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==================== ====== | | | | | |--- --- | | | -+| | | +--| | | ====|= ---- +--- - - +- ==================== SMALL ARMS EXTERIOR BALLISTICS for IBM PC's and COMPATIBLES ----------------------- Application Programming and Documentation by Benjamin W. Hartley 103 Forest Park Estates Jaffrey, NH 03452 USA Voice . . . . . . . . . . .(603) 532-6248 CompuServe. . . . . . . . . . .70033,2612 GEnieMail . . . . . . . . . . .B.Hartley1 Internet. . . . 70033.2612@compuserve.com ================================================================ +---------+ +-----+---+ | (R) --| |O |------------------ | +---------+ | Association of | | |-+ Shareware +---| O | Professionals ------| | |-------------------- +---------+ MEMBER The author is a member of the Association of Shareware Pro- fessionals, the ASP. ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a share- ware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. ASP's Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Rd., Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA (FAX 616-788-5131 24 hrs./day), or send a message via CompuServe mail to: ASP Ombudsman 72050,1433 / 72050.1433@compuserve.com. ================================================================ QBALL -- source code, executable files, and documentation are (C)1991-96 by Benjamin W. Hartley. All rights reserved. QBALL i DEDICATION QBALL was inspired by the many computer programs published in The American Rifleman, and is respectfully dedicated to their author: William C. Davis, Jr. ---- DISCLAIMER and WARRANTY QBALL is supplied as is!! Responsibility for determining its suitability for any use rests solely with the user. The author will not be held responsible for injury or damages resulting from the use of QBALL; all remedies rest solely with the user. QBALL is distributed without any warranties whatsoever, except: QBALL copies distributed on defective author-supplied media will be replaced; or if QBALL is inoperative through an author error, a functional copy is available upon request. The author reserves the right to modify or update QBALL without incurring any obli- gation to supply updates to any user, except as otherwise stated herein. LIMITED LICENSE Individual users may make copies of the QBALL program files for backup and personal use. Individual users may freely distri- bute the Shareware Edition, provided that all files are distrib- uted in their entirety and without modification. Computer clubs may make copies of the Shareware Edition for distribution. A media / copying fee not to exceed $10.00 may be charged. Vendor members of The Association of Shareware Professionals and any BBS are hereby granted permission to distribute the Share- ware Edition; latest revision verification should, however, be obtained from the author. All other vendors must contact the au- thor for permission before distribution may begin. Distribution of the User's Manual in printed form, or of any part of the Registered Edition of QBALL, without the author's ex- press written consent, is prohibited. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author gratefully acknowledges the efforts of Marty Adel- man, Jan Archambeau, Bob Bender, Zeke Biro, Harry Gilbert, Lewis Hansen, Leif Bjarne Kleven, Terry Lyman, Jim McCausland, Jeremy Moss, Miguel Duran Perello, Bob Pickell, and Dave Smith, all of whom have sug-gested improvements to what QBALL does, how it does it, and have provided much valuable feedback and encouragement. Many thanks to you all. B.W.H. QBALL iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication, Disclaimer/Warranty, License, Acknowledgments . . . i Copyright and Miscellaneous Information . . . . . . . . . . . .ii Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iv List of Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vi About Shareware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Obtaining the Latest Shareware Edition. . . . . . . . . . . .viii Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix Chapter Page 1. Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.1 Files Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.2 Will It Work?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.3 Copying the Program Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.4 QBALL Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.5 General Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.6 Starting QBALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.7 Uninstalling or Removing QBALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. Computing Ballistics Data 2.1 Initial Data Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2.2 Computing and Displaying Range Tables. . . . . . . . . . 8 2.3 Range Tables Too Long to Display . . . . . . . . . . . .10 2.4 Alternate Unit System Display (alt-U hotkey) . . . . . .10 2.5 Unit Conversion Calculator (alt-C hotkey). . . . . . . .11 2.6 Other Range Table Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 2.7 Printing Range Table Hardcopy. . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 2.8 Saving a Range Table to a Disk File. . . . . . . . . . .15 2.9 Slant Fire Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 2.10 Computing and Displaying a Slant Fire Table . . . . . .17 2.11 Printing Slant Fire Table Hardcopy. . . . . . . . . . .19 2.12 Saving a Slant Fire Table to a Disk File. . . . . . . .21 2.13 Displaying a Trajectory Graphic . . . . . . . . . . . .22 2.14 Other Ballistic Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Point-Blank Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Zero for Range and Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Wind Vector Corrections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Sectional Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Free Recoil Velocity and Energy . . . . . . . . . . . .30 2.15 New or Changed Input Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Weapon Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Bullet Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Muzzle Velocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Ballistic Coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Bullet Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Metro (Meteorological Conditions) . . . . . . . . . . .33 Sight Height. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 2.16 Bullet Lookup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 2.17 Metric Data Limits and Conversion Factors . . . . . . .35 QBALL v LIST OF FIGURES (continued) Figure Page 12. Conversion Calculator Displayed, English Base Units. . .12 13. Conversion Calculator Displayed, Metric Base Units . . .12 14. Result Box Displayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 15. Range Table Output Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 16. Printing Range Table Information Display . . . . . . . .13 17. Typical Printed Range Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 18. Entering a Filename for a Range Table Disk File. . . . .15 19. Saving a Range Table to a Specified Disk File. . . . . .15 20. Slant Fire Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 21. Choosing Vertical Displacement Type. . . . . . . . . . .17 22. Entering the Angular Vertical Displacement . . . . . . .17 23. Slant Fire Table, Angular Vertical Displacement. . . . .17 24. Slant Table Output Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 25. Slant Fire Table, Linear Vertical Displacement . . . . .19 26. Printing Slant Fire Table Information Display. . . . . .19 27. Typical Printed Slant Fire Table . . . . . . . . . . . .20 28. Entering a Filename for a Slant Fire Table Disk File . .21 29. Saving a Slant Fire Table to a Specified Disk File . . .21 30. Typical Trajectory Graphics Display. . . . . . . . . . .22 31. Filename Entry Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 32. Data Recall Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 33. Two Trajectories Displayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 34. The Other Ballistics Procedures Menu . . . . . . . . . .24 35. Point Blank Range Determination. . . . . . . . . . . . .25 36. Point Blank Zero Range Validated . . . . . . . . . . . .25 37. Range Table Using Point Blank Zero . . . . . . . . . . .26 38. Entering Zero for Range and Height Data. . . . . . . . .27 39. Range Table Using Most Probable Zero . . . . . . . . . .27 40. Probable Zero Warning Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 41. Entering Wind Vector Correction Data . . . . . . . . . .28 42. Range Table Showing Nonstandard Wind Deflection. . . . .29 43. Entering a Bullet Diameter and Display Sectional Density . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 44. Determining Free Recoil Velocity and Energy. . . . . . .30 45. A Clean Sweep Prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 46. New Input Data Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 47. Entering a Weapon Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 48. Entering a Bullet Identifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 49. Entering Metro (Meteorological Conditions) . . . . . . .33 50. Entering a Sight Height. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 51. Bullet Lookup Window, Sorted by Diameter . . . . . . . .34 52. Changed Screen Header and Information Lines. . . . . . .35 53. --- figure is omitted from this edition --- 54. Infer BC or MV Menu Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 55. Schematic Range Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 56. Entering Range and Metro Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 57. Velocity Data, MV and Calculated C1 Displayed. . . . . .39 58. Ballistic Coefficient, Three Rounds, R1 > 0 . . . . . .40 59. Inferring Muzzle Velocity Using Menu Display . . . . . .41 QBALL vii ABOUT SHAREWARE So you've spent a lot of money -- $200, $300, or more for a computer program. You've tried it out, have found that it isn't suitable for you, (or worse, doesn't work) and you want your money back. Know what? You're quite often out of luck, that's what. Enter Shareware. Shareware gives you, the end user, a chance to try software before buying it, much as you might try on a pair of shoes. If you try a Shareware program, and continue using it, you are expected to register it, just as you would have to pay for the shoes. Individual programs differ on details: you may get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual. Shareware programs are neither free, nor are they in the public domain. Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software. The Shareware copyright holder, generally the author, retains all rights to the program. