11-21-2019, 11:49 AM
Medic,
It is down the rabbit hole for sure, and how deep you want to go depends on your interest and shooting context. As a civilian, it also depends on how deep your pockets are.
All these variables you mention; Coriolis etc have always affected your shooting however for one reason or another you re only becoming aware or concerned about them now. While the bullet is in flight the earth is turning beneath it and the target will not be in exactly the same spot by the time the bullet reaches it. But this only matters with long range shooting and prior to ballistics programs it was all too-hard to calculate such a small influence.
External programs predict what happens to the bullet once it leaves the muzzle. Internal programs predict what happens inside the gun on firing.
External ballistics Programs
These apps are cheap as chips for your smart phone. I have two; the phone version of JBM Ballistics and Bullet Flight. I use them to get on paper at distance however as a predictor they are rarely exactly perfect.
Internal Ballistics programs
I use Quickload on the computer to regularly to simulate loads and compare products like powders.
Environmental conditions are variables that affect bullet flight all the way to the target, especially wind. A kestrel is a portable weather station that gives you information about weather at the firing point. Kestrel has models that have inbuilt external ballistics programs for shooters. They automatically interface weather data with the ballistics program to give you a solution. I use a ballistics Kestrel and find it useful. I don't use their advertised frame that acts as a vane (it seems too much effort for what it's worth). For working out prevailing wind direction I look at indicators like flags, trees, grass and other people's spinners, or tie a long piece of plastic tape downrange, or poke a reticulation flag in the ground. or simply hold the Kestrel up and watch where the Kestrel's lanyard is being pushed. Confirm this with the feel of the wind on your face and/or hold up a wet finger. So yes, the rotating Kestrel frame would be useful I guess, but I don't use it because there are less effortful ways of figuring out prevailing wind direction (if you don't have a portable weather station you can even check the weather via your phone for current conditions).
The MV on the ammo box is to be used as a ready reckoner only. It is based on a test barrel length that is probably different to yours, plus a few more FPS added by the Marketing department. The only way to know the real MV is to have a chronograph device on hand. They vary in price but compared to the price of ammo the cheapest are cheap.
No, you don't need a laser range finder if you already know the ranges. Regardless, there are other ways to judge distance. If you can go forward to the targets you can pace, or use the odometer in your car, or a GPS. If not, then judge by using known object sizes and the scope's reticle, or halving, or imagine how many 100yds go into the total, or ask the shooters next to you and average.
It is down the rabbit hole for sure, and how deep you want to go depends on your interest and shooting context. As a civilian, it also depends on how deep your pockets are.
All these variables you mention; Coriolis etc have always affected your shooting however for one reason or another you re only becoming aware or concerned about them now. While the bullet is in flight the earth is turning beneath it and the target will not be in exactly the same spot by the time the bullet reaches it. But this only matters with long range shooting and prior to ballistics programs it was all too-hard to calculate such a small influence.
External programs predict what happens to the bullet once it leaves the muzzle. Internal programs predict what happens inside the gun on firing.
External ballistics Programs
These apps are cheap as chips for your smart phone. I have two; the phone version of JBM Ballistics and Bullet Flight. I use them to get on paper at distance however as a predictor they are rarely exactly perfect.
Internal Ballistics programs
I use Quickload on the computer to regularly to simulate loads and compare products like powders.
Environmental conditions are variables that affect bullet flight all the way to the target, especially wind. A kestrel is a portable weather station that gives you information about weather at the firing point. Kestrel has models that have inbuilt external ballistics programs for shooters. They automatically interface weather data with the ballistics program to give you a solution. I use a ballistics Kestrel and find it useful. I don't use their advertised frame that acts as a vane (it seems too much effort for what it's worth). For working out prevailing wind direction I look at indicators like flags, trees, grass and other people's spinners, or tie a long piece of plastic tape downrange, or poke a reticulation flag in the ground. or simply hold the Kestrel up and watch where the Kestrel's lanyard is being pushed. Confirm this with the feel of the wind on your face and/or hold up a wet finger. So yes, the rotating Kestrel frame would be useful I guess, but I don't use it because there are less effortful ways of figuring out prevailing wind direction (if you don't have a portable weather station you can even check the weather via your phone for current conditions).
The MV on the ammo box is to be used as a ready reckoner only. It is based on a test barrel length that is probably different to yours, plus a few more FPS added by the Marketing department. The only way to know the real MV is to have a chronograph device on hand. They vary in price but compared to the price of ammo the cheapest are cheap.
No, you don't need a laser range finder if you already know the ranges. Regardless, there are other ways to judge distance. If you can go forward to the targets you can pace, or use the odometer in your car, or a GPS. If not, then judge by using known object sizes and the scope's reticle, or halving, or imagine how many 100yds go into the total, or ask the shooters next to you and average.