic edge, and around a metre or more for four of the 24 bullets, all of them ELD-M.
Per-bullet results are in Annex A1.
The Mach 1.75 BC
| Mach 1.75 BC, 24 bullets | Result |
|---|---|
| Average vs. best BC (highs and lows netted) | −0.4% (average miss, ignoring direction: 2.2%) |
| Above / below the best BC | 10 / 14 of 24 |
| Outside the honest range (with the margin) | 1 of 24 (too low) |
| 5% or more off | none (largest: +3.6% and −4.9%) |
| Average error over the whole flight | 0.081 mrad on average, 0.078 median (0.8 / 0.8 scope clicks); worst 0.182 mrad (1.8 clicks), the .277 145gr ELD-X |
| Drop error at 600 yd | 1.8 cm / 0.7 in on average, 4.5 cm / 1.8 in worst |
| Drop error at the transonic edge | 25 cm / 10 in on average, 64 cm / 25 in worst |
Examples at the transonic edge. For the 7 mm 180gr ELD-M, the Mach 1.75 BC of 0.368 is still 3.6% above the best BC of 0.355, which puts the bullet 64 cm (25 in) high at 1548 yd. For the .277 145gr ELD-X it’s 0.257 against a best BC of 0.270, nearly 5% too low, the biggest low-side miss among all 72 Hornady numbers: 49 cm (19 in) low at 1172 yd (1072 m). And the 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M, 0.321 against 0.320, is about as good as it gets: 8.2 cm (3.2 in) high at 1345 yd.
So:
- This is the honest number. On average it’s dead on, because the highs and lows cancel out. Individual bullets still miss by 2.2% on average, even though only 1 of the 24 falls outside its honest range.
- Much better than the Mach 2.25 value. About 40% less error over the flight, and 25 cm instead of 44 at the transonic edge. Shame you have to dig it out of the support pages.
- Still not great. The error is more than five times that of a well-chosen single BC (0.015 mrad, next section), and the worst bullets are 64 cm (25 in) off at the transonic edge.
Per-bullet results are in Annex A2.
A gift for people who shoot Hornady but don’t use Hornady’s solver
Hornady’s own solver, and my pet project, fly Hornady bullets on their real drag curves and never need a BC. Pretty much everything else (phone apps, rangefinder firmware, most web calculators) wants one G7 BC. Your choice there is the too-optimistic specs BC, or the Mach 1.75 one, which is better but hidden and still up to 5% off. So here’s a better number.
For each bullet I looked for the single G7 BC with which a plain solver reproduces the true trajectory most closely, muzzle to transonic edge. Muzzle velocity changes with the lot, the barrel and the weather, though, and a BC that’s perfect for one muzzle velocity is a little off for another. So the gift BC is the one that works best across a whole window: Mach 2.2 to 2.8, i.e. 2456 to 3126 fps or 749 to 953 m/s, which covers 21 of the 24 bullets. Averaged over all 24, against the two published values:
| BC used | Average error over the flight | Drop error at 600 yd, average / worst | Drop error at the transonic edge, average / worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specs BC (Mach 2.25) | 0.138 mrad | 2.4 cm (1.0 in) / 6.2 cm (2.4 in) | 44 cm (17 in) / 153 cm (60 in) |
| Mach 1.75 BC | 0.081 mrad | 1.8 cm (0.7 in) / 4.5 cm (1.8 in) | 25 cm (10 in) / 64 cm (25 in) |
| The gift | 0.015 mrad | 0.7 cm (0.3 in) / 1.5 cm (0.6 in) | 2.1 cm (0.8 in) / 7.6 cm (3.0 in) |
About nine and a half times less error than the specs BC, around a seventh of a click. Over the whole Mach 2.2–2.8 window, not just at each bullet’s own muzzle velocity, the gift averages 0.022 mrad (2.2 cm at 1000 m). That’s 0.013 mrad (1.3 cm at 1000 m) worse than a BC tuned for one exact muzzle velocity, which is what you pay for not knowing yours exactly. Rounding to three decimals costs next to nothing.
Fine print. These are G7 BCs for these bullets only, good from the muzzle down to about Mach 1.1 (roughly 1230 fps, 375 m/s). Below that you’re in transonic, and no single BC will save you there. The worst-off at their own muzzle velocities are the 175 gr ELD-X (3000 fps), the 147 gr ELD-M (2910 fps) and the 110 gr ELD-X (3140 fps, above the window), at 0.032, 0.027 and 0.025 mrad (3.2, 2.7 and 2.5 cm at 1000 m). The two ELD-VTs, loaded at 3150–3300 fps and so also above the window, barely notice: 0.005 and 0.006 mrad.
The gift BCs for all 24 Hornady bullets are in Annex B1, next to the specs BC. Annexes B2 to B4 do the same for the Berger and Lapua bullets, with the error to expect against each bullet’s Cd–Mach curve at its muzzle velocity and the published BC’s error for comparison. For Berger on Hornady’s curves, the average error drops from 0.072 mrad (19 cm, 7.6 in, at the transonic edge) with the published BC to 0.010 mrad (2.1 cm, 0.8 in). Again, that’s agreement with Hornady’s data, not proof of whose data is right. For Lapua on Lapua’s own curves it goes from 0.046 mrad (12.5 cm, 4.9 in) to 0.019 mrad (4.0 cm, 1.6 in), and on Hornady’s curves from 0.102 mrad (31 cm, 12 in) to 0.010 mrad (3.2 cm, 1.3 in). For 7 of the 64 bullets the published BC actually does slightly better at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity. That’s because the gift BC is the best compromise over the whole window, not the best for one exact speed. More on that in Annex B.
Don’t believe me? Check it yourself
You don’t need my code. Any solver that takes a G7 BC will do.
- Open Hornady’s 4DOF calculator and pick a bullet from Annex B1. Standard atmosphere at sea level, no wind, muzzle velocity between 2456 and 3126 fps. Write down the drop out to where the bullet gets near Mach 1.1.
- Open any BC-based solver (Hornady’s own is right there in the next tab), same conditions, and run it twice: once with the specs BC, once with the Annex B1 number.
