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Range Report Applied Ballistics Mobile App

I have used the program extensively on the Nexus over ranges out to 1600 yards with five different rifles/calibers and it has performed extremely well. I am not deterred by this one small problem. If I am using the truing feature I simply change the screen display to night, complete the calculation and then change back to day. It is, at worst, a minor irritation which I am sure they will eventually resolve.

In all other respects the Nexus works extremely well. It's great value for money.
 
After having read all the hype about how good the AP mobile ballistics program is I bought it so I would have a good ballistics program. I bought a Nexus 7 (Gen 2) specifically to put it on to carry out to the range with me and use there, so the whole deal wasn't cheap. First thing off, I had problems with it, partly because I am a computer dinosaur, but the two things in particular that made it hard for me were (1) there is no "User's Manual" for that particular app on my particular tablet..the stuff I could find was for a previous generation and, while somewhat helpful, wasn't EXACTLY made/written for my combination of software and Nexus 7 (2nd gen) and (2) The AP ballistics program is NOT very intuitive and it doesn't have a few features that I think it should like a button that actually says "DONE" or maybe "SAVE" on it. For me, anyway, that would be way more toward convincing me that whatever inputs or changes I just made were actually being saved and, therefore, being applied to any problems I want answers on. So the program wasn't exactly easy or comfortable for me to use and I started emailing questions to AP (actually to Jennifer Litz who is Bryan's sister and does a lot of the non-programming stuff). I guess I asked enough questions and was having a hard enough time even when she did reply to help me out, which was every time, I still wasn't getting it and she figured that out. Without my asking for it, she VOLUNTEERED to call me this Saturday and sort of lead me through the program...and it worked!! She was very patient with this old dinosaur and helpful and I learned a lot...so am now pretty happy using the software and comfortable making changes, posing "what ifs" and so forth. Pretty much EVERY FEATURE that I couldn't use to its potential, she managed to hand hold me through...and that is what I need, even IF there is a manual. I am a sort of see it, do it.....HEY!! I got it!! kind of a person, so I can NOT say enough good about Jennifer and how much she helped me out.:)

Now I am REALLY looking forward to getting my new 6.5 Creedmoor out to the range, getting it broken in and then working on load development!! Oh, yeah..I have a copy of "QUICK LOAD" coming soon and I am hoping that all the good things I have heard about it are true like saving time and money when answering questions running through the "what ifs" and all the myriad powder and bullet combos and getting a reloader pointed in the right direction without having to spend a bunch of time re-inventing the wheel!
 
I've used the Applied Ballistics Android app for a year or so without trouble, but today, after reinstalling it, I discovered that the sync from web function no longer works. Also, I can no longer find the web sync site on the internet, which would at least allow me to update the ballistic data there, assuming I could get it to sync.

I would appreciate any help that you might be able to offer.
 
I've used the Applied Ballistics Android app for a year or so without trouble, but today, after reinstalling it, I discovered that the sync from web function no longer works. Also, I can no longer find the web sync site on the internet, which would at least allow me to update the ballistic data there, assuming I could get it to sync.

I would appreciate any help that you might be able to offer.

You have paid out good money to use this App, I just dont understand why there is so much red tape with this App because you are not the first person who has had this trouble trying to put it on one or more of their Own Gizmos, Once you have paid for it then its yours to use unless you buy a new gadget and then your stuffed, There should be a usage code so really that applies to only one person no matter how many gizmos you Own you could install it on what ever you like,

But the way its set up, means I would of had to buy it 5 times this past year because some asshole sent me a virus 5 times this past year and I have had to have complete reinstalls each time,

Hopefully AP will have an ansewer for you, As they have been pretty hot on helping people out so far.

John
 
My wife bought me a Nexus 7 for Christmas and I bought this app last night. I been loading in my rifles and some of my reloads with velocities based on drop out to the distances I have shot. I really need to buy a chronograph and a Kestrel but this program looks very promising. I can't wait to try this out!
 
My wife bought me a Nexus 7 for Christmas and I bought this app last night. I been loading in my rifles and some of my reloads with velocities based on drop out to the distances I have shot. I really need to buy a chronograph and a Kestrel but this program looks very promising. I can't wait to try this out!

I just ordered the Kestrel 4000. I really wanted the 4500 w/ AB, but it's $600. I have a chrono. I'll order AB for my phone, and hopefully I can figure out wtf I'm doing.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
I also received a $100 gift card to Brownells so the Kestrel 4000 is the model I'm looking at picking up next month. The program is nice once you spend about an hour playing with the features but I know I still have a lot to learn. I'm also figuring out the tablet at the same time so it makes it a pain in the ass navigating.
 