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, as are commer- cial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The essence of user- supported software is to provide personal computer users with quality, low-cost software, while encouraging programmers to continue to develop new products. In sum, Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of soft- ware. You should find software that suits your needs and pocket- book; the Shareware system eases the search, as you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware also has the ultimate money-back guarantee: if you don't use it, you don't pay for it. QBALL is a shareware program, and you are encouraged to give unaltered copies to your friends. If you find QBALL useful, and continue to use QBALL after a 30-day trial period, you must make a registration payment of $25.00 to the author. The $25.00 regis- tration fee licenses one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. QBALL may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while being used at another. Commercial users of QBALL must register and pay for their copies of QBALL within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Contact the author to make site-license arrangements. Anyone distributing QBALL for any kind of remuneration must first contact the author for authorization. Distributor members of the Association of Shareware Profes- sionals (ASP) and any BBS may begin immediate QBALL distribution. The author should be advised so that the latest, complete version is being distributed. So there you are: quality software at a reasonable price, with an unbeatable guarantee. Wotta deal! -- adapted from original text by Paul Mayer QBALL ix INTRODUCTION QBALL is a menu-driven application for the rapid computation of ballistics data for small arms projectiles. QBALL will quickly compute point-of-impact data, velocity and energy levels, trajec- tories relative to line-of-sight, and times of flight. Additional routines allow the calculation of ballistic coefficients, muzzle velocities from measured bullet drop or a single downrange velocity, slant fire corrections, point-blank range, trajectory data for a given range and height, and gun free recoil. Printing routines may be used to produce hard copy and graphics printouts with properly configured installations. QBALL's default starting values and display are user-configurable. QBALL does not include routines for load development due to the lack of available data, and product-liability considerations. One such program is "Load From a Disk," a commercial product, available from: Load From a Disk 9826 Sagedale Houston, TX 77089 You are also assumed to have some knowledge of exterior ballistics: QBALL will not teach you the subject. Several of the references listed in the bibliography contain introductions to the subject, and their study will amply repay the effort expended. Warning! All QBALL-generated data should be used as a guide to ballistics performance, only. You must verify QBALL's data with a standard reloading manual. Several such manuals are listed in the bibliography. If you find QBALL of use, but would like it to do something it doesn't do now, or have suggestions to improve what is does already, please send in a copy of the Enhancement Form. If you are the first to suggest an improvement which is included in a later QBALL release, you will receive a free copy of that release. Should you have problems with QBALL, you may call the author at 603-532-6248; no collect calls, please! (Should you get the answering machine, please leave your name, telephone number, and the best time to return your call.) You may also contact the author by CompuServe mail message to Ben Hartley, 70033,2612; on the Internet 70033.2612@compuserve.com; or by GEnieMail, address B.Hartley1. If you would prefer to write, please do so. The author will respond to all requests for help. The latest Registered Edition of QBALL is available from the author for a $25.00 registration fee. Registration grants to you an unlimited use license, and entitles you to one free upgrade, a printed manual, a custom bullet lookup maintenance utility, and other goodies which change from time to time. ------ QBALL USER'S MANUAL ------ QBALL Getting Started 1 Chapter 1. Getting Started ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1.1 Files Required. QBALL is distributed with the files specified in the packing list document. The only absolutely required file is QBALL.EXE. In order to use bullet lookup, however, AMMO.DAT and at least one of the *.NDX files must be present. In order to configure your printer, both PRINTERS.DAT and PRCONFIG.EXE must be present. 1.2 Will It Work ? QBALL is fully functional on MS/PC-DOS compatible computers equipped with a CGA or better graphics card. It has been found to be compatible with MS-DOS 3.3, 4.01, 5.0, and 6.nn, the appropri- ate version of COMMAND.COM, and with versions 3.02 through 4.02 of JP Software's 4DOS command processor replacement. QBALL functions properly in the Windows(R) 3.n "DOS box" or an OS/2 "DOS session," but not in OS/2 protected mode. QBALL occupies approximately 386k RAM while operating with the supplied bullet lookup files. 1.3 Copying the Program Files. It would be wise to make copies of the original QBALL files, and keep a set of originals in a safe place. 1.4 QBALL Installation. Insert the disk labeled QBALL330_1 into the appropriate drive and log onto that drive, or log to the directory into which you unZipped the QBALL330.ZIP archive, then type: INSTALL (+<enter>) and follow the prompts to install QBALL. While you may install QBALL on a high-density floppy disk, it loads sl-o-o-o-w. QBALL should be installed on a hard disk if at all possible. QBALL installation requires 726 kBytes of disk space without any documents, or 1.2 mByte with all the documents. The install utility will ask for the target directory in which to install the QBALL files - C:\QBALL330 is the default - and will create that directory if it doesn't exist. No other changes will be made to the existing files or directory structure on your hard disk. See section 1.7, pg 6 for removal instructions. +---------------------------------------------------------------+ |QBALL uses "Universal INSTALL" - a product of The GoodSoft Co.,| |1630 30th Street, Suite 235, Boulder, CO 80301, USA - which was| |provided through the good offices of Matt Brown of GoodSoft. | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ QBALL Getting Started 3 1.6 Starting QBALL. If you will want to make printed copy of data tables or of trajectory graphics screens, turn your printer on and ensure it's loaded with paper. Then log into the directory or onto the disk where you have installed QBALL.EXE, and type: QBALL (+<enter>) +--------------------------------------------------------+ | Hint: To start QBALL with a black & white screen, type | | QBALL b (+<enter>). | +--------------------------------------------------------+ QBALL displays startup information, and this opening screen: ================================================================= | ========== + + + | | | | | | | | | | | +----+ ----+ | | | | | | | | +----+ | | | | | =+ | | | | | | | | | ======|=== =====+ +===== = = | | += Shareware Edition | | [ Exterior Ballistics for PC's and Compatibles ] | | [ v3.30 -- (C) 1991-6, Benjamin W. Hartley ] | | [ Shareware - 30-day Limited Trial Use License ] | ----------------------------------------------------------------- When you need fast, accurate smallarms ballistics data. =============================================================== |NOTICE!! Users are encouraged to verify QBALL-derived data...| |standard reloading manual. The author is NOT responsible... | |misuse or faulty application of QBALL-derived data. | --------------------------------------------------------------- LPT 1: VGA T ===>> Press any key to continue <<=== Detected Figure 1. Opening Screen. QBALL reports what kind of graphics it has found; here, a VGA card is installed. The alternatives are EGA and CGA. QBALL also reports what parallel ports are available (up to 3). A ready-to-go printer is indicated by "T"; if a graphics printer driver is assigned to that port, a check mark also appears. Here, LPT1: is available and ready but no graphics driver has been assigned to parallel port #1. The QBALL version number is shown on the opening screen. In this example, it's "v3.30." If you wish to contact the author with comments or suggestions, or for help, please include the version number with your communication. Press any key to continue. QBALL Getting Started 5 One frequent use for QBALL is the production of ballistics tables for a specific cartridge/weapon/load combination. With the Main Menu displayed, press <C> to access the ballistic computation routines. This option is discussed in much greater detail in Chapter 2. Should you wish to infer a ballistic coefficient or a muzzle velocity, then press . See Chapter 3 for more information. You may change the screen display colors; select or toggle the printer, toggle the graphics grid, and units system; shell-to-DOS; and save new or changed default startup values. Press to access the Utilities Menu; see Chapter 5 for more information. You may also access the "Read a Range Table" (RRTABLE.EXE) from the Utilities Menu; see chapter 5, section 5.6. If you have saved graphics trajectory data to a file, you may recall it for use by pressing <R>. As distributed, QBALL includes one such sample file. If the file was not copied to the QBALL directory, this option will not appear. See Chapter 6 for more information. To exit QBALL and return to DOS, press <Q>. QBALL will ask you to confirm that you indeed wish to quit. Press <Y> or <enter> to return to DOS, or <N> to continue. If you have saved trajectory data, you will also be asked whether or not to retain it on the disk. <Y> or <enter> keeps the data, <N> deletes it. You should retain the data - press <Y> or <enter> - until you've worked with QBALL for a while. Let's put QBALL to work... Press <C> to compute ballistic data, and to do the tutorial which follows. Go on to Chapter 2, page 7. ---------- If this appears when you press <C>, (it shouldn't) then press <N> to clear any already-entered data and do the tutorial. ======================================= | *** M A I N M E N U *** | | --------------------------------- | | <C>ompute Ballistic or Gun Data | ===| Clean Sweep... ╞============================ | | | Retain Displayed Data? ([Y] or N) | | | ------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Figure 4. A Clean Sweep Prompt. See also New or Changed Input Data on page 29. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 7 Chapter 2. Computing Ballistics Data ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2.1 Initial Data Entry. QBALL requires some initial data to work with. You will be prompted for the required items; enter the following data: a. Ballistic Coefficient. . . . . . . . . .300 ------------------------------------------------ | Enter the ballistic coefficient and the bul- | | let weight manually, and try QBALL's bullet | | lookup feature later. (See section 2.16). | ------------------------------------------------ b. Bullet Weight in grains . . . . . . . . . .180 ------------------------------------------------ | This tutorial is based on English units; the | | same principals apply to Metric units. (See | | section 2.17). | ------------------------------------------------ c. Use Displayed Weapon?. . . . . .<Y> or <enter> d. Show Blank Bullet Designator?. .<Y> or <enter> e. Use Displayed Metro? . . . . . .<Y> or <enter> ------------------------------------------------ | To keep matters simple, use the defaults by | | responding Y to these. Remember that <enter> | | is the same as "Yes" when asked "Y or N." | ------------------------------------------------ f. The Muzzle Velocity in FPS . . . . . . . .2700 As you can see, the screen display and the info line stay in step with your entries, as shown in Figure 5. > Ballistic Computations, Typical Firearm < ---| Enter Required Initial Data... |------------ | | | Ballistic coefficient .300 | | Bullet weight (grains) 180 | | Weapon Typical Firearm | | Bullet ······· | | Metro As displayed | | Muzzle Velocity: (FPS) 2700 | | | ------------------------------------------------- MV:2700 |C1:.300 |G:180 |Metro:59d 0' 29.53" 78% |H:1.00 |E Figure 5. Required Data Entry. QBALL Computing Ballistic Data 9 As you stepped through range data entry, the entry window stayed in step with you, and looks like this when you've entered all the required data: ======================================= | *** Computations Menu *** | ---| Enter Range Data in Yards... |-------------- | | | Zero Range : 250 | | Maximum Range : 300 | | Range Increment: 50 | | | ------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Figure 8. Range Data Entry Window, All Data Set After a relatively short time for computations - how short de- pends partially upon the maximum range and range increment, and partially upon your computer's speed - QBALL displays the following table: ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Range Table, Zeroed at 250 Yards | |---------------------------------------------------------------| | Range R e m a i n i n g Drop Path/Sight Line 10 MPH Time | | Yards V: FPS E: Ft-Lbs Inches M.O.A. Inches Inches Flght | | ----- ----------------- ------ --------------- ------ ----- | | 0 2700 2913 0.00 -- -1.00 0.00 0.000 | |: 13.60 2659 2826 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.015:| | 50 2551 2601 0.62 4.25 2.22 0.28 0.057 | | 100 2407 2315 2.56 3.94 4.12 1.11 0.117 | |+ 136.78 2304 2122 4.95 3.19 4.56 2.18 0.164+| | 150 2268 2055 6.02 2.87 4.51 2.66 0.182 | | 200 2133 1819 11.19 1.52 3.18 4.93 0.250 | |~~250.00~~~2003~~~~~~1603~~~18.21~~0.00~~~~~~0.00~~~7.86~0.322~| |- 294.14 1891 1430 26.16 -1.48 -4.56 11.12 0.390-| |> 300 1877 1408 27.36 -1.69 -5.31 11.61 0.399<| ----------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 9. Typical Range Table The zero range, 250 yards, is highlighted on your screen; here, it is shown thus: ~~~~~~. The symbols : :, + +, - -, and > < in- dicate the following "special" ranges: : : Range for first crossing of the line of sight; + + Range at which the maximum ordinate (height) occurs; - - Range at which the bullet is the same distance below the line of sight; > < The maximum range you entered. The zero range is always displayed, and the "special" ranges are always computed and displayed. They are shown to two decimal places to set them apart from the other intermediate ranges. QBALL 11 Press alt-U. The range table you have developed looks like this using the QBALL default energy and bullet weight units. