this is a ballistic calculation for my 243AI. muzzle velocity is 3050f/s 95gr berger vld. 8x32x56 np-r2 retical 1/8 clicks . can someone clear up what the numbers mean?
100ydr-0-
total drop?
bullet path?
moa drop?
mil drop?
to be on target at a 1000yrs which one do you adjust to?
this will change when i get to the bench.
just trying to figure out how to get close.

Range Vel. Energy Total Bullet MOA Mil
yds fps ft/lbs Drop Path Drop Drop
1000 1552 508 -300.9 -266.1 -26.6 7.39

Since your scope is calibrated in 1/8th MOA increments, it would be easiest to use the MOA drop.

Mil stands for milliradian which at 100 yards is a bit over 3 inches. The "100 ydr-0-" would mean your zero was at 100 yards. I presume the "total drop" would be the total drop of the bullet in inches after it reached the apex of its flight which would occur at something beyond 100 yards. I'm not sure what is meant by bullet path but it may mean how far low the bullet would hit if you aimed right on with your rifle zeroed at 100 yds.

Hello hivelosity,
From the data you provided, the bullet weight some 95 grains @ 3050 fps, I would suggest you try the following adjustments:

Zero rifle at 100 yards, come up the following per yardage increases, 200 yds, 2moa, 300 2moa, 400 3moa, 500 3moa, 600 3 moa. As you can see the come ups are accumulative and at 600 yards you have reached 13 moa from the 100 yard zero. Long range actaully just starts at 600 yards so the adjustments need to be altered. I would suggest the following: From 600 yards to 800 yards you will need to come up some 10 more minutes and from there to 900 some 5-6moa and from 9-1000 yards an additional 5 moa.

Based on the above you have now "come up" a total of approx. 34 moa from 100 yard zero. This data is taken from my own experience with a 22-250 shooting 80 grain Sierra MK's and 8 twist on 30" Krieger barrel. Velocity very near same as you quote, but lot of other things may vary.
You may well be over the target with the come ups given here, but have your spotter watching close at the vapor trail and will walk you in pretty quickly. Rule of thumb, 1-200 yards 2 moa, 2-300 yards 3moa, 3-600 yards 10 moa. 6-800 yards 10 moa, 8-900 yards 5.5 moa, 9-1000 yards 5.5 moa. These come ups work well for the 308 and are only given as a guide line.

Noticed your scope adj. are in 1/8moa and that is a problem for couple reasons. Number of clicks is a bunch, and doubtful if scope will reach 1000 yard come ups unless it is a 30mm tube?? Not sure what brand scope it is, but 34 moa elevation adj. requires 272 clicks from the 100 yard zero!! If your scope is typical, you have already used up some 12-15 moa of adj. to be on at 100 yards. Quick way to check is just crank down until bottoms and count back up and divide by 8. Perhaps not, but you can find out real quick. Also, assuming (I know already!!) the come ups are even close for you, crank them in, up, and see if the scope will reach that level of elevation. If not, need to go with long range elevated base, rail, etc. Not sure if helped or confused, but if can be of help, advise.

As for those definitions, as stated by another, milliradian is 3.6" and as for moa drop, mil drop, just a unit of measure to state the drop of the bullet in flight. One could say it in inches, fractions of meters, etc. Best advise is to always think in MOA, not inches, mils, etc. Mil dot scopes all the rage due to being seen in movies and adventure scenes. Most civilians have no use for them and with the advent and easy purchase of range finders, don't see the use for them personally. Just clutter up the scope image but whatever one likes is what one should have. Noticed you are in Ohio and believe there is a range near New Philadelphia and of course Perry has the 1000 yard ranges.
Malvern, OH has a 600 yard range and is an active club with some fine, fine shooters I might add. That caliber should do well at long range, just not sure how good of barrel life it will deliver. Good Luck.

driver, grumulkin,, didn't mention that I have a 20moa base and a nightforce benchrest scope 30mm tube.
I will probably change the -0- from 100, to 300 or maybe 600 yrds.
the drop chart i have does not take in for the 20moa base.
so if I start at 20moa and add 10 to 15 moa then I should be some where close at 1000yrds.??
Dave

hivelosity,
Well now, you are describing quality euipment and not a typical "trade it in at the counter....." piece of optics. Good for you.
Nope, I would go ahead and sight in at 100 yards, then do the come ups, or something close and you should be on and I would say you have more than enough elevation to go to 1000 yards and beyond. Those 1/8 moa clicks are no problem other than if you are trying to go up and down in quick time, lots of clicking to make different range/distance changes and takes time to do so. Trying to engage targets going from 300 yards to 900 yards in quick order would take a lot of cranking. Anyway, you have a good set up.
As for your caliber, it is important to see that the bullet itself is super sonic (1200 fps area) at 1000 yards in order to maintain stability. If it goes sub sonic on you prior to the target, may well get some keyholes and wobbling of the bullet. Hole in target will tell and if you hear a dull boom instead of the sharp crack as in a firecracker, you are probably sub sonic. If your range has pits the person pulling the targets will give you feed back for if experienced with the pits or has been shot at, he will know immediately what it is supposed to sound like!!

quote:

didn't mention that I have a 20moa base and a nightforce benchrest scope 30mm tube.
I will probably change the -0- from 100, to 300 or maybe 600 yrds.
the drop chart i have does not take in for the 20moa base.
so if I start at 20moa and add 10 to 15 moa then I should be some where close at 1000yrds.??
Dave

Dave I understand where you're coming from but technically speaking ballistic programs do not take into consideration the taper of scope bases. Tapered bases allow for long-range sight-in while still maintaining the cross hair or dot close to the optical center of the scope. They do not change come-ups which are always calculated from a chosen distance, such as 100 yards.. Your Nightforce 30mm tube will probably accomodate any reasonable distance you want to shoot without the need for a tapered base.

Ray

I am sure it will be more on the shooter than the equipement. this rig is setup more for 1000yrd. It will probably take some shooting at diffrent ranges before I truly understand.
It will be at least another week before
i am ready to go to the range.
Dave