Contents - Index

Drag Tables

A Drag Table is, in essence, a list of the atmospheric retardation values, in feet per second, that act upon a particular size, shape and weight bullet at various velocities throughout a useful trajectory range. The G1 Table was constructed using a projectile such as the one described by Gen. Julian S. Hatcher in Hatcher's Notebook.

These tables are generally constructed in 10 f.p.s. increments starting at zero f.p.s. and extending as high as 4,000 f.p.s.

• G1....The drag table used by most manufactures and ballistic programs, whether it best represents the projectile or not.

• GL....For Spire pointed, soft lead tipped projectiles where the soft lead nose deforms at higher velocities, it is identical to the G1 table at velocities below 1300 f.p.s..

• G6....Full metal jacketed, spire pointed, flat based bullets conform well to this one.

G5....This one conforms to the boat tail, spire pointed, jacketed bullets. 

J1......For very long nosed and long boat tail bullets.

RB....The British Round ball test firings were used for this one.

Comparison Chart of the GL, G1 and G5 Retardation Tables.