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Range Table, Zeroed at 228.6 Meters | |---------------------------------------------------------------| | Range R e m a i n i n g Drop Path/Sight Line 4.5MpS Time | | Meters V: MpS E: Met-Kg cm M.O.A. cm cm Flght | | ------ ----------------- ------ --------------- ------ ----- | | 0.00 822.9 403.4 0.0 -- -2.54 0.00 0.000 | |: 12.43 810.5 391.2 0.1 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.015:| | 45.7 777.6 360.1 1.6 4.25 5.6 0.7 0.057 | | 91.4 733.7 320.6 6.5 3.94 10.5 2.8 0.117 | |+ 125.07 702.3 293.7 12.6 3.19 11.6 5.5 0.164+| | 137.2 691.2 284.5 15.3 2.87 11.4 6.8 0.182 | | 182.9 650.2 251.8 28.4 1.52 8.1 12.5 0.250 | |~~228.60~~~610.4~~~~221.9~~~46.3~~~0.00~~~~~~0.0~~~20.0~~0.322~| |- 268.96 576.5 197.9 66.5 -1.48 -11.6 28.2 0.390-| |> 274.32 572.1 194.9 69.5 -1.69 -13.5 29.5 0.399<| ----------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 11. Typical Range Table (Metric Measure). Press alt-U again to return to an English measure display, and to continue your practice session. | Alternate Measurement Units and QBALL Defaults | | | | QBALL can be configured to operate with either English | | or Metric system units, and may be configured to use either | | when started. As supplied, QBALL defaults to English measure. | | | | As a general rule, mixed units are not allowed, with this | | one exception: bullet weights to be used with Metric measure | | may be in either grams (the as-supplied default) or in grains. | | | | Metric measure bullet energy may be expressed in meter- | | kilograms (MkG, the as-supplied default) or in joules. | | | | English measure crosswind velocities may be expressed in | | statute miles-per-hour (MPH, the as-supplied default) or in | | nautical miles-per-hour (knots). | | | | See Chapter 5, section 5.2 for unit option configuration | | instructions. | 2.5 Unit Conversion Calculator (alt-C hotkey). From time to time, you may know a value in one measurement system, and need the alternate measurement system equivalent. If displaying a range or slant fire table, or entering numeric data, press alt-C to invoke the unit conversion calculator. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 13 2.6 Other Range Table Output. When you've looked at the displayed range table, press <ESC>ape to display the Range Table Output menu. =================================== | *** Range Table Output *** | | ---------------------------- | | <R>edisplay Range Table | | rint Range Table | | <S>ave Range Table to File | | Slant <A>ngle of Fire Table | | Display Trajectory <G>raphic | | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to Computations Menu | ----------------------------------- Figure 15. Range Table Output Menu. At this point, you may <ESC>ape to the Computations Menu if, for example, you wanted to change the range or other input data. You may also redisplay the range table - press <R> - which will put you back in the range table at the same place you were when you <ESC>aped from it. Slant Angle of Fire and Display Trajectory Graphic are discuss- ed later on, in section 2.9-2.12 and section 2.13, respectively. 2.7 Printing Range Table Hardcopy. Warning! Ensure that your printer is on, on-line, has suffi- cient paper, and is ready to go before going any further! Press to print the range table on your printer. You may add a 40-character "remarks" section to printed output; QBALL always asks if you wish to do so. If so, press <Y>/<y>/<enter>, then type in your remarks. Use the regular editing keys to edit your entry, then press <enter>. This time, however, press <N>. QBALL displays the following, recomputes all the table's data, and sends it to the printer. | ---------------------------- | |=================================| || || || Printing Range Table to LPTn: || || || |---------------------------------| | ---------------------------- | Figure 16. Printing Range Table Information Display. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 15 2.8 Saving a Range Table to a Disk File. You may save the range table to a file in/on the current directory/disk. QBALL allows you to save up to 99 such files - assuming sufficient disk space - numbered filename.R01 through filename.R99. The default filename for range table files is always RG_TABLE. Press <S>; an input box appears as shown in Figure 18. =================================== | *** Range Table Output *** | | ---------------------------- | ===| Enter filename... |=========== | | | Save as: RG_TABLE.R01 | | | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to Computations Menu | ----------------------------------- Figure 18. Entering a Filename for a Range Table Disk File. You may press <enter> to accept the displayed default, or over- type an up-to-eight-character filename of your choice. You may not use spaces or periods in your chosen filename. Edit your entry using the standard editing keys; when it is exactly as you want it, press <enter> to write the range table to the specified file. Type FILENAME in the editing box, and press <enter>. (If filename exists, QBALL will ask if a duplicate filename is acceptable.) ===╡ Enter filename... |=========== | | | Saving as: FILENAME.R01 | | | ----------------------------------- Figure 19. Saving a Range Table to a Specified Disk File. QBALL displays the selected filename as shown in Figure 19, and asks if you wish to include a 40-character remarks section on the saved table. If so, press <Y>/<y>/<enter>, then type in your remarks. Use the regular editing keys to edit your entry, then press <enter>. This time, press <N>. QBALL recomputes all the table data, writes the file, and returns to the Range Table Output menu. The format for all range tables saved to disk is identical to the printed output shown in Figure 17. Range tables are saved in plain-vanilla ASCII format, and may be manipulated by any editing program or word processor which can handle pure ASCII. Addition- ally, the supplied utility, RRTABLE.EXE, may be used to view or print the saved table. See Chapter 5, section 5.6 for more inform- ation about RRTABLE.EXE. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 17 2.10 Computing and Displaying a Slant Fire Table. With the Range Table Output Menu displayed, press <A> to develop a slant fire table using the data currently in effect. You may use a vertical displacement expressed as either an elevation or depression of the LOS, or as a linear distance above or below the firing point. ---| Slant Fire Effects... |------------------- | | | Use <H>eight above/below firing point or | | Vertical <A>ngle above/below horizontal: | | | ----------------------------------------------- Figure 21. Choosing Vertical Displacement Type. Press <A> to use a vertical angle, and enter the elevation or depression angle as shown. You may use an elevation or depression angle of 0 to 60 degrees; for this example, use 30 degrees. ---| Slant Fire Effects... |------------------- ---| Enter Vertical Angle... |------------------- | | | Vertical angle (degrees) 30 | | | ------------------------------------------------- Figure 22. Entering the Angular Vertical Displacement. QBALL displays the Slant Fire Table shown in Figure 23. ---------------------------------------------------------------- | Slant Fire Table, LOS Elevated +/-30d | |-------------------------+------------------------------------| | For Horizontal Fire | For Slant Fire Hits | | Range in +/-LOS | Slant Range in +/-LOS High | | ------- --------- | ------------ --------- ------ | | 0 -1.00 | 0 -1.00 0.00 | |: 13.60 0.00 : | 13.60 0.01 0.01 | | 50 2.22 | 50 2.31 0.08 | | 100 4.12 | 100 4.47 0.34 | |+ 136.78 4.56 + | 136.78 5.23 0.66 | | 150 4.51 | 150 5.31 0.81 | | 200 3.18 | 200 4.68 1.50 | | 250.00 0.00 | 250.00 2.44 2.44 | |- 294.14 -4.56 - | 294.14 -1.05 3.51 | |> 300 -5.31 < | 300 -1.64 3.67 | | | | --------------------------+------------------------------------- Figure 23. Slant Fire Table, Angular Vertical Displacement. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 19 Press <V> to change the vertical displacement. When prompted for the vertical displacement type, press <H>, then press <enter> to accept the displayed value, 433 feet. The slant fire table shown in Figure 25 is displayed. ---------------------------------------------------------------- | Slant Fire Table, Impact 433 feet Above or Below Gun | |-------------------------+------------------------------------| | For Horizontal Fire | For Slant Fire Hits | | Range in +/-LOS | Slant Range in +/-LOS High | | ------- --------- | ------------ --------- ------ | | 0 -1.00 | 0 -1.00 0.00 | |: 13.60 0.00 : | 13.60 0.01 0.01 | | 50 2.22 | 50 2.31 0.08 | | 100 4.12 | 100 4.47 0.34 | |+ 136.78 4.56 + | 136.78 5.23 0.66 | | 150 4.51 | 150 5.31 0.81 | | 200 3.18 | 200 4.68 1.50 | | 250.00 0.00 | 250.00 2.44 2.44 | |- 294.14 -4.56 - | 294.14 -1.05 3.51 | |> 300 -5.31 < | 300 -1.64 3.67 | | | | --------------------------+------------------------------------- Figure 25. Slant Fire Table, Linear Vertical Displacement. Press <ESC>ape to return to the Slant Fire Output menu. 2.11 Printing Slant Fire Table Hardcopy. Warning! Ensure that your printer is on, on-line, has suffi- cient paper, and is ready to go before going any further! Press to print the range table on your printer. You may include a 40-character "remarks" section in the printed table. When asked if you wish to include remarks, press <Y>, type in [ Forty characters allowed for remarks ] and press <enter>. QBALL displays the following, recomputes all the table's data, and sends it to the printer. ======================================= | | | Printing Slant Fire Table to LPTn: | | | --------------------------------------- Figure 26. Printing the Slant Fire Table. Depending in part upon how long the slant fire table is, how fast your printer can print, and the size of the printer or other buffer, the slant fire table is printed, and you are returned to the Slant Table Output menu. If you want another hardcopy, simply press to repeat the process. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 21 2.12 Saving a Slant Fire Table to a Disk File. You may save the slant fire table to a file in/on the current directory/disk. QBALL allows you to save up to 99 such files - assuming sufficient disk space - numbered filename.R01 through filename.R99. The default filename for slant fire table files is always SF_TABLE. Press <S>; an input box appears as shown in Figure 28. ===| Enter filename... |=========== | | | Save as: SF_TABLE.R02 | | | ----------------------------------- Figure 28. Entering a Filename for a Slant Fire Table Disk File. You may press <enter> to accept the displayed default, or over- type an up-to-eight-character filename of your choice. You may not use spaces or periods in your chosen filename. Edit your entry using the standard editing keys; when it is exactly as you want it, press <enter> to write the slant fire table to the specified file. Type FILENAME in the editing box, and press <enter>. (If filename exists, QBALL will ask if a duplicate filename is OK.) When asked if you wish to include remarks, press <Y>, type in [ Forty characters allowed for remarks ] and press <enter>. ===| Enter filename... |=========== | | | Saving as: FILENAME.R02 | | | ----------------------------------- Figure 29. Saving a Slant Fire Table to a Specified Disk File. QBALL displays the selected filename as shown in Figure 29, recomputes all the table data, writes the file, and returns to the Slant Table Output menu. The format for all slant fire tables saved to disk is identical to the printed output shown in Figure 27. Slant fire tables are saved in plain-vanilla ASCII format, and may be manipulated by any editing program or word processor which can handle pure ASCII. The supplied utility, RRTABLE.EXE, may be used to view or print the saved table. See Chapter 5, section 5.6 for more information about RRTABLE.EXE. | Special note applicable to Slant Fire Tables: | | Range tables and slant fire tables share the same file | | series for saved-to-disk tables: filename.Rnn. If you | | wish to save both a range table and a slant fire table | | for specific data, you are limited to 49 file pairs. | Press <ESC>ape to return to the Range Table Output Menu. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 23 ======================== Press <S> to save the current trajec- | Save as: FILENAME | tory data to a disk file. As with range ------------------------ and slant fire tables, you may specify Figure 31. Filename the filename. You may save up to 15 such Entry Window. files, filename.TJ1 through filename.TJF -- that's 1 to 15 in hexadecimal nota- tion. Type an up-to-eight-character filename, editing it with the standard editing keys. When it is exactly as you want it, press <enter> to write the file to disk. QBALL tells you that the data is being saved, and returns to the graphics display screen. ================= Note that the Graphics Menu now tells you | <1> SAMPLE | that two saved trajectory files are available. | <2> FILENAME | Press <R>, then <1> (one) to display the saved ----------------- SAMPLE.TJ1 trajectory file. QBALL reads the Figure 32. Data saved data, recomputes the trajectory, and dis- Recall Window. plays the graphic shown below in Figure 33. If more than eight trajectories have been saved, an arrow appears at the bottom right corner of the recall window. Press that arrow key to access the remaining saved files. //////////////////// (Top of screen omitted) //////////////////// | | | |N| +4 x x +4 | | | x | | | +2 x y y +2 | |C| | | |--0----|---------|-----------|----------y----------x------0--| |x,y | |H| -2 Use a pencil, draw smooth -2 | | | curves connecting the "x's" | | | -4 and the "y's". y -4 | |E| x | | -6 -6 | | | | |S| -8 YARDS -8 | | | 50 100 150 200 250 | --+-------------------------------------------------------------y | Vel 2551 2407 2268 2133 2003 | | Eng 2601 2315 2055 1819 1603 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Current SAMPLE.TJ1 ========================= ------- ---------- | *** Graphics Menu *** | Max Ht: 4.56 @ 137 Yds 2.58 @ 112 Yds | --------------------- | Min Ht:-5.31 @ 300 Yds -10.08 @ 300 Yds| Toggle <G>rid (Now on)| C1/Wt : [ As Shown ] .300/180 grains| <S>ave Current Data | M/TVel: 2700/1877 FPS 2700/1877 FPS | <R>ecall <1> thru <2> | M/TEng: 2913/1408 Ft# 2813/1408 Ft# | rint Graphic Screen| ZeroRg: 250 Yds 200 Yds | --------------------- | Metro : [ As Shown ] 59F 0'29.53"78%| <ESC> to Rg Tble Out | ------------------------- MV: 2700| C1: .300 |G: 180 | Metro: 59d 0' 29.53" 78% | H: 1.00|E Figure 33. Two Trajectories Displayed. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 25 **** Point-Blank Range. Point-blank range is defined as that range for which the bullet's path is within a specified distance above or below the line of sight (LOS). For example, in the range table development section, we found that the bullet was 4.56 inches above the LOS at approximately 137 yards, and 4.56 below the LOS at approximately 294 yards. The point-blank range for a deviation of 4.56 inches is, therefore, 294 yards. Generally, however, you'll want to specify the deviation, and have QBALL find the ranges for you. With the Other Procedures Menu displayed, press to access the point-blank routines. Enter the maximum deviation which you wish to use; this example uses 6 inches. (You may use a deviation from 0.01 inches up to 40 inches.) > Ballistic Computations, Typical Firearm < ---| Finding Point Blank Range... |-------------- | | | Maximum Deviation: (inches) 6 | | | | Point Blank Zero Range: (Yards) 278.5 | | Point Blank Max Range: (Yards) 326.8 | | | ----------> press any key to continue <---------- Figure 35. Point Blank Range Determination. QBALL computes the zero range necessary to achieve a trajectory height of 6 inches above and the range at which the trajectory is 6 inches below the LOS, and displays the results as shown in Figure 35. Press any key to return to the Computations Menu. The calcu- lated zero range is displayed. ======================================= | *** Computations Menu *** | | --------------------------------- | | Range <T>able (0 = 278.5 Yards) | | Set or Reset Current <Z>ero Range | | <O>ther Ballistics Procedures | | <N>ew or Changed Input Data | | --------------------------------- | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | --------------------------------------- Figure 36. Point Blank Zero Range Validated. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 27 **** Zero for Range and Height Suppose that you have measured a trajectory height at a known range. Given this information, the ballistic characteristics, and the muzzle velocity, QBALL can compute a most-probable zero range. With the Other Procedures Menu displayed, press <Z> to find the most probable zero for a given range and trajectory height. Enter the range at which the height was measured and the height in inches or centimeters, as appropriate. The example shown uses 100 yards and 4.12 inches. ---| Zero for Given Range and Height... |-------- | | | Range: (20 to 800 Yds) 100 | | Trajectory Height: (inches) 4.12 | | | | Most Probable Zero Rg: (Yards) 249.94 | | | ----------» press any key to continue «---------- Figure 38. Entering Zero for Range and Height Data. Press any key to return to the Computations Menu; you'll find the zero range - in this case, 249.94 yards - is displayed. Press <T> to develop a table. QBALL has calculated an appropriate maxi- mum range; in this case use a range increment of 50 yards to develop the following range table. (You may use any range incre- ment; the given range you entered will be displayed in the range table to 2 decimal places, e.g., 100.00.) -------------------------------------------------------------- | Range Table, Zeroed at 249.94 Yards | |------------------------------------------------------------| |Range R e m a i n i n g Drop Path/Sight Line 10 MPH Time | |Yards V: FPS E: Ft-Lbs Inches M.O.A. Inches Inches Flght | |----- ----------------- ------ --------------- ------ ----- | | 0 2700 2913 0.00 -- -1.00 0.00 0.000 | |: 13.58 2659 2826 0.04 -0.01 0.00 0.00 0.015:| | 50 2551 2601 0.62 4.24 2.22 0.28 0.057 | |~100.00~2407~~~~~~2315~~~~2.56~~3.94~~~~~~4.12~~~1.11~0.117~| ////////////////// data lines omitted //////////////////////// | 249.94 2003 1603 18.20 0.00 0.00 7.86 0.322 | ////////////////// data lines omitted //////////////////////// -------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 39. Range Table Using Most Probable Zero. Here, the range you entered, 100 yards, is shown ~~~~~~; it is not otherwise emphasized on your screen display. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 29 In this case, press <Y> or <enter>; you are returned to the Computations Menu. Now press <T>, <enter>, <enter> to display the range table shown in part in Figure 42. -------------------------------------------------------------- | Range Table, Zeroed at 249.94 Yards | |------------------------------------------------------------| |Range R e m a i n i n g Drop Path/Sight Line 16 MPH Time | |Yards V: FPS E: Ft-Lbs Inches M.O.A. Inches Inches Flght | |----- ----------------- ------ --------------- ------ ----- | | 0 2700 2913 0.00 -- -1.00 0.00 0.000 | ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Several data lines omitted ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// |>300.00 1877 1408 27.36 -1.69 -5.31 18.58 0.399<| -------------------------------------------------------------X Figure 42. Range Table Showing Nonstandard Wind Deflection. As you can see, the wind deflection column header now displays the new crosswind, and the deflection values have increased to reflect the wind speed change. You may enter wind speeds of 0 MPH to 235 MPH, the world's record wind speed, set on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, U.S.A., in 1935. Wind directions may be entered in whole clockwise degrees from 0 (headwind), through 90 (right to left), 180 (tail wind), 270 (left to right), up to 360. QBALL will convert values greater than 360 degrees to a value less than a full circle. **** Sectional Density. The sectional densities of two bullets may be used to compare their relative penetrating power. Sectional density is defined as the bullet weight in pounds divided by the square of its diameter in inches. At the Other Procedures Menu, press <S>, and enter the bullet diameter in inches or millimeters. You may use the weapon bore diameter if you do not have a specific bullet diameter; QBALL assumes that any entered value greater than 1.000 is in milli- meters and makes the conversion for you. (If you have used bullet lookup, the diameter is displayed. Simply press <enter> to display the sectional density.) Enter .308 as the bullet diameter. ---| Finding Sectional Density... |-------------- | | | Bullet diameter: (inches) .308 | | | | Sectional Density = .271 | | | ----------> press any key to continue <---------- Figure 43. Entering a Bullet Diameter, Display Sectional Density. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 31 Comparing the data in Table 1 with that for our example weapon, it is seen that the example's recoil energy falls between that of a "classic deer rifle" and of a heavy military rifle. All things equal, this gives some idea of how hard the example weapon kicks. To assess perceived recoil, however, one must also take into account the individual shooter's physical characteristics and clothing worn, and the weapon's stock shape, among other things. Since none of these is quantifiable, any evaluation of recoil based on these or similar calculations must be treated as a rough approximation, only. The figures are valid for comparison purposes, but nothing more! 2.15 New or Changed Input Data. From time to time, you may wish to change some or all of the data which you've given QBALL. If you wish to change everything, i.e., start with completely new data, just as if you had newly- started QBALL, then <ESC>ape all the way back to the Main Menu, and press <C>. The following prompt will appear. Press <N> - you do <n>ot want to keep the displayed data. (If you've changed your mind, then press <Y> or <enter> to retain all of it, and change individual items.) ===| Clean Sweep... |============================ | | | Retain Displayed Data? ([Y] or N) | | | ------------------------------------------------- Figure 45. A Clean Sweep Prompt. You may also change individual inputs. From the Computations Menu, press <N> to access the New Input Data Menu. ======================================= | *** New Input Data Menu *** | | --------------------------------- | | <W>eapon Identifier (30 chars) | | ullet Identifier (15 chars) | | Muzzle <V>elocity | | Ballistic <C>oefficient | | Bullet wei<G>ht | | <M>etro (Temp GunAlt Press Humid) | | Sight <H>eight | | --------------------------------- | | <ESC> to Computations Menu | --------------------------------------- Figure 46. New Input Data Menu. QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 33 **** Metro. (Meteorological Conditions). Press <M>. You must either enter or confirm air temperature, gun altitude, barometric pressure, and relative humidity. Press <enter> to accept the displayed value, or overtype and press <enter> to change it. Standard values are shown in [brackets] on the prompt line. You may save the new metro data for use as the startup default; see Chapter 5. Allowable metro data values are as follows, all inclusive: Temperature. . . . . . . .-50 degrees to +125 degrees Fahrenheit Gun Altitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1312 feet to 29,028 feet Barometric Pressure. . . . . . 