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==================== +----+ | | | | | +--+ --+ | | | -+| | | +--| | | | || | | | | | | +---|+ +--+ +--+ + + +- ver 2.01 ==================== SMALL ARMS EXTERIOR BALLISTICS FOR IBM PC's and COMPATIBLES equipped with Enhanced Graphics Adapters by Benjamin W. Hartley Forest Park Estates #103 Jaffrey, NH 03452 Voice#: (603) 532-6248 ( This is ASCII-formatted QBALL.DOC, the On-disk documentation.) "QBALL" -- Source code, executable files, and documentation are (c) 1992 by Benjamin W. Hartley. All rights reserved. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- ii ] TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Dedication, Disclaimer, License, Copyright Information..........i Table of Contents..............................................ii Introduction..................................................iii Chapter page ------- ---- 1. Getting started..............................................1 1.1 Files required......................................1 1.2 Will It Work ?......................................1 1.3 Copying the program.................................2 1.4 Printing the documentation..........................2 1.5 General Instructions................................3 1.6 Starting QBALL......................................4 2. Computing ballistic or gun data..............................7 2.1 Preliminary data entry..............................7 2.2 Computing and displaying a range table..............8 2.3 Displaying graphics................................11 2.4 Changing input data................................14 2.5 Other ballistic procedures.........................15 3. Inferring ballistic coefficients............................20 3.1 First Run: r1 = 0..................................21 3.2 Second Run: r1 = 25................................22 4. Printing tables.............................................23 4.1 Printer warnings...................................23 4.2 Screen dumps.......................................23 4.3 Printer setup......................................23 4.4 Print functions....................................23 4.5 Typical printed output.............................24 5. Configuring display and default starting values.............25 5.1 The Configuration Menu.............................25 5.2 Switch toggles (set defaults)......................25 5.3 Configuring display colors.........................26 5.4 Using the values you've set........................26 5.5 Some other considerations..........................27 Some afterthoughts and Some Wrinkles...........................28 Appendices:-- A. Glossary....................................................29 B. Example of Ballistic Coefficient from Tabular Data..........35 C. Example QBALLSAV.* file.....................................37 D. Selected bibliography.......................................39 E. Error analysis..............................................40 F. Error Messages, Default Starting Values.....................43 G. Enhancement form............................................49 H. Registration form...........................................51 [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 1 ] Chapter 1 --------- GETTING STARTED """"""""""""""" 1.1 Files Required. -------------- QBALL.ZIP -- or whatever the name of your downloaded archive file is -- is initially distributed with the following files: QBALL EXE -- The QBALL executable file. QBALL CFG -- The QBALL configuration file. QBALLODD DOC -- Odd-numbered documentation pages. QBALLEVN DOC -- Even-numbered documentation pages. QBREADME BAT -- Prints short intro on screen. QBALLENH FRM -- The QBALL enhancement form. QBALLREG FRM -- The QBALL registration form. ADDENDA DOC -- Additions to the documentation HISTORY DOC -- A short history of QBALL versions. (Note: Registered copies of QBALL are distributed in non-compressed format, with no *.DOC files) The only absolutely, positively, gotta-have file is QBALL.EXE. The documentation is nice, but extra until you've played with the program; the built-in configuration routines will write QBALL.CFG for you if it is not present. 1.2 Will It Work ? -------------- In its present incarnation, QBALL is written in and compiled as a stand-alone .EXE file using Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.5. QBALL was written on a Gateway 2000 AT clone, with an 80286 pro- cessor, AMI BIOS, MS-DOS 5.0 with 4DOS 4.0 command processor, 5 1/4" (1.2 meg) and 3 1/2" (1.44 meg) floppy drives, 40 megabyte hard-disk, and Samsung CM4531 EGA monitor. No coprocessor was used. Several routines from Thomas G. Hanlin's BASWIZ library are included; acknow- ledgment for the use thereof is hereby made. QBALL requires an EGA (or better) monitor. If enough requests are received, a CGA-capable version will be developed and released. Given an EGA monitor, QBALL should run on any PC-DOS or MS-DOS computer. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 3 ] 1.5 General instructions. -------------------- Selecting menu options. Press the key corresponding to the letter which is highlighted/bracketed in that option. For example, to choose option "P", press upper- or lower-case "P." QBALL's menus are not case sensitive. If the option does not appear, or appears in low- intensity color, QBALL will "beep", and do nothing further. Response to "Y or N". Press upper- or lower-case "Y" or "N". "Enter" is default for "Y". If any other character is pressed, QBALL will "squeak" and do nothing further. ESC key. "ESC" will "back up" one menu providing a menu is dis- played on the screen. Each menu specifies where "ESC" will take you. There is one exception: "Quit to DOS" requires that you press "Q" and confirm with "Y," and respond to one further prompt. Data entry and error trapping. Type the value or string to be used, then press [Enter]. QBALL will not accept the wrong data type; values which are outside QBALL's ability to use will produce an error message. You may edit your entries before entering them. Special case of [Enter] in data entry. [Enter] pressed when a value appears in [brackets] on the prompt line will use that value in subsequent computations. Swap Units option. The unit of range measure may