- Compare both with the 4DOF drop, especially at the far end. My figures are for a flat shot with no zero, so a zero in your solver will shift things by a few centimetres. Where the specs BC is 5–10% above the Annex B1 number you won’t need to squint: for the 7 mm 180gr ELD-M at 2975 fps, the specs BC should come out around 60 in high at 1548 yd, and the Annex B1 one a fraction of an inch.
Key takeaways (again, I asked AI to sort my trash)
- About one in five published G7 BCs (21 of 112) can’t be read off the bullet’s own curve at any speed, even with a 2% margin. 17 of the 21 are Hornady’s.
- Hornady’s specs BC, the "200 yard" Mach 2.25 one, is fine to 300 yards and meant for comparing brands. It’s also the one that ends up in your app. It runs 4% above the bullets’ own drag curves on average, 5.3% for ELD-M, up to 10%. On a long shot that’s 44 cm (17 in) at the transonic edge on average, and up to 1.5 m (60 in).
- I couldn’t reproduce Hornady’s numbers from Hornady’s curves with any definition of BC. Working hypothesis: "creative" marketing. A different data set can’t be ruled out.
- Hornady’s Mach 1.75 BC, recommended past 600 yards, is nearly dead on on average, and still 25 cm (10 in) off at the transonic edge on average.
- Berger agrees well with Hornady’s radar: one bullet in 12 is off by 5%, the rest by about 3% or less. Who’s right is your call.
- Lapua’s numbers run low: under the best BC for 14 of 20 bullets, and about 1.7% below a 100 m fit, which is the method Lapua say they use.
- Two labs measuring the same Lapua bullet differ by up to 8%. Don’t read much into any 2–4% "miss".
- Solver only takes a G7 BC? Use Annex B1 instead of Hornady’s specs BC. Average error over the supersonic flight goes from 14 cm to 1.5 cm at 1000 m (0.138 to 0.015 mrad), and from 44 cm (17 in) to 2.1 cm (0.8 in) at the transonic edge.
Annex A: Published BCs, bullet by bullet
Bullets sorted by caliber and weight. Honest range: the lowest and highest BC you can read off the bullet’s own curve anywhere between Mach 3 and Mach 1.1; "in / high / low" includes the 2% margin. Best BC: the one with which a plain solver reproduces the bullet’s true drop most closely at its muzzle velocity. Average error: trajectory RMSE in mrad, muzzle to transonic edge. Miss at the transonic edge in cm and inches, + meaning the solver puts the bullet higher than it really lands, − lower. Flat shot, no zero, standard atmosphere throughout. A1 and A2 are Hornady’s Mach 2.25 and Mach 1.75 BCs (I left out Mach 2.0). A3 to A5 are the single published G7 BCs of the Berger and Lapua bullets.
Annex A1: Hornady’s published G7 BC at Mach 2.25 (the specs BC), bullet by bullet
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Transonic edge, m / yd | Honest range | Best BC at that muzzle velocity | Published | vs. honest range | vs. best BC | Average error, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 73gr ELD-M | 2790 (850) | 695 / 760 | 0.1745–0.1984 | 0.193 | 0.200 | in | +3.6% | 0.0769 | +15.1 cm / +5.9 in |
| 6 mm 80gr ELD-VT | 3300 (1006) | 909 / 994 | 0.1859–0.1993 | 0.1976 | 0.206 | high | +4.3% | 0.1153 | +29.0 cm / +11.4 in |
| 6 mm 103gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 939 / 1026 | 0.2501–0.257 | 0.2535 | 0.258 | in | +1.8% | 0.0532 | +13.7 cm / +5.4 in |
| 6 mm 108gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 1091 / 1193 | 0.2691–0.2758 | 0.2733 | 0.270 | in | −1.2% | 0.0444 | −11.5 cm / −4.5 in |
| .257 110gr ELD-X | 3140 (957) | 1006 / 1101 | 0.2271–0.2392 | 0.2346 | 0.234 | in | −0.3% | 0.0136 | +0.7 cm / +0.3 in |
| 6.5 mm 120gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 877 / 959 | 0.2193–0.2318 | 0.2273 | 0.245 | high | +7.8% | 0.1961 | +47.1 cm / +18.5 in |
| 6.5 mm 140gr ELD-M | 2710 (826) | 1059 / 1158 | 0.2959–0.3092 | 0.303 | 0.326 | high | +7.6% | 0.2310 | +66.0 cm / +26.0 in |
| 6.5 mm 143gr ELD-X | 2700 (823) | 1026 / 1122 | 0.2746–0.3065 | 0.2996 | 0.314 | high | +4.8% | 0.1453 | +41.7 cm / +16.4 in |
| 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 1230 / 1345 | 0.3059–0.3334 | 0.3204 | 0.351 | high | +9.6% | 0.3243 | +110.0 cm / +43.3 in |
| .277 145gr ELD-X | 2970 (905) | 1072 / 1172 | 0.2573–0.2751 | 0.2702 | 0.270 | in | −0.1% | 0.0115 | +2.3 cm / +0.9 in |
| 7 mm 150gr ELD-X | 2770 (844) | 1029 / 1126 | 0.2632–0.2934 | 0.2879 | 0.289 | in | +0.4% | 0.0160 | +6.1 cm / +2.4 in |
| 7 mm 162gr ELD-X | 2975 (907) | 1199 / 1312 | 0.2921–0.3075 | 0.3011 | 0.318 | high | +5.6% | 0.1968 | +66.8 cm / +26.3 in |
| 7 mm 175gr ELD-X | 3000 (914) | 1325 / 1449 | 0.3126–0.3408 | 0.332 | 0.347 | in | +4.5% | 0.1762 | +68.5 cm / +27.0 in |
| 7 mm 180gr ELD-M | 2975 (907) | 1416 / 1548 | 0.3439–0.3621 | 0.3552 | 0.391 | high | +10.1% | 0.3945 | +152.7 cm / +60.1 in |
| .308 168gr ELD-M | 2700 (823) | 878 / 960 | 0.2467–0.2564 | 0.2519 | 0.263 | high | +4.4% | 0.1180 | +28.2 cm / +11.1 in |
