Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGYour numbers are way off... ??? Anyways you're talking about AT 400 yards, in the absolute worst case scenario of "out to 400 yards".
2" scope height (we are talking AR's), Alt-1000', zero'd at 200, BP-29.53, T-60 degrees, RH-78%, 40gr-vmax=.2BC @3500, 60=.265@3k ----- run your #'s again
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOG Realistically, he will never, or rarely ever shoot that far. Almost nobody target shoots past 200 yards, and that's a pretty long shot while hunting predators.
So inside this range both bullets are within 1" of another, were is an advantage in trajectory?
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOG You're much more likely to shoot high/low on a coyote in the field because you guessed the distance wrong, .
So by this same rational, we'll say a slower bullet is better because if you over judge how far the coyote is (you shoot over him with the 40gr)??? A bit farfetched huh, the real truth is Unless you get a somewhat accurate range, your going to miss no matter (get the point?).
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOG No one typically has time to use a laser on a coyote anyways, and 200-300 yards is not a common shot. Using a 200-yard zero it gives an even greater advantage to the lighter faster flatter bullet, if you expect to have long shot opportunities.
Run your #'s again... The drop in trajectory difference is minimal. Your argument for "it's not that much difference" applys just the same. I'm just talking up & down & your talking side to side (the differences is almost identical until the higher BC catches up at greater ranges).
The reason I recomended the 60gr is because it's better "all around" (as the OP asked). If all he was doing was shooting crows & groundhogs inside 300 yards, the 40gr vmax would be better. The 60 will penetrate MUCH better for several reasons (if he runs into something that needs penetrating
), and still do everything the 40 can do.