Ballistics

a: the science of the motion of projectiles in flight

b: the flight characteristics of a projectile

Or, how to shoot stuff and try to have it land in the same zip code.

Well, then. What info do we need to feed into a ballistics program for it to give us a solution?

1. Rifle details
2. Scope info
3. Cartridge details
4. Density Altitude
5. Distance to target
6. Wind

1. Rifle details – caliber, barrel length, twist rate
2. Scope details – type, height above barrel, sight type
3. Cartridge type – caliber, bullet size, bullet weight, bullet shape, muzzle velocity
4. Density Altitude – from your device or local online info
5. Wind – speed and direction

Most of these things you can get from your manual or online info, but how about muzzle velocity? Well, some commercial ammo gives MV, but only from their test rifle and barrel length. If you are going to be accurate, you MUST have a chronograph that measures your shots from your rifle at your DA. Otherwise, you are just guessing and GIGO comes into play – Garbage In, Garbage Out.

DOPE – Data On Previous Engagement.
Once we have entered all of this info, the ballistics program will give its proposed solution:

Welcome to reading the wind, Emily.