Do Bullets Fly Straight?

In this video, Eric answers the frequently asked question, "Do bullets fly straight?" Hopefully, this episode will shed some light on the subject for those who are curious.
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[@joshuagibson2520]

Strelok and others will answer this question well. Chart your flight paths folks. Study and get to know them well. Practice often.

[@TictacAddict1]

Exactly Brother! I love that app to setup all my rifles. I like looking at the tables to know how high above or below my cross hairs that round will hit. Be blessed.

[@user-yu4hl7wj6j]

🆙Thanks for watching🔝🔝 Message right away you are a lucky subscriber i have something for you🎁🎁🆙🆙👆

[@TheVinnyt63]

Simple physics; as soon as a projectile leaves the barrel, at whatever angle, it is ALWAYS falling away from the line of departure, intersecting the line of sight at two distances, the 2nd of which is the range at which the rifle is zeroed. Which means it is ALWAYS descending. The projectile NEVER rises.

[@ronniekennedy9897]

You have done an EXCELLENT job of explaining this topic!

[@Sharkman6275]

I love these videos. You answer a lot of questions and you cover the information in a really concise way.

[@sps3172]

Looking forward to hearing you two discuss the long range game.

[@user-yu4hl7wj6j]

🆙Thanks for watching🔝🔝 Message right away you are a lucky subscriber i have something for you🎁🎁🆙🆙👆

[@beardo_M.D.]

You are correct, however realistically, the average person is shooting around 5 yards for a self-defense situation and 25-100 yds at the range. So, unless you are a long-distance shooter bullets fly straight enough.

[@corruptedsoul89]

Thanks for all the great videos 👍

[@mtyson9004]

Awesome! Looking forward to the ballistics video.

[@mikeferrell9111]

This is spot on! We were just talking about all this at work today.

[@shiTheadith]

I remember seeing yall at the machine gun shoot in Piedmont Alabama years ago. Best gun channel on KZbin in my opinion.

[@ToddDinkins]

Definitely interested in more info on long range shooting!

[@patc2515]

I would love to see iv8888 do a series on long distance shooting from absolute beginner to more advanced. Not just physically shooting at range but understanding what goes into it. I've had years of experience with close quarters and mid range shooting with AR or AK platform rifles, pistols, etc. But extremely limited experience with long range shooting. Basically nothing that counts anyways. Alot of ppl I know are embarrassed to even admit that but truth is, we can't all just do it all, sometimes certain tasks aren't introduced to some of us. There's a private property 1 County over from where I live and they have a 10 bay outdoor distance rifle range along with some mid range bays and series of pistol bays, all covered in a line and separated by excavated earth. It's pretty awesome. It's a private membership and in order to qualify for a membership, you have to demonstrate your skills and shoot 1 moa at 100 yards and 3 moa at 300 yards. As a total beginner to long range shooting, if love some help getting into this so that I can not just stand a chance to qualify but to actually become familiar and gain experience in this new field of shooting. Plz consider doing this for real.

[@user-yu4hl7wj6j]

🆙Thanks for watching🔝🔝 Message right away you are a lucky subscriber i have something for you🎁🎁🆙🆙👆

[@Leverguns50]

I live in Alabama out of the 180 + deer that I shot, if I figure out my average range it’s 52 yards, even the 45 colt shoots flat enough for that range, you did an excellent job on the video thank you

[@DrQuagmire1]

you should make a children's book called "Bedknobs & Boomsticks" (an obvious parody of the movie "Bedknobs & Broomsticks", but replacing the latter with shotguns)

[@murphyzlaw13]

I haven't heard the term DOPE referencing marksmanship since the US Marines. Great video, also remember that the 5.56 has a flat trajectory for the bullet size.

[@miamislice3280]

Its cuz the shit go fast, yo

[@olsonfun]

More people need to watch this. Specifically guys who just deer hunt once a year and don't practice at anything more than 100 or 200 yards.

[@zenmello]

A good companion video would be discussing point blank range, by that I mean not what most people think it means.

