Long range angle compensation

T

trg42wraglefragle

New member
I had a random thought come to mind to day about compensating for angles when long range shooting, most people probably use either tables or a ballistics calculator for making there adjustments but I was wondering if there was a simple mathmatical calculation you could do.

Does anyone know of anything or use anything?

With out being to complicated, I was wondering if you measure the distance to the target with your range finder (being the hypotenuse of a triangle)and also have the angle to the target, instead of compinsating for both could use just use cosine and work out the horisontal distance and the just dial that in to your scope?

I might be completely wrong and might wave confused some people, but does anyone know?

Thanks
 
Determine the line of sight distance to the target. Multiply that times the cosine of the angle to the target. Set sights for your new range.

Example. You range the target and its 500 yards. You determine that the angle of the target is 10 degrees (dosn't matter if its 10 degree up or down).

The cosine of 10 degrees is .9848, 500 X .9848 = 492.4 yards.

Everyone should carry a compass while hunting. (or even throw it in your shooting bag). You can line up the compass to get the angle to your target.
 
carry a compass while hunting
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Good idea. I was using a carpenters square, a bolt, and some string to figure my angles, (at my range;) a compass will be a lot more compact.
 
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There's a neat method that archers use.
For a target lower than you:
If there's something tall in the vicinity of the target and it's the same elevation as you are, use it as the distance.
For a target higher than you:
Range find on something on the ground in the vicinity of the target and use that distance.
 
g. willikers hit it on the head. the right triangle that is imaginarily created by the object at the same distance will mathematically check out if you use the trig. to calculate it. But who has the time to get the calculator out with an elk wandering around at the bottom of the hill. just figure out how far it would be to the animal if it was at the same elevation.
 
You can line up the compass to get the angle to your target.
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Sorry, I do not understand how a compass will help with angle, north, south, east and west, yes, can you explain. A "protractor" would give you the angle and are really cheap, but a compass? I just use my range finder and hold high on down hill and low on up hill.


Jim

I suppose you could turn your compass sideways and use it as a protractor, but all my compasses are electronic (GPS).
 
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Sorry, I do not understand how a compass will help with angle, north, south, east and west, yes, can you explain. A "protractor" would give you the angle and are really cheap, but a compass? I just use my range finder and hold high on down hill and low on up hill.
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A compass is nothing but a circle with marks all the way around it.

Use it as a practor, first, forget the needle. Turn the compass on its side. Keep the "0" and "180' marks level. Not look at your target. It will be either above or below the "0" mark. Holding the compass still, look down (or up) at the target. Draw an imaganary line between the target and the compass, it will cross a mark on the compass either above or below the "0". That should tell you your angle.

You could do the same thing with a watch (assuming its not digital),Converting the Minutes to degrees. Watches can also be used as a compass in the conventional way a compass is use. IF ITS NOT DIGITAL.

Don't laugh. I was at a HP match one time where we were conducting a team match. I volenteered to coach a team of new shooters. One guy had no ideal of the "clock system" as he's never used anything but a digital watch.
 
While carrying another gadget for long-range shooting is probably silly, what is needed is a "clinometer" -

http://www.benmeadows.com/SUUNTO-Self-Damping-Clinometers_31224521/?pcrid=6841237258&gclid=CKaTzZycy6cCFRtKgwod6SRECw&mkwid=spDyEC9N7

This instrument is designed to reduce slope distances to horizontal distances for field surveying (and even has a table of cosines on the back...)

To be included in your kit, with the laser rangefinder, sling psychrometer and wind speed meter. And an old HP calculator. And drop tables.

(And if you're modern, your laser rangfinder does slope calculations for you, and you're running this -

http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/tools/shooter-ballistics_fqyd.html

on your Droid, along with a Bluetooth Kestrel. :) )
 
One could always purchase a range finder with built in angle compensation. They make them you know. I never did like math in the classroom and like it even less in the field. :D
 
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