be swapped back and forth between Yards and Meters using the "New Input Data" menu. As distributed, QBALL defaults to "Yards"; this may be changed using the configuration routines. Noises. QBALL will "squeak" upon erroneous data value entry, and "chirps" upon completion of a computation, or upon invocation of <S>wap units. QBALL defaults to sounds "on"; sounds may be toggled "off" for peace and quiet. A "flash" replaces noises in quiet mode. Graphics. If appropriate, QBALL will query "Do Graphic ?". Press "Y" to display a graphic representation of trajectory data, or "N" to skip the display. There is no provision for toggling graphics "off." Print options. QBALL may query "Print This Table?" after every data table/listing is displayed on the screen. Press "Y" to get hard copy, "N" to return to the previous menu. ENSURE that your printer is on/on-line if you want hard copy; QBALL will detect whether or not your printer is on, but not "paper out"! Display of the printer prompt may be toggled "on" or "off;" QBALL defaults to "on." Redirection of data output. QBALL does not support redirection of data output, e.g., to a disk file, except as otherwise provided within the graphics routines. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 5 ] Assuming everything is working, the screen has cleared, and you are now looking at the following screen: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > Ballistic Computations: Typical Firearm < +=====================================+ | *** M A I N ME N U *** | | --------------------------------- | | <C>ompute Ballistic or Gun Data | | Infer <B>allistic Coefficient | | Use <U>tilities / Configure QBALL | | <N>ew or Changed Input Data | | --------------------------------- | | <Q>uit -- Return to DOS | +=====================================+ ----------------------------------------------------------------+ [ MV: ][ C1: ][ Wt: ][ Met: 59d 0' 29.53" 78% ]| | | | | | | | | | | Muzzle Ballistic Bullet Metro -- | Velocity Coefficient Weight, Temperature, degrees F. | (FPS) (grains) Gun Altitude, feet | Barometric Pressure, "Hg | Relative Humidity, percent | | +---------------+ | (Please make note of the information) +-------------- (contained in the "Information Line",) [ H: 1.00][Yds] (here shown "folded". The "Informa-) | | (tion" or "Info Line" is updated if) | | (changes are made to any of the in-) Sight Range (formation it shows. Note that some) Height Units (of the items are blank; values will) (inches) (Inverse) (be filled in presently. ) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Go on to the next page... [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 7 ] Chapter 2 --------- Computing Ballistics or Gun Data """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 2.1 Preliminary data entry. ---------------------- Before doing anything else, we're going to have to enter some information for QBALL to chew on. QBALL will ask you for data which it does not already have. The items of information for which QBALL will prompt you are, in order, (with suggested "for practice" entries): a. The ballistic coefficient (C1) for the projectile in question . . . . . . . . . . . .250 (Note the leading decimal point!) b. The bullet weight in grains . . . . . . . . . 125 c. Whether or not to use the displayed metro . . "Y" (QBALL will default to "Standard Metro"; you) (can use nonstandard metro, but, just to keep) (things simple, stay with standard metro for) (now. ) d. The muzzle velocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2300 Enter values at the appropriate places when prompted. Try entering an impossible value or two, and see what happens. A complete list of QBALL's error messages is in Appendix E, with the most common causes for their display. (Here are some "impossible" values to try, just to see what happens: Ballistic Coefficient: 1.000; Bullet Weight: 0; Muzzle Velocity: 4700 FPS.) For purposes of this tutorial, the gun/bullet is identified as "Typical Firearm." This may be changed using the "<N>ew or Changed" menu option. Continue with "Typical Firearm" for the time being. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 9 ] Take a close look at the menu: it is telling you that the range at which you wish to be zeroed must be set. Press "<S>et Zero..." and enter: "150" -- without the quotes, of course. (Until you set a zero range, "Range <T>able..." won't do anything but make a rude noise.) Back where we started, eh? Take a closer look. +=================================+ | *** Computations Menu *** | | ------------------------------ | | <S>et/Reset Current Zero Range | | Range <T>able (0 = 150 Yards) | | <O>ther Ballistics Procedures | | <N>ew or Changed Input Data | | ------------------------------ | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | +=================================+ The zero range for your range table is now set. In future, if QBALL has been provided a zero range, it will be displayed in the computations menu. If no valid zero range exists, then the phrase "Range <T>able (0 MUST BE SET)" will be displayed in low intensity color instead. One of the useful tables that QBALL will generate is a range table from zero to a designated range with a fixed range increment. Press "T" and enter the following data when prompted: Range for List/Table/Comp.........: 200 Range Increment...................: 25 QBALL will clear the screen and display the following table, (here shown in somewhat compressed format): Range Table, Zeroed at Highlighted Range ---------------------------------------- Range R e m a i n i n g Total Path/Sight Line Defl'n Time Yards Velocity Energy Drop M.O.A. Inches 10 MPH Flght ----- ----------------- ----- --------------- ------ ----- 0 2300 1468 0.0 0.0 -1.0 0.0 0.000 25 2218 1365 0.2 1.5 0.4 0.1 0.033 50 2138 1268 0.9 2.7 1.3 0.5 0.068 75 2059 1176 2.0 2.4 1.8 1.0 0.104 100 1982 1090 3.6 1.7 1.7 1.8 0.141 125 1906 1008 5.8 1.0 1.2 2.8 0.179 [ 150 1832 932 8.6 0.0 0.0 4.1 0.219 ] 175 1761 861 12.0 -1.1 -1.9 5.8 0.261 200 1693 795 16.2 -2.2 -4.5 7.7 0.305 ----------------------------------- Do Graphic ? ([Y] or N) [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 11 ] 2.3 Displaying Graphics. ------------------- You should at this time be looking