| .308 174gr ELD-VT | 3150 (960) | 1253 / 1370 | 0.2828–0.2918 | 0.2872 | 0.289 | in | +0.6% | 0.0260 | +9.8 cm / +3.9 in |
| .308 178gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 1053 / 1152 | 0.2584–0.2681 | 0.2647 | 0.275 | high | +3.9% | 0.1250 | +37.1 cm / +14.6 in |
| .308 178gr ELD-X | 2600 (792) | 852 / 932 | 0.2495–0.2703 | 0.2629 | 0.278 | high | +5.7% | 0.1421 | +33.1 cm / +13.0 in |
| .308 195gr ELD-M | 2930 (893) | 1156 / 1265 | 0.2876–0.3003 | 0.2958 | 0.294 | in | −0.6% | 0.0256 | −3.9 cm / −1.5 in |
| .308 200gr ELD-X | 2860 (872) | 1088 / 1189 | 0.2786–0.2978 | 0.2907 | 0.301 | in | +3.5% | 0.1164 | +37.5 cm / +14.8 in |
| .308 212gr ELD-X † | 2860 (872) | 1223 / 1338 | 0.314–0.3284 | 0.3221 | 0.334 | in | +3.7% | 0.1389 | +47.8 cm / +18.8 in |
| .308 225gr ELD-M † | 2810 (856) | 1383 / 1512 | 0.3644–0.3834 | 0.369 | 0.391 | in | +6.0% | 0.2502 | +91.1 cm / +35.9 in |
| .338 270gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 1389 / 1519 | 0.3694–0.3812 | 0.3753 | 0.381 | in | +1.5% | 0.0671 | +26.3 cm / +10.4 in |
| .338 285gr ELD-M | 2745 (837) | 1392 / 1522 | 0.3813–0.3931 | 0.3872 | 0.417 | high | +7.7% | 0.3145 | +115.9 cm / +45.6 in |
† Hornady lists two twist rates for these; the figures are for the slower one (1:10).
Annex A2: Hornady’s published G7 BC at Mach 1.75, bullet by bullet
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Transonic edge, m / yd | Honest range | Best BC at that muzzle velocity | Published | vs. honest range | vs. best BC | Average error, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 73gr ELD-M | 2790 (850) | 695 / 760 | 0.1745–0.1984 | 0.193 | 0.192 | in | −0.5% | 0.0145 | −0.6 cm / −0.2 in |
| 6 mm 80gr ELD-VT | 3300 (1006) | 909 / 994 | 0.1859–0.1993 | 0.1976 | 0.203 | in | +2.7% | 0.0759 | +19.3 cm / +7.6 in |
| 6 mm 103gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 939 / 1026 | 0.2501–0.257 | 0.2535 | 0.251 | in | −1.0% | 0.0314 | −7.1 cm / −2.8 in |
| 6 mm 108gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 1091 / 1193 | 0.2691–0.2758 | 0.2733 | 0.261 | low | −4.5% | 0.1737 | −49.2 cm / −19.4 in |
| .257 110gr ELD-X | 3140 (957) | 1006 / 1101 | 0.2271–0.2392 | 0.2346 | 0.227 | in | −3.2% | 0.1107 | −27.0 cm / −10.6 in |
| 6.5 mm 120gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 877 / 959 | 0.2193–0.2318 | 0.2273 | 0.227 | in | −0.1% | 0.0111 | +1.6 cm / +0.6 in |
| 6.5 mm 140gr ELD-M | 2710 (826) | 1059 / 1158 | 0.2959–0.3092 | 0.303 | 0.310 | in | +2.3% | 0.0761 | +23.3 cm / +9.2 in |
| 6.5 mm 143gr ELD-X | 2700 (823) | 1026 / 1122 | 0.2746–0.3065 | 0.2996 | 0.294 | in | −1.9% | 0.0629 | −12.9 cm / −5.1 in |
| 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 1230 / 1345 | 0.3059–0.3334 | 0.3204 | 0.321 | in | +0.2% | 0.0213 | +8.2 cm / +3.2 in |
| .277 145gr ELD-X | 2970 (905) | 1072 / 1172 | 0.2573–0.2751 | 0.2702 | 0.257 | in | −4.9% | 0.1820 | −48.9 cm / −19.3 in |
| 7 mm 150gr ELD-X | 2770 (844) | 1029 / 1126 | 0.2632–0.2934 | 0.2879 | 0.281 | in | −2.4% | 0.0807 | −19.1 cm / −7.5 in |
| 7 mm 162gr ELD-X | 2975 (907) | 1199 / 1312 | 0.2921–0.3075 | 0.3011 | 0.308 | in | +2.3% | 0.0851 | +31.0 cm / +12.2 in |
| 7 mm 175gr ELD-X | 3000 (914) | 1325 / 1449 | 0.3126–0.3408 | 0.332 | 0.341 | in | +2.7% | 0.1097 | +45.0 cm / +17.7 in |
| 7 mm 180gr ELD-M | 2975 (907) | 1416 / 1548 | 0.3439–0.3621 | 0.3552 | 0.368 | in | +3.6% | 0.1556 | +63.8 cm / +25.1 in |
| .308 168gr ELD-M | 2700 (823) | 878 / 960 | 0.2467–0.2564 | 0.2519 | 0.251 | in | −0.4% | 0.0122 | −1.0 cm / −0.4 in |
| .308 174gr ELD-VT | 3150 (960) | 1253 / 1370 | 0.2828–0.2918 | 0.2872 | 0.283 | in | −1.5% | 0.0614 | −19.8 cm / −7.8 in |
| .308 178gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 1053 / 1152 | 0.2584–0.2681 | 0.2647 | 0.254 | in | −4.0% | 0.1477 | −39.4 cm / −15.5 in |
| .308 178gr ELD-X | 2600 (792) | 852 / 932 | 0.2495–0.2703 | 0.2629 | 0.271 | in | +3.1% | 0.0794 | +19.5 cm / +7.7 in |
| .308 195gr ELD-M | 2930 (893) | 1156 / 1265 | 0.2876–0.3003 | 0.2958 | 0.285 | in | −3.7% | 0.1452 | −41.4 cm / −16.3 in |
| .308 200gr ELD-X | 2860 (872) | 1088 / 1189 | 0.2786–0.2978 | 0.2907 | 0.291 | in | +0.1% | 0.0160 | +5.6 cm / +2.2 in |
| .308 212gr ELD-X † | 2860 (872) | 1223 / 1338 | 0.314–0.3284 | 0.3221 | 0.324 | in | +0.6% | 0.0256 | +10.5 cm / +4.1 in |
| .308 225gr ELD-M † | 2810 (856) | 1383 / 1512 | 0.3644–0.3834 | 0.369 | 0.362 | in | −1.9% | 0.0905 | −33.5 cm / −13.2 in |
| .338 270gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 1389 / 1519 | 0.3694–0.3812 | 0.3753 | 0.372 | in | −0.9% | 0.0416 | −13.4 cm / −5.3 in |
| .338 285gr ELD-M | 2745 (837) | 1392 / 1522 | 0.3813–0.3931 | 0.3872 | 0.400 | in | +3.3% | 0.1442 | +54.1 cm / +21.3 in |
† Hornady lists two twist rates for these; the figures are for the slower one (1:10).
