.45 ACP accuracy? - The Firearms Forum

Raven18940 · 11-15-2005, 05:58 PM

I've heard 45 totted as inherently more accurate and I'm at a loss as to why. I'm guessing it has something to do with it's heavy mass and large diameter for good stability whilst spinning. But couldn't a smaller, higher velocity bullet be spun at greater speed? Anyway, could someone explain this to me, I don't get it.

kingjoey · 11-16-2005, 03:05 AM

Heavy mass, low velocity, and good gyroscopic stability. Smaller bullets have their mass closer to the centerline of rotation so they provide less gyroscopic stability and resistance to change of direction. Also, slower rotation helps reduce drift from air friction

Country101 · 11-16-2005, 07:37 AM

Raven, I believe once you hit a certain amount of rotation you will start making it key-hole instead of stabilizing the flight path.

Shamrock · 11-17-2005, 02:29 PM

Slow bullets are accurate bullets. It's always been that way with handguns.

LDBennett · 11-18-2005, 07:23 AM

Country101:

From what I read I believe you can not over stabilize a projectile.

The hooker is the rotational rate may cause the bullet to disintegrate (fly apart). While not a probability in a handgun bullet I have been able to do it to a 52 grain (non-match) 223 bullet going through a 1 in 8 in twist barrel at velocities well above 3000 FPS. Shot 25 bullets on a 8x11 target at 100 yds and ony 5 or so showed. Further investigation says the rest never even hit the 2 ft x 4 ft backer board. Apparently the hunting style bullets are not uniform enough and start wobbling at the high rate of rotation. Match bullets work fine.

LDBennett

11-15-2005, 05:58 PM	#1
Raven18940 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 172	.45 ACP accuracy? I've heard 45 totted as inherently more accurate and I'm at a loss as to why. I'm guessing it has something to do with it's heavy mass and large diameter for good stability whilst spinning. But couldn't a smaller, higher velocity bullet be spun at greater speed? Anyway, could someone explain this to me, I don't get it. -->

11-16-2005, 03:05 AM	#2
kingjoey V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 290	Re: .45 ACP accuracy? Heavy mass, low velocity, and good gyroscopic stability. Smaller bullets have their mass closer to the centerline of rotation so they provide less gyroscopic stability and resistance to change of direction. Also, slower rotation helps reduce drift from air friction

11-16-2005, 07:37 AM	#3
Country101 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dardanelle, AR Contributor Posts: 2,045	Re: .45 ACP accuracy? Raven, I believe once you hit a certain amount of rotation you will start making it key-hole instead of stabilizing the flight path. __________________ Gainfully employed= shooting somebody elses bullets and getting paid for it Country101

11-17-2005, 02:29 PM	#4
Shamrock Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northeast Posts: 24	Re: .45 ACP accuracy? Slow bullets are accurate bullets. It's always been that way with handguns.

11-18-2005, 07:23 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: .45 ACP accuracy? Country101: From what I read I believe you can not over stabilize a projectile. The hooker is the rotational rate may cause the bullet to disintegrate (fly apart). While not a probability in a handgun bullet I have been able to do it to a 52 grain (non-match) 223 bullet going through a 1 in 8 in twist barrel at velocities well above 3000 FPS. Shot 25 bullets on a 8x11 target at 100 yds and ony 5 or so showed. Further investigation says the rest never even hit the 2 ft x 4 ft backer board. Apparently the hunting style bullets are not uniform enough and start wobbling at the high rate of rotation. Match bullets work fine. LDBennett