Moving targets: estimation

Method

When the opportunity to calculate moving target holds ahead of time is not available to a sniper team, when the speed of a target is unknown, or when moving targets present spontaneously, the speed of deliberate estimation becomes a necessity. 

To obtain a reliable and repeatable hold value, we only need to know our time of flight. With our bullets travel time in hand, we can measure how many MRADs our target travels within the flight time, and hold over by the measured amount.

Data collection

Time of flight can be found in the ATragMX under the “RC” button in the top right of the screen or derived in an online ballistics program. As the ATragMX suite is not available in situations where manual ballistics are relevant, time of flight information should be recorded prior to operation start.

Example

Sgt McShooty is deployed as an Spotter (Manual) on a Honeybadger. Without warning, a moving target presents itself at a known distance of 800m, a shot that will have a time of flight of 1.5s.

He sets a timer to count down from 1.5s, and presses “start” when the target is in the center of his crosshairs:

In those 1.5s, the target traveled 5.6 MRADs from the start point.

Because target is moving from left to right, he tells his sniper to adjust 5.6 MRADs to the right, into the direction of travel.

Limitations

This method has the potential to provide a remarkably accurate hold value for moving targets. It should be noted, however, that the hold values are only as precise as the person employing them. 

For those using timed estimation, it is highly recommended to practice and grow comfortable reading MRAD values on the cue of a timer.