Annex A3: Berger’s published G7 BC, bullet by bullet (on Hornady’s curves)
Honest range, best BC and errors here all come from Hornady’s radar data, so this compares two labs. It shows how well the published BC agrees with Hornady’s data, not whose numbers are right.
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Transonic edge, m / yd | Honest range | Best BC at that muzzle velocity | Published | vs. honest range | vs. best BC | Average error, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 80.5gr Fullbore Target | 2700 (823) | 763 / 835 | 0.1947–0.2299 | 0.2263 | 0.226 | in | −0.1% | 0.0089 | +1.7 cm / +0.7 in |
| 6 mm 95gr Classic Hunter | 3140 (957) | 938 / 1026 | 0.2102–0.2196 | 0.217 | 0.223 | in | +2.8% | 0.0803 | +21.3 cm / +8.4 in |
| 6 mm 108gr BT Target | 2800 (853) | 967 / 1058 | 0.2567–0.2678 | 0.2597 | 0.268 | in | +3.2% | 0.0982 | +24.8 cm / +9.8 in |
| 6 mm 108gr Elite Hunter | 2931 (893) | 1099 / 1202 | 0.2732–0.282 | 0.2786 | 0.287 | in | +3.0% | 0.1037 | +31.6 cm / +12.4 in |
| 6.5 mm 135gr Classic Hunter | 2850 (869) | 1126 / 1231 | 0.2914–0.3008 | 0.2965 | 0.303 | in | +2.2% | 0.0792 | +24.5 cm / +9.6 in |
| 6.5 mm 140gr Elite Hunter | 2750 (838) | 1126 / 1231 | 0.3091–0.318 | 0.3134 | 0.310 | in | −1.1% | 0.0412 | −10.8 cm / −4.3 in |
| 7 mm 195gr Elite Hunter | 2800 (853) | 1422 / 1555 | 0.3755–0.4041 | 0.3776 | 0.387 | in | +2.5% | 0.1167 | +39.8 cm / +15.7 in |
| .308 168gr Classic Hunter | 2675 (815) | 849 / 929 | 0.2415–0.252 | 0.2453 | 0.251 | in | +2.3% | 0.0626 | +14.3 cm / +5.6 in |
| .308 175gr OTM Tactical | 2668 (813) | 902 / 987 | 0.2571–0.2709 | 0.2613 | 0.263 | in | +0.7% | 0.0196 | +5.0 cm / +2.0 in |
| .308 180gr Elite Hunter | 2500 (762) | 878 / 960 | 0.2777–0.2907 | 0.2802 | 0.295 | in | +5.3% | 0.1423 | +31.4 cm / +12.4 in |
| .308 185gr Hybrid Target | 2450 (747) | 880 / 962 | 0.288–0.2999 | 0.2908 | 0.295 | in | +1.4% | 0.0408 | +8.3 cm / +3.3 in |
| .308 185gr Juggernaut Target | 2608 (795) | 929 / 1016 | 0.2743–0.29 | 0.277 | 0.284 | in | +2.5% | 0.0753 | +17.7 cm / +7.0 in |
Annex A4: Lapua’s published G7 BC, bullet by bullet (on Lapua’s own radar curves)
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Transonic edge, m / yd | Honest range | Best BC at that muzzle velocity | Published | vs. honest range | vs. best BC | Average error, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 69gr Scenar (GB541) / Scenar-L (GB544) | 2723 (830) | 630 / 689 | 0.1738–0.1822 | 0.1755 | 0.171 | in | −2.6% | 0.0567 | −10.0 cm / −3.9 in |
| .224 77gr Scenar (GB527) / Scenar-L (GB545) | 2600 (792) | 664 / 727 | 0.1965–0.2079 | 0.1978 | 0.193 | in | −2.4% | 0.0561 | −10.6 cm / −4.2 in |
| 6 mm 90gr Scenar (GB493) | 3200 (975) | 957 / 1046 | 0.2016–0.2198 | 0.2179 | 0.216 | in | −0.9% | 0.0271 | −5.4 cm / −2.1 in |
| 6 mm 90gr Scenar-L (GB543) | 3200 (975) | 969 / 1059 | 0.204–0.2239 | 0.221 | 0.216 | in | −2.3% | 0.0727 | −17.1 cm / −6.7 in |
| 6.5 mm 100gr Scenar (GB504) | 3200 (975) | 957 / 1046 | 0.2115–0.219 | 0.2156 | 0.212 | in | −1.7% | 0.0547 | −12.9 cm / −5.1 in |
| 6.5 mm 108gr Scenar (GB464) | 3050 (930) | 965 / 1055 | 0.2278–0.2358 | 0.2317 | 0.231 | in | −0.3% | 0.0109 | −1.5 cm / −0.6 in |
| 6.5 mm 120gr Scenar-L (GB547) | 2900 (884) | 938 / 1025 | 0.2334–0.2536 | 0.2388 | 0.246 | in | +3.0% | 0.0906 | +22.9 cm / +9.0 in |
| 6.5 mm 123gr Scenar (GB489) | 2790 (850) | 970 / 1061 | 0.2604–0.2669 | 0.263 | 0.263 | in | 0.0% | 0.0022 | 0.0 cm / 0.0 in |
| 6.5 mm 136gr Scenar-L (GB546) | 2740 (835) | 1001 / 1095 | 0.2672–0.3117 | 0.2718 | 0.274 | in | +0.8% | 0.0282 | +5.1 cm / +2.0 in |
| 6.5 mm 139gr Scenar (GB458) | 2700 (823) | 1038 / 1135 | 0.2929–0.3002 | 0.2951 | 0.290 | in | −1.7% | 0.0611 | −17.1 cm / −6.7 in |
| 7 mm 180gr Scenar-L (GB554) | 2400 (732) | 1008 / 1102 | 0.3328–0.3816 | 0.3367 | 0.332 | in | −1.4% | 0.0501 | −16.7 cm / −6.6 in |
