"ACCURATE" Ballistic Sotware for P.C.

dthunter

dthunter

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Hello guys, just looking for "ACCURATE" ballistic software that I can take with me on my laptop P.C. I have tried various versions of R.C.B.S Load. That program was absolutely useless for me! It was so innaccurate! I like the free Berger program, but I can only get Berger G7 bullet values. This program was much closer, but still took careful trajectory trending to keep me on target to 1200. But it was usable. I would like to use G7 values for the Hornady 208gr. A-max, and a series of other Sierra and Nosler bullets.
I know that there is software for the handheld I phones etc. but i do not own one yet.
Are there any free programs? or do you have to pay for all the accurate ones?
The "jbm" shot card web site seems interesting. I havent used it yet. I will compare all my previous (real life field data) with its output values. I dont have an air card to use in the field, so this program is not very convienient for me. Help guys, your input and experience will shorten my learning curve!
 
my data is very detailed normally, but the software (I have) never seems to have accurate results. Running the risk of sounding concieted, I AM a very experienced shooter, but not as much at ranges past 6-700yards. I have shot at 1000-1300yds for a year and a half or so.The programs that I have tried are Rcbs Load 1.1 & v3.0 and they are no where near close, except at ranges closer than 400 yards. I would like to find a program that is accurate and compatible for my p.c. the JBM site seems very good,but i cannot take it into the field without a web connection. I dont want to use an I phone yet. I cannot afford it. I spent too much this year getting geared up! LOL! Any ideas of a quality/versatile/ and detailed downloadable program that has G7 drag profiles for most standard bullets?
Help me guys! This will save me sooo much shooting.
 
Well the programs are just a base to get you on target and create your own drop chart. Temp changes etc affect things considerably. I had a nice drop chart for my 223 built for the winter, but that was shooting at -20 to -29. Now that it's warmer, and I've switched to Rem bench rest primers I need to tweak it. If you've been shooting 1000 to 1300 yards for a year and a half, haven't you figured out where your best loads are shooting? I've found that the Berger program and Ballistic 1.0 will get me on the paper, especially after I tweak the BC or velocity to coincide with actual results I get at 400, 500 etc.
 
As long as you have the latest version of Java on your laptop, you can run Bryan Litz's Point Mass Ballistics Solver without internet access. It is included with his book "Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting," and uses both G1 and G7 drag models.
 
Try JBM ballistics (google). I'm not sure if you can put it on your laptop though. Lots of info to put in, using the "help" guide I still don't know exactly what they want or mean.
 
hello guys! finally some time to blog! LOL!
Fatboyz thankyou for your input. After a year and a half I have loads that are on the target at all ranges, insinuating that I dont is just silly! My point is when a person is working up a load. You start from ground zero. I was trusting the program to keep my bullets on the target butt at each range. Then tune for precision placement. But what I found was Rcbs load would not even get the bullet on a pallet back board past 600! The Berger program did keep it much closer. It may have something to do with updated G7drag calculations. As I approached the 800 yard plus distance, the information on the Berger program started deviateing. Small amounts at first. But it got progressive. I had to trend each previous distance calibration in order to place the bullets on the target as i moved out further. This is no real problem, but I thought that these programs would be more precise than that. The JBM web site seems to match very close to my range cards!It is usually obvious to experienced shooters that temp. will change your point of aim dramatically. As a long range shooter, its our responsibility to track and adjust for the variables. If we dont pay attention, we have dissappointing results. I have allot to learn about reading long range weather conditions, but I learn quick. I look forward to trying many different bullets at long range. Have fun, shoot straight!
 