I would like an answer to the followig hypothetical (at the moment) question. The program strongly recommends a 100 yard zero to reduce atmospheric variences. If a rifle is sighted say, 4 inches high at 100 yards and the Zero Height input is set to 4 inches and the zero set to 100 yards, will the come ups still be accurate given every other input is correct?

I envisage a scenario where a shooter has a steep base angle and cannot achieve a 100 yard zero. For yards also read meters!
 
I would like an answer to the followig hypothetical (at the moment) question. The program strongly recommends a 100 yard zero to reduce atmospheric variences. If a rifle is sighted say, 4 inches high at 100 yards and the Zero Height input is set to 4 inches and the zero set to 100 yards, will the come ups still be accurate given every other input is correct?

I envisage a scenario where a shooter has a steep base angle and cannot achieve a 100 yard zero. For yards also read meters!

No you will be 4" high from the start so you will be out further down range IE,,, with a 308 2" high at a hundred yards will Put you on Zero at 200yds so all you are doing is creating a False Zero and then your App will always be wrong +/- and you will never know by how much it is out,

John
 
No you will be 4" high from the start so you will be out further down range IE,,, with a 308 2" high at a hundred yards will Put you on Zero at 200yds so all you are doing is creating a False Zero and then your App will always be wrong +/- and you will never know by how much it is out,

John

Thanks John, I kinda figured that might be the case!!

I'm intrigued though that, when I run two identical calculations out to 3000 yards, adding 4 inches to the 100 yard zero gives a 4 MOA reduction in the product. I just don't have enough understanding of the math to grasp the details.
 
Thanks John, I kinda figured that might be the case!!

I'm intrigued though that, when I run two identical calculations out to 3000 yards, adding 4 inches to the 100 yard zero gives a 4 MOA reduction in the product. I just don't have enough understanding of the math to grasp the details.


By adding 4 moa at 100yds will put you out by about 120 inches at 3000yds now depending on your load/Rifle that could be either too high or too low, so if you want add that much you might also run out of adjustment,

As for the 4 moa differance each moa will add 1 inch for every 100yds so 1 inch at 3000 will be about 30 inches so 4 moa will equal 120 inches yes???.

John
 
Yes, I understand that level of math though I appreciate you taking the trouble to simplify it for me.

This is where my dumbness takes over. If I raise the zero datum by 4 moa and the program then lowers the result by 4 moa isn't that OK? No?

I realize I must be missing something here but I'm damned if I can see it!!!
 
Yes, I understand that level of math though I appreciate you taking the trouble to simplify it for me.

This is where my dumbness takes over. If I raise the zero datum by 4 moa and the program then lowers the result by 4 moa isn't that OK? No?

I realize I must be missing something here but I'm damned if I can see it!!!

Yes thats right because the App is compensating for what you are dictating to it SO using a .270 set at 4" high at 110/112yds = 100mtrs will give you a Zero set to 300yds,

Does the app have a drop down chart so you can see the figures of its flight path if not tell me the Cal BCs and gr + Fps and I can tell you where your zero will be if thats any help,

John

ps sorry about the late reply my internet crashed.
 
Late reply??? if your signature is correct it must be early in the morning in London. This from a Brit. in Western Canada at 22.20 at night! Thinks!!! that means I'm talking to tomorrow????

OK, now I'm beginning to see the light and it makes me realize that I phrased my question wrong.

What I was trying to determine is, if I cannot get a spot on zero at 100 because I run out of down on the scope and I tell the software that I am "x" moa high at 100 will it still compute accurately throughout the trajectory.

I really don't care what the actual zero is because I'm only interested in longer ranges, 800 plus. By doing this I avoid ( hopefully if it works) the variables associated with longer range zeros.

Ivan
 
Late reply??? if your signature is correct it must be early in the morning in London. This from a Brit. in Western Canada at 22.20 at night! Thinks!!! that means I'm talking to tomorrow????

OK, now I'm beginning to see the light and it makes me realize that I phrased my question wrong.

What I was trying to determine is, if I cannot get a spot on zero at 100 because I run out of down on the scope and I tell the software that I am "x" moa high at 100 will it still compute accurately throughout the trajectory.

I really don't care what the actual zero is because I'm only interested in longer ranges, 800 plus. By doing this I avoid ( hopefully if it works) the variables associated with longer range zeros.

Ivan

Yes its 06:33 here now and I have been up all night watching Battle of Britain Footage.

