If you use a Palm PDA try this: http://www.proprock.chat.ru/files/pssf0995b.zip
It's Pocket SharpShooters Friend (PSSf), a nifty PDA program (Palm OS 3.5 or greater) from a Russian shooter.
It's a freeware program for the Palm systems that will compute target range (given the target size in mil-dots and in inches (or cm). PSSf takes that range uses your entered weather data, your choice of ammo and weapon, and target speed, then computes the come-ups and windage needed to hit the target (in clicks, cm, inches, Mils or MOA). It will even graphically show you how you can hit the target using mil-dots (or those funky Druganov chevrons) from your scope's zero. (note at extreme ranges where I needed 20 moa of elevation the target was NOT shown on the display as it exceeded 4 MILs - but the click adjustments were).
Unlike PBX, this Palm program does not computer a trajectory (or energy) table - it just comes up with the answer to hit the target at the specified range (and it does so QUICKLY).
Some notes on the program:
- Be sure you only load the ENGLISH version (assuming you can read this). The .ZIP file has both the English and the Russian language version.
- The program has 3 modes: Military, Sport, and Hunting. All switching modes does is to add some on screen buttons to make it quicker to change loads and/or firearm. However, it removes the ability to change the target's azimuth and/or height (depending on the mode).
- Environmental conditions are called 'Weather'. It's simplified into just temperature and barometric pressure (talk about easy). Wind values are handled separately and are quick to change on fly (whereas to change the Weather you need to call up another screen)
- The program maintains 2 databases. The first is on the weapon/optic where you store info like height of optic over bore, # moa per click, your zero range, and the atmospheric conditions during zeroing. The second database contains the loads you shoot (name of load, MV in fps or m/s, and the BC). It's quick and easy to switch loads during a session (especially if you're running Sport or Hunting mode)
- Another cool features is there is a BC calculator in the bullet database. Say you don't know the BC of your bullet. You shoot a group at a target, then shoot another group at another target downrange. Enter in the drop, and the distance between targets and it computes a working BC. Pretty slick
- There is also a 'zero tool' that given your weapon, round, and target size - it generates an optimum zero for hitting that target- returning the near and far zero, the mid point range (where it's the most off the LOS) and the effective point-blank range.
It's the kind of program you'd dream of for a precision rifle course or for busting prairie dogs; it's quicker than the 'mil-dot master' and does much more. It's the best piece of 'freeware' I've ever seen for the shooting community.
Now many of you are probably saying "Heck yeah I want this program but I don't have a Palm". Not really a problem. If you go to e-bay you can pick up older Palms (make sure the model has at least OS 3.5 or later) for $40 or less. I've seen many in the $12-$20 range. Heck you can't even get the 'Mil-Dot Master' for that kind of dough.
Main Screen (Military Mode - where it's assumed you won't be changing load or weapon- and the target is not as 'simple') Note your load is listed in the upper left, and your selected weapon in the button at the bottom (this is true for all modes):
Now if you touch that 'Target Range' button you can quickly bring up the 'Mil-Dot' Ranging screen (aka the electronic version of the Mil-Dot Master):
Finally this is what the output screen looks like (you get it when you press the large button at the bottom of the Main Screen - where your firearm is listed):
Note the range is in the upper left, your windage and range mil-dots are marked and the target is show (in red - or a black dot if you have a B/W screen). This is the mil-dot display, there are 3 other reticule patterns available including PSO-1 (Druganov), German (T type), and .30-30 (standard crosshairs).
Or you can use the adjustments listed at the bottom of the screen to adjust from your zero.
Note the magnification is shown in the upper right. The output magnification is user selectable from 10X to 50X in 10x jumps. This is the weakness of this program - that it can't display magnifications lower than 10X. Though honestly IMHO it's not that big a flaw as 10X, is pretty close to 9X, and I'd bet most of us would be using the adjustments anyway.
Funny thing is I stumbled across this looking at games for my son to play on an old PDA. My son got some cool games, and I got this great program - just in time for a follow up a precision rifle class I'm taking 2 weeks. You can bet I'll be bringing the PDA along.