I have been useing the RCBS program for several years now and find it is usually very close out to 1000 yds. I had problems with it the first year being off as much as 5moa at 1000 but after checking found the problem was the scope.I did a tall target test and found it was not coming up 30 min. but 27 1/2. This was enough to take me off the paper. New scope and at all ranges I am on paper enough to dial it in.
 
thankyou shotgun joe,but in my experience, if you plug in the exact same data that you would enter into say the Berger program,(for the most part, because its a diffreent interface) you "Will" get totally different values. I have compared this till i'm blue in the face, thinking I was missing something, but I know that the RCBS program isnt quite as ballistically refined. Have you ever computed data side by side and compared? I am not a computer guru by any means, so I am open to suggestions about the program. I have purchased this program twice, 7 years apart, hoping that RCBS had upgraded thier program enough to be more usefull. Granted, the software is not new like the Berger program, with G7 Drag values. (i dont know why they wouldnt use them?) I can honestly say that I have used the Rcbs program out to 500 for years, but have gotten used to the idea that I only use it to get close out to a max of 400-500yds. It worked just fine for me there. But going to 1000+ is a horse of a different color! I wish I had your experience with the RCBS program, then I wouldnt have to be looking now. Other than that, I like the program. Maybe there is a whole different side of the program I havent seen yet. Which version do you have?
Do you guys feel the expense of buying an I-phone to get Isnipe is worth it? The program is cheap, but the phone isnt. This would be pretty much the only reason i would need the I-phone.
I look forward to your reply. take care and straight shootin!
 
dthunter said:
The JBM web site seems to match very close to my range cards!!
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bbjbm.jpg

You can get cellphone software with similar output to JBM, you can buy a Nokia Phone for under $70 just for your range bag, play Pong and listen to music while you aren't shooting.
ExBal is always slightly off from JBM. You really need to know the atmospherics. Station pressure is not Barometric pressure, for example. edit: Except at sea level.
 
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Moose284 said:
Anyone running ExBal?
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I'm using Exbal. I had to alter my BC's slightly but once I did it works great. Of course you need to input accurate information for any of these programs to work properly. I can jump around from target to target at various distances with the data from exbal and get on target every time (as long as I do my part). I know some guys think these programs are a waste of money but for the type of shooting I do it is an important part of my kit. I never shoot at a set distance like the benchrest or f-class guys do and my goal is to hit the target on the first shot without a sighter. Besides, every day has different environmental conditions and these programs take all the guess work out of the equation. To me Exbal (or any other good ballistic program) is worth every penny. I have the program installed on a pda so it's portable and can be used right from the shooting line or bench.
 
armorman said:
I'm using Exbal. I had to alter my BC's slightly but once I did it works great. Of course you need to input accurate information for any of these programs to work properly. I can jump around from target to target at various distances with the data from exbal and get on target every time (as long as I do my part). I know some guys think these programs are a waste of money but for the type of shooting I do it is an important part of my kit. I never shoot at a set distance like the benchrest or f-class guys do and my goal is to hit the target on the first shot without a sighter. Besides, every day has different environmental conditions and these programs take all the guess work out of the equation. To me Exbal (or any other good ballistic program) is worth every penny. I have the program installed on a pda so it's portable and can be used right from the shooting line or bench.
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Yes, you are right. I have been looking at that new Kestral, with Horus ballistics software already built in. I may buy one but they aren't cheap. A person hates to buy something with software that is built in and find out that it doesn't work all that well.
 
Another plus on having a mobile program is that it's available at the range so that you can adjust to changing conditions. When you're shooting way out there any change in environmentals will drastically effect your point of impact. Again, if your goal is a first/second round hit then you need a program to calculate these corrections for you. You can have all the paper notes from the past 30 years (or whatever) in a binder all nice, neat, and organized but it still will not replace the accuracy that these programs offer.
 
There is an app called "Bullet Drop" for Ipod and Iphone. I haven't had the chance to test it at the range yet, but it looks decent, is free, and is totally mobile (as all Ipod/Iphone apps are).
 
I tried Making a shot card from the JBM web site to take out with me. I plugged all the calculated load info, and went shooting. My bullet strikes were within .5 m.o.a. out to 1500 yds! WOW!!! I am more than impressed with that!!!
 
dthunter said:
I tried Making a shot card from the JBM web site to take out with me. I plugged all the calculated load info, and went shooting. My bullet strikes were within .5 m.o.a. out to 1500 yds! WOW!!! I am more than impressed with that!!!
Click to expand...

I just returned a month ago from the DCRA's NSCC matches and input my load data and velocities. Voila! Only 0.5 to 0.75 MOA difference from the come-ups I actually recorded. That JBM ballistics program is 'spooky' accurate! :D

Cheers all!

Barney
 
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