Ballistic App Suggestions

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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I'm looking for a ballistic app/calculator to put on my phone that I can use at the range. I hear there are the good, bad and ugly when it comes to apps. Can anyone who does use a ballistic app on their phone please give me suggestions. There are many in the app store. (preferably for free)

Thank you...
 
(disclaimer) I am just trying to be helpful, not trying to call you out...
Do you know how to use ballistic software? Are you aware of the limitations? I just didnt want to throw some apps out and hear about how they suck...a lot of people just dont know that you have to true them.
With that, these are all different prices...and i have an iphone, so i only have whats available on iphone apps, but...i use:
Ballistic AE, and Trasol on the phone. Horus and AB on kestrel.
I'll tell you right now, trasol sucks. I only like it because the engine is Patagonia. Desert tech got with the dude from patagonia and sniperhide helped facilitate that. Thing is...they stopped updating it, then when they did...it got some bugs and had some issues. Mine works..but you will have to just know how to true...there's no truing option. Theres a drag coefficient you can play with if you know what that's about...that will help with truing as well, which is not to be confused with a ballistic coefficient.
Ballistic AE uses JBM. It has a HUGE library of factory bullets, factory loads, and litz corrected values for bullet bc. Its wind call has a pretty good features on it, and the HUD is nice. It has a lot of cool features, a lot which I don't use...like the range finder. If I am going to mil a target, ill just wright it out on paper...but its there. It has a truing feature, and gives you the option of truing in a few ways. Plus its updated regularly. The atmospherics are changeable, but i just use DA...because it works...and a single number is easier than a bunch of numbers. Contrary to popular belief...you wont miss that much on not imputing humidity as you might thing. Spin drift as 1000y is about .3 mils with a .308 using a .51 in the bc., and .1-.2 mils with a 300 win mag using a above a .55 bc. A bad call on wind will throw you off more.
Kestrel AB is cool too. It kind of self trues as you input data. but verify, verify verify everything with that.

Strelok is alright. I havent tried the AB app, but im sure its good, by reputation and testimony alone. I like the library from Ballistic AE and some of the other features of ballistic AE.

Dope and true. if not, it will be "close." Dope books are not outdated.
 
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The app bullet drop wont do anything for you. Same with federal, and all the other free ones that I know of. JBM online is free..you can print your expected drop and drifts, then go shoot, and collect dope and true the data at home, and print the update, and verify.
 
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shooter on iphone has always worked for me out to 1500 yards or so. i also have trasol and others.
 
I like Ballistics AE as well. It has a lot of capabilities to include a target data feature that calculates your MOA and store the data

70F9FDEC-BF3A-4560-A424-046FE7FBFBEC.png
 
that's actually a pretty cool feature. and dang good shooting by somebody if those stats are correct
 
taliv said:
that's actually a pretty cool feature. and dang good shooting by somebody if those stats are correct
Click to expand...

No kidding! 1,000 yards to get that grouping? I'd be ashamed of those results!!! :confused: I can do that with my sub-compact SIG P938 with my off hand and a cover over my eyes! :neener:
 
taliv said:
that's actually a pretty cool feature. and dang good shooting by somebody if those stats are correct
Click to expand...

Thanks. That was indeed my target with my custom rig. There was zero wind that day. I haven't been able to master the skill and art of wind reading yet
 
Strelok might have to be something to look at for android or windows. Trasol is only like $10...but no one ever knows how it's going to work on their phone.
 
Ok thanks. I'm looking at Strelok and it look like it will work. I will have to try and find the time to get out and test it.

Thanks again.
 
I've predominantly used the AB mobile app the last several years, used Shooter before that. I had been using the JBM sheet for many years before we had smart phones, or a spreadsheet based "program" I'd written myself. Maybe I'm a luddite, I'm much more reliant on known DOPE, and the apps are just an opportunity to "trim" for environmentals and interpolate or extrapolate from known range data. Simulators are only as good as the data they're fed - we have a saying for engineering simulators: "Garbage in, garbage out."

The math behind all of them is the same - physics is physics - the interfaces are different, and the input options/requirements are different. If you're using a smart Kestrel or Bushnell 1 mile, then they kinda paint you into a corner with AB, which is a great option.

I occasionally use different calculators, spreadsheet "programs" from different sources, and websites even still, and have used a lot of them over the years - even pencil and paper way back. Handloads.com/calc, Hornady.com, JBM, Ballistic AE, Strelok, Trasol, AB Mobile, shooter, Winchester's App, Nikon Spot on, Ziess's reticle calculator, Ballistic Explorer... I've used them on laptops, tablets, phones, weather meters, Palm (anyone remember those?)... It all works, and at the same time, it all doesn't work...

I'm on a smart Kestrel now, so I almost always use AB Mobile.

tech45K said:
I agree with you! Gun control law is here.
Click to expand...

He's referring to your signature line.
 
Varminterror said:
It all works, and at the same time, it all doesn't work...
Click to expand...

this is true, to an extent. i'd say across different DAs, shooter gets me within half an MOA or so out to 1200 yards very consistently on flat terrain.

the part that doesn't work assuming good data in:

-- past 1200 yards, i find i have to start adding tenths as distance increases and i'm usually up about a mil by 1700 yards. i know why, but it's always a guess how many. i'm pretty good at guessing because i've shot a lot, so i tend to get a lot of first round hits, but it would be nice if i didn't have to guess. i could prob fix this if i input a lot of different BC zones near transonic, but i haven't yet

-- lighting conditions aren't taken into account by any solver i know of and they will make a couple tenths difference sometimes. I adjust my dope from +.2 to -.2 depending on lighting conditions. I believe very very few people take this into account and everyone else usually blames these deviations on their solver or mv variations or whatever.

- shooting up and down angles. it's pretty good but not great
 
I agree known dope is best but since I'm new to this I was looking for an app to get me close so I can develop my own information and charts. I know there is nothing like shooting and seeing just like when I reload I keep extensive notes because I know it works for me and my guns.

Thank you every one, I have what I need now...
 
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