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Dope Cards

Jammer Six

What procedure do you follow for developing a dope card for a given weapon and load?

I see that there are ballistic charts included in the Hornady manual, but they only cover those specific loads.

Is the only way to develop dope to shoot at known ranges and physically measure the drop (and drift)?
 
Is there something I’m missing here? The guy asked an honest question.

What I do is I use my ballistic AE app on my phone. I put in my load data and get the drop chart. I then shoot at each distance to confirm or adjust my drop. My app is pretty accurate out to 400 yards then it’s usually off by +\- a mil at each 100 yards after that.

I can normally only confirm to 750 yards since that the furthest range I have available. I adjust my DOPE card based off my true measurements. Windage is normally spot on. If I could shoot farther I would use the reticle in my scope to see how far off I was. I do all DOPE from a bench and solid rest.
 
I'm glad I found a sore spot. That means there's still hope.

The difference is asking for the results of a copyrighted, commercial product vs. asking for information that is not either of those things.

And now you and I are done, Beach. Be well.
 
If you're wanting perfect first shot hits, the only way is to shoot the load in varying different conditions and record the results.

That said, I think most folks take their velocity, G7, and environmental conditions and plug them into a few calculators. JBM, and the new Hornady ones are pretty good. That'll usually give you a pretty good idea of where you need to be, and you can make minor adjustments with sighters.

I will say with Hornady bullets, that new 4DOF or whatever it's called has been scary accurate. Better than any program I've used in the past.
 
Thanks, Mike!

As it happens, I like Hornady, most of my bullets are Hornady, both in handgun and now in rifle, and I'm hip-deep in Hornady information. I guess I'll add whatever programs they generate to my information resources.
 
First get one of the many good ballistic apps for your phone, I like Strelok; it will include the BC info for your bullet in its library. If using commercial ammo Strelok will also provide a reasonable velocity as a starting point. If not then measure with a chrono, or use published results for starters.

Then go shoot, icreasing the distance and collecting the dope; go out as far as possible. Be sure to include temperature and barometric pressure, which your phone can actually measure and import into the app.

Finally calibrate the velocity such that the actual dope fits at the environmental conditions when you shot. Many apps have a built in feature for this purpose, but I like to do this manually to include all of the distances. Over time you will encounter significant deviations in environs and maybe altitude, and fine tune the calibration as necessary using this data

The advantage of an app is that you have it with you, and as environs change you adjust immediately. A 20+ degree change during the day can be significant at longer ranges, or a weather front droping BP. But a basic dope book for record keeping is essential.
 
If I have the app on my phone, and the phone is on the bench next to the rifle, and I can update it on the spot, why would I print out a dope card? As you point out, it seems like up-to-the-moment, on-the-spot conditions are the way to go.
 
Jammer Six said:
If I have the app on my phone, and the phone is on the bench next to the rifle, and I can update it on the spot, why would I print out a dope card? As you point out, it seems like up-to-the-moment, on-the-spot conditions are the way to go.
Click to expand...

I have a hard copy since I don’t know how to edit it directly in my app. If I knew how I would do that. For my comps I have a paper copy that goes in my wrist band like what QBs use.
 
Tommie said:
I assuming just about everyone uses a computer ballistic program.
Click to expand...
At one point I did all my doping in the field at all ranges from 100-1000 yards in 50 yard increments. Burned up alot of ammo in those days but got real good data. Lots of time behind the gun too. Today, even tho I love shooting, time isn't as available as it once was so the programs are great.
 
Jammer Six said:
If I have the app on my phone, and the phone is on the bench next to the rifle, and I can update it on the spot, why would I print out a dope card? As you point out, it seems like up-to-the-moment, on-the-spot conditions are the way to go.
Click to expand...
as previously stated if you build up your "library" for diffrent conditions a hard copy is nice if you are hunting off the beaten path or even just shooting in cold temps. Phones die, and get broken on occasion a backup is always nice even if its just a couple dope disks from vortex those are pretty sweet imo
 
Well this is a Gentlemen’s way l work things out .
Bullet Drop App on my cell Phone .
This gets me close ? Then I go old school and write down my no wind Zero for the yards I shot at . This is a ball park Zero ?
I mostly shoot Palma iron sights . Lots of variables .

I also play at F-Class with a scope it is more direct .

I and most shooters fine different Ranges will have different elevation changes .
Thank God for sighters .
Good Luck
 
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