Ballistics App

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I recently "graduated" to a smart phone. One of the things I want to do with it, is to load it with apps that will replace my pencil, paper, and calculator. When we went out west to hunt Pronghorns, I wrote out a rough range card, but wasn't able to factor in such things as temperature, air density, elevation, etc. 

Been looking at some of what's available, and I really liked "Sniper Calculator", but everything was in metric units. By the time I do all of the conversions to English, I could have shot 3 shots and figured out how far I was off. 

Does anyone have any suggestions for this kind of app on an Android device? I'm playing with Strelock right now, but not 100% in love,  yet. 

[Dutch]

Who'd have ever envisioned a hunter taking a hand held computer out hunting to help figure out drop, wind deflection, etc.?

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Ck this one out: Shooterapp

I haven't used it but know some who like it.  I love TidesUSA App which is outstanding if ur into saltwater fishing.

Hey Dutch...we're in the 21st Century!!

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Dec 18, 2014 6:22:06 GMT -5 Dutch said:

Who'd have ever envisioned a hunter taking a hand held computer out hunting to help figure out drop, wind deflection, etc.?

I still think practice shooting at the distance's for normal hunting opportunity (100-200yds) is all you need. Today's hunters carry more gear than a combat soldier. LOL

PS: Maybe that's why they need an ATV instead of walking.

[Deleted]

I still think practice shooting at the distance's for normal hunting opportunity (100-200yds) is all you need.





100% agree, as long as we are talking about normal hunting conditions in this area. However, been working on getting my son to do some long range shooting, with a specific goal of attaining "precision"- Not just hitting a target, but consistently and systematically grouping at any and all ranges.



This is encompassing precision reloading, precision range estimation, and precision discipline on the bench. We have opportunities to shoot over 1000 yrds, in all kinds of conditions.



We had quite the eye opening experience on our hunt in Wyoming, dealing with the different conditions, and really got the bug for long range shooting.





Who'd have ever envisioned a hunter taking a hand held computer out hunting to help figure out drop, wind deflection, etc.?





LOL, because I can't afford the scope that you push a button, it does the range estimation, automatically calculates every possible value and then adjusts the scope................ Yep, we are there, if you have enough money. So, technically, I'm still "old school" with my phone app.

[Deleted]

Oh, and we do do most of our practice shooting at 100 and 200 yards...... but we're using subsonic .22 rounds. (100 yards isn't as much fun as it was when we first started out though.)    One of the guys we shoot with on occasion is now shooting 300 and 400  with the subs. (12x24 metal plates). 

[Dutch]

Many years ago, we used external click scopes when we hunt long range groundhogs. Developed a "click chart", which we then used in deer season for long range deer.

That practice on hogs at 4-900 yds was a hang of a lot of fun, and educational.

[Deleted]

We're working on trying to learn all of it: mil dots (both ranging and sighting), MOAs, Kentucky windage... you name it. My son's scope has the finger adjustable turrets. 

When we went to WY, we were told that there would be a rangefinder for us to use, so we just concentrated on using the mil dots for drop and compensation. Made up a range card out to 500 yrds (we were told we would be shooting <200- basically point blank range), and thought we were good. Gun was on at 100 and we had the mil dots dialed in. 

Got out there and no rangefinder, and then those antelope decided they liked 800 yards better than 200. Finally stalked one to what we guessed was 400 yrds +/- (chest bracketed @ 1 mil) . According to card and test firing here at home, it was a 2 mil high hold. Guessed the wind @ 15 mph, so favored 1 mil right. Shot went over the buck's back fairly dead center. 

Figured we must have misjudged the distance, so my son held 1 mil high, 1 mil right and "bang flopped" the goat right there. Stepped it off and it was 444 steps. 

I was wracking my brain over the drop. 28.8 inches on first shot vs 14.4 inches on the hit (Yes, figuring some human error as well). Finally, a good friend who hunts out there a lot asked if I compensated for elevation, air density, temperature difference ....... umm, no. Started researching it, and there can be a major impact as the distance increases. 

So, now, we are working on the math for a .308 @ 1000 yrds. Paper and pencil say it's a total drop of ~33 ft. Gotta think that any and every factor is going to influence a hit or a total miss. Hence, I'll take any tool available that gives me the best chance at making that steel plate "bang" on the first pull of the trigger. 

Anyway, that is some of the "history" and reason for the app inquiry. It wasn't a "hunting" question per se, but more of a "shooting" one. 

[Dutch]

I used to belong to a club that had targets from 100-600 yds. That was a lot of fun shooting there, and winding clicks on and off just to see how close we were with our own click charts.

One time, we stopped at an Amish stand that had over ripe cantalopes, 10 for a $1. Set them out at 500 yds, and watched the bullet wash right into the exploding melons. Loved that.

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It's addictive, that's for sure. 

Son shot his doe @ 150 yards this year. Another "poleaxe" that fell right into it's own tracks. Came in the house and said, "That wasn't as much fun as it used to be."  I guess after shooting .22s at a 2" spinner target at 100 yards, he needs a bit more of a challenge. 

Now that his 308 is "in the ballpark", gonna start working on loads and data for my 300 Win Mag. Haven't used it too much lately as I hunt with handguns primarily, but I get a bit itchy sitting and watching all the time.