at a graphic representation of the projectile's trajectory as viewed from the side. Note the empha- sized line indicating the line of sight, and the curved line which delineates the bullet's path from the muzzle (0) to the maximum range (200). Unfortunately, there's no way to provide a picture of the graphics part of the screen. The bottom of the screen, however, dis- plays some valuable information, something like this: +=========================+ > Current < > Previous < | Graphics Menu | Max Ht: 1.8" @ 86 +-------------------------+ Min Ht: -4.5" @ 200 | <Q>uit Graphics Routine | MuzVel: 2300 FPS | <G>rid Toggle | BCoeff: .250 | <S>ave Current Data | ZeroRg: 150 Yards | On Disk: none | Metro : Standard +=========================+ The information provided is pretty much self-explanatory. The options in the menu, i.e., <Q>uit <S>ave <G>rid, allow you to quit the graphics routine, save the current trajectory data to disk, and toggle the background grid on and off, respectively. Press "G" to see what happens; the screen is redrawn without the background grid lines. Press "G" again to re-display the grid lines. (In its default configuration, QBALL will display the grid.) Now press <S>ave to write this trajectory data to a disk file. (It'll go into the current directory.) After some grinding noises from your disk drive, during which you're shown some other informa- tion, here's what the bottom of the screen looks like: +=========================+ > Current < > Previous < | Graphics Menu | Max Ht: 1.8" @ 86 +-------------------------+ Min Ht: -4.5" @ 200 | <Q>uit Graphics Routine | MuzVel: 2300 FPS | <G>rid Toggle | BCoeff: .250 | <S>ave Current Data | ZeroRg: 150 Yards | On Disk: <0> | Metro : Standard +=========================+ "On Disk" now tells you that you have one set of trajectory data on disk. Also note that "<S>ave..." has been disabled; you don't want two sets of identical data, do you? Now press "Q" to quit the graphics routine. The previously-displayed range table is again displayed, but with a different prompt: Print this Table ? ([Y] or N). If your printer is ON and ON-LINE, press "Y" to obtain a hard copy of the range table. If no printer is available, or you don't want to use up paper, press "N," to return to the computations menu. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 13 ] As you can see, the screen display is somewhat different. The differences between trajectories are graphically presented, and the information blocks reflect those differences. Note that the previous value of the parameter which we changed, the muzzle velocity, is high- lighted in the new information block. All values so changed will be thus highlighted, except for "Metro" which will be displayed as either "Standard" or "Non-standard." Now, let's save this "current data" data to disk. Press "S". The new bottom-of-screen should look like this: +=========================+ > Current < > Previous < | Graphics Menu | Max Ht: 1.5" @ 86 1.8" @ 86 +-------------------------+ Min Ht: -3.5" @ 200 -4.5" @ 200 | <Q>uit Graphics Routine | MuzVel: 2500 FPS 2300 | <G>rid Toggle | BCoeff: .250 .250 | <S>ave Current Data | ZeroRg: 150 Yards 150 Yards | On Disk: <0> thru 1 | Metro : Standard Standard +=========================+ QBALL lets you save up to 16 "QBALLSAV" files, 000 through 015; the Graphics Menu accesses the saved files using "1" through "9: and "A" through "F". (Quick introduction to hexadecimal, anyone?) An example of "QBALLSAV" is to be found in Appendix C., page 37. Should the display become cluttered with too many trajectory plots, you may erase all of them (except "Current") by toggling the grid. You retain the ability to call up data from all disk files. Remember that "specialized *.INI file" that QBALL couldn't find? It now exists as "QBALLSAV.INI" in the current directory, along with two sets of saved trajectory data: "QBALLSAV.000" and "QBALLSAV.001." When you decide to quit QBALL, you will be prompted to: Retain Saved Data ? ([Y] or No) It is recommended that you press "N" at that point, at least until you have played with QBALL for awhile. (Answering "N" erases all the "QBALLSAV" files, including "*.INI.") Press "Q" at this point to re-display the range table. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 15 ] Sight Height. Allows fine-tuning QBALL to a specific weapon. The supplied sight height of 1.00 inches is a "generic" value, and should be changed to reflect the actual sight height. Acceptable val- ues: -2 to +5 inches. Swap Units. This option toggles QBALL between yards and meters, and will cause QBALL to make all range calculations in the chosen unit of measure. Note well, however, that while computations using meters are accurate, they may produce some rather strange looking displays; specifically, the range increment may not appear as expected. This is unavoidable, as meters and yards to not take kindly to being convert- ed, one to the other. You may return to "yards" by swapping units again. Note that only ranges are affected; heights and deflections will still be displayed or printed in inches, and velocities will continue to be shown in feet per second (FPS). (A rough approximation to convert inches) (to centimeters is to multiply the inches) (dimension by 2 1/2. (A more accurate) (multiplier is 2.5404.) If you're a real) (glutton for punishment, you can divide) (velocities in FPS by 3.28083 to obtain) (velocities in Meters per second. QBALL,) (however, will not perform either of these) (conversions for you. ) 2.5 Other Ballistic Procedures. -------------------------- Five "other ballistic procedures" are described in this section. The first two, point-blank range and wind vector corrections, directly interface with the range table/graphics procedures; slant angle of fire, sectional density, and free recoil may be invoked for the infor- mation they produce. From the computations menu, press "O" to access the "Other Procedures Menu:" +===============================+ | * Other Procedures Menu * | | --------------------------- | | <P>oint-blank Range | | <W>ind Vector Corrections | | Slant <A>ngle of fire | | <S>ectional Density | | <F>ree Recoil of Gun | | --------------------------- | | <ESC> to Computations Menu | +===============================+ [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 17 ] Wind Vector Corrections. ----------------------- One of the columns in the range table gives the wind deflection, in inches, for a 10 MPH "pure" crosswind. To compute the deflection for other windspeeds and directions, press "W", and enter the wind speed (in MPH), and the direction from which the wind is blowing, relative to the line of sight, from 0 to 360 degrees. QBALL will compute the vector effects of the wind values entered, and will dis- play them as shown: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------ Wind velocity [ 10 MPH ] 20 Wind direction [ 270d ] 135 ------------------------------ Range wind = 21 feet per second Cross wind = 14 miles per hour Crosswind correction = -1.40 Use correction factor(s) in tables ? ([Y] or N) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A "Y" response will cause the deflection values in the range table to be displayed for the computed crosswind; in this case, 14 MPH. QBALL takes crosswinds from left to right as positive; from right to left, as negative. No correction is applied for the range wind, as that effect becomes significant only at very long range, with a low muzzle velocity, and small ballistic coefficient. (Try entering a new muzzle velocity using the range wind correction and see.) Should you wish to return to the default wind values, simply press "enter" when prompted for wind values when starting this routine. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 19 ] Free Recoil Energy. ------------------ We all know that a firearm "kicks." Simple Newtonian physics, right? But how hard does it kick? One way to compare absolute num- bers, and without getting into the mare's nest of "actual" versus "perceived" recoil, is to compare the recoil velocity and energy im- parted to the weapon upon firing. Press "F," and enter the powder weight in grains. The example uses 38 grains powder weight, which seems to be a fair "average" powder weight from several random exam- ples taken from the SPEER Reloading Manual. You must also enter the weapon's weight, in either pounds and ounces or in pounds and decimal fractions of a pound. For an 8 1/2 pound rifle, for example, enter either "8.5" or "8<space>8". The result is displayed: ------------------------------ Gun Recoil Velocity: 7.83 FPS Free Recoil Energy : 8.11 Ft# ===> press any key <=== Unfortunately, these figures are relatively meaningless without some basis for comparison. Here are three for starters, all data computed using QBALL: --------- G U N -------- Velocity Energy FPS Ft-Lbs -------- ------ 1. Ruger M77R (6.75 pounds) .22-250 Remington 7.86 6.49 Muz Vel = 3680 Bul Wt = 55 Pow Wt = 36 2. Marlin 336CS (7 pounds) .30-30 Winchester 10.67 12.39 Muz Vel = 2390 Bul Wt = 150 Pow Wt = 35 3. M1 Garand (9.5 pounds) .30-'06 Springfield 10.88 17.47 Muz Vel = 2700 Bul Wt = 180 Pow Wt = 50.5 The ammunition specified is a "best estimate" using published Winchester data for velocities and bullet weights, and powder weights from the HORNADY HANDBOOK. The weapon weights were taken from the 1991 edition of GUN DIGEST. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 21 ] 3.1 First Run: r1 = 0 ----------------- When prompted for the "first range," press "enter;" for "second range," enter "100." The following screen will be displayed. Enter the appropriate velocity values as shown. QBALL will quickly return the value of the ballistic coefficient, and ask if you wish to calcu- late another round. Responding "Y" clears the velocity inputs, and you'll be prompted for another velocity pair. In this case, press "N." (In all probability, you're working from published tables, and using the same numbers twice would be meaningless.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *** Inferring a Ballistic Coefficient *** ----------------------------------------- Metro: as displayed Relative Air Density = 1.000; Sonic Velocity = 1.000 ----------------------------------------- For Round Number 1 First Velocity (Ft/Sec) 2300 Second Velocity (Ft/Sec) 1982 For Standard Atmosphere, C1 = .250 Calculate another Round? ([Y] or N) [ Lower & Upper Ranges (yards) [0] & 100 ] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The center of the screen will clear, and the following informa- tion is displayed: ----------------------------------------- Average C1 for 1 round = .250 Between Mean Velocities 2300 and 1982 Calculated Muzzle Velocity = 2300 ----------------------------------------- QBALL will ask if you wish to print the table. For now, press "N" to return to the main menu. Note that the information line now shows the muzzle velocity and the computed ballistic coefficient. If you so desired, you could now go on to compute ballistic or gun data, but let's try the infer ballistic coefficient routine again, with r1 set to something other than zero. (You should be at the main menu; press "B.") [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 23 ] Chapter 4 --------- Printing Tables """"""""""""""" 4.1 Printer warnings. ---------------- QBALL will detect "device fault" if your printer is off or off- line. You must, however, ensure that paper is installed and the pro- per printer setup has been accomplished BEFORE you try to print ANY QBALL output! (QBALL does not detect "paper out.") 4.2 Screen dumps. ------------ It is possible to print a screen's worth of information using the Shift-PrtScr key combination available in DOS. This is NOT recom- mended, however, as you may very well lose information which has al- ready scrolled past on the screen. 4.3 Printer setup. ------------- You need not set up your printer to skip perforations in fanfold paper; QBALL keeps track of the number of lines printed and issues a formfeed when appropriate. Continuation tables are sequentially num- bered, and each page will have the appropriate column headers printed on it. There is no need to set your printer to indent from the left margin, either. It is best, in fact, to use a printer setup of "left margin = 0," as QBALL is set up to indent each table it prints an appropriate number of spaces. You may also toggle the print prompt "off," in which case, you will not be asked if you wish hard copy. This feature is useful if you are sure you won't want printouts, or if you have no printer. QBALL defaults to printer "on," and displays the print prompt. 