The Desktop Program

While a user may use the Precision Shooter's Workbench^© as simple ballistics calculator, it also includes a collection of tools for the serious long range shooter. The software is designed to produce a firing solution accurate enough for a first round, cold barrel hit at any range where the bullet is still supersonic. However, the software also has substantial value in the tools it provides to the shooter to identify the actual calibration of the shooter's scope, to build libraries of atmosphere and bullet profiles for instantaneous loading and use as well as a creative "turret profile" that captures the turret scale in terms of its scale markings and related MOA values such that the program can output elevation corrections not only in terms of MOA (or mils) but in terms of the actual turret setting. This feature is explained in the "Profiles" section.

Metric vs English - Many programs allow the user to input either metric dimensions to return metric results or English units to return English unit results. This program is different. Each individual data item may be input in either in metric or English units and any output may selected to be presented in either metric or English units, or both for that matter. It is not necessary to choose between metric or English data - use one, or the other, or mix and match. It's up to you.

Configurable Trajectory Table - data output includes range, velocity, time-of-flight, energy, drop, path, come-ups, elevation, windage, spin drift, Coriolis error, lead, hold-off, and others. As mentioned above, each column of data can be output in either English or Metric units (or both simultaneously.) The precision of each data column can be set to show up to 5 decimal places. The user may not only select which data columns should be displayed, but also in what order. In other words, how and what data is displayed is completely user controlled.

Saving your session - upon close, the program stores everything currently on the page: the data in the data input boxes, the columns and their sequence, even the width and precision of the columns just as you set them. In other words, when you restart the program, it will pick up exactly where you left off.

Creating bullet profiles - Some programs come with a file that lists 1500 or so bullets. We believe that this is a waste of disc space. Why store data on 1500 bullet s when you use only 10 or 15 bullets. Our approach allows you to create bullet profiles for the bullets you use and to include the data relevant to calculating trajectories with those bullets: the caliber, weight, the G1 ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, your rifle's twist rate, bullet manufacturer and any notes that you may wish to include. These profiles may be edited and selected for instant use in trajectory calculation.

Printing the results - the output data table can, of course, be printed. However, user can also print a small table which can be cut to fit into the scope cap for availability in the field during competition.

Precise scope calibration tool - Most shooters will check scope calibration by shooting at 100 yards by first shooting a group with the scope zeroed at 100 yards, then cranking in 30 or 40 minutes and shooting another group. The shooter then measures the distance between the two groups. The distance should be close to the amount of elevation dialed on the scope. This is an approximate method at best. This program can print out a chart covering about 40 minutes so the shooter can check the precision of the reticle movement on the chart, thus producing a precise and exact measurement of the reticle's movement. The program then has a computation dialog box to calculate the exact click value of the turret. This value is then used by the program in computing exact turret settings for scope elevation corrections.

Turret Profiles - The program allows the user to create profiles of any turret, whether a multi-revolution target type or a BDC (single revolution.) The value of this profile is that the program can use the profile to output elevation correction data in terms of a specific turret setting. Of course, the program outputs elevation correction in terms of MOA or Mils, but in addition it will give the correction in terms of the turret scale as well. This is particularly useful where the click value is in unfamiliar units, an odd number or a fraction. Below is a partial screen shot of an edit window showing a profile for a typical BDC. The upper line shows the turret scale; the bottom line shows the number of clicks which correspond to each scale number.

The value of using turret profiles is that the program can convert the elevation correction for any shot into a turret setting. For instance, assume that the actual click value for a scope is found to be 0.95 MOA per click instead of the advertised 1 MOA per click. Trying to convert an elevation correction into a click value is obviously more difficult using the actual click value. In addition, particularly for BDC type turrets, the range scale is only accurate for a particular bullet with a specific muzzle velocity in a standard atmosphere. Given atmospheric changes and changes to muzzle velocity (perhaps due to handloading), simply using the fixed turret range scale is highly unsatisfactory. If, on the other hand, a means existed to output a scale setting while taking into consideration actual atmospheric conditions and actual scope click value, the BDC could be used with confidence irrespective of the assumptions built into the scale. For example, perhaps given the atmospheric variables, bullet muzzle velocity and the irregularities of the scope click value, for a 900 yard shot, the actual setting should be 900 minus 2 clicks. The program will calculate the trajectory, convert the elevation correction into a turret setting and display the turret scale for the correction as "900 - 2". There is no need to convert the elevation correction from MOA to scope clicks then to the setting or to limit the use of the BDC to a specific bullet or cartridge. The program takes all the variables into consideration and computes the correction in terms of the turret scale used. This is especially convenient output on the PDA version of the software where a real-time solution is required.

Advanced ranging techniques - if a Field Firing Position (FFP) location is known and possible target locations are also known, it is possible to calculate the range from FFP to target using coordinates. The program allows position files to be built using Latitude/Longitude coordinates or UTM coordinates and location elevation. By choosing a particular FFP file and Target file, the program will compute slant range, bearing of shot and shot angle. These files are readable by the field version of the software in a way that permits engagement of multiple targets on a real-time basis. Below is a screen shot of the coordinate ranging dialog. Note the various formats available for input.

Building profiles for field use - All of the profiles built on this program can be used in the PDA version of our software. Thus in the field, atmospheric, bullet and turret data can be instantly loaded as preset values. The shooter need only input current conditions of wind, wind direction, target range, speed and heading to get a firing solution.