.280 Enfield...Ahead of its time

[stanc]

I was actually comparing sniper rifles to sniper rifles, and appropriate projectiles for each.

How is a VLD appropriate? When has either the US or UK used VLD bullets in 7.62 sniper ammo?

A flat-based 139gr 7mm still has a G1 BC of .392, and since boat tail projectiles were adopted for the 7.62 NATO across the board, one can deduce that a 7mm FMJ with a boat tail would have been used then as well. Once you boat tail the 7mm, bullets almost 30gr lighter have the same or higher BC as their .30 cal BTHP match counterparts.

Granted that a boat tail bullet would likely have been developed, at least for sniper use. However, my point is that you were making an unfair comparison of 7mm VLD HPBT (secant ogive) vs 7.62mm Ball FMJBT (tangent ogive) bullets.

That's hardly apples-to-apples. If you wish to do a comparison with VLD in 7mm, it seems to me you ought to also use VLD in 7.62mm.

Or else show tangent ogive FMJBTs or SMKs in both calibers. For example, .284" 168gr SMK vs .308" 175gr SMK (M118LR).

But, 7mm VLD vs 7.62mm FMJ is apples-oranges.