If you tell your App, IE its zeroed for 300 yard the read how high it is at 100yds and keep changing the Zero number up or down untill your app says its 4" high at 100yds then read further down the chart and that will tell you where the zeros is set for Then you will have that answer and the rest of your chart figures will be correct, BUT??? depending on what base you are using ie 30moa will give you back some of your Upwards adjustment allowing you to get out further

Either way your charts will be correct, But remember if your Zero works out to be around 500yds then you would have used alot of your long range adjustments but you will gain that back by adding a higher moa Base

So with a scope with 75moa of adjustment thats 37.5 up and 37.5 down so by adding a 30moa base that will give you 67.5+/- which will get you out where you want to be,

Bottom line is you need to workout its actually 4" high at 100yds and then feed differant sight distances into your app until the 100yd reading says you are 4" high,

IE a 270 set at 3.89" high is on Zero at 310yds which means I have used up 3.71moa of adjustment so the further the zero is from 100yds the more moa adjustment is used up hence why we use higher moa bases,

John
 
Finally, it's gone in to my thick skull. Many thanks John, my understanding of the situation is now total. I'm looking at a 50 moa base with 70 moa in the scope on a 338 Lapua. I have the privilege of being able to shoot out to 3000 yards 10 minutes from home. That's why I'm asking this question.

I served 28 years with the RAF before I came here so I'm familiar with much of history captured in that footage of "The Few". I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks again for your help.

Ivan
 
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Finally, it's gone in to my thick skull. Many thanks John, my understanding of the situation is now total. I'm looking at a 50 moa base with 70 moa in the scope on a 338 Lapua. I have the privilege of being able to shoot out to 3000 yards 10 minutes from home. That's why I'm asking this question.

I served 28 years with the RAF before I came here so I'm familiar with much of history captured in that footage of "The Few". I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks again for your help.

Ivan

Yeah its a good program,

About 18 years ago I bought one of the Genuine Irvin sheepskin Flying jackets and I have kept it sealed up and locked away, they cost about $1000 now, and they are the real deal.

well that base should give you about 85 moa total +/-, And on the chart I just made up using a 270 it says 85.98moa would take it out to 1650yds so your 338 sould be way past that

Sorry I dont have any 338 info to make up a chart coz I dont know the BCs GRs etc but if you tell me I can run one up for you.

Anyway good luck with new app im sure its going to be pretty good and dont forget to tellus how you get on with it .

Take care mate,,, happy new year,,,John
 
For anyone who has had a problem with the web sync feature not working properly over the past week the issue has been resolved. Also, we are getting very close to finishing the Iphone version of the Applied Ballistics software. Just hold on a little longer. Thanks for your patience!
 
I would like an answer to the followig hypothetical (at the moment) question. The program strongly recommends a 100 yard zero to reduce atmospheric variences. If a rifle is sighted say, 4 inches high at 100 yards and the Zero Height input is set to 4 inches and the zero set to 100 yards, will the come ups still be accurate given every other input is correct?

I envisage a scenario where a shooter has a steep base angle and cannot achieve a 100 yard zero. For yards also read meters!
Yes it will.
 
For anyone who has had a problem with the web sync feature not working properly over the past week the issue has been resolved. Also, we are getting very close to finishing the Iphone version of the Applied Ballistics software. Just hold on a little longer. Thanks for your patience!

Hi Chuck,

Love the new website, great job!

I was reading the manual for AB mobile and I saw this under web sync: "You can log-in to your web account with a regular computer and enter rifle and ammo profiles there using a full sized keyboard, as well as upload rifle and ammo profiles that you've entered on your mobile device."

Where can I go to do this? Please let me know. Sorry if I am missing the obvious.

Thanks,

JB
 
JB,

You're not missing something here, this is an error in the instruction manual. There is no such place on the web where you can go to view or manually edit your profiles. The websync is more of a 'cloud' back-up. I'll go fix that in the instructions now.

Glad to hear you like the new website!

-Bryan

Update: app instruction page updated: http://appliedballisticsllc.com/AB_app.htm
 
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Thanks Chuck, I can not wait more longer for iPhone version. Recently I bought my NightForce ATACR for my developed 8x57 Mauser ( actually it´s not a Mauser anymore now :) ) and just waiting to get APB app on my iPhone to start shooting, I was waiting to see if APB app for iOS will be published as a good news for Xmas!
I bought all Ballistic apps on App Store and checked them all, but seams they all are so far away from APB app which I use on my Android tablet!
I wish it comes out soon.
Regards,
 
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I purchased AB for droid in mid Dec 2013 and have been using it for several weeks.
I'm new to scoped rifle shooting, been shooting about a year ... I shoot .22LR and 7.62x51 mostly.
My question is related to 7.62x51 shooting

I am shooting Sig716 16 inch barrel and Winchester 147gr ammo.
I've searched the web to try to help me estimate the actual MV out of 16 inch barrel. Based on reading about a dozen threads, I'm using 2500fps as my MV. I do not have a chronograph.

