Methods: Calculation, Extrapolation & D.O.P.E.

Manual Ballistics: Introduction

Manual Ballistics can quickly paint itself as a complicated topic when presented with all components of a ballistic solution and all options to achieve them. Care should be taken to remember that marksmanship is a goal-oriented practice - in other words; effects on target are the metric by which our task is measured, not the method used to achieve them.

Whatever method is used, it is critical, however, that it provides thorough, reliable and repeatable effects. Throughout this field manual group, we will be offering three methods to achieve the same goal, each with advantages, and each more attractive to a different audience.

Calculation

Almost all variables in a bullets' flight path can indeed be accounted for with the use of formulas and calculations, many of which are far more simple than one would anticipate. Using calculations to assemble a ballistics solution is without comparison the most universal method available - there will never be a situation in which a ballistics solution can't be assembled with great accuracy. That said, this method is the slowest to use

Universal, 

Slower, some error

Extrapolation

Saves calculations

not available where previous data doesn't exist, least as accurate

D.O.P.E.

Even more accurate, the fastest

Considerable preparation time

Chart

Make it your own, but the best will have multiple options and use a mix of all methods