Any ballistic apps that really work out there?

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MartyK2500

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This week i have had the privilege to finally have a go with my rifle at 800M.
Quite the learning experience, i was also lucky to be with experienced guys that helped me get there.

We started with movers at 400M and went gradually back, 100M at a time, with statics until we reach 800M.
It was too dark to have a chance at 900M.

I taught i was prepared.
Many labradar chrono data at hand at different temperatures, kestrel 5000 bluetooth synced with strelok application...
At 400M i was bullseye, 500M shooting low so i had to click up a little, 600M was at lowest possible placement of figure 11 target, 700M was where i needed big help from the guys, wasn’t even remotely close.

Just so we are clear, strelok app was properly set up.
At 600M i took my labradar out, and my velocity was the exact same as the predicted velocity in my application, it did a good job at predicting my speed but couldn’t do any reliable data with it.

When i got home i took my note pad out.
I had noted temperature, humidity, baro pressure, my chrono data for the evening, and my click values at 600-700-800M.

When replicated in strelok, not even close, a full mil off at 800M.
When replicated in JBM ballistics on the computer, everything worked pretty damn close.
Same values 600-700, 0.1 mil difference at 800.

My question is 2 parts,
Do you prefer ballistic apps or the use of laminated spreadsheets?
If using an app, which one has proven accurate, at distances past 600M?
 
I use apps when practicing. In the field a laminated card will is with me as it's faster to reference for long shots than the app as you may not always have the time when the animal's on the move.
All my scope dope cards for the calibres I shoot are in 50m increments and note what distance the bullet goes transonic: I won't shoot an animal at or past that range.

With regards to the app I have had great success with the Applied Ballistics app. Keep in mind the more data you collect / input into the app at the various distances the more accurate your app / data will be. Remember the coriolis effect etc. All that has to be taken into account by you or the app (not familiar with the one you used) depending on the direction you shoot. Also your height over bore etc etc should all be as accurate as possible in the app too. Sometime it's a bit of a PITA but such is the price if you want your app to be as precise as possible.

Stick with it: you will get there!


Hope this helps.
 
Sounds like you need to do a tall target test at 100yards and check your scopes tracking not all optics work and some high end ones will even fail, you don’t know unless you test. I use a the applied ballistics app and it is really good.
 
I have found that with Strelok, and Shooter, to calibrate via actual trajectory - ie, shoot at distance (500yds+, 800 best for me), once you hit centre of target, plug that mils/moa number into the program, and you're pretty darn close. In Strelock which has only one trajectory calibration point, if you are off at shorter distances, tweak it with scope height. This brings it within a few clicks at any distance PROVINDING you input everything else properly. In Shooter, it has 4 or 5 data entry points for trajectory at distance - plug those in and you're set!

And i agree, these apps are not perfect, but you can make them pretty darn close.
 
Thanks gor the replies

I have checked applied ballistics and seems more complete than strelok pro i got, definitely worth a look.

No i have never done a tracking test, seems like it’s the next mission for my vortex scope.

Chris, my app does have a BC truing section.
But, like you mentioned, only has one entry point.
If i put my 500M data in it won’t work well for 800M, and vice versa.

JBM ballistics is so close of what i was achieving, wonder if there’s an app based on it.
I think this weekend i’ll get some data on some excel spreadsheet and start laminating some data sheets.
At least to carry around even if i find an app.
I guess a tracking test is in order too, always took that one for granted.
 
Tracking test,
Then Applied Ballistics, Hornady's app is apparently very good if it has your bullet in it. Trasol is supposed to be a very good ballistic app as well. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet.
What's your rifle/ caliber set up? What bullets are you shooting?

Head over to snipershide, or check out "theeverydaysniper" podcast, Frank, the guy that runs both has some good info on how he tweaks his ballistic apps to get good data.

Basically, he considers the initial info the app gives him as "try data" he shoots that data, writes down all the corrections. Then goes home and tweaks his apps, via BC, MV, and using the apps built in auto correction to make the data line up as best as possible.
 
In this case i would need an app allowing multiple truing corrections, vs my strelok pro that only allows one.
Applied ballistics seems popular after reading about it some more, will most likely get this one.

Rifle setup is a .308, 26’’ barrel, M40 profile, 1:10 twist, 175SMK, avg velocity of exactly 2700FPS at 74F, razor gen 2 4.5-27x56

It would now seem important now more than ever to note all my drops at given atmospheric conditions to have more usable data.
 
I used the Ballisic AE one for first shot center hits out to 600. Have not shot further yet. As soon as some crop comes off. Then it’s off to 1000. I hope.
 
I’ve used iSnipe with my Kestrel 5000 with out AB and worked really well, biggest thing was accurate info in gives accurate info out, especially sight in conditions and velocity, as you shoot further out tweak the velocity and results will get even better.

I have since upgraded to a Kestrel 5700 elite with link and AB, I’m still tweaking my info with the new setup but it is working really good, plus now don’t have to add weather conditions manually.
 
Ballistic AE uses the JBM solver and works very well. It's what I used before I had a Kestrel 5700 with AB (which also works very well). The dope I get with Ballistic AE is within 0.1 mil of what my Kestrel gives me and I've used the Kestrel to make hits out 1500 yards with my .308 and 1600 with my 6mm.
 
Yes indeed!
That evening I had noted everything, my chrono data, humidity, temperature, baro pressure, my actual corrections needed...
When inputing everything JBM is exactly like my notes, as in 800M is 8.1mils in both, 600M is 4.9mils in both.

So now to get some more chrono data out, shoot at different temperatures and get my readings.
I figure I will use a combination of range cards, ballistic applications, and notepad as reference to my actual drop within specific conditions.


6MT said:
Doesn't your Kestrel 5000 have AB?

My 5700 has AB and you have it all in 1 package. Environmentals live to go with your ballistic software. I works extremely well. Litz's AB is very accurate with all of the inputs. And the Kestrel 5700 with AB gives you everything.

If you're entering all of the variables individually, you're bound to have issues out past 500m. I know I did until I got the 5700 and it has everything in it for the software. I've used mine with very accurate results out to 2600 yards...yes, a mile and a half (better than 1/4moa).

Easy.
Click to expand...

My next kestrel ought to have this.
I got this one as a present (5000 with link), and works well at the moment, intergrated ballistics would be nice if ever I can have access to that 800-900M more regularly.
 
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A couple other things are, the bc of the bullet is affected by speed and twist thats one reason why the shooter app as a BC calibration.
Other factors are the lighting factors, were you shooting in clouds and then the sun came out?

Hold on the gun also has a huge impact when you stretch it out, after your on target and shooting good just try it and see the difference between a death grip on the gun compared to a looser grip or free recoil. This can have a huge input on vertical.
 
Another factory is lot to lot consistency, Bryan Lytz talks about some bullets having up to 3% different BC's between lots. Doesn't sound like much but enough to make you doubt your calculator.
 
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