03-04-2013, 12:15 AM
Guardsman -- you should read up on wound ballistics and penetration mechanics before insisting on equal energy. I know that Tony and many others like this metric but it has no grounding in wound ballistics or penetration mechanics.
More appropriate metrics are likely momentum density for penetration and energy density for breaking hard plates.
As you and others have pointed out many times, we have to count on tumbling for effective wounds as a result of political constraints. This means that the bullet length is the measure to look at. In this regard, 110 to 130 grain 6.5 mm bullets are long enough.
The Grendel is very close to matching or exceeding the M80 round in these metrics when using equal barrel lengths at 1000 meters and exceeds it at longer ranges.
The velocity data comes from the 50,000 psi operating pressure imposed by the desire to have very long bolt life.
Further, the 5.56 experience tells us that one can do even better with steel-tipped bullets when it comes to breaking through plates.
So, let's look at what is doable with bullet design and powder formulations within the constraints of the current design. Bullet design to look at military-production realizable ballistic coefficients and 'green-compliant' penetration optimization. Powder formulations to get best velocity in barrels consistent with shorter barrels.
You have already indicated that the 7.62x51 works fine in 16" barrels. The performance of the cartridge should be the norm to meet or beat.
More appropriate metrics are likely momentum density for penetration and energy density for breaking hard plates.
As you and others have pointed out many times, we have to count on tumbling for effective wounds as a result of political constraints. This means that the bullet length is the measure to look at. In this regard, 110 to 130 grain 6.5 mm bullets are long enough.
The Grendel is very close to matching or exceeding the M80 round in these metrics when using equal barrel lengths at 1000 meters and exceeds it at longer ranges.
The velocity data comes from the 50,000 psi operating pressure imposed by the desire to have very long bolt life.
Further, the 5.56 experience tells us that one can do even better with steel-tipped bullets when it comes to breaking through plates.
So, let's look at what is doable with bullet design and powder formulations within the constraints of the current design. Bullet design to look at military-production realizable ballistic coefficients and 'green-compliant' penetration optimization. Powder formulations to get best velocity in barrels consistent with shorter barrels.
You have already indicated that the 7.62x51 works fine in 16" barrels. The performance of the cartridge should be the norm to meet or beat.