Ballistics Software?

[308sc]

I don't know to much about ballistic programs....so which ones do you guys recommend.....is there one that will estimate the FPS, bullet drop...etc?
Are there any free ones? ...or are most you have to pay?

 

[gbran]

I use Point Blank Ballistics. You can get it free here:

http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3

 

[308sc]

does that one estimate FPS

 

[gbran]

I don't know if it will estimate velocity since I've never tried. I usually know the FPS from mfg specs or my chrono. If you know muzzle velocity, it will chart velocity downrange. I use this for sighting in scopes and developing handloads.

 

[308sc]

ah I see im just trying to get a program where I can enter in my barrel length...powder type...bullet weight and shape..etc.. and click a button and it gives me a rough estimate of velocity...in
FPS

 

[gbran]

Not sure this is possible. Some of our resident physicists here might chime in. There are lots of formulas to calculate all sorts of other data (BC, sectional density, energy, etc.) , but velocity is not one I'm aware of.

 

[peck1234]

http://www.dexadine.com/


By far the best the one, try the full demo for 30 days......

 

[GunTech]

Every serious shooter should have this site bookmarked

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/calculations.html

 

[MinnMooney]

Sierra Infinity Ver.6

I bought Sierra Infinity Version 6 (& Version 5, which is not the best on Vista) when it first came out and I really love it.

You feed in all atmospheric conditions like : wind speed & direction, temp., humidity, altitude, etc. and then feed it the info on your bullet like : Mfg'r., caliber and type/wt. and it will give you the ballistic coefficient at various fps ranges, sec. density, etc.
You have to know the velocity (or a close estimation) for it to then give you everything exterior ballistic-wise that you'll want to know.
I'm not sure if you'll ever find a software program that can determine fps from amt. & brand/type of powder, primer type, case capacity, bullet, head space and barrel specs. Remember, barrel lgth alone will not determine the bullet velocity even if you knew it's velocity form another, equi-lgth barrel. The two barrels might differ in twist, rifling and fouling.

 

[GunTech]

QuickLoad is as close as you are going to get to something that will estimate velocity based on powder and bullet.

Almost all of the ballistic software available uses McCoys equations, so any output should be near identical when it comes to drop and velocity at range.

 

[308sc]

yeah....thanks for the replies.....I think I will just buy a chronograph for the fps.....but what is a good program all around to buy? I have heard the Sierra one is good....any other I should look into to?

 

[.cheese.]

on the same topic - anybody know of a program that runs on Linux or FreeBSD?

 

[308sc]

no one?