Bullet Drop Calculator
Bullet Drop Calculator
G1 is standard for flat-base bullets. G7 is more accurate for long-range boat-tail match bullets.
Higher BC = less drag = less drop. Match the BC to the selected drag model.
9 o'clock (or 270°) = full left crosswind; 3 o'clock (or 90°) = full right crosswind; 12 = headwind; 6 = tailwind.
Comparison Load #2
Enter Your Bullet & Load Data
Select a caliber preset or enter your ballistic coefficient, bullet weight, and muzzle velocity — then set your zero range and atmospheric conditions to generate a full trajectory table.
Full ballistic trajectory table with G1/G7 drag models, atmospheric corrections, and DOPE card export
Bullet drop is the single most important factor in long-range shooting accuracy. When a bullet leaves the muzzle it immediately begins to fall under the influence of gravity, and the farther it travels the more it drops. Understanding and compensating for bullet drop is what separates consistent long-range hits from misses. Our Bullet Drop Calculator uses point-mass trajectory physics with the industry-standard G1 and G7 drag functions to give you a precise range table showing exactly how much your bullet drops at every distance you choose. Ballistics calculators used to be the exclusive domain of military snipers and professional long-range competitors who could afford expensive hardware and software solutions. Today every serious hunter, precision rifle competitor, and long-range enthusiast deserves access to the same accuracy. Our tool handles the full spectrum of inputs that affect a bullet's flight: the ballistic coefficient (BC) and drag model that describe how aerodynamically efficient the bullet is, the muzzle velocity and bullet weight that determine its initial kinetic energy, and a complete set of atmospheric conditions including altitude, temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity that affect air density. Why does air density matter? A denser atmosphere creates more drag, which slows your bullet faster and increases drop. At sea level on a cold day your bullet will drop noticeably more than at a high-altitude shooting range on a warm afternoon. Our calculator automatically computes the atmospheric correction factor and the density altitude, giving you an adjusted ballistic coefficient that reflects your actual shooting environment rather than the manufacturer's standard-atmosphere baseline. The range table output shows bullet drop in your choice of inches, MOA (minutes of angle), or MIL (milliradians) — the three units your scope turrets may be calibrated in. At 100 yards, 1 MOA equals approximately 1.047 inches and 1 MIL equals 3.6 inches. Being able to read these values directly from the table and dial them into your scope turrets eliminates mental math in the field. If you enter your scope's click value (for example, 0.25 MOA per click or 0.1 MIL per click), the table adds a clicks column so you can count turret adjustments directly. Wind drift is the second major challenge at long range. Even a modest 10-mph crosswind can push a .308 Winchester bullet more than a foot off target at 500 yards. Our calculator shows the full wind drift at each range increment, in both linear and angular units, helping you decide whether to hold off on a wind hold or dial windage. The wind direction input supports both degrees (0–360°) and clock notation (3 o'clock = right crosswind, 9 o'clock = left crosswind) to match whichever convention you use. The tool also marks velocity zones in the range table: supersonic rows display normally, transonic rows (roughly 1,116–1,340 FPS) are highlighted in amber as a warning that bullet stability can degrade in this zone, and subsonic rows appear in red. Knowing exactly where your bullet goes transonic helps you stay within the reliable range of your load. The supersonic range indicator in the summary shows the maximum distance at which you can expect consistent accuracy. For hunters, the retained energy column and terminal performance indicator tell you whether your bullet still carries enough energy at each distance to ethically take deer (1,000+ ft-lbs), elk (1,500+ ft-lbs), or smaller varmints. For competitors, the muzzle energy and point-blank range (PBR) values help you optimize your zero distance to maximize the range within which you can hold center and still keep shots inside your required hit zone. Pre-loaded caliber presets for the most popular cartridges — including .223 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, .338 Lapua Magnum, and many more — let you get started immediately. The dual-load comparison mode lets you run two different bullets side by side so you can see exactly how changing from a G1 .308 to a G7 6.5 Creedmoor, for example, affects your drop card across the full range table. Export your results to CSV for a printable DOPE card you can laminate and attach to your rifle.
Understanding Bullet Ballistics
What Is Bullet Drop?
Bullet drop is the vertical distance a projectile falls below the shooter's line of sight from the moment it leaves the muzzle. Despite common belief, a bullet fired horizontally and one dropped from the same height reach the ground at approximately the same time because gravity acts equally on both — the only difference is the horizontal distance traveled before impact. In practical shooting, 'bullet drop' refers to the total vertical displacement below the line of sight (which runs through the scope, above the bore centerline) at a given range. This displacement must be corrected by either holding high (aiming above the target) or dialing elevation on the scope turrets. The faster the bullet and the higher its ballistic coefficient, the less it drops over any given distance because it spends less time in flight.
How Is Bullet Drop Calculated?
The calculation uses point-mass trajectory physics. At each tiny time step, the bullet's velocity is reduced by aerodynamic drag, computed using the selected drag function (G1, G7, etc.) at the current Mach number. The drag force is proportional to the drag coefficient at that Mach number, divided by the ballistic coefficient. Simultaneously, gravity decelerates the vertical component of velocity at 32.174 ft/s². The position is updated each step, and the process repeats until the bullet reaches each requested range. The atmospheric correction scales the effective BC based on the ratio of actual air density to standard sea-level density at 59°F and 29.92 inHg. Wind drift uses the classic approximation: drift ≈ crosswind_speed × (time_of_flight − range/muzzle_velocity). Angular outputs (MOA and MIL) divide the linear drop or drift by a simple range-dependent factor: 1 MOA ≈ 1.047 inches per 100 yards; 1 MIL ≈ 3.6 inches per 100 yards.
