With hunting season here, you may be preparing for a long-distance shot. After all, you have a quality rifle and optic, and you use only the best hunting ammunition.

But are you using Ballistic to make the most out of your investment in hunting gear?

Of course, Ballistic is a tremendous aid when you are at the range, zeroing and practicing. Once your rifle is zeroed, and you have built your Bullet Profile, spend some time with Ballistic before you go afield to familiarize yourself with all the things this great app can do for the long-range hunter.

The most obvious assists Ballistic will provide: bullet drop at distances and adjusting for wind drift.

For hunting, it’s all about hitting the vital area of the animal to make a clean, ethical shot. So, of course, you need to know your bullet drop at specific distances. Some hunters prefer to write down these figures on paper and tape them to the stock of their rifle for quick reference in the field. Others will take their mobile device with Ballistic downloaded on it and reference it in the field. 

Wind drift is a huge factor in making that clean shot, too. Even a slight breeze will push a bullet many inches off target at hundreds of yards. 

With Ballistic, you can input wind speed and direction in a manner of ways. You can use angle inputs (e.g., 90° = crosswind left to right) for the wind direction or the O’clock format (e.g., 3:00 will automatically translate to 90°). Headwinds can be added in, too, and Ballistic will automatically adjust velocity to account for your headwind calculation.

Projectile velocity is another concern for the long-distance hunter. Many traditional hunting bullets were (and still are) made to expand at rather high velocities. Closer range shooting was the norm when these bullets were designed.

By Yard 500, for example, your bullet has slowed considerably versus its original muzzle velocity.  A traditional hunting bullet can hit the animal at 500 yards. However, bullet expansion may be little to none, resulting in a wounded animal.

Newer long-distance hunting rounds are designed to expand at a wider range of velocities. Usually, that information is found on the back of the ammunition box.Ballistic and your Bullet Profile can calculate the velocity of your projectile at various distances. Compare that to the ammunition maker’s recommendations of the velocity needed for bullet expansion.

If your hunting round’s projectile needs 1,900 feet-per-second of velocity for good expansion, for example, use Ballistic to discover at what distance your bullet dips below this mark. That’s your maximum range for taking an ethical shot, courtesy of Ballistic.

Ballistic can go with you in the field because it works without WIFI or cell service. Making sure you have all the information you need to make your hunt one for the record books.

Bring Ballistic afield with you. And bring home that trophy.