| .308 154/155gr Scenar (GB491) / Scenar-L (GB552) | 2820 (860) | 879 / 961 | 0.2293–0.2517 | 0.2317 | 0.230 | in | −0.7% | 0.0216 | −5.6 cm / −2.2 in |
| .308 167gr Scenar (GB422) | 2690 (820) | 776 / 848 | 0.2182–0.2301 | 0.223 | 0.223 | in | 0.0% | 0.0067 | +1.0 cm / +0.4 in |
| .308 175gr Scenar-L (GB550) | 2602 (793) | 825 / 903 | 0.2388–0.2719 | 0.2446 | 0.247 | in | +1.0% | 0.0279 | +5.3 cm / +2.1 in |
| .308 185gr Scenar (GB432) | 2475 (754) | 751 / 821 | 0.2384–0.2605 | 0.2428 | 0.242 | in | −0.3% | 0.0083 | −1.8 cm / −0.7 in |
| .308 185gr FMJBT (D46) | 2600 (792) | 842 / 920 | 0.2506–0.2648 | 0.2557 | 0.254 | in | −0.7% | 0.0196 | −2.6 cm / −1.0 in |
| .308 200gr FMJBT (D166) | 2300 (701) | 630 / 688 | 0.2282–0.2587 | 0.2301 | 0.224 | in | −2.7% | 0.0571 | −9.7 cm / −3.8 in |
| .338 250gr Lock Base (B408) | 2920 (890) | 1172 / 1282 | 0.2917–0.3167 | 0.3033 | 0.310 | in | +2.2% | 0.0812 | +29.8 cm / +11.7 in |
| .338 250gr Scenar (GB488) | 2920 (890) | 1280 / 1399 | 0.3194–0.3436 | 0.3234 | 0.322 | in | −0.4% | 0.0188 | −6.1 cm / −2.4 in |
| .338 300gr Scenar (GB528) | 2690 (820) | 1365 / 1493 | 0.3758–0.4325 | 0.3816 | 0.368 | low | −3.6% | 0.1764 | −69.3 cm / −27.3 in |
Entries with two names are a Scenar and a Scenar-L of the same weight with identical radar curves, mass, calibre and published BC, listed once.
Annex A5: Lapua’s published G7 BC, bullet by bullet (on Hornady’s curves)
Honest range, best BC and errors here all come from Hornady’s radar data, so this compares two labs. It shows how well the published BC agrees with Hornady’s data, not whose numbers are right.
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Transonic edge, m / yd | Honest range | Best BC at that muzzle velocity | Published | vs. honest range | vs. best BC | Average error, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 mm 136gr Scenar-L | 2740 (835) | 1063 / 1162 | 0.2889–0.3094 | 0.2947 | 0.274 | low | −7.0% | 0.2782 | −77.8 cm / −30.6 in |
| 6.5 mm 139gr Scenar | 2700 (823) | 1022 / 1118 | 0.2833–0.3091 | 0.2856 | 0.290 | in | +1.5% | 0.0531 | +11.6 cm / +4.6 in |
| .308 167gr Scenar | 2690 (820) | 764 / 836 | 0.2156–0.223 | 0.221 | 0.223 | in | +0.9% | 0.0220 | +5.1 cm / +2.0 in |
| .308 175gr Scenar-L | 2602 (793) | 846 / 925 | 0.2453–0.2826 | 0.2481 | 0.247 | in | −0.4% | 0.0157 | −5.3 cm / −2.1 in |
| .308 185gr Scenar | 2475 (754) | 755 / 825 | 0.2377–0.2795 | 0.2402 | 0.242 | in | +0.7% | 0.0198 | +2.1 cm / +0.8 in |
| .308 220gr Scenar-L | 2700 (823) | 1215 / 1329 | 0.3318–0.388 | 0.3357 | 0.324 | low | −3.5% | 0.1587 | −56.2 cm / −22.1 in |
| .338 250gr Lock Base | 2920 (890) | 1165 / 1274 | 0.2917–0.3015 | 0.2975 | 0.310 | high | +4.2% | 0.1507 | +47.9 cm / +18.9 in |
| .338 300gr Scenar | 2690 (820) | 1338 / 1463 | 0.3748–0.4058 | 0.3775 | 0.368 | in | −2.5% | 0.1182 | −44.5 cm / −17.5 in |
Annex B: the best G7 BC to use, and the error to expect
For every bullet in the study: the single G7 BC, rounded to three decimals, with which a plain solver reproduces the trajectory most closely across muzzle velocities from Mach 2.2 to 2.8 (2456–3126 fps, 749–953 m/s). That’s the gift BC. Next to it, the error to expect against the bullet’s own Cd–Mach curve (Hornady’s curves for B1, B2 and B4, Lapua’s radar for B3) at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity, flat shot, no zero, standard atmosphere. Average error is in mrad (0.01 mrad = 1 cm at 1000 m), muzzle to transonic edge; the miss at the transonic edge is in cm and inches, + high, − low. The published BC and its error are there for comparison (for Hornady that’s the Mach 2.25 specs BC). An asterisk means the muzzle velocity is outside the window. Bullets sorted by caliber and weight. In B3, a Scenar and Scenar-L of the same weight with identical radar curves are listed once.