[@elitesless1539]

This is why a laser bore sight only gets you close

[@dwillia6351]

I appreciate this video. I think a good future video could be what to zero a home defense ar15 at. I have heard several different things. 50 yard, 25 yard, or even just zeroed to the longest distance in your home. Most of the vids I see are talking about defending your property including shots to 100m or so. Thanks guys

[@codyg7936]

With a 50m zero you will also be zeroed at 200m w/ 5.56 and the bullet projectile won’t be more than 2” high at 125m. 25m zero gets you to around 300m but you will have a 3.5” high at 175m

[@jimklemens5018]

Just zero your rifle at 200 yards. The trajectory of a 55 grain bullet will be within a 3 inch range from the muzzle to the target.

[@dig1035]

Thumbs up and subscribed!

[@chillumvillain6801]

PRS series would be awesome!

[@billbeam8069]

Good video brother

[@peterburnett5160]

I got that same b14 wild. 6,5 . Love that piece .Ain't got time for no calculations 😅. But we got do it anyways

[@PassinGass]

Years ago, I seem to remember(?) watching a YT vid where the stocked Luger long barrel's rear sights leans to one side when set to max range to compensate for drift?

[@semperfi6512]

good stuff

[@zynetik]

Not firearm related, but I practiced archery and used to train at up to 110m, you had time to put your bow down and look through your scope before the arrow hit the target. When shooting 70m, you could stand at 40m and the arrow would pass above your head.

[@C_F_M]

So when is the ballistics test on the moon vid? We need to know this stuff Eric

[@b234543]

great information in the next video will you go over how to bend bullets hahahah.

[@SeanDahle]

Nope. Wind, humidity, and Gravity affect the flight pattern. Also the trajectory can vary depending on the range and muzzle velocity of the round.

[@robertwatson818]

No projectile rises after leaving the bore--period. No projectile "rises" to the line-of -sight. It falls continuously to the earth. The curve of the arc is almost the same for ALL rifles.

[@dkeith45]

Exactly. It's because we don't aim a barrel level. We may aim what appears to be straight, but we tilt the barrel upward, more and more depending on the distance to the target.

[@hillside6401]

“Gravity is not a force” Brian cox /physicist. It’s a combination of electrostatics and density. Gravity is a bad theory to hold together the false globe model. Also do long range snipers have to account for curvature or Earth rotation? I sure don’t. Love to hear you input. 👍🏻

[@bobvagene]

Bullets only "arc" in relation to your optic/sights line. Even with your good explanation, people will still think bullets rise after leaving the muzzle. If you were to drop a projectile from the end of the barrel at the exact same time you fired one perfectly parallel to a perfectly flat ground they would both hit the ground at the same time.. Physics..

[@dkeith45]

Exactly. If a barrel is leveled using a straight carpenters level, then boresighted using a laser, a series of targets marked, and you ignore the iron or otherwise sights and shoot at a target one foot away, then two feet, three feet and so on, you will see the bullets do NOT jump up above the level boresighted mark on those targets, it drops over distance. It's our AIM that causes these stupid beliefs, that bullets jump up out of barrels in an arch. When we aim, we tilt the barrel upward depending on the distance to the target, sometimes we tilt the barrel upward several inches. This causes what appears to be an arch, but it's not. The bullet still flies straight as a laser out of the barrel, then drops over distance to the target. Only a few min in and OP seems to be saying that bullets do indeed jump up out of the barrel? WTF 0_o

[@bradbo3]

Gravity is for suckers!!!! I dont follow arbitrary gravitational laws. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Toms_Bright_Ideas]

Eric you tickled my knowledge of astrodynamics (patched conics, Coriolis effect, angular velocity etc) for a second.

[@thebosscatman7]

i know this is off subject but i just rembered on one of your old viedos about the ruger mk clips well you might know by now but the the mk 3 and 4 clips will work in all mk models even mk 1 for that one you have to take it apart and put the follower on the onter side now you have a 10 rd clip for that mk 1

[@jkerns632]

Great information Eric. I always enjoy your videos and very helpful 👍🇺🇲

[@jamesray9009]

Do Bullets Fly Straight? Not mine .. my golf swing as bad now too

[@wadegrigsby]

Begins falling as soon as it leaves the barrel.