4.4 Print functions. --------------- You may obtain hard copy of any table which is followed by the prompt: Print this table? (Y or N). Press "Y" to print the table. The prompt will be replaced with the statement "Printing table" in highlighted text. If you have a printer with a sizable buffer, QBALL will return you to the previous menu quite quickly. If not, QBALL will finish printing out the table, then return you to the previous menu. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 25 ] Chapter 5 --------- Configuring display and default starting values """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 5.1 The Configuration Menu. ---------------------- You may wish to change some or all of QBALL's start-up data. Press "U" at the main menu, to display this "Utilities Menu:" +=================================+ | *** Utilities Menu *** | | ----------------------------- | | <T>oggle Units/Grfx/Noise/PRN | | Change Display <C>olors | | <W>rite QBALL.CFG File | | Invoke a <D>OS Shell | | ----------------------------- | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | +=================================+ 5.2 Toggle Units/Grfx/Noise/PRN. --------------------------- Press "T" to display this "Switch Toggle Menu." Pressing the appropriate key toggles that particular item; the current setting is reflected immediately, and QBALL will act accordingly until it is again changed. +================================+ | *** Switch Toggle Menu *** | | ---------------------------- | | Yds/Mets <S>wap (Now Yards) | | Graphics <G>rid (Now ON) | | <P>rinter on/off (Now ON) | | <N>oises on/off (Now ON) | | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to Utilities Menu | +================================+ You may also toggle the unit of range measure between yards and meters from the "New/changed Input Data" menu, which is accessed from the main menu and the computations menu. If you toggle the printer off, all "Print This Table" prompts are suppressed, and "====> Press any key <====" is displayed instead. If noises are toggled off, they are replaced with a short-dura- tion "flash" in the lower right corner of your screen. Toggling the graphics grid merely changes the appearance of the first display of "pictures;" you will retain the option of changing that appearance in the graphics routine. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 27 ] Upon invocation of the "Write QBALL.CFG File," the new .CFG file will also include the values of these items which are currently in effect. This allows you to "tailor" your copy of QBALL to match your own con- ditions: your weapon, and the actual (or anticipated) metro which is encountered at your own firing range. (A description of the *.CFG file may be found in Appendix F.) Specific times you might very well want to use metro values other than standard are, for example, if your range is not at sea level, or if you're shooting during the summer, when the temperature might very well exceed 59 deg.F. You can configure QBALL to start with the alti- tude of your range, or an expected temperature, without the hassle of changing the values after start-up. In similar fashion, you may configure QBALL to start with the name of your own weapon, say, "Ruger M77 .270" and the actual measured height of that weapon's sight, say, 1.25 inches. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 29 ] Appendix A ---------- Glossary """""""" ABSOLUTE ZERO - Properly, that temperature at which all molecular mo- tion ceases. For practical purposes, -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0 degrees Rankine. AIR DENSITY - The mass (weight) of a unit volume of air. AIR RESISTANCE - The retardation of a bullet's forward flight due to the atmosphere. ALTITUDE - The vertical distance above or below sea level. Altitudes above sea level are taken as positive; those below, as negative. BALLISTICS - The study of moving projectiles. Commonly, what is meant is "exterior" ballistics: that portion of the bullet's flight between the muzzle and the target. BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT - The ratio of the sectional density of a pro- jectile to its coefficient of form. A measure of how well a bullet re- tains its velocity. Commonly supplied by reloading manufacturers, or it may be derived from their ballistic tables. In QBALL, the ballis- tic coefficient is always taken at standard metro. The program cor- rects for nonstandard conditions, but does not display the corrected ballistic coefficient(s). See STANDARD METRO BALLISTIC EFFICIENCY - The relative ability of a bullet in flight to overcome air resistance. BORE - The inside of a firearm's barrel. In rifled firearms, the bore diameter is the original dimension of the barrel before the rifling grooves are cut or swaged in it. Bore diameter may also be taken as the transverse dimension between the lands of the rifling. See LANDS BRASS - Alloy of copper and zinc commonly used in the fabrication of cartridge cases. Also, one or more cartridge cases containing neither powder, nor primer, nor bullet. BULLET - The actual projectile in small arms ammunition. Commonly corrupted to mean the entire cartridge. BULLET WEIGHT - Weight of the actual projectile, usually stated in grains. See GRAIN [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 31 ] GRAIN - A unit of weight equal to 1/7000 of a pound. 