Bullet drop question

[PA BEN]

Is there a way to calculate bullet drop for muzzleloader when shooting at very steep angles? I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question. I just don't have a place to shoot and test my load out. I plan on going down to the WaterShed a few days before season, maybe I can find a place to shoot out to 200 yds at some steep angles. 

[JimmyHoffa]

If you have good drop data for a flat area you can.  You just have to figure out the horizontal range.  Like if it is a 60 degree slope and you shoot 200 yds, the drop is like that for a 100 yd shot on level ground.

[Bob33]

A good approximation is to compute the drop over the horizontal distance to the target. If you know the angle and straight line distance, the horizontal distance is the straight line distance multiplied by the cosine of the angle. Example: 200 yard shot at 30 degree angle. The cosine of 30 degrees is .86, so the horizontal distance is 200 x .86 = 172. Compute the drop as a 172 yard shot.

[jasnt]

If you have a range finder that does angle modified range it will make it a lot easier to do

[Sabotloader]

Is there a way to calculate bullet drop for muzzleloader when shooting at very steep angles? I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question. I just don't have a place to shoot and test my load out. I plan on going down to the WaterShed a few days before season, maybe I can find a place to shoot out to 200 yds at some steep angles.

Not sure if this will help you any or not...

[PA BEN]

Cool some good info thanks.

[JimmyHoffa]

When you shoot at an angle, you'll hit higher than if level.  The more the angle, the higher you hit.

[Bob33]

In the great majority of instances it will make little difference. The extra time you take trying to figure it out will probably hurt more than help. It might make a few inches difference at extreme angles at muzzleloader distances.

[Goex2Fwithroundball]

In the great majority of instances it will make little difference. The extra time you take trying to figure it out will probably hurt more than help. It might make a few inches difference at extreme angles at muzzleloader distances.

+ 1 

Muzzleloaders generally shoot 150 yards or less. Just aim true and shoot.

[PA BEN]

I'm dialed in to 200.

[CP]

I'm dialed in to 200.

Take the Cosine of the angle and multiply that times the distance e.g.

200 Yards 10 degrees equivalent range = 197 yards
200 yards 60 degrees equivalent range = 100 yards

Steep does make a difference


PS - they make range finders that does all the work for you.

[PA BEN]

That's funny you said range finder, I have a good one that does all that. LOL, I got it for bow hunting and never used the hold angle. So I pulled out the instructions and low and behold I has a setting for muzzleloader. All the holes around the bull are from 100 yds the one low is from 200. My range finder said to hold 11 inches high, I held right on and had 11 inches of drop.

[jasnt]

Drt!   Good luck this season

[Smoke]

with a rifle, muzzy or modern, I never worry about it... first I won't take a shot over 200 yards (in fact every kill I have is less then 100 yds)... at those ranges the difference will only be an inch or 2... with the vitals of a deer at almost 6 inches and an Elk over 8 inches, that inch or 2 difference is still in the vitals..

[PA BEN]

I can't see to shoot more than 200 yds that's my max.