[@chrisgabbert658]

If you are using one setting caped but if you are adjusting it’s a different deal 🤷‍♂️.

[@AllAboutSurvival]

The longer the range, I think bullets are going curve downwards.. Because of gravity

[@gregphillips9670]

Ole fast Freddy on the left got me all the time. You knock down that 150 target and smile to yourself. Then you hear everyone else fire a second shot.......

[@KeyboardWarrior101st]

Bullets do fly straight, they don't fly level. Words have meaning.

[@mrsmiley631]

@iraqvetran8888 Next trajectory video you make could you explain shooting mountain top to valley or vice versa please.

[@kirkwhitaker6422]

been shooting a 6.5x55 for years. One of the reasons I loved round was the same reason the 6.5 cm is so popular. The 6.5 swed, 260 rem and other rounds like the 7mm mauser and 7-08 just work for game and targets....low recoil and good bc. 6.5 cm ain't nothing new....it's all in the marketing. Number one thing...know your arc and dope....put the bullets on target with a rifle that is manageable and all is good.

[@Daves-not-here]

Speaking on long distance shooting I really want to get into it as a sport. Any recommendations for a starting rifle? There is a really awesome precision rifle made in France that I want but oh boy that baby’s like 13k

[@edwardx.winston5744]

I’m still new at all this. I have been working with a 5.56 AR variant, which shoots laser-straight at short range (25-100 yards). Tomorrow I’ll be picking up an Extar EP9 from my local FFL, so I decided to look at bullet drop for 9mm … nearly a FOOT of bullet drop in 100 yards?! Yowsa. That round drops faster than a Bruce Sutter split-fingered fastball. Granted, an EP9 is an economical PDW intended for CQB distances, but wow. That’s serious drop I’ll have to account for when plinking at my local outdoor range.

[@jimklemens5018]

Any bullet traveling at 3,000 feet per second is going to have a laser straight trajectory at 25 to 100 yards.

[@b234543]

but on a serious note i always hated range day at the zero range it always baffled me how many people in charge didnt know what they were doing .

[@johndpearson64]

Thanks for this. I still get folks who think bullets rise.

[@nigerbear2642]

Do snipers have to factor in the coriolis effect? And how do they do it?

[@spankymagee]

Most people think a bullet always climbs 2 to 3 inches first, then falls. No mTter how you explain the scope offset.

[@DinoNucci]

Those are not humans then

[@dkeith45]

Short and to the point. Well put. It's our AIM that makes what appears to be an arch. The longer the distance to the target, the more we tilt a barrel upwards out of level. But the bullet always leaves the barrel in a straight line, and drops over distance.

[@moatddtutorials]

"The wind's gettin' a bit choppy. You can compensate for it, or you can wait it out, but he might leave before it dies down. It's your call. Remember what I've taught you. Keep in mind variable humidity and wind speed along the bullet's flight path. At this distance you'll also have to take the Coriolis Effect into account. " - Cpt. MacMillan, Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare

[@zukislumber]

The sniper 101 series is well worth watching. Its long but...

[@gungho1345]

Took me about 10 rds to walk it in, but was able to hit a 19" gong at 100yds with my 1911. Once I found my point of aim consecutive shots were hitting.

[@Navigator777777]

Give us a video about how to properly sight in and use a scope? If you have done so...enlighten me.

[@TheSneakerFile.]

❤

[@josephbenard2135]

.

[@Pondo1221]

I'd like to see a drawing that's actually to scale for the arcs of different calibers. They always make it look like the arc is 3-4 feet when it's really only a couple inches for most calibers.

[@justinfisher3827]

It would probably look like a straight line if the x and y scale were the same.

[@b234543]

you find the left handed twist between the left handed scissors and the left handed can openers lol.

