Waterline?

[Bert]

Can someone please explain this? I held waterline or it shoots waterline at 600 yrds. I have heard this term and feel dumb for asking but would like to know. Thanks

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Waterline implies a very flat point-of-impact line across the target horizontally.

You might also hear someone say their rifle was "shooting flat", this means the same thing.

 

[Laurie]

The 'waterline' is an imaginary horizontal line drawn through the target centre. There are three issues in prone shooting disciplines:


How tight the rifle / ammo / shooter can hold elevation under ideal conditions.

the rifle's elevation sights setting, correct or needing adjustment to get shots onto the waterline.

elevation drift during a competition as conditions change and/or the barrel heats - identifying it's happening and taking action.

The importance of having good elevations is that the full target ring width is only available at its elevation mid point. For example the standard F-Class target has a 1-MOA 10-ring (US), 5-ring (Brit Commonwealth), so a shot with perfect elevation and with a perfectly set wind zero gives the shooter a half-MOA latitude either side in his or her wind reading estimate on taking the shot. If his or her shots tend to land high or low on or around the top / bottom of the X / V-ring, the amount of space either side before dropping into the next score ring down is halved making it MUCH easier to lose a point on a relatively minor misreading of the wind.

If you ever shoot in a team, wind coaches are very hot on elevation consistencies and constantly look at the shot plot to see if they're straying above or below the 'waterline'.

 

[savageshooter86]

Very well said Laurie.

Basically holding a tight waterline(least amount of vertical possible you and your rifle/load can shoot) is very helpful. If you know your load will shoot sub MOA vertical(for example on an Fclass target @1000 yards means it will shoot less than 10.47" vertical) that means if you make the correct wind calls in theory you should hit the 10 ring. If you can hold close to 1/2 MOA waterline, you will get more X counts with proper wind calls.

Good video to take a look at
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/05/great-video-f-class-team-shooting-with-a-wind-coach/

 

[Bert]

I agree 100 % with very little vertical. Just wasn't sure of the term waterline. Now I understand thankyou.