Part 3: The Process- with Wayne Dayberry

We’ve covered the “Quick Start” and “Filling in the Data Gaps” in previous emails. Now we finish this series with an overview of “The Process” and “Truing Your Ballistic Coefficient” for Rimfire Ammunition below.

The Process

1. We need an estimated ballistic coefficient as a starting point to enter in your ballistic solver.

a. For 40grain 22lr rimfire ammunition, I start with a .1 G1 ballistic coefficient as a baseline.

2. Enter the data into your ballistic solver (free ones work just fine for this)

3. If you have the capability, update the environmentals in your solver for the day

4. 100yards: Using your solver, dial the indicated elevation adjustment and confirm with live fire. Write down your elevation adjustment

5. 200yards: same drill.  Using your solver, dial the indicated elevation adjustment and confirm with live fire. Write down your elevation adjustment

6. Before going to 300yards: compare what your solver is telling you and what your actual elevation adjustment needed. If they are fairly close, proceed to 300y. If not, skip to the truing section, the come back to step 7 300yards.

7. 300yard: using your solver, dial the elevation solution, make a wind call, and send rounds down range.

a. If not shooting on paper:

i. A good follow through and staying on scope will help you spot misses and make adjustments

ii. A friend on a spotting scope or another rifle optic works very well for this process.

iii. **shooting at easily identifiable spots on the berm (clumps of dirt, clay pigeons etc) helps to call your shots

8. Write down your actual elevation adjustment.

Truing your Ballistic Coefficient

Now the magic happens with a little trial and error.

Before starting this last step, ensure you have the velocity data we gathered earlier. If needed, obtain a good average velocity by shooting 10 shots over a chronograph. Then, for this last step we’ll hold that data constant along with bullet weight and adjust our ballistic coefficient as follows. Go back to your solver and adjust the ballistic coefficient for this ammunition until you develop a profile that is very close to your actual elevation adjustments.

I keep my zero range zero elevation and adjust the ballistic coefficient until my 300 yard is spot on. Then I refine the ballistic coefficient plus or minus very small increments until the intermediate ranges true up as well. Sometimes it is hard to get every range perfect, and that’s acceptable. This is a field expedient method to do what sophisticated radar systems and extensive testing are designed for. In my experience, the ballistic profile is within .1 or .2 mils at all distances from my zero range out to 300 yards. And that’s basically a maximum error at distance of 2”…I’ll take that with a rimfire any day.  

The post Tech Tip-Rimfire Ballistic Profile – Part 3 appeared first on Creedmoor Sports InfoZone.

• Talk to People- Camp Perry has a different kind of environment than most matches. An ordinary smallbore or air rifle match consists of getting to the range early, rushing to get everything situated, shoot, pack, and go home. That’s not how it works at CP. Between relays, go meet people! Hanging out alone in your tent is boring. Walk up and down the line and introduce yourself. We’re all shooters so it will be pretty easy to find something in common with them.  Many of my friends today are people I met at Camp Perry. You’ll see most of these people throughout the year and shooting is way more fun when you know that even if you’re on the other side of the country at a match, you’ll have friends there.

• Commercial Row Never Gets Old- Most of the stuff we like to buy can’t be found at your local department store. If there’s something you’ve been eyeing online or in a catalog, now’s your chance to actually see it in person before you buy it. Ben and I will be at the Creedmoor Sports store next to registration so feel free to stop in and hang out. The best thing is, the stores have AC!

• Andy’s Party Mart- Wondering where people go after the shooting is done for the day? Go across town to Andy’s and you’ll see a long line of shooters waiting to get their nightly ice cream cone.

• Cornhole- The real competitions begin once the last shots are fired. Cornhole boards are set up all over the base and it’s taken very seriously. I think people check their Natural Point of Aim more often during cornhole than during their kneeling stage.

• The Pier- Evenings on the pier with a fishing rod are a blast. Just try to avoid the bombs dropped by the seagulls. Someone will tell you it’s good luck, but don’t believe them.

• Stay on Base- You miss out on a lot if you’re staying off base in a hotel. Yeah, you might have a pool and be closer to restaurants, but nothing beats cooking out and hanging out with other shooters.

• Bring a Bicycle- You’ll be doing a ton of walking that week. Give yourself a break and bring a bike. Watching an MP zoom by in a golf cart while you’ve been walking for a half hour in 90 degree heat just to get to your friend’s hut can be demoralizing.

• Bug Spray- The Mayflies are harmless but make a ton of noise when you walk across thousands that land on the sidewalk. They also smell awful. However, the mosquitos are nasty. Around 7pm, you’ll start getting bit and they won’t stop. You’ll be spending most of your time outside so just be prepared and buy the good stuff.

• Ask for Discounts at Restaurants- You’ll see a bunch of signs around town that say “Welcome Shooters!” Be sure to ask if they have National Matches discounts. Port Clinton is very supportive of the events at Camp Perry and I know a lot of you really like discounts.

• Don’t Be Worried About Score: Camp Perry is an event of its own. You may be an 1150 shooter but anything is possible with that wind and rain. Just do your best and don’t get upset if you have a flyer. There might even be a day where the best shooter is just praying to keep it in the black.

-Brent

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