Found Ballistic Calculator for Spheres, #6 is good.

[HogBiologist]

I found a ballistic calculator for spheres

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/rbballistics/web_apps/rb_ballistics.html


I took the info for a #6 lead pellet and calculated it.  To maintain 2 ft/lbs energy, a #6 lead must be traveling at a velocity of 675+ fps.  According to the calculator, the #6 lead lethality falls off between 40 and 45 yards. Below is the table showing deceleration of the Pb #6 launched at 1300 FPS.  This is incorrect however because the drag is reduced by the "drafting" effect of the swarm of pellets.  Therefore, the range of a #6 is definitely over 45 yards.  How far over is unknown.  I need to develop my chronograph protector that I have preliminarily designed.


Distance/Speed in FPS

0      1300 
2      1234   
4      1165 
6      1105   
8      1067 
10     1031 
15     957   
20     894   
25     838   
30     785   
35     735   
40     687   
45     643   
50     597   
75     405   
100    255   

[HogBiologist]

For #6 Launched at 1200 fps:

0      1200   
2      1139   
4      1094   
6      1052   
8      1023   
10     993   
15     922   
20     862   
25     809   
30     758   
35     711   
40     664   
45     618   
50     575   

[10gaugemag]

Don't forget with increased speed drag is increased as well, the faster you start something the faster it loses that speed. I doubt drag is decreased through a swarm though because that swarm quickly grows.

[HogBiologist]

the swarm is a solid mass for a few feet out the barrel.  this will add to the distance covered before deceleration really kicks in

[allaboutshooting]

Thank you for the link. It's a very good one that simplifies the process greatly. I appreciate the time that you must have spent to locate this and your willingness to share it with all of us.

I plugged in 1090 in addition to what you showed:

Yards..Vel....Energy...Drop...Drift....TOF(sec)

0      1090   5       -0.5    0.0     0.000
2      1055   5       -0.3    0.0     0.005
4      1021   5       -0.1    0.0     0.011
6      991    4       0.1     0.0     0.017
8      963    4       0.3     0.0     0.023
10     937    4       0.5     0.0     0.029
15     875    3       0.8     0.0     0.046
20     820    3       1.0     0.0     0.064
25     772    3       1.1     0.0     0.082
30     721    2       1.0     0.0     0.103
35     675    2       0.6     0.0     0.124
40     630    2       0.0     0.0     0.147

1200 fps
40     664 

1300 fps
40     687   

It shows how little difference there is in the terminal velocity at 40 yards between #6 lead shot launched at 1090 fps and at 1200 fps & 1300 fps. A very good illustration of decreasing velocity of spheres.

A #6 pellet that is 10% heavier than lead leaving the muzzle at 1090 fps would have a terminal velocity at 40 yards about the same as #6 lead pellet leaving the muzzle at 1200 fps.

1090 #6 pellet 10% heavier than lead
40     663    2       0.0     0.0     0.143

This calculator is a lot of fun to work with and again, I appreciate your sharing it with all of us.

Thanks again,
Clark

[foxred1962]

If Hevi 13 is actually 13 g/cc then the mag blends are pretty potent. The #7 pellet showed over 2 ft/lbs per pellet at 45 yds flying at 1200 starting velocity according to the calculations... multiply the lead weight shown by 14% that is the equivalent I got if it is 13 g/cc. I used 11.34g/cc for lead and 13g/cc for hevi.

[Strick9]

Outstanding work Hog!

[gatrkyhntr70]

If Hevi 13 is actually 13 g/cc then the mag blends are pretty potent. The #7 pellet showed over 2 ft/lbs per pellet at 45 yds flying at 1200 starting velocity according to the calculations... multiply the lead weight shown by 14% that is the equivalent I got if it is 13 g/cc. I used 11.34g/cc for lead and 13g/cc for hevi.

Hevi 13 is 12 g/cc.

[Birdyblaster]

Very interesting. Federal HW must be lethal way out there then.

