Shooter (Ballistics Calculator) Review and Comparison
Quick Review
Shooter (Ballistics Calculator) is exactly that, an external ballistics calculator. Comparing Shooter to Gun Log or Gun Log SPC is an "apples to oranges" comparison.By necessity both Shooter and Gun Log SPC store weapon and ammunition information. The main function of Shooter and Gun Log SPC are different. Shooter is a ballistics calculator that gives solutions for various altitudes, wind conditions, and many other variables. Gun Log SPC is a shooting log for tracking accuracy, group size, failures, inventory, ballistics calculator for bullet drop and wind drift using current altitude and atmospheric conditions, and other related logs for shooting.
Shooter does not track ammunition inventory, generate reports for accuracy, store weapons costs, and specifically does not store range results. Gun Log SPC ballistics calculator is designed to help get you on paper by calculating bullet drop and if you enter current wind conditions calculate wind drift.
The user interface follows iOS standards and is straight forward.
The results from the calculations are accurate as compared to Gun Log SPC and other ballistics calculators.
I find Shooter to be a useful addition to my iOS firearm related software.
Info from the App Store
Description
Shooter is a highly accurate ballistics calculator with a clean, intuitive and polished user interface with excellent management of your firearms and ammunition. Shooter makes it easy to input your data and then gets out of your way and delivers accurate solutions fast. Shooter has been used repeatedly to win shooting competitions and by police snipers across the globe.
* Extremely accurate, fast and proven ballistics solver created by Berger Bullet's chief ballistician and champion shooter Bryan Litz
* Save firearm and ammo data as profiles so you don't have to keep entering the same data over and over each time you want a calculation
* You probably have several firearms and loads. It's tedious entering all this data on a handheld device. With Shooter, you can login to a web interface using your PC at http://manage.shooterapp.net and enter/manage all your firearm/ammo data then simply sync it to your device and you're ready to go.
* Finger-controlled graphical wind dial for easy wind speed/angle input
* Online profile backup included at no extra charge
* Built-in large bullet library to make it simpler to add your ammo profiles
* Supports Coriolis Effect and Spin Drift calculations; Can get your Latitude and Azimuth for Coriolis Effect using GPS and compass.
* Automatic-atmosphere input using your GPS location and nearest weather station
* Zero-atmosphere support. This will auto-account for changes to your zero when shooting in a different atmosphere
* Solution screen which allows for extremely quick and easy changing of shot distance, wind or lead speed
* Graph bullet path, drift and velocity with ability to compare up to 6 loads at once
* Velocity Calibration tool
* Email trajectory table output
* Full metric support
For more information and operation manual, please visit http://www.shooterapp.net/manual.php
Category: Sports
Updated: Apr 18, 2012
Version: 1.2.1
Size: 2.0 MB
Language: English
Seller: Sean Kennedy
© 2011 Sean Kennedy
Rated 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad.Requires iOS 3.1 or later
Screen Shots
Just tap "Shooter"...
This is the first screen.
Well, why not hit calculate and see what happens?
What does the action button on the left bring up?
Tapping "Atmosphere from Station"...
Tapping "Profile Sync"...
Exit the app and go to the iOS device settings and select Shooter. There are many options that can be configured.
I set the "Distance Step Size" and "Sort Descending".
Back to the app. Tap "Firearm".
Tap the "+" button.
Enter your data...
When finished tap "Save".
Select the entry and it will take you back to "Shooter".
Tap "Ammo".
Tap the "+" button to add a new entry.
Choices, I like choices! Tap "From Bullet Library".
A diameter picker is shown. All values are in "inches". I changed all of the settings for Shooter to metric and the list remains in inches.
I pick .308. Inside the details of a library entry there is no muzzle velocity data entered. This is understandable as it depends on the barrel length.
I go back out and then choose "Manually" and enter some ammo information.
I got the muzzle velocity and ballistics coefficient from the Hornady web site.
The zero distance is associated to the ammo and not to a weapon configuration.
Let's scroll down and see what else we can set.
The angle input control is very nice.
After scrolling to the bottom let's hit the "Calculate" button.
The first view is the table. You can pinch zoom.