437.5 grains equal one ounce. May also refer to an individual particle, or ker- nel, of powder. In cartridge specifications, always refers to the weight, never to individual particles. GROOVES - Spiral impressions cut or swaged lengthwise through a bore to impart spin to projectiles. See LANDS. GROUP - The pattern made, at the target, by a number of shots fired at a single point of aim and (usually) a common sight setting. Usually measured from center-to-center of the two most widely spaced holes. GUN - In popular usage, refers to firearms, generally. HANDGUN - A firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand. HOLD OFF - The distance a shooter must shift his point of aim to the left or right to compensate for wind deflection. HOLD OVER - The distance a shooter must raise his point of aim to be on target when his firearm is zeroed at a lesser range. HORIZONTAL FIRE - That type of fire occurring when the barrel of the firearm is not elevated significantly above the horizontal. Generally may be taken as 1 degree of arc or less. INGALLS' TABLES - A set of ballistic tables first calculated by Col. J. M. Ingalls in 1918. Probably the most widely used tables for small arms ballistics calculations. IRON SIGHTS - Colloquial term for metallic sights. LANDS - Those portions of a rifled bore not cut away by rifling grooves. See GROOVES LEAD - (leed) How far ahead of a moving target a shooter must aim to be assured of hitting it. LEAD - (led) Soft, dense, silvery-gray metal with relatively low melt- ing point which forms the basis for many bullets. LINE OF DEPARTURE - An imaginary line formed by extending the axis of a firearm's bore in a downrange direction. LINE OF SIGHT - An imaginary line from the center of the sights to the point of aim. The bullet typically crosses this line only twice; once, a few yards from the muzzle, and again at the targeted distance. MASS - Properly, the weight of an object divided by the acceleration due to gravity. Commonly taken to mean "weight." [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 33 ] POWDER - The propellant material used in firearms. Usually not in powder form, but as small rods, spheres, or flakes. PRIMER - Impact-sensitive component of a cartridge which ignites the powder charge upon being struck by the firing pin or the striker of a firearm. PROJECTILE - A bullet, shell, golfball or other object shot, hit, thrown, or hurled in space; a projectile receives a single impetus, and continues in motion by its own inertia. A bullet is not properly a projectile until it is in motion. RELATIVE AIR DENSITY - The density of air at the measured metro divid- ed by the density of air at standard metro, expressed as a dimension- less decimal fraction, e.g., 1.000. RELATIVE SONIC VELOCITY - The velocity of sound at the measured metro divided by the velocity of sound at standard metro, expressed as a di- mensionless decimal fraction, e.g., 1.000. REMAINING ENERGY - A projectile's energy in foot-pounds at a given range. REMAINING VELOCITY - A projectile's velocity in FPS at a given range. ROUND - One complete cartridge. Also used to refer to the sequential number of a shot in a number of shots, as "Round #3." SCOPE - optical, as opposed to metallic, sights. Generally compounded as in "scope sight", "scope equipped", "scoped." SIGHT HEIGHT - The measured vertical distance between the horizontal centerline of the sights and the axis of the bore. SIGHTING IN - The process of firing to determine point of impact at a given range and adjusting the sights so that the point of impact has the desired relationship to the point of aim. See also ZERO. SIGHT RADIUS - The distance between the rear and the front sight, on those weapons equipped with metallic sights. SONIC VELOCITY - The speed of sound through air. STANDARD MET - Atmospheric conditions as follows: Temperature is 59 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure is 29.53 inches mercury, gun altitude is zero (sea level), and relative humidity is 78 percent. Firing tables are usually corrected to standard met conditions. STP - Standard Temperature and Pressure. See STANDARD MET. STRING - A number of rounds fired at a common point of aim, often for the purposes of sighting in or zeroing a firearm. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 35 ] Appendix B ---------- Example of Ballistic Coefficient from Tabular Data """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The following table summarizes the determination of a ballistic coefficient using tabular values. The table is the one published in the 1990 GUN DIGEST, page 229. +-----------------------------------------------------+ | From Gun Digest Table for 30-06 Spfd, 180 gr bullet:| | | | Range in Yards | | ------------------------------------ | | Muz 100 200 300 400 | | ------------------------------------ | | Velocity 2700 2469 2250 2042 1846 | | Energy 2913 2436 2023 1666 1362 | | Trajectory -1.5 2.5 0.0 -9.3 -27.0 | +-----------------------------------------------------+ Table B1. Data Taken From Published Table. Using the routines to infer a ballistic coefficient, plugging in 100 and 200 yards for the required ranges, and using the associated velocities, QBALL reports that C1 (the ballistic coefficient) is equal to 0.384. Returning to the main menu, selecting the ballistic computations option, and entering the appropriate values for muzzle velocity and bullet weight and zero range, QBALL produces the data shown in Table B2. +-----------------------------------------------------+ | QBALL Data Table for 30-06 Spfd, 180 gr bullet: | | | | Range in Yards | | ------------------------------------ | | Muz 100 200 300 400 | | ------------------------------------ | | Velocity 2700 2470 2251 2043 1846 | | Energy 2913 2437 2024 1668 1362 | | Trajectory -1.5 2.1 0.0 -9.0 -26.2 | +-----------------------------------------------------+ Table B2. Data Calculated Using QBALL. The maximum variations are: Velocity, 1 FPS; Energy, 2 FtLbs; and Trajectory 0.8 inches. QBALL, therefore, can produce results in sub- stantial agreement with published data. It may be found that QBALL's computation of ballistic coefficient from tabular data may not exactly agree with the value known to be correct. A series of successive approximations can compensate for QBALL's built-in roundoff characteristics, and the small errors re- sulting from them. