How to Calculate the Slope on a Rifle

The ability to calculate bullet trajectory is the difference between a complete miss and a bullseye. Accuratel calculation of the slope on a rifle shot requires the marksman to factor in a wide range of variables including temperature, starting height, type of ammunition and distance to the target. Fortunately, many companies have created special ballistics calculators that will allow you to determine the slope of your shot with pinpoint accuracy.

Instructions

    • 1

      Calculate the slope with the online calculator at Handloads.com. This easy-to-use tool takes into account the different factors that affect a bullets trajectory as it travels downrange. In addition to drop data, the results table shows you the maximum range, time in flight and remaining energy at impact.

    • 2

      Calculate the drop of a shot fired from a rifle with the JBM Ballistics trajectory calculator (jbmballistics.com). JBM Ballistics offers three different trajectory calculators. The first calculator takes into account all of the factors involved in calculating the slope of the trajectory and allows you to specify each individual variable. The second calculator adds bullet length, barrel twist and twist direction to help calculate the drift of the trajectory. The third trajectory calculator is a simplified version of the previous two. Any values you do not input are calculated according to standard values stored within the system's database.

    • 3

      Calculate the path of the bullet with one of Winchester's online ballistic calculators (winchester.com). According to Winchester, "the Winchester Ballistics Calculator is considered the most advanced ammunition ballistics calculator in the industry." The calculator is available both online and as an app for the iPhone. This allows you to take a highly accurate ballistics calculator with you into the field. Winchester uses a graphical user interface (GUI) to help make variable input quicker and more intuitive for many users. In addition, this particular calculator gives you the ability to compare different bullets side by side in animated simulations of shots taken at a virtual target.