[allaboutshooting]

If Hevi 13 is actually 13 g/cc then the mag blends are pretty potent. The #7 pellet showed over 2 ft/lbs per pellet at 45 yds flying at 1200 starting velocity according to the calculations... multiply the lead weight shown by 14% that is the equivalent I got if it is 13 g/cc. I used 11.34g/cc for lead and 13g/cc for hevi.

It would be quite interesting to run the calculations on the New Magnum Blend shells with #4, #5 & #7 shot.  The patterns with those shells have been truly outstanding and the terminal energy should be quite impressive.

Thanks,
Clark

[foxred1962]

I have read where it has been said that the shells are in fact 12 g/cc but I have also seen defensive statements saying that Hevi 13 is in fact 13.

If somebody is willing to waste an expensive shell they could use this chart to find out.... http://nitrocompany.com/ammunition.html#HevishotTable

Using a 3" mag blend 5,6,7 the counts should be ...

     12g/cc         13g/cc
#5.     97              87
#6.     150            132
#7.     199            178
          446             397 per shell

[owlhoot]

neat stuff, but thought it was 2.6 minimum ft lbs?

[foxred1962]

Yes the information for lead was 2.6 ft/lbs but I would assume better terminal ballistics from hevi shot versus lead. I am thinking about it in the comparison between rifle bullets. Compare the principles for the barnes triple shock versus say a standard Spitzer... The standard lead bullet is normally not going to penetrate nearly as well as the barnes or other bonded bullets. Heavier than Lead alternatives do penetrate better due to their hardness and their sectional density creating a higher ballistic coefficiant.

[owlhoot]

Neat information, thanks.

So from what i see here.
Is that a 1300 fps #6 lead load (high velocity from Winchester, Federal or Remington) is good for another 5 yards of effective lethality at 2 ft/lbs energy over 1100 fps #6 lead loads.
Which seems to be worth something in a 40 yard or so short range weapon.
Those (high velocity) loads #6 shot hit as hard at 45 yards as standard velocity at 40 yards.
Too bad the whole 200 fps didn't stay with it for a 20 yard advantage!
Now for a 1200 fps lead 6 shot load , it is already below the minimum recommended 2 ft/lb at 40 yards.
The other 100 fps or heavier or larger shot comes in handy here.
Now with a 1050 fps #6 lead load(magnum shot charge) it goes below  the minimum  2 ft/lb at 34 yards.
What else is really interesting is the Hevi-shot #6 load that Clark figured, It show the 1090 fps load at only 663 fps and 2 ft/lbs at 40 yards ,(which is below the recommended minimum) but is right there with a 1200 fps Longbeard #6 lead load at 664 and 2 ft/lbs.
So  an extra 110 fps appears to make a 10% heavier #6 pellet not so advantageous with this chart?
Interesting.

[Birdyblaster]

Neat information, thanks.

So from what i see here.
Is that a 1300 fps #6 lead load (high velocity from Winchester, Federal or Remington) is good for another 5 yards of effective lethality at 2 ft/lbs energy over 1100 fps #6 lead loads.
Which seems to be worth something in a 40 yard or so short range weapon.
Those (high velocity) loads #6 shot hit as hard at 45 yards as standard velocity at 40 yards.
Too bad the whole 200 fps didn't stay with it for a 20 yard advantage!
Now for a 1200 fps lead 6 shot load , it is already below the minimum recommended 2 ft/lb at 40 yards.
The other 100 fps or heavier or larger shot comes in handy here.
Now with a 1050 fps #6 lead load(magnum shot charge) it goes below  the minimum  2 ft/lb at 34 yards.
What else is really interesting is the Hevi-shot #6 load that Clark figured, It show the 1090 fps load at only 663 fps and 2 ft/lbs at 40 yards ,(which is below the recommended minimum) but is right there with a 1200 fps Longbeard #6 lead load at 664 and 2 ft/lbs.
So  an extra 110 fps appears to make a 10% heavier #6 pellet not so advantageous with this chart?
Interesting.

That's actually VERY interesting.  From the numbers you've crunched it looks like you'd be better off saving a substantial sum of money and shooting LBXR and actually have more range and energy which results in a win win.