JoelMurdoch
Should know better by now
Posts: 656
Registered: 02-02 |
Bloodshedder said:
Well, except for the fact that gravity causes the bullet to drop off slightly. But that doesn't make much difference when firing buckshot :)
Well, to be strictly accurate the bullet's path's not even straight. The barrel has spiral grooves known as rifling which causes the bullet to launch in a similar trajectory. This actually results in superior accuracy than the old smooth bore weapons. This is why bullets rarely hit the same spot twice, even when locked in place, but rifling ensures the margin of error is virtually insignificant (assuming no problems with the gun or ammo). To ensure best results, guns need to be "sighted in" for the particular range it's most likely to be used at. This has to do with the alignment of the sight blades or the crosshairs on the scope.
Shotguns, if memory serves, are smooth bored (ie: no rifling) to ensure that the pellets or buckshot achieve a good spread. This compensates for the lack of rifling but, as my friend Greg says, shotguns have the ballistics of a tennis ball and are strictly short range weapons (100 yards absolute max).
Spot the guy who grew up with guns :)
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09-07-02 00:47 