25 inches to 35 inches of mercury Relative Humidity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0% to 100% ---| Enter New/Changed Metro... |---------------- | | | Temperature [59dF] 59 | | Gun Altitude [0 feet] 0 | | Barometric pressure [29.53" Hg] 29.53 | | Relative Humidity [78%]: 78 | | | ------------------------------------------------- Figure 49. Entering Metro (Meteorological Conditions). **** Sight Height. Sight height, the vertical distance between the axis of the weapon's bore and the imaginary line connecting the front and rear sights (or the 'scope sight axis), may be set to match your weapon. Press <H> and enter a new sight height from -2 to +10 inches, inclusive. QBALL rounds sight height to two decimal places, e.g., 1.375 inches is rounded to 1.38 inches. Sight height may be saved for use in the QBALL startup data; see Chapter 5. ---| Enter New/Changed Sight Height... |--------- | | | Sight height: (inches) 1 | | | ------------------------------------------------- Figure 50. Entering a Sight Height. ------------------------------------------------------------------ | Refer to Tables 2 & 3, page 36 for Metric measure data limits. | ------------------------------------------------------------------ QBALL Computing Ballistics Data 35 > Ballistic Computations, Typical Firearm, .172 HDY HP < ------------------------------------------------ MV: 2700 | C1: .190 | G: 25| Metro: 59d 0' 29.53" 78%| H: 1.00 |E Figure 52. Changed Screen Header and Information Lines. QBALL also reads the bullet's sectional density, which will now appear in printed and saved table headers. In the supplied list, "remarks" indicate the maker's stock number. This information, as well as everything else, may be changed using the QBALL Bullet Lookup Maintenance utility, supplied to all registered users. If you use the bullet lookup facility, both the ballistic coefficient and the bullet weight are always changed. If you wish to change one, but not the other, enter the appropriate value manually. Bullet makers (manufacturers) are abbreviated as follows: HDY = Hornady LYM = Lyman NOS = Nosler SRA = Sierra SPR = Speer Bullet type abbreviations preceded by a lower-case "c" are cast bullets. The true bullet weight will depend upon the alloy from which that bullet is cast; the given weight is, however, a work- able first approximation. Bullet type abbreviations followed by the lower-case characters "gc" are equipped with a gas check. 2.17 Metric Data Limits and Conversion Factors QBALL is designed to run -- and does all its internal computa- tions using English system measure. Metric data is converted from the equivalent English system data; as a result, QBALL will run slightly slower when configured for Metric system measure. As you have seen, all the "practice" procedures in this chapter are based upon English measure. Although QBALL will trap out-of- range data entries using either system, the tables on the next page should prove helpful if you wish to use Metric measure. QBALL Inferred Ballistics Data 37 Chapter 3. Inferred Ballistics Data ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From time to time, you may need to determine the ballistic coefficient for a given bullet for which that particular inform- ation is unavailable. (Many manufacturers are singularly reluctant to divulge it!) Similarly, you may wish to determine a muzzle vel- ocity for a particular load/weapon combination. QBALL can deter- mine that data for you. At the Main Menu, press to access the Infer BC or MV menu. > Ballistic Computations, Typical Firearm < =================================== | *** Infer BC or MV *** | | ---------------------------- | | Ballistic <C>oefficient | | Muzzle <V>elocity | | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | ----------------------------------- MV: |C1: |G: |Metro: 59d 0' 29.53" 78%|H: 1.00|E Figure 54. Infer BC or MV Menu Display. 3.1 Inferring a Ballistic Coefficient. Press <C> to infer a ballistic coefficient. QBALL will ask for two ranges and two velocities. The schematic layout of a firing range as viewed from above, shown in Figure 55, will help you visualize the setup. (Two chronographs are shown; see the note on page 38 if only one chronograph is available.) It is possible for R1 Near Far to equal zero, in which C h r o n o g r a p h case, V@1 equals the muz- _ _ zle velocity. This is the Gun >>>>|_|>>>>>>>>>>>>>|_|>>>>>>> only time that QBALL al- R1 R2 lows you to enter a range V@1 V@2 of zero; "zero" is the default value for R1. Figure 55. Range Setup Schematic QBALL Inferred Ballistics Data 39 The following is displayed: --------------------- -| Ballistic Coefficient, 2 Velocities... |-| # V1 V2 | | |+-------------------+ | || 1 2700.0 2407.0 | | Using 1 round, QBALL finds: || 2 | | || 3 | | Between ranges Muzzle and 100 yards, || 4 | | || 5 | | Avg Higher Velocity 2700 FPS || 6 | | Avg Lower Velocity 2407 FPS || 7 | | Ballistic Coefficient .300 || 8 | | || 9 | | Muzzle Velocity taken as 2700 FPS ||10 | | |+-------------------+ | ||Av 2700.00 2407.00| | ||sV ...... ...... | | ||C1, Last Pair: .300| -------> press any key to continue <----------------------------- Figure 57. Velocity Data, MV and Calculated C1 Displayed. Press any key, or wait 60 seconds for QBALL to continue auto- matically. If all the required initial data is now available, you'll be returned to the Computations Menu, otherwise, QBALL asks for the data it needs. **** Ballistic Coefficient, R1 = 25. Use this procedure if you have determined two downrange veloc- ities from live firing. You can, of course, use two tabulated velocities if you so desire. Press <ESC>ape several times to return to the Main Menu, then select nfer... and Ballistic <C>oefficient. Enter the following data: Shorter Range (R1). . . . . . . . . 25 Longer Range (R2) . . . . . . . . . 100 Velocity at R1 (V1) . . . . . . . 2625 Velocity at R2 (V2) . . . . . . . 2407 For illustration purposes, let's reuse the same data; press <enter> six times, then press <N>. QBALL displays the screen represented in Figure 58 (next page). QBALL Inferred Ballistics Data 41 3.2 Inferring a Muzzle Velocity. Assume that you've obtained a supply of ammunition, and that you know the ballistic coefficient (C1) for the bullet with which it is loaded. QBALL provides two methods of obtaining a muzzle velocity from live firing: the first from a measured bullet drop at a known range; the second from measurement of a single down- range velocity. At the Infer BC or MV menu, press <V> to display the Infer MV using menu. > Ballistic Computations, Typical Firearm < =================================== | *** Infer MV using *** | | ---------------------------- | | Bullet <D>rop Method | | One Downrange <V>elocity | | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to Infer BC or MV Menu | ----------------------------------- MV: |C1: |G: |Metro: 59d 0' 29.53" 78%|H: 1.00|E Figure 59. Inferring Muzzle Velocity Using Menu Display. Use the bullet drop method if you do not have a chronograph. If, however, you have, or have access to, a chronograph, use the downrange velocity method. Caution! The bullet drop method is extremely sensitive to errors in measurement. If you have a choice, use the downrange velocity (chronograph) method. **** Muzzle Velocity Using the Bullet Drop Method. Figure 60 shows in exaggerated form | x what you'll be measuring. The x's in- x---------x------------- dicate the bullet path for a weapon | | | zeroed at 50 yards; draw a smooth | | | D curve through the x's. At 100 yards, | | | then, the bullet will strike a dis- | | x --- tance D below the line of sight. If 0 50 100 D can be found, and C1 is known, the required MV can be calculated. Figure 60. Bullet Drop Method Schematic QBALL Inferred Ballistics Data 43 Measuring vertical displacements is relatively simple if you have a scale graduated in fiftieths or hundredths of an inch. (Such a scale is, however, somewhat difficult to read.) If you don't have such a scale, the following fraction table may be helpful. ------------------------------------------------------- | 1/64=.01563 17/64=.26563 33/64=.51563 49/64=.76563 | | 1/32=.03125 9/32=.28125 17/32=.53125 25/32=.78125 | | 3/64=.04688 19/64=.29688 35/64=.54688 51/64=.79688 | | 1/16=.0625 5/16=.3125 9/16=.5625 13/16=.8125 | | 5/64=.07813 21/64=.32813 37/64=.57813 53/64=.82813 | | 3/32=.09375 11/32=.34375 19/32=.59375 27/32=.84375 | | 7/64=.10938 23/64=.35938 39/64=.60938 55/64=.85938 | | 1/8 =.125 3/8 =.375 5/8 =.625 7/8 =.875 | | 9/64=.14063 25/64=.39063 41/64=.64063 57/64=.89063 | | 5/32=.15625 13/32=.40625 21/32=.65625 29/32=.90625 | | 11/64=.17188 27/64=.42188 43/64=.67188 59/64=.92188 | | 3/16=.1875 7/16=.4375 11/16=.6875 15/16=.9375 | | 13/64=.20313 29/64=.45313 45/64=.70313 61/64=.95313 | | 7/32=.21875 15/32=.46875 23/32=.71875 31/32=.96875 | | 15/64=.23438 31/64=.48438 47/64=.73438 63/64=.98438 | | 1/4 =.25 1/2 =.5 3/4 =.75 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 4. Decimal Equivalents, 1/64 Inch Measure. Here's one way to develop a sufficiently-accurate value for the average bullet drop for a three-round string. Assume you've zeroed your weap- | on at 50 yards, and have fired 3 | rounds at 100 yards, producing the ---------0------------ group shown in Figure 62. Carefully | | | | measure each drop, D1 through D3, | D1 | | to the nearest 1/64 inch. | | D2 | | O -- | | Suppose the measurements are as | | D3 follows: | O --- | | | D1 = 1/8 = 0.12500" | | D2 = 1 7/32 = 1.21875" | O --------- D3 = 1 11/32 = 1.34375" Figure 62. Measurements Add the three drop measurements to Find Group Center. together, obtaining 2.86750; divide this by the number of rounds, in this case, three. The drop to the center of the group is, then, 0.89563(+). Round this to 0.90 (or 0.896) for use as the vertical difference in this procedure. QBALL will accept vertical differences to the nearest 0.001". Hint: use a scoring plug and measure from the horizontal line through the point of aim to the top of the plug, and add half the bullet diameter to obtain the vertical distance. QBALL Printed Output and Printer Configuration 45 Chapter 4. Printed Output and Printer Configuration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Many of the QBALL computations can be printed on a properly- configured printer. In general, text output ─ range tables, for example ─ may be printed without the need for specifically con- figuring your printer. Printing graphics screens, however, does require making use of the PRCONFIG.EXE utility. 4.1 Printer Warnings. QBALL is internally configured to print to LPT1 by default. If your printer is connected to a different parallel port, you may configure QBALL to LPT2 or LPT3; see Chapter 5, sec. 5.2. QBALL will detect if your printer is or is not on/online; it will not detect "paper out." IMPORTANT: Ensure that your printer is properly set up, turned on, is on line, and has paper loaded before you try to print any QBALL output!! Some "generic" printer buffers did not respond properly to earlier versions of QBALL. If you are using a printer buffer, and keep getting an error message, then try bypassing the buffer. The buffers built into printers do not seem to cause any problem. QBALL internally disables the graphics print routines until such time as an appropriate printer driver is chosen using PRCONFIG.EXE. 4.2 Screen Dumps (Shift-PrintScr). It is possible to print out one screen's worth of tabular information using the Shift-PrintScr key combination available in DOS. This is not recommended, however, as you may very well lose information which has already scrolled past on the screen. (You may use this screen dump method for graphics screens; see your DOS documentation, probably under "Graphics" for details. Note that this method works best with tractor-feed or 8 1/2" x 14" single sheet paper, and QBALL configured with a black-and-white screen.) 