Do any of you use ballistic table cheat sheets taped to your gun stock for those longer range shots over 300 yards? I know just memorizing this info is the best way but i shoot several different calibers and loads for my rifles and it's hard to keep all that info memorized, especially in the heat of battle! Out to about 300 yards you really don't need anything with most of the flat shooting cartridges but once you get past 300 yards things get pretty confusing, especially when you're dealing not only with range but also wind drift. I'd like to hear your way of accessing this info without having to carry a binder into the field with you!
Ballistics charts?
- Thread starter Ducksoup
- Start date
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
All my hunting rifles have cheat sheet for wind/drop out to 500 yards(even my 17 rem). Most are taped on left side of stock, I am right handed. Wind is what I mostly reference.
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
I print out a chart and stick it on each rifle stock in a place where I can see it without much head movement. Laminating the top with packaging tape makes it pretty durable. Adhering it to the rifle with double sided tape works great. That way each rifle has some basic data attached to it.
But a ballistic chart is pretty much useless without a laser, so my primary chart is taped to my laser. That way I can laser a target, tilt the laser down 45 degrees and see the ballistic chart right there with the laser still in front of my face, then dial and shoot. I use my deer load during deer season, coyote load during the rest of the year. Can be easily changed to suit the "rifle of the day" and/or expected atmospheric conditions for a particular area/season. Works fine for me out to 500 yards.
But a ballistic chart is pretty much useless without a laser, so my primary chart is taped to my laser. That way I can laser a target, tilt the laser down 45 degrees and see the ballistic chart right there with the laser still in front of my face, then dial and shoot. I use my deer load during deer season, coyote load during the rest of the year. Can be easily changed to suit the "rifle of the day" and/or expected atmospheric conditions for a particular area/season. Works fine for me out to 500 yards.
reloader326
Member
I waffle between loads a lot, so I just keep pictures of my charts on my phone. The trick there is to put it somewhere you can find it later.
I have printed out the ballistic charts in the past and taped to the scope or stock, which is a much better idea.
I like the rangefinder idea, that's slick.
I have printed out the ballistic charts in the past and taped to the scope or stock, which is a much better idea.
I like the rangefinder idea, that's slick.
crowkiller51
New member
D Dog Where'd you find the templet for the Drop Charts?
80 Grainer's at 3550 are ZINGING !!! What Caliber?
thanks for posting the ideas!
80 Grainer's at 3550 are ZINGING !!! What Caliber?
thanks for posting the ideas!
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: crowkiller51D Dog Where'd you find the templet for the Drop Charts?
80 Grainer's at 3550 are ZINGING !!! What Caliber?
thanks for posting the ideas! I just made a chart on Excel so I can make the chart any size I want. I used JBM ballistic calculator combined with real world data.
80 Grainer's at 3550 are ZINGING !!! What Caliber?
thanks for posting the ideas! I just made a chart on Excel so I can make the chart any size I want. I used JBM ballistic calculator combined with real world data.
Plant.One
Well-known member
might want to consider something like Strelok ballistic calc too.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.borisov.strelokpro
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strelok-pro/id525429653
not only does it produce drop charts similar to what ya'll printing out, but it also gives you reticle holds for most of the common BDC type reticles.
both links above have a bunch of screenshots and full details
i believe the pro version (paid) also can link up with interenet weather data to input that for you as well, or bluetooth link to a kestral, etc.
there is the ability to save multiple firearms, so you can have all your data in one place, along with the ability to save multiple sets of load data for each firearm saved as well.
now that most of us dont have our phones in our pockets anyway, might as well take advantage of the technology.
there is a free version if you wanna test it out and play with it before you plunk down some loot on the pro version of the app, but its well worth the $$ if you ask me.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.borisov.strelokpro
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/strelok-pro/id525429653
not only does it produce drop charts similar to what ya'll printing out, but it also gives you reticle holds for most of the common BDC type reticles.
both links above have a bunch of screenshots and full details
i believe the pro version (paid) also can link up with interenet weather data to input that for you as well, or bluetooth link to a kestral, etc.
there is the ability to save multiple firearms, so you can have all your data in one place, along with the ability to save multiple sets of load data for each firearm saved as well.
now that most of us dont have our phones in our pockets anyway, might as well take advantage of the technology.
there is a free version if you wanna test it out and play with it before you plunk down some loot on the pro version of the app, but its well worth the $$ if you ask me.
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
I use Strelok also, but more as a backup. My style of hunting is not conductive to holding a phone in my hand. For example, I use binos a lot for deer on spot and stalks in big mountainous country. If I see a buck far off, I'd need to drop the binos and swap for the laser to get a reading. Then pull out my phone, swipe, click open the app, click on the ballistic table or enter the yardage and/or wind and click calculate, then adjust the scope and hope the buck is still there! That isn't going to work where I hunt, it takes way too long and bucks don't stand around in the open for very long. It's much faster to have a pre-printed chart with expected atmospheric conditions attached to the laser. So much faster then messing with a phone.
Did the chart for years. However, I wanted something quicker than laser->chart reference->dial.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
Plant.One
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: HuntDid the chart for years. However, I wanted something quicker than laser->chart reference->dial.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
a BDC reticle is accurate at ANY velocity. all you have to do is figure out what distance its accurate at with a given load. its a math game, nothing more, nothing less.
so yes, while out of the box with the 'default' chart its only going to be accurate for a very specific load range, not using one to its full extent with any load is laziness on the user end, not the fault of the load/reticle.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
a BDC reticle is accurate at ANY velocity. all you have to do is figure out what distance its accurate at with a given load. its a math game, nothing more, nothing less.
so yes, while out of the box with the 'default' chart its only going to be accurate for a very specific load range, not using one to its full extent with any load is laziness on the user end, not the fault of the load/reticle.
Originally Posted By: Plant.OneOriginally Posted By: HuntDid the chart for years. However, I wanted something quicker than laser->chart reference->dial.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
a BDC reticle is accurate at ANY velocity. all you have to do is figure out what distance its accurate at with a given load. its a math game, nothing more, nothing less.
so yes, while out of the box with the 'default' chart its only going to be accurate for a very specific load range, not using one to its full extent with any load is laziness on the user end, not the fault of the load/reticle.
I agree with you to a point. It's a matter of finding the proper magnification that will correlate the same reticle yardages (give or take 10 yards) with the velocity/distance. The challenge with that is when you under pressure to make the sure and you're asking yourself, "Do I turn it to 7x or 9x for proper correlation".
At the end of the day, it's about knowing your equipment and how to use it. Too many people think you pull it out of the box and you're good for 600 yards. Not true.
Therefore, I went to BDC reticles on my hunting rifles. I develop my loads to be as close as possible (finding an accuracy node) to match the BDC. Once that's done, confirm drop with BDC at the range.
Post that, it's a laser->hold over affair. It's quicker and doesn't require maintaining multiple charts for various loads.
a BDC reticle is accurate at ANY velocity. all you have to do is figure out what distance its accurate at with a given load. its a math game, nothing more, nothing less.
so yes, while out of the box with the 'default' chart its only going to be accurate for a very specific load range, not using one to its full extent with any load is laziness on the user end, not the fault of the load/reticle.
I agree with you to a point. It's a matter of finding the proper magnification that will correlate the same reticle yardages (give or take 10 yards) with the velocity/distance. The challenge with that is when you under pressure to make the sure and you're asking yourself, "Do I turn it to 7x or 9x for proper correlation".
At the end of the day, it's about knowing your equipment and how to use it. Too many people think you pull it out of the box and you're good for 600 yards. Not true.