I'm shooting at 325yds (est.) this estimate has been partially confirmed by shooting .22LR from that spot three times and 7.62x51 from that spot 2 times. I do not have a range finder. Initial estimates were based on measuring google maps and on counting foot steps three times.

So, the problem is that the AB program predicts the point of impact will be -11.375 whereas other data indicate POI will be closer to -18 inches.

handloads online calculator predicts -18.14

Hornady online calculator predicts -17.9

My observed results are that holding up 1.0 mil (as indicated by AB) results in consistently low (5 inch) POI whereas holding up 1.5 mil results in average 2 inch high POI. To cover 18 inches of drop at 325 per my TMR reticle chart, should require a little bit more than 1.5 mils (1.5 will cover -17.55). So the actual drop is a bit less than predicted by handloads or hornady, but significantly less than predicted by AB.

The data entered into AB:

Sight Height: 2.75

Bullet diameter: .308
Weight: 147
length: 1.268
MV: 2500
BC: .415 G1 (from Winchester website)

Zero Range: 150
Zero Height: 2.75

Altitude: 1300
Baro: 29.92
Temp: 20
Hum: 70

Distance: 325
look: -5

Altitude: 1300
Baro: 29.92
Temp: 20
Hum: 70

Wind: 10
Direction: 30

(Note environmentals are from yesterday's shoot)

Result: U1.0 mils

==

So my question is, am I doing something wrong, or is the AB program not handling this particular cartridge very well?
Hopefully, it is me !!!


==
==
Edit: After doing some more arithmetic, I estimate the actual POI to be about -15 inches which is 2.5 to 3 inches less than Hornady/Handloads, but 3.4 inches more than AB. That doesn't make AB look so bad. But should we expect this type of variation to be the "norm" ? That is just over a 1 MOA variation, right?
 
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It's your zero height, change it to zero and you'll be real close. Also, it's really challenging when your are speculating on data such as MV, range to target, etc.

Exactly. I wouldn't even expect a ballistic app to be accurate if I didn't have accurate tools to measure MV, range, and atmospheric conditions. You could guess, like you're doing, so that you could get an approximate. But I wouldn't expect extreme accuracy.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
It's your zero height, change it to zero and you'll be real close. Also, it's really challenging when your are speculating on data such as MV, range to target, etc.

Hum zero height to zero? I thought the "zero height" was supposed to be the distance between the the center of the line of sight in the scope and the center of line of fire in the barrel. And I was using 2.75 in all the ballistics programs to be consistent. Should I change it to ZERO in all the programs or just AB ?

Thanks!

==
Edit: Ok changing "zero height" to 0 fixed the problem!!!

It seems I assumed "sight height" and "zero height" were the same thing - but they aren't. Sight Height is what I thought it was, zero height is a value the user can use to adjust the program if the zero is off.

Thanks again!
 
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Can someone suggest a 9" tablet that will run this app. I've tried a cheap supersonic my girlfriend has and also a nook hd+ and no go with either of them. I'm looking for one in the $200 price range.

Thanks.
 
This question probably belongs in the "really stupid" thread :).

I was shooting Savage 110BA .338LM this weekend and went beyond 300yds out to 600yds for the first time. I don't think I know how to account for the 20 MOA base on the Savage rifle. Had mounted Leopold 6.5-20x M5 TMR scope.
The AB program was predicting 3.4 mils UP at 600 for 250gr SMK at 2890fps (avg MV as measured with chrono that day), but 2.75 was the sweet spot.
I knew AB was over predicting the UP mils based on shooting at 200 and 300 earlier in the day, so at 600yds I started at 3 mils up and was high, then tried 2.5 and was low, then tried 2.75 and got POI within 1 MOA of the POA for the next 4 rounds.
Do I need to use the "Zero offset" to account for the 20 MOA scope base?
p.s. the Savage 110BA .338LM is awesome if it can get a dummy like me on target at 600yds the first time with no help from the magic AB program !!! :D
 
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This question probably belongs in the "really stupid" thread :).