4.3 Printer Setup. Do not set up your printer to skip the perforations in fan-fold paper; QBALL keeps track of the number of lines printed and issues a formfeed when appropriate, including at the end of each table. If you have a choice, set the left margin to "0," as QBALL indents the left side of all printed output an appropriate number of spaces. You may also toggle the printer completely off by using the ap- propriate QBALL configuration routines, as explained in Chapter 5. QBALL Printed Output and Printer Configuration 47 The following list of Epson printers is displayed. > QBALL Graphics Printer Selection < ===| EPSON printers... |===================================== | Printer Model B&W/Col Resolution | | ------------- ------- ---------- | | LQ, SQ, or Action Printer Models B&W 60 x 60 | | LQ, SQ, or Action Printer Models B&W 120 x 60 | | LQ, SQ, or Action Printer Models B&W 180 x 180 | |~~LQ,~SQ,~or~Action~Printer~Models~~~B&W~~~~360 x 360~~~~~~| | LQ, SQ, or Action Printer Models Color 180 x 180 | | LQ, SQ, or Action Printer Models Color 360 x 360 | | EPL-6000/7000/7500 B&W 75 x 75 | | EPL-6000/7000/7500 B&W 100 x 100 | | EPL-6000/7000/7500 B&W 150 x 150 | | EPL-6000/7000/7500 B&W 300 x 300 | | MX, FX, RX, JX, LX, and DFX B&W 60 x 72 | | MX, FX, RX, JX, LX, and DFX B&W 120 x 72 | | FX, RX, JX, LX, and DFX B&W 120 x 216 | | FX, RX, JX, LX, and DFX B&W 240 x 216 | ------------------------------------------------------------- PgUp PgDn <up><dn> Home End [ESC] Figure 65. Choosing a Printer Model. Again, use <PgUp>/<PgDn>, arrow, or the <Home>/<End> keys to position the highlight bar over the desired printer model, and press <enter> to choose that model. You may exit without making any choices by pressing <ESC>ape. Here, the highlighted model is any one of several different Epson printers which feature black and white (B&W) output and a printing resolution of 360 dpi by 360 dpi. Press <enter> to choose this printer model. The following prompt box is displayed: ============================================================= | | | QBALL is currently configured to use P_HOLDER.PRD | | | | You have selected: EPSON2VH.PRD | | | | Reconfigure QBALL to use EPSON2VH.PRD ? ([Y] or N) | | | ------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 66. Confirming Reconfiguration. Press <Y> or <enter> to write the new or replacement printer driver to the QBALL default configuration data; press N to leave that data unchanged. In this case, you'd most likely press <Y>. P_HOLDER.PRD is the as-distributed driver name, and must be re- placed in order to make the graphics print feature usable. All the available drivers are listed in the text file PRINTERS.DAT. QBALL Printed Output and Printer Configuration 49 4.5 Common Printer Problems. There are three common categories of problem encountered when printing: nothing prints at all; the printed output is garbage; or something is printed, but not what you expected. **** Nothing Prints. This may be a hardware problem. Here are some possibilities: The wrong printer port is being used. (QBALL recognizes LPT1 only!) The printer cable is bad or not attached. The computer's parallel port or the printer's port is not working. The printer is not turned on, is off-line, has no paper, or is broken. Reconfigure QBALL to "printer on" and the correct parallel port. Try using your printer with a different application, or try a Shift-PrintScr from DOS. If neither of these work, you have a hardware problem. Other things to try include swapping the printer cable, using a different printer if available, and bypassing print buffers or printer switches. **** Garbage Prints. This may occur when printing graphics, and has one primary cause: the printer didn't enter graphics mode. This, in turn, is usually the result of using the wrong printer driver. The solution is to use the correct one. Exit QBALL, run PRCONFIG to choose an appropriate driver, and restart QBALL. If the problem persists, your printer is probably running in an emulation mode. If you don't know what mode your printer is emula- ting, run PRCONFIG and try these alternatives: For an 8-pin or a 9-pin dot-matrix printer: choose Epson printers; models FX, RX, JX, LX, MX series; black-and-white; and the lowest available resolution (60 dpi x 72 dpi). For a 24-pin dot-matrix printer: choose Epson printers; models LQ, SQ, or Action Printer series; black-and-white; and the lowest available resolution (60 dpi x 60 dpi). For a laser printer without a PS in the model name: choose Hewlett-Packard printers; LaserJet/DeskJet - All Models series; black-and-white, and the lowest available resolution (75 dpi x 75 dpi). For a laser printer with a PS in the model name: choose Adobe Postscript printers; All models series; black-and-white; 300 dpi x 300 dpi resolution. QBALL Configuring Display and Defaults, Using Utilities 51 Chapter 5. Configuring Display and Defaults, Using Utilities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5.1 The Utilities and Configuration Menu. Should you wish to change some or all of the QBALL startup data or its current configuration, invoke a DOS shell, or read a saved range or slant fire table, press at the Main Menu to display this Utilities Menu. ================================== | *** Utilities *** | | --------------------------- | | nits, <S>witches & Printer | | Change Display <C>olors | | <W>rite QBALL .INI Data | | Invoke a <D>OS Shell | | <R>ead a Range Table File | | --------------------------- | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | ---------------------------------- Figure 69. Utilities Menu. Press to change several of the QBALL operating settings. Press <C> to choose the display colors. Press <W> to save the current configuration. Press <D> to drop to the operating system without exiting QBALL. If you have saved any range tables or slant fire tables to a disk file, and if the RRTABLE.EXE utility is in the current directory, press <R> to "shell out" to the utility. 5.2 Choose Units/Options, Toggle Switches, Choose Printer Port. Press to access the Units, Switches & Printer Menu. ======================================== | *** Units, Switches & Printer *** | | --------------------------------- | | Set nit System & Options | | Graphics <G>rid (Now ON) | | <N>oises on/off (Now ON) | | rinter settings (On, LPT1:) | | --------------------------------- | | <ESC> to Utilities Menu | ---------------------------------------- Figure 70. Units, Switches & Printer Menu. *** Setting Unit System and Optional Units. QBALL defaults to English units and wind velocities in statute miles-per-hour, with knots as an option. You may use Metric units on startup, weight in grams/grains and energy in met-kg/joules. QBALL 53 *** Toggling Graphics Grid Display and Noises. Press <G> to toggle the intial graphics grid display on or off; you may still toggle the grid when displaying graphics. QBALL uses "alert" sounds. If you like peace and quiet, toggle <N>oises "off." In "peace and quiet" mode, QBALL displays a "!" at the lower-right corner of the screen in place of the noise. *** Printer Enablement and Using Other Available Parallel Ports. When started, QBALL reads its stored printer enable flag, examines your equipment to determine if parallel (printer) ports beyond the ordinary "LPT1" are available, and if those ports have a ready-to-go printer attached. Press at the Switches & Printer menu; the following Printer Settings menu is displayed: ================================== | *** Printer Settings *** | | ---------------------------- | | rinter on/off (Now ON) | | * Print to LPT<1>: (current) | | LPT<2>: | | LPT<3>: | | ---------------------------- | | <ESC> to Switches & Printer | --------------------------------- Figure 73. Printer Settings Menu. Press to turn the printer on or off. QBALL will use your choice for the duration of the current session, but does not save it to the stored default data. You must <W>rite it at the Utili- ties menu level. (As supplied, QBALL defaults to printer ON/LPT1.) If the printer is on, and if a parallel port and a ready-to-go printer is detected, the appropriate choice is displayed in normal video; if not, the choice is displayed in subdued video. Press <1>, <2>, or <3> to tell QBALL to use that parallel port. If you choose a parallel port which QBALL has not detected, the following error message is displayed: ===| Error... |================================ | LPTn: is not available on this computer | ----------------------------------------------- Figure 74. Error Message, Parallel Port Not Detected. QBALL will use the selected port for the duration of the current session, and stores the information in its startup data. Press <ESC>ape to return to the Switches & Printer menu. QBALL Configuring Display and Defaults, Using Utilities 55 If you're sure of the configuration data, simply press <W> immediately. Remember, however, that the QBALL initialization data includes a bit more information than the toggle status and screen colors. It also controls the a. Weapon identifier (but not the bullet make/type); b. Metro conditions; c. The Sight height; and d. The printer enable (on/off) flag. This allows you to "tailor" your copy of QBALL to match your own weapon, and the actual metro encountered at your firing range. For example, if your range is at an altitude of 650 feet above sea level, and you're using, say, a Ruger M77 rifle in .270 caliber with a sight height of 1.25 inches, that data can be saved for QBALL to use, saving you the trouble of repeatedly entering it. 5.5 Invoking a DOS Shell. At the Utilities Menu, press <D> to invoke a DOS shell, i.e., access the operating system without exiting QBALL. When started, QBALL writes a special batch file, QBSHELIT.BAT, in the current directory. When the <D> option is chosen, QBALL calls this batch file, which sets the DOS prompt like this: ------------------------------------------------ | [ Exit >> QBALL ] [drive]\[directory] >_ | ------------------------------------------------ Figure 76. DOS Prompt in Shell. QBALL then loads a second command processor, COMMAND.COM. If you try to start QBALL from within its own shell, the following message is displayed: ---------------------------- | QBALL is already loaded! | | ------------------------ | | If not in a QBALL shell, | | type "FIX" (+[enter]), & | | restart QBALL. | | ...press any key to end. | ---------------------------- Figure 77. Already Loaded Error Message. QBSHELIT.BAT is erased upon normal exit from QBALL. If, for some reason, the already loaded message appears when you're trying to start QBALL in the first place, run FIX.BAT and restart QBALL. When you have finished using the shell, type "exit" (+ <enter>) to return to the QBALL session. QBALL Configuring Display and Defaults, Using Utilities 56.1 At this point, however, press <1> (+ <enter>); RRTABLE displays the following: ======================================== Ballistic Computations = Typical Firearm ======================================== Muzzle Velocity =2700 FPS Ballistic Coef'nt=.300 Bullet Weight =180 grains Sectional Density=n/a Temperature =59 degF. Altitude at gun =0 feet Barometric Pressure=29.53 inches Hg Relative Humidity=78 % ======================================== Range Table, Zeroed at 250 Yards -------------------------------------------------------------- Range R e m a i n i n g Drop Path/Sight Line 10 MPH Time Yards V: FPS E: Ft-Lbs Inches M.O.A. Inches Inches Flght ----- ----------------- ------ --------------- ------ ----- 0 2700 2913 0.00 -- -1.00 0.00 0.000 ////////////// Several lines omitted //////////////////////////// > 300 1877 1408 27.36 -1.69 -5.31 11.61 0.399 < [#01] rint [ESC] exits Figure 80. Typical RRTABLE Display. You may make hardcopy of the table by pressing ; the re- sulting output is the same as Figure 13, page 12. IMPORTANT: Ensure that your printer is properly set up, turned on, is on line, and has paper loaded before you try to print any QBALL output!! Press <ESC>ape to exit; RRTABLE will ask you if you want to read another table. Press <Y> or <enter> to return to the listing display shown in Figure 77, or <N> to return to QBALL. If the table you've chosen to read is too long to fit on one screen, the menu line at the bottom will look like this: --------------------------------------------------------------- | [#nn] PgUp PgDn Home End | | rint [ESC] exits | --------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 81. "Long Table" Menu Line. Press the appropriate key to navigate through the table; and <ESC>ape function as previously described. If you run RRTABLE.EXE from the command line, and there are no saved tables, RRTABLE will tell you that it has found no tables, and automatically exits after a short pause. The choice keys otherwise operate the same, except that exiting will be to DOS, rather than to QBALL. QBALL Recalling Saved Trajectory Data 57 Chapter 6. Recalling Saved Trajectory Data ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If one or more saved trajectory files - [FILENAME].TJn - exist on/in the current disk/directory, you may access them directly from the Main Menu. For this example, it is assumed that you have two such files: the supplied SAMPLE.TJ1 and FILENAME.TJ2, which you saved earlier. At the Main Menu, press <R> to recall the saved trajectory data. The following is displayed: -| Recalled Trajectory: SAMPLE.TJ1... |------------------------- | * Typical Firearm * | |Ballistic Coefficient: .300 Zeroed Range : 200 Yards| |Bullet Weight : 180 grains Maximum Range : 300 