Leupold range finder issue/ decent portable ballistics calculator??

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logan1080

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I made a 30"x22" steel target today to do some long range shooting on.The rifle I am using and ammo groups about a half MOA at 100 yrds. I went to range it out at probably around 400 yards. My Leupold RX IV boone and crocket range finder wouldn't range it. It is supposed to be able to range out to 1500 yards but yet it couldn't pick up a fair sized steel target at 400+ yards. Anyone know wtf is going on? Also I need some advice on a decent portable ballistic calculator. I bought Ballistic tactical for my ipod touch. I hit the very bottom of the target at 450 yards first shot. I dialed in my scope to hit centre then went out to 950 yards. Put all the weather info into the range finder, all the bullet data, altitude, etc then dialed in the MOA it told me to dial in I was still low by at least 8 feet and out on windage by at least 8 feet. It's a calm day, low wind, about 20 degrees C out. I tried Isnipe aswell, not very accurate either.
 
Rangefinders vary in their effective range based on the reflectivity of the target, ambient dust etc, and mirage.

Ballistics calculators are only as accurate as the parameters you feed them. Do you have an accurate muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient? Most published BC data is embellished, sometimes to the point of being pure BS (Look at Nosler 6mm Custom Competition bullets)
 
I have a military grade range finder it will only range long distantances like 1500 yards if you have a reflector.

It can hit a 6"X6" target at 400 yards no problem and even my bushnell yardage pro can range that same small target at 400 yards.

Sounds like your muzzle velocity is off for your ballistics program did you chronograph your rounds ?
 
I did not use a chrono, I do have one and will bring it out next time I go shooting and find out if it is accurate to the manufacturer specs. Also I just ranged a skinny wooden post at 534 yards but still it would not range my sheet of steel which was sitting at about the same distance. I painted it flat black, do you guys think that the flat black is affecting it?
 
logan1080 said:
I did not use a chrono, I do have one and will bring it out next time I go shooting and find out if it is accurate to the manufacturer specs. Also I just ranged a skinny wooden post at 534 yards but still it would not range my sheet of steel which was sitting at about the same distance. I painted it flat black, do you guys think that the flat black is affecting it?
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maybe the flat black paint is absorbing to much of the light from the range finder? Also some flat black paints are actually mini structured textures on the surface so this to can cause light scattering.
 
Definitely the problem, most range finders come with a list of what they will read and what ranges. My bushnell unit will range 'highly reflective' targets to 1000yds. but deer only300 and trees depending on what type and colour between 300-600yds.
As for your ballistic program the sierra program is now available for ipod.
 
buy a triangle tractor reflector and mount it on the top of your target and you will have no problem. Fixed me up.
 
Good Idea with the triangle tractor reflector, I may repaint it with a glossy black and try that out. I may have found out why the ballistic program was so far out. When I used my reticle to calculate range because the rangefinder wasn't working, I have a FFP scope that was zoomed in to 20x. I forgot to divide my MOA reading by 2. I believe that is the rule of thumb when using a FFP scope reticle zoomed in?
 
logan1080 said:
I have a FFP scope that was zoomed in to 20x. I forgot to divide my MOA reading by 2. I believe that is the rule of thumb when using a FFP scope reticle zoomed in?
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You do not have a FFP reticle, A FFP reticle stays the same size no matter the magnifaction meaning at 20x the reticle will still measures the same distance as 8x or 15x
 
It states in my manual that my rangefinder is most effective on overcast type days. On a bright sunny day my rangefinder has difficulty ranging many things but when it's an overcast day it does an absolutely fine job.
Was the sun shining brightly when you were using your range finder?
 
Jeromeo said:
It states in my manual that my rangefinder is most effective on overcast type days. On a bright sunny day my rangefinder has difficulty ranging many things but when it's an overcast day it does an absolutely fine job.
Was the sun shining brightly when you were using your range finder?
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Yeah there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Yeah i got the focal plane mixed up. My scope is SFP. Reticle does not get bigger as I zoom in.
 
logan1080 said:
Good Idea with the triangle tractor reflector, I may repaint it with a glossy black and try that out
Click to expand...

Forget black....my Bushnell Arc 1500 says specifically that black is a poor reflective color. Red is best, only problem is that I haven't seen many red coyotes.

I've tried it on black Angus steers, a whole herd of them at 700 to 800 yards and got absolutely no reading.

Best to paint the gong fluorescent orange.
 
fluorescent orange is the way to go you can see this 6x6 inch plate at 1000 yards so easy... I tried silver and white paint but orange is the way to go.

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