Trajectory μCard (Constant Drop) Terms
Input Data
- Altitude
- Altitude at shooting conditions. This altitude
is used to calculate the standard density at the entered altitude. You should
enter an altitude density (in feet or meters) here. It is important to understand
that this is the only value used to find the density of the atmosphere.
The program assumes that whatever instrument provides the density altitude measurement
takes into account all necessary variables. Temperature is not used to calculate
the density since it is already taken into account in the density altitude.
See Density altitude for more information.
- Ballistic Coefficient
- The ballistic coefficient for the bullet being used. It is almost
always obtained from the manufacturer, but can also be measured. The
ballistic coefficient is represents the ratio of the drag of the standard
(e.g. G1 standard bullet) bullet to that of the bullet you are shooting.
A ballistic coefficient of 0.100 means that your bullet has 10 times the
drag of the standard bullet.
- Bullet Length
- The length of the bullet. When using a bullet in the library,
this value is only used if the library value for length is zero (unknown).
- Bullet Library
- A drop down list showing all the buttons in the library. If
a bullet is selected, the trajectory is run with the selected bullet. If "None" is
selected, the entered BC, drag function and weight are used.
Lapua bullets with "(CD)" in the description use the Drag Coefficients supplied by
Lapua instead of the ballistic coefficient. Bullets with "(Litz)" in the description
use Bryan Litz' BCs.
- Bullet Weight
- The weight of the bullet in grains (7000 grains per pound).
- Caliber
- The diameter of the bullet. This value is not used by the
calculation, but is printed on output.
- Distance to Chronograph
- The distance from the firearm to the chronograph (typically midpoint)
at which the velocities were measured. This value must be the same for both the high
and low velocities.
- Drag function
- A drag function (or G function) provides the forces on a standard
bullet for which the drag function was derived. A bullet's ballistic
coefficient then relates the drag on any bullet to that of the standard
bullet.
- Drop Units
- The units for which to display the ranges and windage. This value
is usually related to the tick or hash marks on your scopes. The number of ranges
displayed is equal to (Maximum Drop Value - Minimum Drop Value)/Drop Units, subject
to range limits.
- Include Spin Drift
- If checked, the Litz spin drift is calculated for each range.
The bullet length must be entered (even if you are using a bullet in the library)
to calculate spin drift.
- Line of Sight Angle
- The angle between the line of sight and level ground. This value
is used when shooting uphill or downhill. Value is a positive angle when shooting uphill
and a negative angle when shooting downhill. This value is not used for the
zero trajectory. It is assumed that the zero conditions are flat with zero line of
sight angle and zero cant.
- Low Velocity
- The muzzle velocity measured at a low temperature. If you know
the muzzle velocity for only one temperature, you may enter the same value for the low
and high velocities and low and high temperatures. The program will not perform
any temperature correction for muzzle velocity. NOTE: I have simulated a low
temperature (32 °F) shot by cooling bullets in and ice water bath (in a sealed bag!).
- Low Temperature
- The temperature at which the "Low Velocity" (above) was measured.
- High Velocity
- The muzzle velocity measured at a high temperature.
- High Temperature
- The temperature at which the "High Velocity" (above) was measured.
- Include Lead
- Target lead is included when checked. If not checked, only drop
and windage are included in the table.
- Include Range Numbers
- If checked an integer number is output next to the range.
If not checked, only the range is printed along with drop, windage and lead (if
Include Lead is checked).
- Maximum Drop Value
- Maximum value of drop for which data is diplayed. This usually
represents the maximum (highest) hash mark or reticle on your scope.
- Maximum Range
- Maximum range for which drop and windage values are displayed.
- Minimum Drop Value
- Minimum value of drop for which data is diplayed. This usually
represents the minimum (lowest) hash mark or reticle on your scope.
- Minimum Range
- Minimum range for which drop and windage values are displayed.
- Notes
- Text displayed at the top of the card. In order to keep the card
small, this is the only output printed other than title and chart. Put what you need
here to ensure that you know what the card is for.
- Sight Height
- The height of the sight (or scope) above or below from the centerline
of the barrel. This is required because the bullet starts at a drop of
-[Sight Height].
- Sight Offset
- The offset of the sight (or scope) to the left or right of the
centerline of the barrel.
- Temperature
- A temperature used to calculate a muzzle velocity for
output. This input is also used to calculate the speed of sound to find the value
of the drag function. This input is not used to calculate density.
- Wind Speed
- The speed of the wind. Wind is assumed to be a cross wind,
positive to the shooter's right.
- Zero Altitude
- The altitude at which the firearm was zeroed. This value is
used to find the atmospheric density.
- Zero Height
- The height of the zero point at the zero range.
- Zero Offset
- The offset of the bullet impact to the left (negative) or
right (positive) of the target center at the zero conditions.
- Zero Range
- The range at which you wish the bullet to cross the line of sight.
The units selected for the zero range are also applied to the "Ranges" value.
- Zero Temperature
- The temperature at which the firearm was zeroed. This value is
used to find the muzzle velocity using linear interpolation between the high and low
velocities. It is also used to find the mach number for interpolation into drag tables.
- Zero Wind Speed
- Wind speed at time of zero. Wind speed is positive to the shooter's
right, negative to the shooters left.
Output Table
The output table contains drop and windage for each drop tick/hash value.