The Wheel of Time

[ChrisWay]

In long-range shooting, understanding what affects accuracy at different distances can feel like cracking a code for the first time. Time of Flight (TOF)—the time it takes for a bullet to reach the target—is a critical factor in this equation. Different aspects of performance that we look for as shooters with goals appear in different phases of this time lapse. Important metrics such as group size, initial velocity and BC, as well as Extreme Spread (ES), play bigger or smaller roles. All can be viewed as part of the Time of Flight spectrum.What works at shorter ranges doesn’t always hold up at longer distances. It’s not that the rules change, but the way those rules interact with time and distance shifts. Think of it like a wheel: as the bullet travels farther and Time of Flight increases, different parts of the wheel come into focus. Let’s break it down step by step.



At 1.5 Seconds Time of Flight: ES and Velocity win...

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[Lowlight]

 

[Buford Boone]

Time Of Flight is the most important factor in long range accuracy.

Drop? TOF based.

Wind deflection? TOF based.

Shooters think in terms of distance. Ballistic programs convert TOF to distance.

One day shooters will seek TOF consistency in the same way they now seek MV consistency.

 

[Emerson0311]

When rangefinders are calibrated to TOF then….. and we also end up back where Roy Weatherby started, with the addition of modern high BC bullets. Highest velocity, highest BC, lowest TOF.
Burnt out barrels, lower energy on target or high recoil or very heavy rifles. Pretty easy to get into a Rube Goldberg machine situation, and forget overall purpose, cost benefit analysis, and most importantly; repeatable shooter performance. I like to geek out, but most situations are handled the best by doers.

 

[Lowlight]

Chris is doing some great work analyzing the results under real world conditions

He’s not modeling it, but shooting it out with a variety of ammo, bullet weights and speeds

Fort Morgan is an awesome long range laboratory, it’s the right conditions- distance and wind effects

 

[Lowlight]

Also if you haven’t checked out the articles, cruise by and have a glance. Lots of great thoughts

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