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 37 ] Appendix C ---------- Typical QBALLSAV.00n File """"""""""""""""""""""""" The following table represents, in part and in somewhat compress- ed form, one of the QBALLSAV file produced using the data entered in Chapter 2. The first column is the range; the second, the trajectory height relative to the sight line. Note that the range increment is 1/100 of the maximum range. This is true of all QBALLSAV.00n files. ---------- Yards 0.0 -1.00 2.0 -0.89 4.0 -0.78 //////////////////////////////////////////////// ... major portion of data omitted //////////////////////////////////////////////// 196.0 -3.17 198.0 -3.36 200.0 -3.55 2500 .25 150 1.49034 -3.548949 86 200 166.53 01-08-1992 / 12:00:00 / Typical Firearm Misc Info: Wt Tmp Alt BPr Hum SHt 125 59 0 29.53 78 1 --------------[ end QBALLSAV.001 ]------ ---------- ===================================== Key to values listed at end of table: ------------------------------------- First line: [Muzzle velocity] [Ballistic Coefficient] [Zero Range] [Max Height] [Min Height] [Range at Max Height] Second line: [Max Range] [Metro constant] [Date/Time/Identifier] Third and fourth lines: [Bullet weight] [Temperature] [Gun altitude] [Barometric Pressure] [Relative humidity] [Sight height] Fifth line: End of file indicator with Filename and number ===================================== The metro constant in line 2 keeps track of whether this trajec- tory data was computed using standard or nonstandard met. It is the sum of the four metro values: temperature, altitude, barometric pres- sure, and relative humidity. Important Note: QBALLSAV files generated by earlier versions of QBALL are NOT -- I say again, NOT -- compatible with QBALL v2.01. Sorry 'bout that. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 39 ] Appendix D ---------- Selected bibliography """"""""""""""""""""" Davis, William C., Jr. "Ballistics on the Home Computer," American Rifleman, CXXXI, 6 (June, 1983), p. 36. Davis, William C., Jr. "Ballistics on A Pocket Calculator," American Rifleman, CXXXV, 6 (June, 1987), p. 42. Davis, William C., Jr. "Calculate Ballistic Coefficients," American Rifleman, CXXXVII, 3 (March, 1989), p. 44. Davis, William C., Jr. "What Is The Ballistic Coefficient?," American Rifleman, CXXXVII, 3 (March, 1989), p. 12. HODGDON BASIC DATA MANUAL, Shawnee Mission: Hodgdon Power Company, Incorporated, 1987 Ramage, C. Kenneth (ed.). LYMAN RELOADING HANDBOOK. 46th ed. Middlefield: Lyman Products Corporation, 1982. Reiber, Ron L., and Heers, Edward A. (eds.). HORNADY HANDBOOK OF CARTRIDGE RELOADING, RIFLE-PISTOL. 3d ed. Grand Island: Hornady Manufacturing Company, 1980. SPEER RELOADING MANUAL #11, Lewiston: Omark Industries, Incorp- orated, 1987 Warner, Ken (ed.). GUN DIGEST, 1990. Northbrook: DBI Books, 1989. Warner, Ken (ed.). GUN DIGEST, 1991. Northbrook: DBI Books, 1989. WINCHESTER PRODUCT INFORMATION AND BALLISTICS GUIDE, East Alton: Winchester/Olin Corporation, 1989 [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 41 ] An examination of the data in Table D1 indicates that computa- tion of remaining velocities using QBALL will be, on average, 0.47% high relative to the Speer data, and 0.42% low relative to the Hornady data. The Hornady data, however, must be considered suspect, as the actual ballistic coefficients available in the Hornady table do not exactly match those specified. Even so, it would appear that QBALL's velocity results are certainly within one or two percent of published data. In practical terms, there is probably one or two percent vari- ation in velocity between successive rounds in a string, if not more. QBALL, it would appear, can produce velocity figures which are accu- rate enough for practical purposes. Trajectory comparisons are presented in the following table. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Trajectory Comparisons - Conditions as Shown | | ============================================== | | [ All at Standard Met ] | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Range = 250 yards, zeroed at 50 yards; C1 =.12, MuzVel = 2100 | | | | Inches above/below line of sight at...(yards) | | --------------------------------------------- | | Muzzle 50 100 150 200 250 | | ------ --- ---- ---- ---- ---- | | QBALL -1.5 0.0 -1.3 -6.4 -16.9 -34.3 | | SPEER -1.5 0.0 -1.3 -6.4 -17.0 -34.7 | | HORNADY -1.5 0.0 -1.2 -6.3 -16.7 -33.2 | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Range = 400 yards, zeroed at 200 yards; C1 =.26, MuzVel = 2500 | | | | Inches above/below line of sight at...(yards) | | --------------------------------------------- | | Muzzle 100 200 300 400 | | ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- | | QBALL -1.5 2.9 0.0 -13.0 -39.5 | | SPEER -1.5 3.0 0.0 -13.0 -39.6 | | HORNADY -1.5 3.0 0.0 -13.1 -39.7 | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Range = 400 yards, zeroed at 200 yards; C1 =.50, MuzVel = 3300 | | | | Inches above/below line of sight at...(yards) | | --------------------------------------------- | | Muzzle 100 200 300 400 | | ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- | | QBALL -1.5 1.1 0.0 -5.2 -15.2 | | SPEER -1.5 1.1 0.0 -5.2 -15.2 | | HORNADY -1.5 1.1 0.0 -5.3 -15.7 | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ (Key: MuzVel = Muzzle Velocity C1 = Ballistic Coefficient) Table D2. Trajectory Comparisons Under Specified Conditions. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 43 ] Appendix F ---------- Error messages and default starting values """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Error Messages -------------- Following are all the QBALL error messages, with a description of the circumstances under which they will be encountered. +-----------------------------------------------+ | .CFG File Not Found -- Using Internal Values. | +-----------------------------------------------+ QBALL.CFG not found. Either it doesn't exist, or QBALL.EXE and QBALL.CFG are not in the same directory/on the same disk. (On a fast enough machine, you probably won't see this one.) +------------------------------------------------+ | Not Enough Velocity Remains - Input Greater MV | +------------------------------------------------+ QBALL is unable to complete a computation because the remaining velocity is less than 300 FPS. +--------------------------------+ | Enter Range greater than zero | +--------------------------------+ You're really trying to enter "zero" -- no can do. +-------------------------------------+ | Enter 0 < Range Increment <= Range | +-------------------------------------+ You're trying to enter a range increment of zero, or to enter a range increment greater than the maximum range chosen. +------------------------------------+ | Enter 300 <= Velocity <= 4500 FPS | +------------------------------------+ Trying to enter a velocity