11-29-2011, 05:16 PM
Mutt Wrote:What is the ammunition input like on those other ones?? I use the Strelok ballistic app program and it works rather well. But, It doesn't have any default bullets in it. What I mean is, you can't choose Remington 9mm from a list. You have to know the FPS, BC and several other items to get the program to work properly. I would be interested in a program that has preprogrammed bullets listed in it's memory, so all you have to do is choose the type of ammo you purchased and it already has all the specs listed for that ammo. Do any of these other programs do any of this for you?
Not like any of them would have any Grendel ammo listed anyway.
Junk in, Junk out. The output on these things is only as good as the information you put into it. Feeding it generic published data then defeats the purpose, because the whole purpose is to shoot at medium to long ranges. Anything less than that, and you don't need a calculator. That's because you're only talking about a few minutes, which are small at close ranges, But things get exponentially worse the farther out you go. The difference between 500 yards and 600 yards is really where it seems to start to show. If you really want any accuracy at any reasonable range, then you have to know all of these details of the ammunition and how your gun shoots it. You need an accurate BC and muzzle velocities. It's also good to take temperature into account too. Not only does it effect trajectory, but it also effects muzzle velocity. It's best just to work these numbers out yourself. I don't even trust published BCs.
I guess I am one of the few here that advocates the PDA approach. I use a simple Excell spreadsheet for calculations on a windows mobile device, and it has proven to be extremely accurate and convenient. That, at least holds true for the context of my use. I'm sure that such things can easily enter into the realm of diminishing returns under different circumstances. I think there is virtue in simple range cards still.