Ballistics Calculator — Drop, Drift & Energy Charts
Calculate bullet drop, wind drift, and terminal energy for popular hunting cartridges. Accounts for altitude, temperature, wind, and shooting angle.
Trajectory (Bullet Drop)
| Range (yds) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Wind Drift (in) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | TOF (s) | Kill Viable |
|---|
Confident kill zone Marginal Insufficient energy
Data is approximate. Uses simplified G1 point-mass model with drag, gravity, altitude/temperature air density correction, wind drift, and angle cosine. Always confirm with live fire at your hunting altitude.
How This Calculator Works
This ballistics calculator uses a point-mass trajectory model stepping through small time increments. At each step it calculates aerodynamic drag using the G1 drag function and your bullet's ballistic coefficient, applies gravitational drop, wind deflection, and corrects air density for altitude and temperature using the ICAO standard atmosphere model.
Shooting angle uses the Rifleman's Rule (cosine method) — gravity acts on the cosine of the incline angle, reducing apparent drop for uphill and downhill shots equally.
Max Ethical Range is the distance at which the bullet retains the minimum energy recommended for a clean kill on your selected game animal. This is a starting point — shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions all matter more than raw energy numbers.