Where the published BC does better. For 7 of the 64 bullets, the published BC gives a smaller average error at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity than the gift BC:
| Set | Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (Mach) | Published BC | Gift BC | Best BC for exactly this muzzle velocity | Average error, published / gift (mrad) | Miss at Mach 1.1, published / gift, cm (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady (published at Mach 2.25) | 110gr ELD-X | 3140 (2.81)* | 0.234 | 0.233 | 0.2346 | 0.0136 / 0.0246 | 0.7 (0.3) / 3.1 (1.2) |
| Hornady (published at Mach 2.25) | 145gr ELD-X | 2970 (2.66) | 0.270 | 0.269 | 0.2702 | 0.0115 / 0.0192 | 2.3 (0.9) / 1.3 (0.5) |
| Berger | 80.5gr Fullbore Target | 2700 (2.42) | 0.226 | 0.225 | 0.2263 | 0.0089 / 0.0155 | 1.7 (0.7) / 0.3 (0.1) |
| Lapua, own radar | 108gr Scenar (GB464) | 3050 (2.73) | 0.231 | 0.230 | 0.2317 | 0.0109 / 0.0240 | 1.5 (0.6) / 5.1 (2.0) |
| Lapua, own radar | 167gr Scenar (GB422) | 2690 (2.41) | 0.223 | 0.225 | 0.2230 | 0.0067 / 0.0237 | 1.0 (0.4) / 5.5 (2.2) |
| Lapua, own radar | 185gr Scenar (GB432) | 2475 (2.22) | 0.242 | 0.247 | 0.2428 | 0.0083 / 0.0429 | 1.8 (0.7) / 7.8 (3.1) |
| Lapua, own radar | 200gr FMJBT (D166) | 2300 (2.06)* | 0.224 | 0.237 | 0.2301 | 0.0571 / 0.0589 | 9.7 (3.8) / 8.8 (3.5) |
* Muzzle velocity outside Mach 2.2–2.8. Bold: the gift BC has the smaller miss.
Why does that happen? The gift BC is a compromise, the best single number for every muzzle velocity from Mach 2.2 to 2.8 at once, so it can’t be the very best at any one of them. The cost is small. At the bullet’s own muzzle velocity, its average error is 0.007 mrad higher on average (seven hundredths of a click), and less than 0.02 mrad higher (a fifth of a click) for 61 of the 64 bullets. So if a published BC happens to be almost exact for the muzzle velocity the bullet is actually loaded to, it wins there. For six of these seven, it is: within 0.3% of the best BC for that exact muzzle velocity, while the compromise BC is 0.4–1.7% away. That’s luck, not method. Manufacturers don’t publish BCs for a particular muzzle velocity, so a published BC has no reason to be right for yours. If your muzzle velocity is different, or you don’t know it precisely, use the gift BC. The seventh bullet is loaded so slowly, outside the window, that neither number is close, and it’s nearly a tie.
One more thing, in the last column. For three of the seven (bold), the gift BC misses less at Mach 1.1 despite the larger average error. Its error changes sign along the flight and can pass through zero near the end, so the miss at Mach 1.1 on its own flatters it. The average error over the whole flight is the fairer measure.
Annex B1: Hornady bullets, on Hornady’s curves
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Published BC (Mach 2.25, the specs BC) | Gift BC (best for Mach 2.2–2.8) | Published BC is above (+) / below (−) by | Average error with the published BC, mrad | Average error with the gift BC, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge with the gift BC | Transonic edge, m / yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 73gr ELD-M | 2790 (850) | 0.200 | 0.193 | +3.6% | 0.0769 | 0.0087 | +1.5 cm / +0.6 in | 695 / 760 |
| 6 mm 80gr ELD-VT | 3300 (1006)* | 0.206 | 0.198 | +4.0% | 0.1153 | 0.0058 | +1.9 cm / +0.7 in | 909 / 994 |
| 6 mm 103gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 0.258 | 0.253 | +2.0% | 0.0532 | 0.0075 | −1.0 cm / −0.4 in | 939 / 1026 |
| 6 mm 108gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 0.270 | 0.273 | −1.1% | 0.0444 | 0.0066 | +0.1 cm / 0.0 in | 1091 / 1193 |
| .257 110gr ELD-X | 3140 (957)* | 0.234 | 0.233 | +0.4% | 0.0136 | 0.0246 | −3.1 cm / −1.2 in | 1006 / 1101 |
| 6.5 mm 120gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 0.245 | 0.227 | +7.9% | 0.1961 | 0.0111 | +1.6 cm / +0.6 in | 877 / 959 |
| 6.5 mm 140gr ELD-M | 2710 (826) | 0.326 | 0.304 | +7.2% | 0.2310 | 0.0145 | +5.4 cm / +2.1 in | 1059 / 1158 |
| 6.5 mm 143gr ELD-X | 2700 (823) | 0.314 | 0.301 | +4.3% | 0.1453 | 0.0199 | +7.6 cm / +3.0 in | 1026 / 1122 |
| 6.5 mm 147gr ELD-M | 2910 (887) | 0.351 | 0.319 | +10.0% | 0.3244 | 0.0269 | +0.3 cm / +0.1 in | 1230 / 1345 |
