Looking for some input on basic ballistic calculator that covers a wide range of rifle components. Have reveiwed comments on RCBS, Sierra and Lee products.

Internal or external?

http://www.jbmballistics.com/b...rs/calculators.shtml

This is a good external one.

http://biggameinfo.com/index.aspx?page=/balcalc.ascx

Von Gruff.

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Originally posted by Von Gruff:
This is a good external one.

http://biggameinfo.com/index.aspx?page=/balcalc.ascx

Von Gruff.

this one is the one I use....I really like it and can learn a lot by playing with it....

You should know your bullet's ballistic coefficient as it can be very important to the outcome.

I like the RCBS.load program for external ballistics.

Thanks. Should get me started. Just returned from a father/daughter elk hunt and only opportunites were 450 yds with her 7mm-08. Did not anticipate this kind of long distance shooting.

Live and learn. At that yardage, drop was 40 plus inches with handload of 2700 fps in 140 accubonds..

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Live and learn. At that yardage, drop was 40 plus inches with handload of 2700 fps in 140 accubonds..

Yep with a 100yd sero. I set my wifes 7x57 up for max point blank range. On an elk I use 5" radius. Her velocity is a touch higher and she aims dead on out ot 350yds. She wouldn't take a shot past that anyway. Even with this she is till 22" low at 450.

Ballistic Calculators give you an idea as to the drop. I would NEVER take then as a go by out to 450 or more without actually testing. Judging even 22" must less 40"+ to allow for drop at 450 is not something many can do without a lot of practice.

If 450Yd shots are going to be something you guys consider she will need a lot of practice and better yet practice with a flatter shooting rifle.

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Originally posted by garyn:
Thanks. Should get me started. Just returned from a father/daughter elk hunt and only opportunites were 450 yds with her 7mm-08. Did not anticipate this kind of long distance shooting.

Live and learn. At that yardage, drop was 40 plus inches with handload of 2700 fps in 140 accubonds..

My congratulations for passing on these shots. IMO the 7-08 will handle a good shot at 400 yards assuming one has practiced and has a good rangefinder that he can confirm the range.

The rifle I used has considerably more power but I still passed on 500 yard shots.....why?...just not confident of my abilities.

I've pledged myself to work up loads for my 280 Rem to be capable of 500 yard shots and to practice off sticks until I feel competent to take those shots. I've seen a lot of elk at that distance.....

I'll lay you 2-1 odds that, assuming I feel competent to shoot 500 yards, the next big bull I see will be 600 yards!

BTW I use a Leica 1500 rangefinder and don't believe anything else in that price range is worthy of my money!

I had my 270 wsm as a backup but it too was zeroed at 2oo yards.

Next year, I plan to zero at 300 yards and actually shoot the distances before returning. I'm used to shorter distance, probably like the hunters back East. Talked to one fellow who said his dad zero at 300. Looking at tables and these ranges, that makes the most sense...

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Next year, I plan to zero at 300 yards

While a simple 300yd zero can be used depending on your trajectgory it can leave you HIGH on a closer shot.

I would suggest setting your rifle up for maximum point blank range. Many of the calculator will do this for you if you selection the option. JBM will for sure.

You simply select an amount the bullet can be above or below the cross hairs. Elk 5-6" deer a little less. Using your daughters 140 @ 2700 and a 6" it just happens to work out that her max point blank range is 354 which happens to work out as a 300yd zero. So out ot 354Yd she simply aims at 400 the drop is 13" at 22" at 450 and 33" at 500. With your 270WSM and 140accubonds your max point blank would be 415yds with a 353yd zero and only 10" low at the 450yds

For both my wife's and my rifles I always set up for max point blank and then fvor 99% of our shooting it is simply point of aim.

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I would suggest setting your rifle up for maximum point blank range.

This is good advice.

I have my own way of doing things.....it's my 2-0-8-2-4 rule and most big game rifles are suited to it.

It's only value is for those that intend to shoot past 400 yards....and with rifles such as the .30-06 that shoot hunting grade bullets in the range of 2700-2800 FPS!

Thanks Ramrod....I think I'll follow the mpbr formula....makes sense...