[@jamesontutherow3593]

PLEASE DO A PSA GF3 MELTDOWN

[@lloydcastleton]

wakes are cool if you have the money for the glass.

[@wbball15]

I always love videos involving maths.

[@scottshipley7376]

I seriously didn't know people thought that..

[@josephreisinger33]

Is that were the saying " just give me the strength dope " comes from?

[@JohnThomas-gj2zg]

A lot that a lot of people need to know .....

[@ksrexplore9242]

Please do!!!

[@PopsGunChannel]

I just bought the S&W 351C .22 magnum and something weird is happening At 5 yards I get a 10 inch groups but at 10 yards I get 4 inch groups.....How is that possible ? regards, rick

[@saskdad115]

Right in time for hunting season! Thanks Eric. I'm amidst setting my Browning BLR 30-06 with 220grain core lokt's for PBD...

[@michaelu5929]

Love your channel and videos since 2015, the fact you have spent 10 days explaining high school math is sad, not for you but America

[@jpasillas72]

Question: where in the History and Tradition was it required to get a permit to carry either concealed or open?

[@donfeller732]

So does left or right twist only matter when shooting North and south? So as to counteract the spin of the earth?

[@ladamyre1]

The spin of the bullet involves the Magnus Effect. Baseball pitchers use it to throw a curve ball. It's a very small effect, but at 1000+ yard ranges it can be as much as a half an inch. As the bullet falls the bottom of the bullet encounters slight air resistance and that affects the trajectory of the bullet. The rotation of the Earth moving the target has a much greater effect than the Magnus Effect making the bullet itself curve.

[@scotthall8850]

True

[@dragonsofthunder]

Brother I need to and want to be at the next RANGE DAY!!!!

[@OzarksWildman]

Shooting dead level, if you dropped a bullet from the same height as the muzzle as you fired a bullet, both will hit the ground at the same time.

[@jimjordan2209]

Bullets fly straight through a curved space. The curved space makes them appear to arc. The greater the gravitational attractions between the bullet and any other object the greater the apparent arc will be.

[@jeffreyhowll1392]

Hi Al

[@marioniaguessa3555]

From an m 60 there is a semicircle cone of plunging fire

[@larryflint4333]

I would be willing to bet there are HUNDREDS of ar-15 mags buried in the hills lost in eternity, from our long lost friend Barry.. lol

[@MiC-T]

Do you know what a hossa is?

[@silver4drrx828]

Technically a bullet flies straight, but only for a super duper epic insanely split second of a slice of brief period of time. Then like Eric said, gravity peaks around the corner and says Whats up, remember me?

[@dkeith45]

Exactly. If a barrel is leveled using a straight carpenters level, then boresighted using a laser, a series of targets marked, and you ignore the iron or otherwise sights and shoot at a target one foot away, then two feet, three feet and so on, you will see the bullets do NOT jump up above the level boresighted mark on those targets, it drops over distance. It's our AIM that causes these stupid beliefs, that bullets jump up out of barrels in an arch. When we aim, we tilt the barrel upward depending on the distance to the target, sometimes we tilt the barrel upward several inches. This causes what appears to be an arch, but it's not. The bullet still flies straight as a laser out of the barrel, then drops over distance to the target.

[@NathanLGrossman]

@@dkeith45 Thank you for such an informative explanation!

[@Tony.795]

@@dkeith45 And if you drop the same projectile at the same time as another one is fired horizontally at the same level, they will reach the ground pretty much simultaineously.

[@johnriggs9016]

Same logic obviously for arrows, but some think those fly straight 😄

[@craigjohnson775]

Ah gravity yes, tested millions of times and still winning. Also, let me know if I'm in the wrong for shaking my head everytime one of my friends sights in there rifle with red dot, then put a pair of offset irons (cuz they saw it online somewhere.. YT) then cant zero cuz the bullet is off trajectory.. is it wrong to say the bullet should be high and left or high and right depending on the side the 45offset sights are mounted?

