Cedar Springs, MI – Since 2009, Applied Ballistics has been conducting live fire testing of all major brands of rifle bullets as part of their ongoing Research and Development (R&D). The continually growing bullet library has resulted in the most extensive and accurate collection of performance data on modern rifle bullets that has ever existed. It has been published in numerous books as it has grown over the years, but one of the most exciting and impactful applications of the bullet library is in its digital form, in ballistic software.
Calculating firing solutions for long range shooting is often the weak link in the accuracy chain. Historically, one of the biggest uncertainties has been modeling the drag of the bullet itself. Traditionally this means having an accurate Ballistic Coefficient (BC). Recent years have seen a substantial improvement in the accuracy of BC’s published by Applied Ballistics, and the use of G7 BC’s.
In 2013, accurate drag modeling took another quantum leap when Applied Ballistics began measuring the custom drag profiles of individual bullets, and including these custom drag models into the libraries of Applied Ballistics software such as the: AB Mobile Smartphone app, AB Analytics desktop software, and the AB Kestrel which was recently selected by the USMC as their SSBC – Scout Sniper Ballistic Computer.
When you use an Applied Ballistics measured custom drag model for your firing solution, it removes the uncertainty out of the bullet’s drag modeling at all speeds, which means you can focus more on shooting and less on tweaking BC’s in your software. Custom drag models are most critical when shooting at extended ranges where the bullet speed slows to near the speed of sound. This is where the G1 or G7 referenced BC’s can greatly depart from the actual drag of the bullet. Using a custom drag model insures that your drag modeling will remain accurate even at transonic speeds.
History
In 2009, Bryan Litz published the first edition of Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting which contained live fire performance data on 125 different rifle bullets from various brands commonly used in long range shooting. The data includes: 2-D drawings, G1 and G7 BC’s showing averages, and velocity banded values, as well as stability data for each bullet.
In 2012, the second edition of that book included an update to the library, taking the total number of bullets from 125 to 225.
From 2013 thru present, various software products such as the Applied Ballistics Mobile app, Applied Ballistics Kestrel, Wilcox RAPTAR-S, and many other electronic devices have incorporated the Applied Ballistics library of bullet performance.
In addition to Ballistic Coefficients, the electronic version of the Applied Ballistics bullet library also includes full custom drag models for each bullet. A custom drag model is a unique drag profile for a bullet, which is a more accurate model of drag than G1 or G7 referenced BC’s.
In 2014, the AB Bullet library outgrew the appendix of the original book, and became a book of its own. Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets was published with live fire data on 400 different bullets of many brands, and all calibers from .224 thru .408.
The expanded digital library was pushed to all Applied Ballistics software applications.
Currently, the library of bullet data has extended all the way to .50 caliber, and contains a total of 533 bullet models, all having custom drag models available. This expanded library is currently available in electronic form in the Applied Ballistics Kestrel (which was recently selected by the USMC as their SSBC – Scout Sniper Ballistic Computer). The digital library is also in place supporting the AB Analytics desktop software, as well as the Applied Ballistics Mobile app for Android, with the app for iOS coming soon. The second edition of Ballistic Performance of Rifle Bullets will be published in fall of 2015.
Over the next few weeks, updates to the Applied Ballistics mobile software will be pushed out to all users automatically. The latest bullet library for your Kestrel device can be found by visiting https://www.nkhome.com/support/kestrel-support/manuals-and-downloads.
About Applied Ballistics, LLC
Applied Ballistics’ mission is to be the complete and unbiased source of external ballistics information for long-range shooters. We’re highly active in R&D, constantly testing new claims, products and ideas for potential merit and dispensing with the marketing hype, which can make it so difficult for shooters to master the challenging discipline of long range shooting. We believe in the scientific method and promote mastery through understanding of the fundamentals. Our work is passed on to the shooting community in the form of instructional materials, which are easy to understand, and products such as ballistic software which runs on many platforms. If you’re a long range shooter who’s eager to learn about the science of your craft, we’re here for you.
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