less than 300 or greater than 4500 FPS. +----------------------------------------------+ | Enter 0.000 < Ballistic Coefficient < 1.000 | +----------------------------------------------+ Trying to enter a value outside acceptable range of values. (Ballistic coefficients are, by definition, greater than zero and less than unity.) [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 45 ] Error Messages (continued) -------------- +-----------------------------------+ | Enter Second Range > First Range | +-----------------------------------+ In inferring ballistic coefficients, attempting to enter a second range which is smaller than the first range you have entered. +---------------------------------------+ | Inferred C1 exceeds 1.00 - check data | +---------------------------------------+ Input data is probably incorrect; ballistic coefficients cannot, by definition, exceed unity. +-----------------------------------+ | Enter 0 < Powder Weight < 100 gr | +-----------------------------------+ You're attempting to enter a zero propellant weight, or one more suited to artillery pieces, in determination of recoil. +---------------------------------+ | Enter 0 < Gun Weight <= 20 lbs | +---------------------------------+ Attempting to enter a value which is out of range. (Are you really using a howitzer?) +-----------------------------------------+ | Enter Lbs + [space] + 0 <= Ounces < 16 | +-----------------------------------------+ QBALL can't figure out how much your weapon weighs in the determination of recoil. +------------------------------+ | Enter Maximum Deviation > 0 | +------------------------------+ In determining point blank range, the maximum deviation must exceed zero. +----------------------------+ | Enter Bullet Diameter > 0 | +----------------------------+ In determining a sectional density, the bullet must have a diameter. +-----------------------------------------+ | Maximum Deviation Reset to Sight Height | +-----------------------------------------+ In determining point blank range, the maximum deviation cannot be less than the sight height. (Sorry.) [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 47 ] Default Starting Values ----------------------- QBALL uses a separate initialization file, QBALL.CFG, to set its display colors and several of the values with which it starts. As supplied, QBALL.CFG is as follows: "Typical Firearm",15,10,7,1,"Yards ","Meters",1, -1,59,0,29.53,78,1,-1,-1 Taking these in order, the individual entries result in the following: "Typical Firearm" ... Cartridge/bullet identifier 15 ... Foreground (text) color ( = HI white) 10 ... Highlighted text color ( = HI green) 7 ... Title/Info line color ( = white ) 1 ... Background color ( = blue ) "Yards " ... Unit of range measure (trailing space necessary) "Meters" ... Alternate unit of range measure 1 ... Sight height in inches -1 ... Noises on or off ( = on ) 59 ... Air temperature, degrees Fahrenheit 0 ... Gun altitude in feet 29.53 ... Barometric pressure in inches of mercury 78 ... Relative humidity, in percent 1! ... Relative air density at given metro -1 ... Graphics grid on or off ( = on ) -1 ... Print prompt on or off ( = on ) (The metro values are for the STANDARD atmosphere) These values are also used for QBALL's internal defaults. If, for some reason, QBALL.EXE cannot find QBALL.CFG (either QBALL.CFG doesn't exist, or it's not in the current directory) QBALL will start with its default values, which are made available inter- nally through an error-trapping routine. Should you be VERY brave, you can modify QBALL.CFG with any text editor which will produce plain vanilla ASCII files. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED; better by far to use the QBALL configuration routines (There are those who would say that) (using a text editor to modify a .CFG) (file isn't brave; it's foolhardy!) [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 49 ] Appendix H ---------- Suggested Enhancements """""""""""""""""""""" Version of QBALL you are using? (appears in the box on screen one)______________ What should QBALL do that it doesn't do now? _____________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ What does QBALL do now, but could do better? _____________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Other comments, requests, gripes? ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ If you are the first to suggest an improvement which is subse- quently implemented, you'll receive a free copy of the first release incorporating your suggestion. It will take awhile, so please be patient. Your name ___________________________________________ Street ___________________________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________________________ Send this form to: Benjamin W. Hartley Forest Park Estates #103 Jaffrey, NH 03452. [ QBALL -- Exterior Ballistics -- 51 ] Appendix G ---------- Registration Form """"""""""""""""" User Questionnaire (optional) ----------------------------- Version and Registration number of QBALL you are using? (appears in the box on screen one) V:________Reg#:__________ Where did you initially find QBALL? (Bulletin Board, CompuServe, etc.)__________________________ Do you use other ballistics programs?_____ Which one(s)?________ _________________________________________________________________ Order Form ---------- (Author-supplied media is 5 1/4" 360k floppy formatted to be) (read by a standard 360k floppy drive. Since not everyone) (has the same de-archive utilities, registered copies are) (distributed in non-compressed form. ) Please send the following (check appropriate box): +--+ | | Register QBALL (most recent release) with | | all files*, source code, and manual @$60.00: $____.___ +--+ +--+ | | Register QBALL (most recent release) with | | all files and manual @25.00: $____.___ +--+ TOTAL ENCLOSED: $____.___ Your name ___________________________________________ Street ___________________________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________________________ Please make checks payable in US funds drawn upon a US bank, or use USPS money orders payable to Benjamin W. Hartley, and mail to: Benjamin W. Hartley Forest Park Estates #103 Jaffrey, NH 03452 * less on-disk documentation