| .277 145gr ELD-X | 2970 (905) | 0.270 | 0.269 | +0.4% | 0.0115 | 0.0192 | −1.3 cm / −0.5 in | 1072 / 1172 |
| 7 mm 150gr ELD-X | 2770 (844) | 0.289 | 0.288 | +0.3% | 0.0160 | 0.0098 | +3.1 cm / +1.2 in | 1029 / 1126 |
| 7 mm 162gr ELD-X | 2975 (907) | 0.318 | 0.300 | +6.0% | 0.1968 | 0.0193 | −0.5 cm / −0.2 in | 1199 / 1312 |
| 7 mm 175gr ELD-X | 3000 (914) | 0.347 | 0.330 | +5.2% | 0.1762 | 0.0324 | −1.9 cm / −0.7 in | 1325 / 1449 |
| 7 mm 180gr ELD-M | 2975 (907) | 0.391 | 0.354 | +10.5% | 0.3945 | 0.0219 | −0.1 cm / 0.0 in | 1416 / 1548 |
| .308 168gr ELD-M | 2700 (823) | 0.263 | 0.253 | +4.0% | 0.1180 | 0.0143 | +4.2 cm / +1.7 in | 878 / 960 |
| .308 174gr ELD-VT | 3150 (960)* | 0.289 | 0.287 | +0.7% | 0.0260 | 0.0048 | +0.1 cm / 0.0 in | 1253 / 1370 |
| .308 178gr ELD-M | 2960 (902) | 0.275 | 0.264 | +4.2% | 0.1250 | 0.0125 | −0.4 cm / −0.2 in | 1053 / 1152 |
| .308 178gr ELD-X | 2600 (792) | 0.278 | 0.265 | +4.9% | 0.1421 | 0.0234 | +6.9 cm / +2.7 in | 852 / 932 |
| .308 195gr ELD-M | 2930 (893) | 0.294 | 0.295 | −0.3% | 0.0256 | 0.0151 | 0.0 cm / 0.0 in | 1156 / 1265 |
| .308 200gr ELD-X | 2860 (872) | 0.301 | 0.290 | +3.8% | 0.1164 | 0.0176 | +2.2 cm / +0.9 in | 1088 / 1189 |
| .308 212gr ELD-X † | 2860 (872) | 0.334 | 0.322 | +3.7% | 0.1389 | 0.0111 | +2.6 cm / +1.0 in | 1223 / 1338 |
| .308 225gr ELD-M † | 2810 (856) | 0.391 | 0.369 | +6.0% | 0.2502 | 0.0034 | −0.4 cm / −0.2 in | 1383 / 1512 |
| .338 270gr ELD-X | 2800 (853) | 0.381 | 0.375 | +1.6% | 0.0671 | 0.0082 | +0.1 cm / 0.0 in | 1389 / 1519 |
| .338 285gr ELD-M | 2745 (837) | 0.417 | 0.388 | +7.5% | 0.3145 | 0.0121 | +5.2 cm / +2.0 in | 1392 / 1522 |
† Hornady lists two twist rates for these; the figures are for the slower one (1:10).
* Muzzle velocity outside Mach 2.2–2.8 (2456–3126 fps). The gift BC is still the best one for that window; the error shown is at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity.
Annex B2: Berger bullets, on Hornady’s curves
Errors here are against Hornady’s radar data, so this compares two labs. It shows how well each BC agrees with that data, not whose numbers are right. If you trust the manufacturer’s own data more, use the published BC.
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Published BC | Gift BC (best for Mach 2.2–2.8) | Published BC is above (+) / below (−) by | Average error with the published BC, mrad | Average error with the gift BC, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge with the gift BC | Transonic edge, m / yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 80.5gr Fullbore Target | 2700 (823) | 0.226 | 0.225 | +0.4% | 0.0089 | 0.0155 | −0.3 cm / −0.1 in | 763 / 835 |
| 6 mm 95gr Classic Hunter | 3140 (957)* | 0.223 | 0.216 | +3.2% | 0.0803 | 0.0156 | −2.6 cm / −1.0 in | 938 / 1026 |
| 6 mm 108gr BT Target | 2800 (853) | 0.268 | 0.260 | +3.1% | 0.0982 | 0.0041 | +0.7 cm / +0.3 in | 967 / 1058 |
| 6 mm 108gr Elite Hunter | 2931 (893) | 0.287 | 0.278 | +3.2% | 0.1037 | 0.0096 | −0.9 cm / −0.4 in | 1099 / 1202 |
| 6.5 mm 135gr Classic Hunter | 2850 (869) | 0.303 | 0.296 | +2.4% | 0.0792 | 0.0086 | −0.7 cm / −0.3 in | 1126 / 1231 |
| 6.5 mm 140gr Elite Hunter | 2750 (838) | 0.310 | 0.314 | −1.3% | 0.0412 | 0.0089 | +3.2 cm / +1.3 in | 1126 / 1231 |
| 7 mm 195gr Elite Hunter | 2800 (853) | 0.387 | 0.377 | +2.7% | 0.1167 | 0.0105 | −6.7 cm / −2.6 in | 1422 / 1555 |
| .308 168gr Classic Hunter | 2675 (815) | 0.251 | 0.246 | +2.0% | 0.0626 | 0.0087 | +2.2 cm / +0.9 in | 849 / 929 |
| .308 175gr OTM Tactical | 2668 (813) | 0.263 | 0.262 | +0.4% | 0.0196 | 0.0089 | +2.3 cm / +0.9 in | 902 / 987 |
| .308 180gr Elite Hunter | 2500 (762) | 0.295 | 0.281 | +5.0% | 0.1423 | 0.0087 | +1.3 cm / +0.5 in | 878 / 960 |
| .308 185gr Hybrid Target | 2450 (747)* | 0.295 | 0.292 | +1.0% | 0.0408 | 0.0123 | +1.7 cm / +0.7 in | 880 / 962 |
| .308 185gr Juggernaut Target | 2608 (795) | 0.284 | 0.278 | +2.2% | 0.0753 | 0.0115 | +2.2 cm / +0.9 in | 929 / 1016 |
* Muzzle velocity outside Mach 2.2–2.8 (2456–3126 fps). The gift BC is still the best one for that window; the error shown is at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity.
