Analytical approach to chosing caliber.

J

joeranger

New member
Has anybody done or seen a bullet selector in an analytical format?
There are lots of threads on "best bullet" and we all have our favorites. (I love my .444) It is also subject to purpose; are you trying to save money or impress people at the range. Holes in paper, meat or metal?
My company establishes metrics for people/companies to measure things like "profit per/FTE" "turnover by tenure" to answer questions about the workforce.

Has anybody done this for bullets? Oh, so you are worried about a zombie apocalypse but also deer hunt and you just won the lottery so money is no object? OK, the computer says...6.8spc.

SO if you took all of the most popular cartridges and scored them 1-10 on
Muzzle velocity/energy
100m velocity/energy
Cost
Availability
Versatility (# of options)
Ballistic coefficient
Stopping power
Effective range
Size/weight
History/Cool factor
Recoil

I am sure the popular bullets would always come out on top, 7.62, 9mm, 5.56, but it would be interesting to see how the numbers could be put into a graphical format.

What are all the questions you would ask?
How often do you shoot?
What do you shoot?
How far away?
What is your budget?
What is the worst thing that could happen if you don't knock down your target on the first try?
 
Actually I think the random way we approach caliber selection is a lot more fun.

But for most shooting I would think selecting the type of gun would be more meaningful than the chambering. If you are going to hunt whitetail deer for instance, probably three quarter of the centerfire calibers out there will be suitable for the task, so it comes down to style of hunting and personal preference. I like my odd ball calibers, but in reality the deer doesn't care weather you use a 30-30 from almost 120 years ago or the latest 300 super medium magnum, it's still going to punch a nasty hole.
 
Interesting .....Not to nitpick BUT.......

1. How would you score History/Cool factor? That seems subjective.

2. What formula would you use to find the "Stopping Power" of a paticular caliber?

Neat idea though. I'd be interested to see the results....though I think the most popular calibers would score the highest...
 
Interesting idea but your criteria could be controversial and some of them seem either complimentary or opposite.

For example:

You can't really have high energy and low recoil. In a relative sense, maybe, but not as a mathematical value. Kinetic energy is not the same as recoil but they are related.

You put "velocity/energy" together but they're really not. A .30-06 has far more energy than a .204Ruger but the .204 has FAR more velocity.

Cost and availability are virtually synonymous. If it's extremely available, it will be inexpensive. If it's rare, it will be expensive. Exceptions, no doubt, but as a general rule they are one and the same.

Muzzle energy and 100M energy... again, there are exceptions, but the cartridge that is superior on one will almost always be superior at the other. If you're comparing a .30-06 and 12ga slug, maybe not, but if it's a .270WSM versus a .25-06, there's not much change in 100M. Plus, you could be comparing a 200gr .30-06 bullet and a 90gr .270, or a 110gr .30-06 and a 130gr .270.... many, many choices.

Effective range is highly subjective. Most any of the major mid-caliber cartridges are "effective" far beyond the range of the average shooter and even beyond the range of above average shooters. Compare .308, .270Win and 7mm-08 for example. All 3 are capable far beyond the average shooters ability.

Weight/size and recoil will again be opposite. The lighter it is, the more it will recoil. The heavier, the less it recoils. Those two values will be self-canceling.
 
2. What formula would you use to find the "Stopping Power" of a paticular caliber?
Click to expand...

seems the easiest way to do that would be with kinetic energy, or F= 1/2(MxV^2)
Click to expand...

That equation doesn't make any sense.

The equation for kinetic energy is E = 1/2mv^2.

The equation for Force (F) is F = ma

1/2mv^2 ≠ ma

It is not possible to just cobble together a bunch of variables and call it a valid equation. :p
 
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Nerds! There are nerds on this forum!

Just kidding

An important factor for me would be to consider the intended target. I could get all giddy because I scored high numbers in a particular caliber, but the likelihood of using it on let's say a bull elephant are slim to none. Punching paper is a weekly event. I might also consider the type of rifle launching the desired projectile.

To elaborate...if it only is available in a bolt action and you don't like bolts then you won't find as much value no matter what the score.
 
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I guess I'm just old fashioned.

I went out and looked at what had the best reputation, . . . turned out to be .45 by about a hundred years or so when I started looking.

Looked at personal experience, . . . shot my first deer with a .308 lever gun, . . .

My pistol is a .45 ACP, . . . my choice in rifles is an M1A, . . . and that is all just coincidental to the fact that I'm also a Vietnam vet. :D

May God bless,
Dwight
 
By far the most important thing to consider is what the intended target will be and what range you expect it to be.

204 ruger might fit all the specs listed but if you want too shoot moose then it will hardly be a good choice.
 
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