Round ball drop

[Doc Contender]

If a 54 cal ball is sighted in for 50 yards. What will be the drop in inches at 75 yards?
I know velocity is a big factor, just looking for some general ideal.

 

[weasel]

Doc i sighted my fiffty four in at twenty five yards shooting at a measured hundred yards I shot 1" 1/2" low four shots touching one 1/2" higher
thirty two in. barrel hunnerd grs two f .018 ticking .530 hornady swaged rb plenty good nuff for huntin. 3 inch penetration in seasond cherry
farwood no significant loss in ball weight
weasel

 

[squirejohn]

Doc, Lyman Blackpowder Handbook contains a lot of trajectory info. Trajectory data for a .535 RB is given at 100fps intervals ranging from 900fps through 2100fps. Some of the data points are: A 0.535RB zeroed in at 50yds shows that at MV (in fps) of 1000, 1400, 1700 & 2000 the drop in inches at 75yds is; 3.83, 2.18, 1.37, & 0.86 respectively. In another table, same handbook, the amount of powder (-3F-!) used to acheive the same approximate velocities shown above are:1166fps-40grs, 1424-60, 1740-100, & 2010-130. The above used a 0.535RB, 015 patch in a 43" barrel using FFF powder and a musket cap. Hope this helps.

 

[musketman]

Doc Contender:
Barrel length is also a factor in bullet drop, the longer the barrel, the longer the powder has to push the projectile faster and hence, a flatter trajectory.

A .535 diameter round ball in a 28 inch barrel with 80 grains of FFg will yeild 1452 fps.

The same load in a 30 inch barrel will produce 1466 fps.

In a 34 inch barrel, the same load gives up 1519 fps.

Lastly, a 43 inch barrel and the same load pushes the ball to 1629 fps.

Ball drop will reduce more than a full inch from barrel length alone.

Sighted in at 50 yards, -2.18 at 75 yards. (28" bbl)

Sighted in at 50 yards, -1.61 at 75 yards. (43" bbl)

Same load of 80 grains FFg.