I was shooting Savage 110BA .338LM this weekend and went beyond 300yds out to 600yds for the first time. I don't think I know how to account for the 20 MOA base on the Savage rifle. Had mounted Leopold 6.5-20x M5 TMR scope.
The AB program was predicting 3.4 mils UP at 600 for 250gr SMK at 2890fps (avg MV as measured with chrono that day), but 2.75 was the sweet spot.
I knew AB was over predicting the UP mils based on shooting at 200 and 300 earlier in the day, so at 600yds I started at 3 mils up and was high, then tried 2.5 and was low, then tried 2.75 and got POI within 1 MOA of the POA for the next 4 rounds.
Do I need to use the "Zero offset" to account for the 20 MOA scope base?
p.s. the Savage 110BA .338LM is awesome if it can get a dummy like me on target at 600yds the first time with no help from the magic AB program !!! :D
No you don't need to account for the base. Did you add 3 mils to your 300 yard dope or did you add 3 mills to your 100 yard zero?
 
No you don't need to account for the base. Did you add 3 mils to your 300 yard dope or did you add 3 mills to your 100 yard zero?

Ok thanks. I was suspecting the zero itself should account for the base and now that you've confirmed that, I think I need to go back and turn the knobs a little at 150yds. The way my land is configured, plus my confidence in knowing actual ranges, makes me prefer to zero at 150.

I was trying to balance ammunition expenditure with the goal of successfully getting to 600yds. I fired 3 rounds to pre-zero (since I had just remounted scope and rings) at 50yds, then 6 rounds to chrono at 50yds. Then went to 200yds and fired 3 rounds, but did not turn the knobs, I was a little high and right, but was thinking, "I'm close enough to get on paper at 325yds." so I went to 325. Then I fired 2 rounds and did get on paper actually POI 7 inches at 1 o'clock from POA and second round 3 o'clock at 4 inches from POA, so then went to 600yds and fired 5 rounds as indicated above. So bottom line, I never really zeroed! So, I guess I'll go do that and try again! But I kept worrying about how to account for the 20 MOA base and now I know I don't have to, so thanks for that!
 
In addition to having this on my Gal. S4 I also loaded it on my acer A500 tablet. I like it much better on the tablet.


I'm also confused about the base changing the dope on my rifle so I want to ask now. I havent zero'd it yet. Actually just got it all put together lastnight. Rem 700 tac .308 w/ 20 MOA base and SS3-15X42. I am also very new to long range shooting so I felt this would help greatly to have this app. Could someone help explain the settings for this. I read what you posted previously but I'm still confused a bit. I dont plan on attempting to shot past about 600 or less until I get all this dialed in. Thanks in advance

Jason
 
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It's kinda hard for any ballistic program to work right without giving it a place to start. And make sure if you don't use a 100 yard zero you change it in the ammunition settings 100 yards is the default.

Jason if you want to PM me your question I will try to get you on the right track.
 
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Thanks Neo. I'm hoping to go out this weekend and do some barrel break in. And try to play with this app a little. I know it's going to change as I shoot more. I did try this out on my savage 308 and some factory ammo but didn't fully understand it all.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I took my new 700 sps tac out today and zero'd at 100. Shot exceptional group at 100 with factory ammo. This was fed. fusion 150 gr. advertised M.V. was 2820. So i wanted to streach it out a lil. Set up the target at unkonw distance. Checked with my reticle and came up with aprx .5-.6 mils (8" target.). Calculated with AB and got 444 yr. I got U2.4 mils. So I sent 3 down range and not a single hit. WTF over? Well I thought that seemed kinda high. So I decided to wrok it up slowly from 0. Ended up at 1.5 mils was center of the target. With the same load iSnipe had me at 3.0 mils. I know its gotta be a setting. But which one. I can attch some screen shot of the apps if it would help. Double checked all that I can think of.
 
I took my new 700 sps tac out today and zero'd at 100. Shot exceptional group at 100 with factory ammo. This was fed. fusion 150 gr. advertised M.V. was 2820. So i wanted to streach it out a lil. Set up the target at unkonw distance. Checked with my reticle and came up with aprx .5-.6 mils (8" target.). Calculated with AB and got 444 yr. I got U2.4 mils. So I sent 3 down range and not a single hit. WTF over? Well I thought that seemed kinda high. So I decided to wrok it up slowly from 0. Ended up at 1.5 mils was center of the target. With the same load iSnipe had me at 3.0 mils. I know its gotta be a setting. But which one. I can attch some screen shot of the apps if it would help. Double checked all that I can think of.

Just because the ammo box said 2820 fps, doesn't mean that's correct with your rifle. Also, if you used your reticle to range, you may have been off. That takes practice.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk