Drag Force and Acceleration

The force on the bullet due to drag, using KD, can be given as:

FD = M aD = -i KD(m) p d2 | v | v

where KD is a function of mach number. In terms of KD, the G function can be written as

G(m) = KD(m) p0 | v |

so that the drag force on the bullet may be written as

FD = M aD = -i p/p0 G(m) d2 v

Defining the ballistic coefficient, C, as

C = M/(i d2) = SD/i

we can rewrite the previous equation in terms of the bullet acceleration, G function and C

aD = -p/p0 G(m)/C v

To find a trajectory, we have to sum all forces (and therefore all the accelerations) on the bullet and integrate the resulting equation. For point mass trajectories, the only other force we need to account for is due to gravity:

a = -p/p0 G(m)/C v + g

This expression can be integrated from the muzzle to the target to obtain a three dimensional point mass trajectory.

KD and CD

In terms of the newer ballistic nomenclature, CD, we may rewrite KD as

CD = 8/pi KD

so that the the equation for G is

G(m) = pi/8 CD(m) p0 | v |

The acceleration of the bullet, due to drag, in terms of CD is

aD = -p pi/8 CD(m)/C | v | v

NOTE: that in the preceding equation, the CD is that of the "standard" bullet, for which KD was defined.

For the CD of the given bullet.

aD = -p s CD(m)/(2 M) | v | v

or plugging in for the cross sectional area (or reference area)

aD = -p pi d2 CD(m)/(8 M) | v | v =

and finally with the sectional density

aD = -p pi/8 CD(m)/SD | v | v

Variables

a total vector acceleration aD vector acceleration due to drag
C ballistic coefficient CD drag coefficient
d bullet diameter F vector drag force
g vector gravitational acceleration G "G" function
i form factor KD drag coefficient
m mach number M bullet mass
p atmospheric density p0 sea level atmospheric density
pi 3.14159... SD sectional density
s cross sectional area (pi d2/4) v vector velocity, | v | = (v·v)1/2 and v = u - w
w vector wind velocity u velocity of bullet relative to ground

References

The Effect of Wind on Flat-Fire Trajectories, Robert L. McCoy, BRL Report Number 1900, Ballistic Research Laboratories, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, August 1976, [ADB012872]

Exterior Ballistics, McShane, Kelley and Reno, Univeristy of Denver Press, 1953.

Exterior Ballistics of Small Arms Projectiles, E. D. Lowry, Research Dept., Winchester-Western Division, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, May 4, 1965.

Sierra Rifle Reloading Manual, 4th Edition, Sierra Bullets, L.P., 1995.