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Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

A

alexlaw86

Private
Minuteman
Apr 20, 2008
7
0
#1
Looking at downloading an iphone 4 app. I have heard great things about both applications, which one is better?!

I will be be using it for a field/tactical application for most of the time, with the occasional range session...

Running a 308WIN, with Nightforce scope etc.
 
#6
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

Both FTE and Bullet Flight are nice.

One big problem I have with FTE is that it doesn't seem to store the profile in Favorites - only the computed trajectory (specific to current weather & location).

Bullet Flight is easier to use (better user interface), stores profiles (and has a better library of projectiles, including - unlike FTE - Bryan Litz G7 BC for many) - but while it offers spin drift consideration as an option, it does <span style="text-decoration: underline">not</span> has a field in the profile for the barrel rifling twist (so how it can compute spin drift accurately is beyond my understanding).
 
#8
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One big problem I have with FTE is that it doesn't seem to store the profile in Favorites - only the computed trajectory (specific to current weather & location).</div></div>

Perhaps your copy of Ballistic FTE is outdated. My copy of FTE most certainly does store profiles in favorites.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bullet Flight is easier to use (better user interface), stores profiles (and has a better library of projectiles, including - unlike FTE - Bryan Litz G7 BC for many)</div></div>

Perhaps your copy of Ballistic FTE is outdated. My copy of FTE has Bryan's G7 BCs in the library for many proectiles.
 
#11
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One big problem I have with FTE is that it doesn't seem to store the profile in Favorites - only the computed trajectory (specific to current weather & location).</div></div>
Perhaps your copy of Ballistic FTE is outdated. My copy of FTE most certainly does store profiles in favorites.</div></div>
Considering that I installed it only yesterday from iTunes store - this (that my copy is outdated) is rather unlikely. But to be specific - it's Ballistic Field Tactical Edition v2.3.10, released Nov 2, 2010. If you know of a newer release - please point me to where I can download it from.

My copy of FTE seems to only allow setting the current profile as <span style="text-decoration: underline">the default</span> (so changing it will change the default to something else - no visible way to store/keep/recall more than one) - or clicking on "Calculate Trajectory" and storing the resulting <span style="text-decoration: underline">trajectory</span> (not the profile!) to Favorites.

On the other hand, I just noticed that after going to Favorites and bringing up the stored "trajectory" - there's an option (not obvious - one has to "probe" for it) to "Load", and once loaded - the profile associated with that trajectory indeed is brought up.

Thus I was wrong claiming that it isn't there. But intuitive - FTE isn't (in this at least).

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bullet Flight is easier to use (better user interface), stores profiles (and has a better library of projectiles, including - unlike FTE - Bryan Litz G7 BC for many)</div></div>
Perhaps your copy of Ballistic FTE is outdated. My copy of FTE has Bryan's G7 BCs in the library for many projectiles.
</div></div>
Well, "many" is nice, but doesn't quite cut it for me - I tried to locate G7 BC for Hornady 308 A-MAX 168gr that Bryan Litz provided, and couldn't (the library luckily had this projectile, but "unluckily" - only with G1 BC). I tried to find Berger 338 Hybrid 300gr projectile - and it wasn't there at all.

Does your version of FTE have those?

It's not that FTE is bad - it isn't. It's just less intuitive and convenient to deal with than e.g. Bullet Flight. I hope this "unfriendliness" is compensated by computational accuracy. We'll see.
 
#12
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

Well, I didn't go through the entire library to see how many G7 BCs are there. I have Bryan's book, so if the G7 BC wasn't there for a particular projectile, I'd just look it up in the book and put it in myself. <shrug>
 
#13
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mouse07410</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Well, "many" is nice, but doesn't quite cut it for me - I tried to locate G7 BC for Hornady 308 A-MAX 168gr that Bryan Litz provided, and couldn't (the library luckily had this projectile, but "unluckily" - only with G1 BC). I tried to find Berger 338 Hybrid 300gr projectile - and it wasn't there at all.

Does your version of FTE have those?</div></div>

I can't believe that for $20 it doesn't have every G7 ever published AND the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. You should write the author a stern letter.

Seriously, yes you have to enter some info, but once you do it's very accurate. I never shot my 243 past 300 yards and then took it straight to 1k at a comp and was the top long range shooter. I'd say that's some pretty darn good computing skills.
wink.gif
 
#14
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mouse07410</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Well, "many" is nice, but doesn't quite cut it for me - I tried to locate G7 BC for Hornady 308 A-MAX 168gr that Bryan Litz provided, and couldn't (the library luckily had this projectile, but "unluckily" - only with G1 BC). I tried to find Berger 338 Hybrid 300gr projectile - and it wasn't there at all.

Does your version of FTE have those?</div></div>
I can't believe that for $20 it doesn't have every G7 ever published AND the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. You should write the author a stern letter.</div></div>
It seemed to me that Hornady A-MAX bullets were quite popular (and most of them have been around for a while) - so IMHO it is reasonable to expect something better than single G1 BC for them (e.g. Sierra bullets come with banded G1). I wasn't talking about some wildcats, or obscure bullets. Again, wouldn't be a big deal - except for the problem described below.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seriously, yes you have to enter some info, but once you do it's very accurate. I never shot my 243 past 300 yards and then took it straight to 1k at a comp and was the top long range shooter. I'd say that's some pretty darn good computing skills.
wink.gif
</div></div>
I'm impressed - with computer skills like these you should come here and work with me on the true rocket science problems!
grin.gif


Seriously, yes it is a very good application, and it comes with a great library. But it does seem to have some annoying quirks.