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I have my own way of doing things.....it's my 2-0-8-2-4 rule and most big game rifles are suited to it.

Pardon my ignorance Vapo. What is this rule you speak of?

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Pardon my ignorance Vapo. What is this rule you speak of?

Since he hasn't answered I had asked him the same question. What he has found for most of 06 style cases is a that witha 200yd zero the bullet is 2" high at 100, 8' low at 300 then what threw me 2ft and 4ft low at 400 and 500. He uses this as a rule of thumb and then doesn't worry if he is shooting a 280, 30-06, 338-06 etc. If you run the numbers you will find that they are close but not exact for every cartridge.

Kind of like Burris and the Balistic plex and the rules of thumb how they work on different cartridges.

Thanks Ramrod

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Originally posted by vapodog:
[QUOTE]I have my own way of doing things.....it's my 2-0-8-2-4 rule and most big game rifles are suited to it.

I sight in like this, but with my 300wm, 180grn bullets. I've shot that rifle for 17yrs now, and with a 200yrd zero I can shoot to 400yrds if I know the exact range. The only difference is that my rifle/load shoot -7" at 300, and -20" at 400yrds. My duplex reticle is covering 24" (cross hair to top of post) at 400yrds, so at 420yrds or so, I have a great 'spot on' aiming point.

Actual shooting and practice beyond 300-400yrds is what is needed, and generally if the game is that far away, you have time to figure drop and get into a good shooting position.

Having a good idea about what your duplex reticle is looking like, and what distance it covers at any given distance really helps.

The 1.5-2" high @ 100yrds also lets you still be proficient at close range, enough so to make head shots at 100yrds or so with the right rest and a steady hold.

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Originally posted by ramrod340:

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Pardon my ignorance Vapo. What is this rule you speak of?

Since he hasn't answered I had asked him the same question. What he has found for most of 06 style cases is a that witha 200yd zero the bullet is 2" high at 100, 8' low at 300 then what threw me 2ft and 4ft low at 400 and 500. He uses this as a rule of thumb and then doesn't worry if he is shooting a 280, 30-06, 338-06 etc. If you run the numbers you will find that they are close but not exact for every cartridge.

Kind of like Burris and the Balistic plex and the rules of thumb how they work on different cartridges.

Yes...thanks Ramrod...you nailed it....

But here's the kicker.....one can handload to get a velocity (sometime lower) to get very close to the 2-0-8-2-4....and in some cases one can change the sight in point to 210 yards or 220 yards....it's surprising how close one can come to this trajectory....and I ask you.....if we're within a couple inches at 500 yards.....is it that important?....

Now get yourself a range finder and use the deer or elk as a measuring stick....

I have confined myself to 400 yard shots most of my life having taken one deer and one pronghorn at that range but with a bit of practice can now see taking high probability shots to 500 yards knowing the trajectory is the same for most of my guns.....and of course the rangefinder is key to most of it....

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Originally posted by dave-t:

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Originally posted by vapodog:
[QUOTE]I have my own way of doing things.....it's my 2-0-8-2-4 rule and most big game rifles are suited to it.

Actual shooting and practice beyond 300-400yrds is what is needed, and generally if the game is that far away, you have time to figure drop and get into a good shooting position.

Bingo.....you nailed it. If you have a good rest available then you are in charge.

I'm surprised how well a pair of shooting sticks help....

Yep, I shot three deer this season with my .257R/117grn Hornady interlocks, sighted that way, 2", x, -8", and all were shot between 250-300yrds using a shooting stick, butt on the ground and elbows on knees.

Very forgiving sighting method for regular 0-200yrd hunting, and easy to get accustomed to out beyond that.

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I'm surprised how well a pair of shooting sticks help....

My wife can shoot from sticks out to 300yds about as well as I can laying my rifle across my pack on a big rock. For some reason I pick up a side to side she doesn't I tell her its because she is shorter. She just smiles.

Where I hunt in SE Oklahoma there are very few places where one could get a shot over 300 yards. For my purposes a monopode shooting stick is an adequate rest. Most of my ground blinds have a broom handle in them for this purpose.