Tap "Solution" and you get this picker. I flip to the zero of 150 and sure enough the solution shows zero.
What would be needed to hit at 200 yards? Flip to it and it shows the following information. I like that!
Now tap the "Graph".
No wind means no drift which is a straight line.
If "Table" is selected the "Action" button gives you different options.
Tapping "Velocity Calibration" gives this interesting screen. I do not have any data to enter into this and recommend going to Shooter's support sight for more information.
Calculation Comparison
Following is the data used for Shooter and for Gun Log SPC .Weapon : Browning Safari .30-06
Sight Height: 1.5
Zero Distance: 150
Ammunition Make: Hornady
Caliber: .30-06
Type: SST Superformance
Weight: 150
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.415
Muzzle Velocity: 3100
Wind Direction: 90°
Wind Speed: 10 mph
This data was entered into Shooter and Gun Log SPC .
Shooter outputs Range, Path (inches), Path (moa), Drift (inches), Drift (moa), Velocity, Energy, and Time of flight.
Shooter
Range Path Path Drift Drift Velocity Energy TOF300 -8.9 U2.8 -6.8 R2.2 2421.3 1952.5 0.329
290 -7.9 U2.6 -6.3 R2.1 2442.5 1986.9 0.316
280 -7.0 U2.4 -5.9 R2.0 2463.1 2020.6 0.304
270 -6.2 U2.2 -5.4 R1.9 2484.1 2055.1 0.292
260 -5.3 U2.0 -5.0 R1.8 2506.2 2091.9 0.280
250 -4.6 U1.8 -4.6 R1.8 2526.8 2126.5 0.268
240 -3.9 U1.6 -4.2 R1.7 2548.7 2163.4 0.256
230 -3.3 U1.4 -3.9 R1.6 2569.8 2199.5 0.245
220 -2.7 U1.2 -3.5 R1.5 2592.3 2238.1 0.233
210 -2.2 U1.0 -3.2 R1.5 2614.1 2275.8 0.221
200 -1.7 U0.8 -2.9 R1.4 2636.1 2314.4 0.210
190 -1.2 U0.6 -2.6 R1.3 2657.5 2352.2 0.199
180 -0.9 U0.5 -2.3 R1.2 2680.2 2392.4 0.187
170 -0.5 U0.3 -2.1 R1.2 2702.1 2431.8 0.176
160 -0.2 U0.1 -1.8 R1.1 2724.4 2472.0 0.165
150 0.0 0.0 -1.6 R1.0 2746.9 2513.1 0.154
140 0.2 D0.1 -1.4 R1.0 2769.8 2555.0 0.143
130 0.4 D0.3 -1.2 R0.9 2791.8 2595.9 0.133
120 0.5 D0.4 -1.0 R0.8 2815.3 2639.7 0.122
110 0.5 D0.5 -0.9 R0.7 2838.0 2682.4 0.111
100 0.5 D0.5 -0.7 R0.7 2861.0 2726.1 0.101
90 0.5 D0.6 -0.6 R0.6 2884.3 2770.8 0.090
80 0.5 D0.5 -0.4 R0.5 2908.0 2816.4 0.080
70 0.4 D0.5 -0.3 R0.5 2930.9 2860.9 0.070
60 0.2 D0.3 -0.3 R0.4 2955.2 2908.6 0.059
50 0.0 0.0 -0.2 R0.3 2978.7 2955.1 0.049
40 -0.2 U0.5 -0.1 R0.3 3002.5 3002.6 0.039
30 -0.5 U1.5 -0.1 R0.2 3026.7 3051.1 0.029
20 -0.8 U3.6 -0.0 R0.1 3050.0 3098.2 0.020
10 -1.1 U10.3 -0.0 R0.1 3074.8 3148.8 0.010
0 -1.5 0.0 -0.0 0.0 3100.0 3200.6 0.000
Gun Log SPC
Gun Log SPC version 7.1.2 now includes wind drift.Range: 1 yds Vertical: -1.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.00s, Wind Drift Left: 0.0"
[Velocity: 3098 fps] [Energy: 3195 ft-lbf]
Range: 10 yds Vertical: -1.1 inches
Time of flight: 0.01s, Wind Drift Left: 0.0"
[Velocity: 3076 fps] [Energy: 3151 ft-lbf]
Range: 20 yds Vertical: -0.8 inches
Time of flight: 0.02s, Wind Drift Left: 0.0"
[Velocity: 3052 fps] [Energy: 3102 ft-lbf]
Range: 30 yds Vertical: -0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.03s, Wind Drift Left: 0.1"
[Velocity: 3028 fps] [Energy: 3053 ft-lbf]
Range: 40 yds Vertical: -0.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.04s, Wind Drift Left: 0.1"
[Velocity: 3004 fps] [Energy: 3005 ft-lbf]
Range: 50 yds Vertical: -0.0 inches