For example, I can easily (now
smile.gif
) configure a profile with 168gr A-MAX G7 BC, or add a profile for Berger 300gr Hybrid. The problem: all the bullets in such "customized" profile show up as "Custom Projectile". It screws up a very nice feature "Comparison". Trying to e.g. compare Wind Drift of several bullets of the same caliber and weight gives me nice curves - each being labeled "0.338 Custom Projectile 300gr". I found no way (so far
smile.gif
) to change Projectile name if I either add one FTE didn't have - or change the "defined one" from G1 to G7 BC.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have Bryan's book, so if the G7 BC wasn't there for a particular projectile, I'd just look it up in the book and put it in myself. <shrug></div></div>
So do I, and so I did as well (of course). And ended up with a nice collection of "Custom Projectile" bullets distinguishable only by their weight and caliber (as described above).<shrug>
 
#15
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For example, I can easily (now ) configure a profile with 168gr A-MAX G7 BC, or add a profile for Berger 300gr Hybrid. The problem: all the bullets in such "customized" profile show up as "Custom Projectile".</div></div>

You're doing it wrong.

Set up the load in the trajectory screen. Run the trajectory calculation. Click on the arrow in the upper right hand corner of the resulting screen. Specify your own name for the load in the bookmark field, with additional notes whatever you want in the field for them. Then save it.

You'll be able to pick that load from the Favorites screen thereafter.
 
#16
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

Lindy, I'm doing exactly as you described. And the Favorites are all named nicely and accurately. The problem manifests itself when you pick & load one favorite with a customized or custom bullet (any BC modification counts as customization
smile.gif
), run say "Wind Drift Chart" and then "Add Projectile" to see on the same chart how they compare to each other. That's where the name screw-up starts mattering.

You can also observe this (though it's not a real problem on this screen) when you load such a profile into Trajectory (one of the main screens). Profile's name will be OK - but the Projectile will be "Custom Projectile".

I hope I'm doing something wrong and that there is a way to change "Custom Projectile" to something more distinguishable. But so far it doesn't seem so.

Lindy, an unrelated question. Some bullets in FTE library (Sierra in particular) come with banded G1. Here are my options:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*]Leave Native BC as (banded) G1 and leave Trajectory BC as G1 (FTE default).[*]Leave Native BC as (banded) G1 and change Trajectory BC to G7.[*]Change Native BC to G7 (from Litz's book) and change Trajectory BC to G7.[/list]
Which of these computations would in your opinion result in a more accurate trajectory?

P.S. I emailed Jonathan, describing my observations and asking how to change that "Custom Projectile" to something useful. Will post here if he recommends something.
 
#17
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

OK - I see what you mean. Perhaps there will be a quick fix for that.

You'll always be better off when a G7 BC is available to use that. The only reason that Sierra lists G1 BCs in velocity ranges is because a G1 drag model does not describe very well the behavior of modern boattail bullets.
 
#18
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lindy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK - I see what you mean. Perhaps there will be a quick fix for that.</div></div>
I sure hope so. Will post here if/when I hear anything back from Jonathan.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You'll always be better off when a G7 BC is available to use that. The only reason that Sierra lists G1 BCs in velocity ranges is because a G1 drag model does not describe very well the behavior of modern boattail bullets.</div></div>
I see. So I'll be better off with one G7 than with multiple G1 for velocity ranges. Tnx!

To his credit, Jonathan uses G7 for M118LR.
wink.gif
 
#21
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

I just use JBM to compare different bullets instead of FTE its faster and easier. When I want to compare different bullets in FTE I load the default profile and just change is bullet weight, BC and use the G7 profile. That way you use the same sight scope height and environmental conditions. It doesn't take long to do that ..........
 
#22
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

blklabs, the whole idea of running FTE on an iPhone (or iPod) is to do what you need (or want) when you don't have either computer or Internet access or both.

Another reason to use FTE - JBM doesn't do multi-projectile graphs like FTE does (a very nice touch!).

What you described is exactly what I'm doing (and it doesn't take long at all) - except that I don't understand how you differentiate between the bullets of the same caliber/weight on the same graph if you modified them to G7 BC (as they all will be listed in the legend as "Custom Projectile").
 
#23
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

I don't use the graphs. If I am interested in comparing loads I just calculate the trajectory, scroll down to my desired distance and memorize the elevation and windage. It's not that difficult for a couple of loads. Like you said, I only use it when I am not at my computer so it's mostly curiosity or comes up in a conversation.
 
#25
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

Get Bullet Flight (Knight Armament Corporation). I have all 3, Bullet Flight, Ballistic FTE, and Isnipe.

Bullet Flight really easy to store and make changes. Ballistic FTE nice to store Range data with target hits and velocities for future reference of zeros over multiple reloading loads for the same bullet.

Isnipe in addition to the others has a Mil Lead calculator. Not Practical but fun to play with.

Knowing what I know now I would have still purchase Bullet Flight and Ballistic FTE in that order.
 
#26
Re: Ballistics FTE or iSnipe??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Knowing what I know now I would have still purchase Bullet Flight and Ballistic FTE in that order.</div></div>
Yes, except that for myself - I'd reverse the order.

P.S. Posted a copy of my 2nd email to Jonathan in this thread. Hope he's still around and responds...

P.P.S. Today he responded and said that the capabilities I mentioned aren't in the current release, but he'll add them to the list of things to do in future releases.
 
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