Ballistics over water at long range

Bush Man

Bush Man

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Does shooting over water change your bullet trajectory? Lets say you have your rifle sighted for dead nutz at 1000yds across dirt, if you shot across 800 yards of water to your target at 1000yds would it be a different POA? Temperature would be one variable that changes when over water correct? Any other funny things happen??

Since moving up into bush land again its hard to find a clear piece of ground to shoot past 500yds anymore. So my plan is to shoot across a bay on a lake. I'm really getting the itch to plink way out there again.
 
Bush Man said:
Does shooting over water change your bullet trajectory? Lets say you have your rifle sighted for dead nutz at 1000yds across dirt, if you shot across 800 yards of water to your target at 1000yds would it be a different POA? Temperature would be one variable that changes when over water correct? Any other funny things happen??

Since moving up into bush land again its hard to find a clear piece of ground to shoot past 500yds anymore. So my plan is to shoot across a bay on a lake. I'm really getting the itch to plink way out there again.
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Yes it can. There are thermals that either rise or descend from the water depending on temperature differential.
Shooting over a frozen pond will also effect your trajectory in a weird way.
Watching the contrail of a big bullet shift while going over either deep water or thick ice is really interesting.:cool:
 
Humidity has very little effect (an inch or two at 800 yards, extremes of humidity), although damp air is less dense and less drag, but the wind currents over the lake would be a big deal at 800. You do have ripples to watch for that.
 
Shooting over water will have no discernible variation compared to shooting over land on a sunny day with an unstable air mass present, or across a valley with a moderate wind blowing at those ranges- its not like the turbulence present over water or ice is any different than that encountered over land. However, you will be able to see gusts as they come and go, and likely learn with greater certainty what effects those gusts have on bullet flight path. It could be very insightful. And FWIW reality is usually a pretty erratic condition, so why not learn to shoot well despite its trickery?
 
weldboss@hotmail.com said:
Who the hell gave you that untruth, Unless you are speaking about North Korean ICBM's You sir are 100% WRONG:owned:
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Well, I used to shoot over water all the time when I was young and dumb until I got crap from a pair of Mounties for doing so.

The part I remember from what they were telling me was that is unlawful to fire a "single projectile firearm" over a body of water.

I am not sure where you will find it whether it will be the Firearms Act, Criminal Code or the Migratory Bird act. You would have to look it up.

Besides the fact, shooting over a surface that will ricochet is an unnecessary risk.
 
I was talking to two guys from land of the free and home of the brave (WA state, IIRC) and they said a friend had been fined for target shooting across a small creek.
It was not the ricochet danger, but the environmental (lead) issue.

Up here, I am not aware of any laws other than shotgun lead shot fired over wetlands.
 
rimfiremac said:
Shooting over water will have no discernible variation compared to shooting over land on a sunny day with an unstable air mass present, or across a valley with a moderate wind blowing at those ranges- its not like the turbulence present over water or ice is any different than that encountered over land. However, you will be able to see gusts as they come and go, and likely learn with greater certainty what effects those gusts have on bullet flight path. It could be very insightful. And FWIW reality is usually a pretty erratic condition, so why not learn to shoot well despite its trickery?
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Thanks for the knowledgeable reply. Reading the water ripples like a flag will be an interesting challenge.
 
Parker-Hale Mike said:
Well, I used to shoot over water all the time when I was young and dumb until I got crap from a pair of Mounties for doing so.

The part I remember from what they were telling me was that is unlawful to fire a "single projectile firearm" over a body of water.

I am not sure where you will find it whether it will be the Firearms Act, Criminal Code or the Migratory Bird act. You would have to look it up.

Besides the fact, shooting over a surface that will ricochet is an unnecessary risk.
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Tell it to the navy.
 
Parker-Hale Mike said:
Well, I used to shoot over water all the time when I was young and dumb until I got crap from a pair of Mounties for doing so. The part I remember from what they were telling me was that is unlawful to fire a "single projectile firearm" over a body of water.
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How often do you read on here stories of RCMP hassling us about what is right/wrong about firearm laws? More often than not, they DO NOT KNOW THE RULES. Every time I encounter police, we get into a discussion about gun laws. Then I pull out the 'pamphlet' and hand it to them - discussion [debate] ends shortly thereafter.

Parker-Hale Mike said:
Besides the fact, shooting over a surface that will ricochet is an unnecessary risk.
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No f**king kidding.
For those shooting on Crown Land, how often do we shoot objects where a ricochet is probable? More often than you think.
 
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