[@goldenwheeledbanshee9160]

If u shoot a rifle an drop a bullet from rifle at same time both are going 2 hit ground at same time. Gravity study it.

[@DinoNucci]

Wrong

[@billyhawkins1150]

that is very true if the barrel is level with the ground.

[@DRONETREADONME]

This is some "science" that I believe in 😉

[@tommyguns14able]

Only if the bore is perfectly level

[@Pskawt]

Yup. Only if the rifle is level though.

[@llkj7944]

It seems somewhat obvious to me gravity will effect a bullet back to the ground! But why do bullets, shape, weight and speed affect horizontal impact changes Shot out of the same gun? Bullet A groups hight left, bullet B groups 8 inches lower right and bullet C groups in the bull!

[@Tony.795]

Weight does not affect the trajectory directly, it does however affect speed. The projectile is in a state of a free fall as soon as it leaves the barrel. A faster bullet will be less affected by gravity as it reaches it's target faster, thus impacting higher than a slower bullet. Shape does play a role as it influences drag which does play a role in a free fall but I would say it's negligible for bullets of the same caliber. But it will affect how fast the bullet slows down, giving it time to fall. Theres a video where they drop a bowling ball and a feather at the same time in a vacuum chamber to illustrate that weight does not play a role in a free fall scenario.

[@sudoroot5457]

but, if you shoot straight down from the last floor of a skyscraper, the bullet flies pretty much straight and doesn't follow your ballistic anymore, isn't it ? Vice versa it is when you shoot straight up. Except for the Earth's rotation and the Coriolis force which must now be taken into account. Please help us to explain ;-) I appreciate it

[@kahner93]

Kinematics 101 dude

[@levent7171990]

Do you know what a chazzer is, Eric?

[@thasinister]

You should do a STEN meltdown. Would be interesting considering it's an extremely cheaply made gun.

[@rom14141]

They will once my momma tells them to straighten up and fly right. Wait a minute...lol

[@meanman6992]

I would say, bore dia. has nothing to do with it. Bullet length and shape on the other hand far as drag coefficient goes has everything to do with it. I would imagine when you said this you were thinking calibers. As in types of cartridges. Like 6.5x55 vs .308win. But that’s not even close to what you said.

[@garrettbullock3176]

My uncle got into a argument with a guy one time over that. The guy said the bullet rises when it comes out the barrel then falls. My uncle said NO it starts falling as soon as it leaves the barrel lol

[@dkeith45]

I had a discussion with coworkers once on this subject. Ten against me. Not one, all guys, could fathom that bullets do not jump up out of a barrel. IMO it's those damn little illustrations in gun mags over the years showing bullets rising up in an arch. It's our AIM, tilting the barrel upward, to hit a distant target that makes what seems to be an arch. But the bullet leaves the barrel in a laser straight line, then it drops over distance to the target.

[@TiglathPileser3]

Bullets fly straight as an arrow. Of course, arrows fall to the ground, too. Now, in the micro-gravity environment of deep space....

[@vikingr1000]

Next Eric talk about what really is point blank range.

[@jakehyams8659]

It's when your eyes cross trying to get a sight picture because the target is so close

[@vikingr1000]

@@jakehyams8659 🤣 If memory serves in External Ballistics it's the range from the end of the muzzle to the point where the projectile loses altitude by the width of its diameter.

[@AverageHouseHusband]

Bullets don't fly at all they fall.(free fall the second they leave the barrel.) Honestly I thought this video was an attempt at a joke before I watched it.

[@davidohare2933]

7mm REM MAG Savage 111

[@SteveC38]

Now, arrows on the other hand...😎

[@WeCube1898]

Its called projectile right ?

[@gleamtarrest6310]

Mine Do!

[@crusiethmaximuss]

OK, real talk, NASA and Space Force need to take a 30-06 to the Moon and see how it performs for science.

[@meanman6992]

No, next question.

[@zonex001]

Yes, it do, in space.

[@reloadrefine]

✅✌🏻

[@bobwills7607]

Maximum point blank range