Yards| |Muzzle Velocity : 2700 FPS Range Increment: 50 Yards| |Sight Height : 1.00" Point-blank : ..... | | Metro: 59dF. 0' 29.53" 78% | ---------------------------------------------------------------- ===================================== | *** Recall Trajectory Data *** | | ------------------------------ | | <R>ecall <1> thru <2> | | Display Trajectory <G>raphic | | Use Displayed as <D>efault | | ------------------------------ | | <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | ------------------------------------- Figure 82. Recall Trajectory Data Display and Menu. The saved [filename].TJ1 is always displayed first. The inform- ation shown above the menu provides enough information to identify the file. You may access the others by pressing <R>; a choice box is displayed thus: ===================================== | *** Recall Trajectory Data *** | | ------------------------------ | | <R>ecall <1> thru <2> | ===| Recall... |== Display Trajectory <G>raphic | | <1> SAMPLE | Use Displayed as <D>efault | | <2> FILENAME | ------------------------------ | ------------------ <ESC> to M A I N M E N U | ------------------------------------- Figure 83. Recall Trajectory Data Menu and Choice Box. In this example, only two data files are available. You may save as many as fifteen such files, numbered 1 through 9 and A through F. Press the highlighted number or letter to select the file. For this example, press <2>. The information box is updated to reflect the data read from FILENAME.TJ2 - the one you saved. Erase the choice box without selecting another file by pressing <ESC>ape. If you decide not to use any of the saved data, simply <ESC>ape to the Main Menu and proceed from there to enter and compute data. ---------- APPENDICES ---------- QBALL Appendix A - Glossary 59 absolute zero - Properly, that temperature at which all molecular motion ceases. For practical purposes, -459.67 deg. Fahrenheit (0 deg. Rankine), or -273 deg. Celsius, (0 deg. Kelvin). air density - The mass (or loosely, the weight) of a unit volume of air. air resistance - The force exerted upon a projectile by the at- mosphere tending to retard that projectile's forward flight. angle of elevation - The vertical angle measured between the line of sight and the line of departure. altitude - The vertical distance above or below sea level. Alti- tudes 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 point of impact. (Internal ballistics studies events prior to the bullet's exit from the muzzle; terminal ballistics, the interaction between the bullet and the target.) ballistic coefficient - The ratio of the sectional density of a projectile to its coefficient of form. A measure of how well a bullet retains its velocity. Commonly supplied by reload- ing manufacturers, or it may be derived from their ballistic tables. In QBALL, the ballistic coefficient is always taken at standard metro. The program corrects for nonstandard con- ditions, but does not display the corrected ballistic coeff- icient(s). See also: standard metro. ballistic efficiency - The relative ability of a bullet in flight to overcome air resistance. barrel - That portion of a firearm which guides the bullet immed- iately after propellant ignition. 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 thus be taken as the transverse dimension between the lands of the rifling. See also: grooves, lands, rifling. brass - 1. Alloy of copper and zinc commonly used in the fabrica- tion of cartridge cases. 2. One or more cartridge cases con- taining neither powder, unfired primer, nor bullet. bullet - The actual projectile in small arms ammunition. Commonly corrupted to refer to the entire cartridge. QBALL Appendix A - Glossary 61 elevation - 1: Vertical sight adjustment. 2: The (usually small) angle between the axis of a firearm's bore and the horizontal. energy - Here, the kinetic energy of a moving bullet, expressed in FtLbs (English measure) or MetKg (Metric measure). Calculated by multiplying the bullet mass by the square of the velocity, and dividing by two. FPS (also F.P.S. and Ft/Sec) - Feet per second. A unit of velo- city. FtLbs (also Ft.-Lbs. and Ft#) - Foot pounds. The energy required to lift one pound a vertical distance of one foot in a standard gravitational field. form factor - A multiplier which relates a bullet's shape to that of the standard projectile used to prepare a particular ballis- tic table. G1 functions - Table of ballistics functions based upon the Gavre Commission tests in France, 1898. grain - 1: A weight unit equal to 1/7000 of a pound, 0.002286 ounces, or (approximately) 0.0649 grams. 2: An individual part- icle, or kernel, of powder. In load specifications, always re- fers to the weight of the powder charge, never to individual particles. gram - In Metric measure, 1/1000 kilogram, approximately 15.4 grains (weight). grooves - Swaged impressions or cuts spiraled through a bore to impart spin to projectiles. See also: lands, rifling. 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 points of impact. gun - In popular usage, refers to firearms, generally. Properly, a type of artillery or naval ordnance. 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. Thus by extension, hold under is the distance a shooter must lower his point of aim to compensate for ranges less than the zeroed range, or to compensate for slant fire effects. See also: slant fire. QBALL Appendix A - Glossary 63 MetKg (also Met-Kg) - Meter kilogram. The energy required to lift a mass of one kilogram a vertical distance of one meter in a standard gravitational field. metric - Having reference to: 1. Length measurements based upon the meter, its subdivisions, or its multiples; 2. Weight mea- surements based upon the kilogram, its subdivisions or its multiples. metro - An abbreviation for "Meteorological Conditions." The air temperature, barometric pressure, gun altitude, and relative humidity existing at the place and time of firing. See also: standard met. midrange - Half the distance from the muzzle to the point of aim. midrange trajectory - The height of the trajectory at a point halfway between the firearm's muzzle and the point of aim. minute - 1: Angular measure equal to 1/60 angular degree. 2: 1/1440 solar day. MOA (also M.O.A.) - Minute of angle or minutes of arc. Equal to 1/60 of an angular degree. At 100 yards, 1 MOA subtends approx- imately 1.047 inches. MpS (also Met/Sec) - Meters per second. A unit of velocity. muzzle - The foremost point of a firearm's barrel; that part of a firearm closest to the target. muzzle energy - The energy developed by a moving projectile at the firearm's muzzle, generally expressed in FtLbs (English mea- sure) or MetKg (Metric measure). muzzle velocity - The speed of a projectile at a firearm's muzzle, generally expressed in FPS (English measure), or MpS (Metric measure). N.R.A. (also NRA) - National Rifle Association. If you shoot, you should belong to this organization. ogive - 1. The curve of a bullet's forward portion. 2. The radius of this curve, usually expressed in calibers. pistol - 1. Single-shot handgun. 2. Multi-shot handgun which does not rely on a rotating mechanism to achieve multiple shots. 3. In popular usage, any handgun. point-blank range - That range for which the bullet's path varies from the line of sight by no more than a specified amount from the muzzle to that range. QBALL Appendix A - Glossary 65 shotgun - Firearm of relatively large bore, having no rifling, designed to be fired by a single individual, using both hands, from the shoulder. A shotgun commonly discharges a number of projectiles simultaneously, although it may also use a slug. See also: slug. sight height - The measured vertical distance between the hori- zontal centerline of the sights and the axis of the bore. sight radius - The distance between the rear and the front sight, on those weapons equipped with iron (non-optical) sights. sighting in - The process of firing to determine the point of im- pact 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. slant fire - That fire occurring if the point of aim is at a sig- nificantly greater or lesser altitude than the firing point. Generally, slant fire effects may be ignored if the vertical angle between the imaginary line to the desired point of aim and the horizontal is 5 degrees of arc or less, or if the difference in altitude is less than approximately 1/20 the range to the point of impact. slant range - In slant fire, that distance measured from the fire- arm's muzzle to the point of aim. Slant range is always greater than horizontal range, thus producing the "hits high" phenome- non experienced if the weapon's bore elevation differs signif- icantly from the horizontal. slug - Properly, a single projectile of near-bore diameter intend- ed for use in a shotgun. Commonly corrupted to refer to bul- lets, generally. small arms (also smallarms) - Rifles, shotguns, pistols, or revol- vers, generally; those weapons intended to be used by a single individual, as opposed to crew-served weapons, e.g., machine guns. QBALL deals only with weapons which use a solid projec- tile. sonic velocity - The speed of sound through air. standard met - Atmospheric conditions as follows: 1. (English measure) Temperature of 59 deg Fahrenheit, barometric pressure of 29.53 inches of mercury, gun altitude of zero (sea level), and relative humidity of 78 percent; 2. (Metric measure) Temperature of 15 deg Celsius, barometric pressure of 750 mm of mercury, gun altitude of zero (sea level), relative humid- ity of 78 percent. Firing tables are usually corrected to standard met conditions. stp - Standard Temperature and Pressure. See also: standard met. QBALL Appendix B - Miscellaneous Information 67 Inferred Ballistic Data -- Ballistic Coefficient. Tables B.1 and B.2 summarize the determination of a ballistic coefficient using tabular values. The values for Table B.1 are taken from data published in the 1990 Edition of The Gun Digest, page 229; the values for Table B.2 were calculated using QBALL. ------------------------------------------------------- | 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 B.1. Data from Gun Digest Ballistic Table. QBALL's Infer Ballistic Coefficient routine, using 100 and 200 yards for the required ranges and the published velocities, re- ports a ballistic coefficient (C1) of 0.384. Using this C1 and the appropriate values for muzzle velocity, bullet weight, and zero range, QBALL produces the data shown in Table B.2. ------------------------------------------------------- | 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 B.2. Data Using Inferred C1. The maximum variations are: Velocity, 1 FPS; Energy, 2 FtLbs; and Trajectory, 0.8 inches. It may be seen, therefore, that QBALL can produce results in substantial agreement with published data. Inferred Ballistic Data -- Muzzle Velocity. This data is from the Speer Reloading Manual #11. ------------------------------------------------------- | From Speer Reloading Manual. 180 gr bullet, C1=.30 | | Range in Yards | | --------------------------------------- | | Muz 50 100 150 200 250 | | --------------------------------------- | | Velocity 2400 2259 2122 1990 1863 1742 | | Energy 2302 2039 1800 1582 1388 1213 | | Trajectory -1.5 0.0 -0.2 -2.3 -6.7 -13.5 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table B.3. Trajectory Data, Speer Manual #11. QBALL Appendix B - Miscellaneous Information 69 An examination of the data in Table B.6 indicates that remain- ing velocities found using QBALL will be, on average, 0.47% high relative to the Speer data, and 0.42% low relative to to the Hornady data. The Hornady data, however, must be considered sus- pect, as the actual ballistic coefficients available in the Hor- nady table do not exactly match those specified. Even so, it would appear that the QBALL velocity results are certainly within one or two percent of published data. In practical terms, there is prob- ably that much variation in velocity between successive rounds in a string. Since energy is velocity-dependent, it is obvious that the energies calculated using QBALL will be in error by similar proportions, and in the same direction. Error Analysis -- Trajectory. ---------------------------------------------------------------- | 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 -39.4 | |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 -15.1 | |SPEER -1.5 1.1 0.0 -5.2 -15.2 | |HORNADY -1.5 1.1 0.0 -5.3 -15.7 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- Table B.7. Trajectory Comparisons. QBALL Data rounded to 0.1 inch. An examination of the data in Table B.7 shows that there is substantial agreement between the QBALL results and published data. In general, you may expect QBALL to give you excellent practical accuracy. QBALL Appendix B - Miscellaneous Information 71 QBALL and Other Ballistics Programs QBALL user Jim McCausland provided several sets of data devel- oped with other ballistics programs. The following tables contain the input data which Jim used, and the differences obtained run- ing QBALL with the same input data. ---------------------------------------------------------- | Program: Sierra Ballistics. | | Input Data: | | Ballistic Coefficient (C1)....... .299 | | Bullet Weight.................... 