Time of flight: 0.05s, Wind Drift Left: 0.2"
[Velocity: 2981 fps] [Energy: 2960 ft-lbf]
Range: 60 yds Vertical: 0.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.06s, Wind Drift Left: 0.3"
[Velocity: 2957 fps] [Energy: 2911 ft-lbf]
Range: 70 yds Vertical: 0.3 inches
Time of flight: 0.07s, Wind Drift Left: 0.3"
[Velocity: 2933 fps] [Energy: 2865 ft-lbf]
Range: 80 yds Vertical: 0.4 inches
Time of flight: 0.08s, Wind Drift Left: 0.4"
[Velocity: 2910 fps] [Energy: 2820 ft-lbf]
Range: 90 yds Vertical: 0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.09s, Wind Drift Left: 0.6"
[Velocity: 2887 fps] [Energy: 2775 ft-lbf]
Range: 100 yds Vertical: 0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.10s, Wind Drift Left: 0.7"
[Velocity: 2864 fps] [Energy: 2731 ft-lbf]
Range: 110 yds Vertical: 0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.11s, Wind Drift Left: 0.8"
[Velocity: 2841 fps] [Energy: 2688 ft-lbf]
Range: 120 yds Vertical: 0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.12s, Wind Drift Left: 1.0"
[Velocity: 2818 fps] [Energy: 2645 ft-lbf]
Range: 130 yds Vertical: 0.3 inches
Time of flight: 0.13s, Wind Drift Left: 1.2"
[Velocity: 2795 fps] [Energy: 2602 ft-lbf]
Range: 140 yds Vertical: 0.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.14s, Wind Drift Left: 1.4"
[Velocity: 2773 fps] [Energy: 2560 ft-lbf]
Range: 150 yds Vertical: 0.0 inches
Time of flight: 0.15s, Wind Drift Left: 1.6"
[Velocity: 2751 fps] [Energy: 2521 ft-lbf]
Range: 160 yds Vertical: -0.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.17s, Wind Drift Left: 1.8"
[Velocity: 2728 fps] [Energy: 2478 ft-lbf]
Range: 170 yds Vertical: -0.5 inches
Time of flight: 0.18s, Wind Drift Left: 2.1"
[Velocity: 2706 fps] [Energy: 2438 ft-lbf]
Range: 180 yds Vertical: -0.9 inches
Time of flight: 0.19s, Wind Drift Left: 2.3"
[Velocity: 2684 fps] [Energy: 2398 ft-lbf]
Range: 190 yds Vertical: -1.3 inches
Time of flight: 0.20s, Wind Drift Left: 2.6"
[Velocity: 2662 fps] [Energy: 2359 ft-lbf]
Range: 200 yds Vertical: -1.7 inches
Time of flight: 0.21s, Wind Drift Left: 2.9"
[Velocity: 2640 fps] [Energy: 2321 ft-lbf]
Range: 210 yds Vertical: -2.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.22s, Wind Drift Left: 3.2"
[Velocity: 2618 fps] [Energy: 2283 ft-lbf]
Range: 220 yds Vertical: -2.7 inches
Time of flight: 0.23s, Wind Drift Left: 3.5"
[Velocity: 2596 fps] [Energy: 2245 ft-lbf]
Range: 230 yds Vertical: -3.3 inches
Time of flight: 0.24s, Wind Drift Left: 3.8"
[Velocity: 2575 fps] [Energy: 2208 ft-lbf]
Range: 240 yds Vertical: -3.9 inches
Time of flight: 0.26s, Wind Drift Left: 4.2"
[Velocity: 2554 fps] [Energy: 2172 ft-lbf]
Range: 250 yds Vertical: -4.6 inches
Time of flight: 0.27s, Wind Drift Left: 4.6"
[Velocity: 2532 fps] [Energy: 2135 ft-lbf]
Range: 260 yds Vertical: -5.4 inches
Time of flight: 0.28s, Wind Drift Left: 5.0"
[Velocity: 2511 fps] [Energy: 2100 ft-lbf]
Range: 270 yds Vertical: -6.2 inches
Time of flight: 0.29s, Wind Drift Left: 5.4"
[Velocity: 2490 fps] [Energy: 2065 ft-lbf]
Range: 280 yds Vertical: -7.0 inches
Time of flight: 0.30s, Wind Drift Left: 5.8"
[Velocity: 2469 fps] [Energy: 2030 ft-lbf]
Range: 290 yds Vertical: -7.9 inches
