Bullet path < trajectory> Cannon vs. MG

[Ahbleza]

Is there any data which shows how bullet paths are modelled in AH?

In my experience here, it seems that most plane ammunition, has similar  flight paths. 30 MM seems slightly different from the other types, but not significantly. I have looked, but haven't found much data on this subject.

I do know that a .303 round with a 150 grain bullet fired at 2600 feet per second will strike 57.4 inches low at 500 yards, if sighted point of aim at 300 yards. The .303 round should have the flattest trajectory of the main weapon rounds used in AH. Some of the rounds may start at a higher speed, 2800 fps, but they all have heavier bullets, 500+ grains.  Additonally,  they are not as aerodynamic.

To me it seems any shots landed beyond 500 yards with any round would be difficult. Snap shots and high deflection shots with cannons beyond 250 yards nearly impossible.

Ute

[Urchin]

I think the .50 actually has the 'cleanest' path.  It was a very nice bullet, did not slow down very fast.  It also has pretty high muzzle velocity, so it goes fast and straight.  

The .303 rounds lose energy pretty quickly, useless past about 300 yards and marginally useless even that far out.

[Pooh21]

Panzers .30 will tear you up sometimes up to 1k

Fly a Ju-88,D3a,or Hurri or spitI and you gotta light the guy up at d300 or less and keep the trigger down til pieces start falling off 3-4  seconds later

[SKurj]

use the .target ### command and you will see how the trajectories differ.

fly due north, type .target ### where ### is the range you wish to place the target at and fire.  Use zoom check where the shots land.


SKurj

[ra]

.target 0 turns it off.

[Tony Williams]

Originally posted by Urchin
I think the .50 actually has the 'cleanest' path.  It was a very nice bullet, did not slow down very fast.  It also has pretty high muzzle velocity, so it goes fast and straight.  

The .303 rounds lose energy pretty quickly, useless past about 300 yards and marginally useless even that far out.

True. The extent to which a projectile drops below the line of sight at a given range depends on how long it takes to get there, and that is determined by two factors:

1. The muzzle velocity.

2. The ballistic coefficient of the projectile, which determines how quickly it loses velocity. The ballistic coefficient is also determined by two factors; the weight of the projectile (for any given calibre, the heavier the better) and the shape (the more streamlined, the better).

Other things being equal, larger calibre guns have relatively heavier projectiles and therefore a better ballistic coefficient. However, other things were not in practice equal; cannon shells were relatively lighter because they were usually filled with chemicals instead of being largely solid metal, and they also usually had a blunter, less aerodynamic shape.

What this means can be summed up as follows:

- Rifle calibre guns fell away much more than high-velocity HMGs like the .50 or the 12.7mm Berezin.

- The .50/12.7 (being relatively heavy and streamlined) had a better ballistic performance than any cannon (although the Hispano was close behind) until you reach the level of the 30mm MK 103 or 37mm NS-37.

There is more detail on this in the article on Basic Ballistics on my website.

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Military gun and ammunition discussion forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/