There are lots of things you can do to shoot more effectively at long-ranges in excess of 1000 yards.
You can accurize a rifle, upgrade the barrel, install a tuner, and practice breathing exercises, too. Coaching yourself on consistency is also a good thing, as is investing in a quality optic.
Of course, the ammo you shoot makes a difference. A big difference. And it’s not just marketing hype.
This short post will take a closer look at the physics of shooting match-grade ammo like Federal’s Gold Medal Match.
The Science of Match Grade Ammo Like Federal Gold Medal Match
The ballistic efficiency of match grade ammo like Federal Gold Medal Match is more about the bullet than the load data, though that is naturally involved.
These rounds are loaded with Sierra MatchKing bullets, a special type of boat-tailed “hollow point” bullet called OTM, or open-tip match.
Just look at the bullet and you will see what we mean. There is a small void in the nose of the bullet that makes it look like a hollow point.
This is a relic of the manufacturing process, in which the lead core of the bullet is dropped, base-first, into a jacket cup, which is then drawn up, around the sides, before being pinched in at the nose.
This process completely encases the base, and in fact the rest of the bullet, except for a tiny depression in the nose. It is also why it is sometimes referred to as “hollow point” even though it really isn’t.
Hollow point ammo is designed to deliver predictable disruption that will quickly dispatch a target. In truth, hollow point ammo, which has (generally) terrible ballistic coefficients and radial symmetry, is quite inaccurate, especially at intermediate and long range.
As for OTM ammo, this is not the case.
The purpose of drawing the jacket up from the base is to create a bullet with the best degree of radial symmetry possible. This means if you cut a wedge from the bullet around any piece of the radius, it should weigh nearly exactly as much as a corresponding wedge of the same number of degrees from anywhere else on the bullet.
In layman's terms, this means that there are no heavy “sides” to the bullet, making it as evenly balanced as possible.
It also means that if you spin the bullet, there would be no extra mass around the outside of the jacket to make it lopsided. The more symmetrical a bullet is (radially) the more evenly it will spin.
Recall if you will that it is spin stability that gives a bullet the ability to remain accurate at long ranges.
And so, the higher the degree of radial symmetry means that these bullets will retain their stability at longer ranges, for pinpoint accuracy.
There is more to these match-grade bullets, though - the boat-tailed design, which looks like a boat in cross section (hence the name) helps to reduce drag around the bullet in flight.
This design results in a bullet that has a higher degree of ballistic coefficient, which means it will not drop as far. This in turn creates a flatter trajectory, which also makes it easier to shoot more accurately at longer ranges.
So, in a nutshell, OTM, boat-tailed bullets like those loaded into Federal’s Gold Medal Match line can help you shoot more accurately at long distances.
It’s About the Rifle, Too
Despite the fact that ammo does make a big difference in accuracy when long-range shooting, the rifle is just as important, if not more so. Some things to consider include:
- Free-floated barrels: Many quality rifles are made with free-floated barrels, a design in which the receiver, but not the barrel itself, contacts the stock. The lack of contact between the barrel and the stock allows the barrel to vibrate freely during the shot. It also ensures that the barrel isn’t under a torsion load, which can affect point of impact.
- Barrel length and harmonics: Barrel length will also impact accuracy because it impacts muzzle velocity, as well as harmonics. Barrels that are too long (or in some cases, too short) will experience a phenomenon known as “barrel whip” in which the muzzle end of the barrel is slightly out of alignment with the rest of the bore when the bullet exits. This, of course, throws off accuracy at longer ranges. One thing you can do if experiencing a great deal of barrel whip is install a barrel tuner that will help counteract it.
- Rate of twist: Rate of twist is a metric that tells how far a bullet has to travel along the bore to complete one revolution. For instance, a barrel with a 1:10 twist rate will complete one revolution for every 10 linear inches traveled down the bore. Faster twist rates are generally better for longer bullets and faster-burning powders. As a result, short bullets and muzzleloaders that shoot round balls tend to benefit from slower twist rates. Fast, flat shooting cartridges like .223 and 5.56 generally benefit from much faster twist rates, like 1:10, 1:9, and even 1:8.
- Trigger quality: While the barrel makes the greatest impact in rifle accuracy, trigger quality also has a huge impact. Triggers that are too mushy or have too much creep make it impossible for even the most experienced shooters to aim and shoot consistently and accurately. If your rifle has a trigger that works against you, upgrade with a trigger that has less creep, is crisp, and produces little overtravel. Timney and TriggerTech triggers are good options and produce aftermarket variants compatible with a wide range of rifle actions and models.
Stock Up on Federal Gold Medal Match and Other Match-Grade Ammo Here
Here to stock up on high quality match-grade ammo like Federal Gold Medal Match? We have it. Take a look through our collection and make sure you don’t miss our bulk ammo deals and police trade-in specials while you’re here. Buy in bulk and save, then get to the range to put the time in - that’s the most important piece of shooter proficiency and skill.