Time of flight: 0.32s, Wind Drift Left: 6.2"
[Velocity: 2448 fps] [Energy: 1996 ft-lbf]
Range: 300 yds Vertical: -8.9 inches
Time of flight: 0.33s, Wind Drift Left: 6.7"
[Velocity: 2427 fps] [Energy: 1962 ft-lbf]
Notice the bullet drop. Here is a comparison of Shooter and Gun Log SPC shown side by side for the bullet drop.
(Range) (Drop Shooter) (Drop Gun Log SPC )
0 -1.5 -1.5
50 0.0 0.0
70 0.4 0.3
100 0.5 0.5
150 0.0 0.0
200 -1.7 -1.7
250 -4.6 -4.6
300 -8.9 -8.9
Here is a comparison of other ballistics calculators: External Ballistics Calculations
Conclusion
Shooter does what it advertises to do. If you are hunting or target shooting the calculations will be very useful. (I do not believe that all hunting situations will allow the shooter to do ballistics calculations.)Shooter was on sale when I purchased it for $4.99. It is typically $9.99.
Shooter has a more complete set of parameters for calculation solutions than does Gun Log SPC.
By necessity both Shooter and Gun Log SPC store weapon and ammunition information. The main function of Shooter and Gun Log SPC are different. Shooter is a ballistics calculator that gives solutions for various altitudes, wind conditions, and many other variables. Gun Log SPC is a shooting log for tracking accuracy, group size, failures, inventory, ballistics calculator with drop and wind drift and adjustments for altitude, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and other related logs for shooting.
Shooter does not track ammunition inventory, generate reports for accuracy, store weapons costs, and specifically does not store range results. Gun Log SPC ballistics calculator is designed to help get you on paper with bullet drop and wind drift calculations.
For just "getting on paper" I think Gun Log SPC is adequate to help the shooter. For "getting on paper" in all kinds of conditions and calculating new solutions for varying conditions Shooter does this very well.
Comparing Shooter to Gun Log SPC is an "apples to oranges' comparison. The apps have overlap but their main functions and goals are different.
I am glad to own Shooter as it compliments my other apps nicely.
Gun Log SPC Ballistics Related Screen Shots
Following are the screen shots related to ballistics calculations in Gun Log SPC. Weapon and ammunition information are needed for the ballistic calculation.Here is the main screen, the Weapons screen.
Picking the Browning Safari .30-06 takes you to the details for the weapon. Notice at the top of the details are buttons, specifically the "Configurations" button. Before tapping the "Configurations" button scroll down and see the fields available.
Scroll down reveals "Purchase Information".
Further down reveals "Sale Information".
Go back to the top and tap the "Configurations" button. A weapon can have many configurations. Tapping an existing one takes you to the configuration details.
A configuration can have a photo and multiple accessories attached.
Scrolling down reveals the two fields needed for ballistics calculations, sight height and zero distance.
Scrolling further shows the remaining fields. Caliber is listed in Configuration as well as Weapon because some weapons can be configured to different calibers.
