Eric put me on a shot one morning. We had decided to try for a pig.

At this location, there was a box blind at 105 yards from where the pigs liked to come out. And, after a while, three wandered in.

I'd marked my scope with a 103 yard setting. I was loaded and ready. I felt good about this shot. I lined up and squeezed off the shot. The gun jumped and Eric watched as the slug slammed .... Ah ... Into the air just over the pig's shoulder. Nutz.

Immediately I recognized that I was shooting a good 22 degrees down hill. I'll let you guys with the programs figure the exact amended hold I should have used. I suspect I should have used my 85-90 yard hold to compensate for the downhill shot

If the reader had never thought about it, consider a right triangle with the 90 degree intersection of a horizon and a vertical leg. Imagine the diagonal line drawn to connect the tips of the 90 degree legs. That diagonal is the 105 yard line of sight I lasered. BUT ... note the bottom horizon line is actually shorter. THAT is the actual distance during which gravity acts upon the bullet. Therefore; the shot should be considered to be this shorter distance. If not, you will shoot over your pig. Especially with a big heavy airgun slug that is not shooting laser flat. My slugs trajectory added with my lack of figuring the angles, netted no bacon.

Gary

Iphone

I was writing this post almost before the dust from the pigs hooves had settled.

Gary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/2011 05:19PM by barnespneumatic.

The variables are multiple in the field. Add the internal variable of adrenaline, fatigue, cold muscles and positional challenges and it is amazing that anyone hits. Did you have the inability to judge distance in the strange landscape? My paced distances and my estimates were consistently off by 20%, as judged too long. It didn't help that the animals were new to me as well. More paper punchers should try the challenge before judging their success in the arm chair.

Kent

Hi Kent.

I sat with the rangefinder in hand in the blind. That helps. But there's always at least one neglected variable that becomes evident only after you pull the trigger. For me, everything was in place here, except the downhill shot.

Actually, this was about the height of my beating back the missing pcs and variables. Having just ONE missing was quite an accomplishment.

Gary
Iphone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2011 01:59AM by barnespneumatic.

So ... you are telling me NOBODY has a program on their computer to figure the inclined angle shot ... and tell me what the actual distance hold should have been for a 105 yard downhill 22 degree shot?

Gary

Just googled it, nevermind. Check the time stamps. Took a few minutes including making the second post. Thought it might be fun for someone to comment.

Cosine of 22 degree angle times the 105 yard distance. I should have shot it as if it were 97 yards. If the angle were actually 35 degrees, then about a 94 yard hold would do. Other than this explanation ... I just missed.

Gary



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2011 01:56AM by barnespneumatic.

Bow hunters actually have a bow sight that is pivoting so when they shoot from a tree stand it adjusts to keep the sight pins at the proper level. If your geometry is correct then that 10 yard difference at 100 yards would make a big difference. FYI for 1.99 you can download the whole Army Sniper Manual on your Android phone, including "angle firing". I like the math in your tutorial better.

Kent

Yes, just ask google .... Cosine for say 30 for 30 degrees. Multiply times your line of sight in yards. You get the answer in virtual yards.

With our velocities, at the outer edge of our range, ten yards makes a big difference. Dropping that pig with a spine shot and missing is only a few inch difference.

Gary

It's a bummer about the lost buck. Angle shots have tripped up a LOT of shooters over the years, including plenty of them shooting rifles and cartridges that are practically laser-beam straight by comparison.

Gary, the program I showed you when you were here, "Chair Gun", is available on IOS and Android for FREE. For anyone that doesn't know about it, Chair Gun allows you to input factors such as velocity, projectile wieght, B.C., distance, shot angle, etc. etc., and it will give you a HUGE amount of information. It also has a "tool box" with mini apps such as a neat little deal where you center a set of crosshairs on your target through your phones camera, And it finds the angle for you. It will give you hold overs for any range, wind drifts, ft. Lb's at target and on and on. Highly recommended, and The price is right!

NOW you tell me. Haha.

That program did look neat. You just have to stall the game with a nice bag of corn or something while you input the data! Haha

or find an old artillery gunner, same size slugs nearly...