130 grains | | Zero Range....................... 200 yards | | Maximum Range.................... 450 yards | | Range Increment.................. 50 yards | | Sight Height..................... 0.9 inches | | Crosswind........................ - no wind - | | Metro............................ Standard | +--------------------------------------------------------+ | QBALL vs Sierra Ballistics Results | | Remaining Velocity............... 0.9 FPS | | Remaining Energy................. 1 FtLb | | Total Drop....................... 0.51 inches | | Path/Sight Line.................. 0.17 inches | | Time of Flight................... 0.000424 seconds | ---------------------------------------------------------- Table B.10. QBALL and Sierra Ballistics. ---------------------------------------------------------- | Program: BALCALC. | | Input Data: | | Ballistic Coefficient (C1)....... .295 | | Bullet Weight.................... 130 grains | | Zero Range....................... 200 yards | | Maximum Range.................... 500 yards | | Range Increment.................. 50 yards | | Sight Height..................... 0.9 inches | | Crosswind........................ - no wind - | | Metro............................ Standard | +--------------------------------------------------------+ | QBALL vs BALCALC Results | | Remaining Velocity............... 1 FPS | | Remaining Energy................. 1 FtLb | | Total Drop....................... 0.29 inches | | Path/Sight Line.................. - - - - - | | Time of Flight................... 0.00105 seconds | ---------------------------------------------------------- Table B.11. QBALL and BALCALC. Available in BALCALC, unavailable in QBALL: Bullet Momentum, Lead in feet. QBALL Appendix C - Selected Bibliography 73 Selected Bibliography Almgren, Ted C.; Hayden, Robert D.; McDonald, William T.; and Thomas, Kevin. Sierra Rifle Reloading Manual. 4th ed. Sedalia: Sierra Bullets, L.P., 1995. Davis, William C., Jr. Ballistics on the Home Computer, The American Rifleman, CXXXI, 6 (June, 1983), p. 36. --. Ballistics on A Pocket Calculator, The American Rifleman, CXXXV, 6 (June, 1987), p. 42. --. Calculate Ballistic Coefficients, The American Rifleman, CXXXVII, 3 (March, 1989), p. 44. --. What Is The Ballistic Coefficient?, The American Rifleman, CXXXVII, 3 (March, 1989), p. 12. Dobson, Paul (ed.). Air Gunner '94. Wokingham [Berks, UK]: Romsey Publishing Co. Ltd., 1993. Federal 1992 Ammunition [Catalog and Guide]. Anoka: Federal Cartridge Co., 1991. Hatcher, Major General Julian S. Hatcher's Notebook. 3d ed. Harrisburg: The Stackpole Co., 1962. Hodgdon Basic Data Manual, Shawnee Mission: Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc., 1987. Hodgman, Charles D. (ed.). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 44th ed. Cleveland: The Chemical Rubber Publishing Co., 1962. Jenks, Robert W. Exploring Ballistics with Your Computer. BYTE Magazine, (September, 1980), p. 270. Pejsa, Arthur J. Modern Practical Ballistics. 2d ed. Minneapolis: Kenwood Publishing, 1991. Ramage, C. Kenneth (ed.). Lyman Reloading Handbook. 46th ed. Middlefield: Lyman Products Corp., 1982. Reiber, Ron L., and Heers, Edward A. (eds.). Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, Rifle-Pistol. 3d ed. Grand Island: Hornady Manufacturing Co., 1980. Reloaders' Guide for Hercules Smokeless Powders. Wilmington: Hercules Inc., 1988. Remington Firearms, Ammunition, Clothing and Accessories Catalog. Wilmington: Remington Arms Co., Inc., 1992. Speer Reloading Manual #11, Lewiston: Omark Industries, Inc., 1987. QBALL Appendix D - Low Velocity Applications 75 Special Notes for Air Rifles, Air Pistols and Other Low-Velocity Applications In response to a number of requests, QBALL versions 3.00 and later allow muzzle velocities down to 200 FPS (61 MpS), and will compute remaining velocities down to ca. 100 FPS (30.48 MpS). If you are using QBALL to compute data for an air rifle, an air pistol, or any other low-velocity application, then you must be aware of some very real limitations. QBALL uses the G1 drag functions, a development of the Gavre Commission test firings in France in 1898. These test firings were conducted using a sharply-pointed bullet at firearm velocities, neither of which conditions is applicable in low-velocity cases. As a consequence, data calculated for low velocities are question- able, at best. Applying the adage that "...some poor data is better than no data at all," however, QBALL will give you some idea of trajectories and energy levels for your application. Just how close - or how far off - is "some idea..."? If another method of developing trajectory data is available, and if it allows velocities as low as those under consideration, then data computed using that method and using QBALL may be com- pared. Fortunately, such a method does exist: the Ingalls Tables, a complete set of which is found in Hatcher's Notebook.* While the Ingalls Tables permit a minimum velocity of 100 FPS, Hatcher cautions that "...there is necessarily a great uncertainty as to just exactly what the retardation is at low velocities.".** For example, consider the QBALL input data shown in Table D.1. ----------------------------------------------------------------- | Weapon Data Range Data | | Muzzle Velocity: 579 FPS Zero Range: 30 yards | | Sight Height: 0.0 inches Maximum Range: 108 yards | | Pellet Data Range Increment: 20 yards | | Ballistic Coefficient: 0.010 Metro Data | | Weight: 18.5 grains 60°F 0' 30.0" 67% (Ingalls) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- D.1. Input Data for a Typical Air Rifle. _____________________________ * Hatcher, Major General Julian S. Hatchers' Notebook, 3d ed. Harrisburg: The Stackpole Co., 1962, p. 584ff. ** op.cit., p. 568. --------- I N D E X --------- QBALL Index 77 A sight height . . . . . . 33 ABOUT SHAREWARE . . . . . . vii unit system swap . . 10, 33 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . i weapon identifier. . . . 32 Air rifles, pistols . . . . 75 Chronograph(s) alt-[C]alculator hotkey . . 11 inferring ballistic coeff.37 alt-[U]nit swap hotkey. . . 10 inferring muzzle velocity.44 Already Loaded! message . . 55 minimum safe range . . . .44 AMMO.DAT. . . . . . . . . 1, 34 using single . . . . . . .40 ASP Ombudsman . . . . . . cover Clean Sweep . . . . . . . 5, 31 Association of Shareware Computations menu Professionals (ASP) Range table. . . . . . . . 8 generally. . . cover, i, vii Set, reset zero. . . . . . 8 Ombudsman statement. . cover Other ballistics proc. . . 8 New/Changed Inputs . . . . 8 B Configuration Ballistic Coefficient printer. . . . . . . .45, 53 changing . . . . . . . . 32 saving . . . . . . . . . .54 entering . . . . . . . . . 7 screen colors. . . . . . .54 example from tabular data 67 grid, noises toggles . . .53 inferring. . . . . . . . 37 tailoring. . . . . . . . .55 using [L]ookup . . . . . 32 unit system, options . . .52 valid data limits. . 32, 36 Contacting author . . cover, ix Bibliography. . . . . . . . 73 COPYRIGHT INFORMATION . . . .ii Bullet Diameter Conversion factors. . . . . .36 in sectional density . . 29 Bullet weight D changing . . . . . . . . 32 D.NDX . . . . . . . . . . . .34 entering . . . . . . . . . 7 Data Entry in sectional density . . 29 ballistic coeff't. 7, 32, 34 using [L]ookup . . . . . 32 bullet [L]ookup. . . . 34-35 valid data limits. . 32, 36 bullet diameter. . . . . .27 Bullet [L]ookup bullet weight. . . 7, 32, 34 AMMO.DAT, *.NDX needed 1, 34 gun weight, dec. pounds. .30 ballistic coefficient, gun weight, lbs/ounces . .30 weight both changed . 35 limits see specific item choosing input data. . . 34 see also Metric limits diameter displayed . . . 34 maximum deviation. . . . .25 entering ballistic metro. . . . . . . . . 7, 33 coefficient . . . . . 32 muzzle velocity. . . . 7, 32 index (*.NDX) file req'd 34 powder (propellant) wt. . 30 manufacturers. . . . . . 35 range increment. . . . . . 8 range for probable zero. .27 C range, maximum . . . . . . 8 Calculator. . . . . . . . . 11 range, zero. . . . . . . . 8 Changing input data sight height . . . . . . .33 ballistic coefficient. . 31 target +/- gun . . . .17, 18 bullet identifier. . . . 32 weapon identifier. . . 7, 32 bullet weight. . . . . . 32 wind direction . . . . . .28 clean sweep. . . . . . . 31 wind velocity. . . . . . .28 metro. . . . . . . . . . 33 muzzle velocity. . . . . 32 [D] continues QBALL Index 79 M Optional units. . . . . . . 11 M.NDX. . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Other ballistics procedures Main menu free recoil vel/energy . 30 Compute... . . . . . . 4, 7 point blank range. . . . 25 Infer... . . . . . . .4, 37 sectional density. . . . 29 Utilities . . . . . . .4, 51 wind vector corrections. 28 Recall... . . . . . . .4, 57 zero for range & height. 27 Maximum deviation Other ballistics programs entering. . . . . . . . . 25 BALCALC. . . . . . . . . 71 display . . . . . . . . . 25 BALTEC . . . . . . . . . 72 valid data limits . . 25, 36 Barnes Ballistics. . . . 72 Menus Sierra Ballistics. . . . 71 Computations . . . . . 8, 25 Graphics . . . . 20, 21, 58 P Infer MV using . . . . . 41 Parallel ports. . . . 3, 48, 53 Main . . . . . . . . . . . 4 P_HOLDER.PRD. . . . . . . . 47 New Input Data . . . . . 31 Point blank range Other Procedures . . . . 24 determining. . . . . . . 25 Range Table Output . . . 13 graphics display of. . . 26 Recall Trajectory Data . 57 valid data limits. . .25, 36 Screen color select. . . 54 Pop-up calculator . . . . . 11 Slant Table Output . . . 18 Powder (propellant) weight Units, Switches & Printer 51 in free recoil/velocity. .30 Utilities. . . . . . . . 51 valid data limits. . .30, 36 Metric conversion factors . 36 PRCONFIG.EXE. . . . . . . .46ff Metric data limits. . . . . 36 Printed output Metro common problems. . . . . .49 changing . . . . . . . . 33 graphics . . . . . . . . .24 standard/default . . . . . 4 PRCONFIG.EXE/PRINTERS.DAT 46 valid data limits. . 33, 36 printer setup, general . .45 Most Probable Zero. . . . . 27 printer setup, graphics. .46 Multiple parallel ports . . 48 printer warnings . . . . .45 Muzzle velocity range table. . . . . . . .13 changing . . . . . . . . 32 remarks in. . . . . . .13 entering . . . . . . . 7, 32 samples. . . . . . . .14, 20 inferring (calculating) 41ff shift-printScr dumps . . .45 valid data limits. . 32, 36 slant fire table . . . . .19 remarks in. . . . . . .19 N toggle printer on/off. . .53 Navigation in tables. . .10, 18 using RRTABLE.EXE. . . 56.1 New or Changed Inputs Printer drivers . . . . . 47-48 clean sweep. . . . . . 5, 31 PRINTERS.DAT. . . . . . . . .46 single inputs. . . . . 31ff Probable Zero . . . . . . . .28 Nonhorizontal fire see Slant fire Q Nonstandard metro . . . 33, 36 QBALL and other programs. . .71 QBSHELIT.BAT O Already loaded! message. .55 Obtaining latest shareware viii manual delete/FIX.BAT. . .55 Opening screen. . . . . . . . 3 normal exit. . . . . . . .55 QBALL Index 81 [U] continued Utilities DOS Shell. . . . . . . . .55 FIX.BAT. . . . . . . . . 55 PRCONFIG.EXE . . . . . .46ff RRTABLE.EXE. . . . . . . .57 V Velocity Changing . . . . . . . . 32 Entering initial muzzle. . 7 Inferring from firing. 41ff In C1 inference. . . . . 38 Verification notice . . . . .ix Version displayed . . . . . . 3 W Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . i Weight see bullet, gun, powder Wind vector corrections changing . . . . . . . . .28 default. . . . . . . . . .28 displaying . . . . . . . 29 optional velocity units . . . 11, 36, 52 valid data limits. . 27, 35 XYZ Zero, most probable . . . . .27 Zero, point blank . . . . . 25