Tapping the "Ammo" tab bar button at the bottom takes you to the ammo area.
This is where you create an ammo entry. For this comparison I will choose an existing ammo.
Scrolling down shows the fields for a "round" entry. Bullet weight is needed for energy calculations.
Ballistic Coeff(icient) and muzzle velocity are needed for the ballistics calculations.
Scrolling down shows the other fields for a "round" of ammunition.
There are two ways to get to the ballistics calculator. One is through a firing set where the weapon and ammunition have already been selected. The other is through the reports. These screen shots will show the reports.
Scroll down to the bottom...
All the way to the bottom. Tap "Drop Table".
The "dot" buttons on the left select the detail level. The "300/1000/2000" selects the calculation maximum yardage.
Tap "Weapon" to choose a weapon. Tap "Config" to choose the configuration (which has the sight height and zero distance.) Tap "Ammo" to choose the ammunition.
After you have selected everything the screen will look something like this.
I will select the lowest detail level and limit the calculation to 300 yards.
Tap "Calculate". The entire view will scroll. So drag the view to see more of the table.
The table shows Range, Vertical Position, Time of flight, Velocity, and Energy.
When the "Zero" is crossed the table entry is bold to emphasize zero.
The "low" details setting uses larger and larger steps.
Gun Log SPC and Gun Log have an external ballistics calculator that is accurate and will help you sight in your firearm and "get you on paper".
I will pick my zero distance and then check and see what the vertical position is for 25 or 30 yards. In this case at 30 yards the vertical position is -0.5". That is the point of impact is one half inch below the point of aim.
I will get the firearm shooting as close to -0.5" low and then pick another intermediate value. For this rifle and load I notice that at 50 yards the bullet is at zero. So, I move the target to 50 yards and make adjustments until I am on at 50 yards.
Next I notice that it should be 0.5" high at 100 yards. I move the target and check point of aim to point of impact. I fully expect the point of impact to be very close to 0.5" high.
Then I move the target to 150 yards. Once it is sighted at 150 yards it is interesting to work backwards to check the point of impact, but it isn't necessary to do so. How the weapon and ammunition perform is what is important, not how closely the real world matches that theoretical values of a ballistics calculator.
Main views of Gun Log SPC version 7.1.0
Here are some updated screen shots of Gun Log SPC and some comments. |
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Entering a new Firearm
Tap the "+" button at the top right. |
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Tap the "Make" button...
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Entering more data...
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Back at the top use the buttons to go to Configurations, Maintenance, and other associated data.
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Notice that a Configuration can have multiple photos and associate accessories.
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Scrolling down through the Configuration fields...
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Maintenance details...
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Notice the "quick fields" for indicating common maintenance activities.
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Entering ammunition...
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Tap the "Make" button...
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Enter in more information...
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Round count, Price, and more information...
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For ballistics calculations make sure you enter muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient. Often these values are on the ammo box.
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More ammo fields...
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Back to the top after entering data...
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Entering a new Firing Session. Firing sessions are the heart of Gun Log SPC.
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Entering information...
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Pick the Firearm you are using, the configuration, and the ammunition.
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The details thus far...
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Make sure you enter the rounds fired and group size...
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You can save many more details in a firing set...
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Going back to the list of Firing Sets...
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Go back into the firing set and enter "failure" details...
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Back out to Firing Sessions...
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Go to Reports to calculate a ballistics drop table.
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You can save the drop tables...
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Here is a newly created drop table, just enter your data...
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| Add caption |
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After you have picked the firearm, config, and ammo, scroll down further...
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After scrolling down tap the calculate button, the button on the left...
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Firearms can have multiple photos too. These photos can be used in reports.
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Here is a firing set report using the firearm photo and the target photo.
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Here we are, back at the main view after entering some data.
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Reporting
Gun Log SPC excels in reporting. Almost every view can generate some type of report. You can generate expense reports, range reports, group size reports, failure reports, and many more.Here are two real world reports from my own data. This is not "made up" data, but actual data from two years of range reports.
Here is a group size report for a CZ 85B.
Here is a failures report sorted by ammunition maker.