Annex B3: Lapua bullets, on Lapua’s own radar curves
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Published BC | Gift BC (best for Mach 2.2–2.8) | Published BC is above (+) / below (−) by | Average error with the published BC, mrad | Average error with the gift BC, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge with the gift BC | Transonic edge, m / yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .224 69gr Scenar (GB541) / Scenar-L (GB544) | 2723 (830) | 0.171 | 0.175 | −2.3% | 0.0567 | 0.0070 | −1.7 cm / −0.7 in | 630 / 689 |
| .224 77gr Scenar (GB527) / Scenar-L (GB545) | 2600 (792) | 0.193 | 0.197 | −2.0% | 0.0561 | 0.0095 | −2.4 cm / −0.9 in | 664 / 727 |
| 6 mm 90gr Scenar (GB493) | 3200 (975)* | 0.216 | 0.217 | −0.5% | 0.0271 | 0.0132 | −1.7 cm / −0.7 in | 957 / 1046 |
| 6 mm 90gr Scenar-L (GB543) | 3200 (975)* | 0.216 | 0.220 | −1.8% | 0.0727 | 0.0158 | −1.9 cm / −0.7 in | 969 / 1059 |
| 6.5 mm 100gr Scenar (GB504) | 3200 (975)* | 0.212 | 0.214 | −0.9% | 0.0547 | 0.0249 | −5.1 cm / −2.0 in | 957 / 1046 |
| 6.5 mm 108gr Scenar (GB464) | 3050 (930) | 0.231 | 0.230 | +0.4% | 0.0109 | 0.0240 | −5.1 cm / −2.0 in | 965 / 1055 |
| 6.5 mm 120gr Scenar-L (GB547) | 2900 (884) | 0.246 | 0.238 | +3.4% | 0.0907 | 0.0125 | −2.2 cm / −0.9 in | 938 / 1025 |
| 6.5 mm 123gr Scenar (GB489) | 2790 (850) | 0.263 | 0.263 | 0.0% | 0.0022 | 0.0022 | 0.0 cm / 0.0 in | 970 / 1061 |
| 6.5 mm 136gr Scenar-L (GB546) | 2740 (835) | 0.274 | 0.273 | +0.4% | 0.0282 | 0.0159 | +1.8 cm / +0.7 in | 1001 / 1095 |
| 6.5 mm 139gr Scenar (GB458) | 2700 (823) | 0.290 | 0.296 | −2.0% | 0.0611 | 0.0101 | +2.3 cm / +0.9 in | 1038 / 1135 |
| 7 mm 180gr Scenar-L (GB554) | 2400 (732)* | 0.332 | 0.335 | −0.9% | 0.0501 | 0.0213 | −8.5 cm / −3.3 in | 1008 / 1102 |
| .308 154/155gr Scenar (GB491) / Scenar-L (GB552) | 2820 (860) | 0.230 | 0.232 | −0.9% | 0.0216 | 0.0049 | +0.4 cm / +0.2 in | 879 / 961 |
| .308 167gr Scenar (GB422) | 2690 (820) | 0.223 | 0.225 | −0.9% | 0.0067 | 0.0237 | +5.5 cm / +2.2 in | 776 / 848 |
| .308 175gr Scenar-L (GB550) | 2602 (793) | 0.247 | 0.247 | 0.0% | 0.0279 | 0.0279 | +5.3 cm / +2.1 in | 825 / 903 |
| .308 185gr Scenar (GB432) | 2475 (754) | 0.242 | 0.247 | −2.0% | 0.0083 | 0.0429 | +7.8 cm / +3.1 in | 751 / 821 |
| .308 185gr FMJBT (D46) | 2600 (792) | 0.254 | 0.257 | −1.2% | 0.0196 | 0.0158 | +4.3 cm / +1.7 in | 842 / 920 |
| .308 200gr FMJBT (D166) | 2300 (701)* | 0.224 | 0.237 | −5.5% | 0.0571 | 0.0589 | +8.8 cm / +3.5 in | 630 / 688 |
| .338 250gr Lock Base (B408) | 2920 (890) | 0.310 | 0.302 | +2.6% | 0.0812 | 0.0241 | +0.3 cm / +0.1 in | 1172 / 1282 |
| .338 250gr Scenar (GB488) | 2920 (890) | 0.322 | 0.323 | −0.3% | 0.0188 | 0.0063 | −1.6 cm / −0.6 in | 1280 / 1399 |
| .338 300gr Scenar (GB528) | 2690 (820) | 0.368 | 0.380 | −3.2% | 0.1764 | 0.0226 | −12.4 cm / −4.9 in | 1365 / 1493 |
Entries with two names are a Scenar and a Scenar-L of the same weight with identical radar curves, mass, calibre and published BC, listed once.
* Muzzle velocity outside Mach 2.2–2.8 (2456–3126 fps). The gift BC is still the best one for that window; the error shown is at the bullet’s own muzzle velocity.
Annex B4: Lapua bullets, on Hornady’s curves
Errors here are against Hornady’s radar data, so this compares two labs. It shows how well each BC agrees with that data, not whose numbers are right. If you trust the manufacturer’s own data more, use the published BC.
| Bullet | Muzzle velocity, fps (m/s) | Published BC | Gift BC (best for Mach 2.2–2.8) | Published BC is above (+) / below (−) by | Average error with the published BC, mrad | Average error with the gift BC, mrad | Miss at the transonic edge with the gift BC | Transonic edge, m / yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 mm 136gr Scenar-L | 2740 (835) | 0.274 | 0.295 | −7.1% | 0.2782 | 0.0064 | +1.6 cm / +0.6 in | 1063 / 1162 |
| 6.5 mm 139gr Scenar | 2700 (823) | 0.290 | 0.285 | +1.8% | 0.0531 | 0.0103 | −4.5 cm / −1.8 in | 1022 / 1118 |
| .308 167gr Scenar | 2690 (820) | 0.223 | 0.221 | +0.9% | 0.0220 | 0.0039 | +0.7 cm / +0.3 in | 764 / 836 |
| .308 175gr Scenar-L | 2602 (793) | 0.247 | 0.247 | 0.0% | 0.0157 | 0.0157 | −5.3 cm / −2.1 in | 846 / 925 |
| .308 185gr Scenar | 2475 (754) | 0.242 | 0.241 | +0.4% | 0.0198 | 0.0101 | +0.1 cm / 0.0 in | 755 / 825 |
| .308 220gr Scenar-L | 2700 (823) | 0.324 | 0.335 | −3.3% | 0.1587 | 0.0165 | −8.6 cm / −3.4 in | 1215 / 1329 |
| .338 250gr Lock Base | 2920 (890) | 0.310 | 0.297 | +4.4% | 0.1507 | 0.0090 | −0.3 cm / −0.1 in | 1165 / 1274 |
| .338 300gr Scenar | 2690 (820) | 0.368 | 0.377 | −2.4% | 0.1182 | 0.0077 | −4.8 cm / −1.9 in | 1338 / 1463 |