Range Report Ballistic FTE program help

[Jeff in TX]

I down loaded the Ballistic FTE program last night for my iPOD.

The website said they have a library of over 3100 bullets including a list of the new G7 BC’s. I think I missing something as I can’t find the G7 library. When I click on Ballistic Coefficient tab I enter into the library of projectiles. When I select .308, scroll to Sierra and select the 175gr HPBT MK it only shows a variable BC. When I select it the Ballistic Coefficient shows “Auto” as well as the Native Drag Model equaling G1.

When I change the “Use Drag Model” to G7 nothing changes, however when I press the Calculate Trajectory the input parameters shows a .250 G7 BC so it made the conversion from G1. However it doesn't show me what G1 BC is being converted. I don't want to have to reverse the conversion calculation to see the G1 BC being used. I'd rather just use a library list???

I fully understand ballistic programs as well as the ballistic calculations but I don’t find this very intuitive or user friendly. Am I missing the G7 library or is this how this works? Other than the library the program works fine. It's looking as thought I’m just have to build my own G7 bullet library from Bryan’s Litz’s list and that sort of defeats the process.

Any help or input if I’m missing something.

 

[hifly78]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

I have both this program and KAC Bullet flight. The bullet flight has Litz's G7 Data built into it. I agree I don't think the Ballistic program re G7 data works. I can't find any G7 data and when I change the native drag to G7 from the loaded G1 data then calculate nothing changes.

I recommend KAC Bulletflight. The only thing I liked about Ballistic was the Range log and Target data storage.

I'm not using that much more.

 

[bohem]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

I don't think it's converting the G1 to a G7. The G1's for the SMK's are usually based on velocity in that program. I think it says "multi".

I don't have my iPod with me today or I'd check right now for sure.

 

[TimK]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

I don't have mine with me either, but the settings for the program are in the settings icon for the whole iPod. There might be something to change on that menu that you haven't seen yet.

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

I'm pretty sure it can use G7 BC's it just does not display them as they are somewhat proprietary information a la Bryan Litz.

 

[Jeff in TX]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think it's converting the G1 to a G7. The G1's for the SMK's are usually based on velocity in that program. I think it says "multi".

I don't have my iPod with me today or I'd check right now for sure. </div></div>

It is actually doing the conversion from G1 to G7 but you only see that when you run the Calculate Trajectory output and look at the G7 BC in output report. I had to go in a reverse the calculation on my own and it did work but it's frustrating that it's not giving me the reference G1 BC.

 

[azimutha]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

The iTunes store description of Bulletflight does state "Measured G7 BCs from Bryan Litz are provided. Values are hidden from display. Please buy his book Applied Ballistics if you want a copy of the values."

Kind of surprising that Ballistic's author would adopt the JBM engine but not bother contacting Litz to use his G7 values along with it. I have the book, which I recommend for many other reasons than just getting the G7 numbers, so I've just entered the values manually.

 

[Jeff in TX]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

I sent Jonathan (the program creator) an email requesting help with my issues. The only reason I purchased this program was the fact that it’s built of JBM’s ballistic models and calculation which I know very well as well as his website states he uses Bryan's G7 library.

Jonathan's response was very short, incomplete and most disappointing and did not respond at all to my follow up email. He said only military projectiles are G7, though he did not elaborate on what the military projectiles were. He said I could convert the other bullets to G7, though I know the program will convert the G1 BC’s to G7. The problem is his program doesn’t always tell me the G1 BC# that is being converted. For most bullets it will tell you the G1 BC but for Sierra bullets you’re hosed as the stated BC says "Variable"??? :-( Again, not a straight answer to my questions

Depending on your needs I’m not sure I would recommend this product. The program is very good but and since I don’t shoot a lot of different bullets, I’ll just create my own library. Next time I’ll do a little more homework.

 

[bohem]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: azimutha</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The iTunes store description of Bulletflight does state "Measured G7 BCs from Bryan Litz are provided. Values are hidden from display. Please buy his book Applied Ballistics if you want a copy of the values."

Kind of surprising that Ballistic's author would adopt the JBM engine but not bother contacting Litz to use his G7 values along with it. I have the book, which I recommend for many other reasons than just getting the G7 numbers, so I've just entered the values manually. </div></div>

This is what I've done as well.

Note to those shooting Bergers. The bullet library is old and doesn't maintain the new values that Berger has on their boxes nor do the old values line up with Bryan's testing. I think that Bryan's tests are reflected on Berger's new labels since his book values match the 140gr VLD 6.5's and the 180gr VLD 7's that I have.

 

[azimutha]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jeff in TX</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jonathan's response was very short, incomplete and most disappointing and did not respond at all to my follow up email.</div></div>

Yeah, I gotta say I've had the same experience. He has been helpful, but only to a degree. It's a good program and agrees with online JBM, but so does Shooter for Android, which I believe uses Litz' data. I've got other reasons to consider an Android phone (no AT&T where I live, open development environment) but the availability of Shooter makes it even easier to consider the move.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

Jeff - if you run a std G1 profile on say a 175SMK (i.e. are not trying to convert to G7) and calculate it.... on the output page - there is a table for the variable G1 BC based on velocity. Its right before the actual bullet trajectory output table. My iPhone Ballistic FTE shows the 175SMK G1 BC as:

.505 (>2800 fps)
.496 (1800-2800)
.485 (<1800)

SO its there, its just not in the initial input field on the "trajectory charactoristics" page.

edit: I atarted out liking Ballistic FTE, but I think I'm swinging back to Bulletflight now that it also can use station pressure.

 

[Jeff in TX]

Re: Ballistic FTE program help

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jeff - if you run a std G1 profile on say a 175SMK (i.e. are not trying to convert to G7) and calculate it.... on the output page - there is a table for the variable G1 BC based on velocity. Its right before the actual bullet trajectory output table. My iPhone Ballistic FTE shows the 175SMK G1 BC as:

.505 (>2800 fps)
.496 (1800-2800)
.485 (<1800)

SO its there, its just not in the initial input field on the "trajectory charactoristics" page.

edit: I atarted out liking Ballistic FTE, but I think I'm swinging back to Bulletflight now that it also can use station pressure. </div></div>

Reaper Driver,

I understand but those are calculated G1 BC's from Sierra and are not measured. Bryan Litz's new G7 BC's have actually been measured and are different from the manufactures calculated BC's.

I reverse calculated the .250 G7 BC the "Calculated Trajectory" output the program used, which calculates to a .499 G1 BC and not .505.

So as you can see it leaves me with more unanswered questions as to where or what BC's the program is actually using.

At the end of the day I want to know what my actual input numbers are.