Why Bullet Drop Matters
At 100 yards, most rifles are zeroed so bullet drop is negligible — but the math changes dramatically at longer ranges. A .308 Winchester 175-grain bullet zeroed at 100 yards drops roughly 13 inches at 300 yards, 36 inches at 500 yards, and nearly 100 inches at 700 yards. Without knowing these values and compensating for them, long-range shooting is pure guesswork. Hunters need accurate drop data to make ethical shots on game without wounding and losing animals. Precision rifle competitors need exact DOPE (data on previous engagements) to engage targets at unknown distances. Law enforcement and military snipers depend on ballistic data for accurate first-round impact. Even at moderate hunting ranges of 200–400 yards, a 3-inch elevation error can mean the difference between a clean harvest and a missed or wounded shot.
Limitations of Ballistic Calculators
All ballistic calculators, including this one, are mathematical models and not substitutes for real-world verification. The ballistic coefficient published by manufacturers is measured in standard atmospheric conditions and may differ slightly from your actual bullet's performance. Barrel-to-barrel velocity variations of 30–50 FPS are common and have a meaningful effect on trajectory at long range. Point-mass models do not account for spin drift (gyroscopic drift due to rifling), Coriolis effect (Earth's rotation), or cant of the rifle — these become relevant at very long range (800+ yards). Transonic and subsonic flight prediction is particularly uncertain because bullet stability can vary depending on twist rate and individual bullet lot. Always verify your DOPE at the actual ranges you plan to shoot, using the calculator as a starting point for your zero confirmation, not as a replacement for it.
How to Use the Bullet Drop Calculator
Choose Your Load
Select a cartridge preset from the dropdown to auto-populate ballistic coefficient, bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and drag model — or enter your specific load data manually. For factory ammunition, use the BC and velocity from the manufacturer's ballistics table. For handloads, use your chronograph-measured muzzle velocity for best accuracy.
Set Your Zero and Environment
Enter your zero range (commonly 100 yards) and scope height over bore (typically 1.5 inches for a standard scope mount). Expand Advanced Options to enter altitude, temperature, and barometric pressure for your location — this atmospheric correction can change drop by several inches at 500 yards, especially at high altitude.
Configure Wind and Range Table
Enter wind speed and direction. Use the 'Clock' mode if you prefer thinking of wind as o'clock positions: 3 o'clock is a full right crosswind, 9 o'clock is a full left crosswind. Set the maximum range and step size for how many rows you want in the DOPE card table — 100-yard steps work well for most hunting situations; 25 or 50-yard steps are better for precision competition.
Read Your DOPE Card and Export
The trajectory table shows drop, wind drift, velocity, and energy at each range increment. Drop is shown in your selected units (inches, MOA, or MIL). If you entered a scope click value, the Elev Clicks column tells you exactly how many turret clicks to dial. Click 'Export DOPE CSV' to download the table and 'Print' to get a field-ready card to laminate and attach to your rifle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between G1 and G7 ballistic coefficients?
G1 and G7 refer to different standard projectile shapes used to model aerodynamic drag. G1 is modeled on a short, flat-based spitzer bullet — the shape most factory ammunition is designed to, making it the most widely published BC standard. G7 is modeled on a long, boat-tail secant-ogive bullet, which is a better match for modern long-range match bullets like those from Berger, Lapua, and Hornady ELD-X. When you use a G7 BC, you get more accurate trajectory predictions at long range because the drag model better reflects how the bullet actually slows down through the transonic and supersonic regimes. If your ammunition data only lists a G1 BC, multiply it by approximately 0.485 to estimate the equivalent G7 BC, or just select G1 in this calculator.
How accurate is this bullet drop calculator?
This calculator uses the standard G1 and G7 drag tables from the International Ballistics Commission (ICAO), the same data used by professional ballistics software. The point-mass trajectory model with atmospheric correction is accurate to within 1–3% for most sporting applications at ranges under 1,000 yards in supersonic flight. Accuracy decreases in the transonic zone (roughly 1,116–1,340 FPS) because bullet stability is harder to predict and varies between individual bullets and barrels. For the most accurate predictions, use your chronograph-measured muzzle velocity rather than box-advertised velocity, as real-world velocities from your specific barrel can differ by 30–80 FPS. Always verify your DOPE at the actual range before relying on it in the field or in competition.
What is MOA and why does it matter for bullet drop?
MOA stands for Minute of Angle — 1/60th of one degree. In practical shooting, 1 MOA equals approximately 1.047 inches at 100 yards, 2.094 inches at 200 yards, 5.235 inches at 500 yards, and so on. Most rifle scopes are calibrated in MOA clicks (typically 1/4 MOA per click) or MIL clicks (1/10 MIL per click). Expressing bullet drop in MOA or MIL is useful because you can directly convert the table value to turret clicks without needing to know the exact distance: 10 MOA of drop dialed on a 1/4 MOA scope requires 40 clicks, regardless of the range. MIL (milliradian) clicks are increasingly popular for precision and military applications — 1 MIL equals 3.6 inches at 100 yards or 36 inches at 1,000 yards.
What is point-blank range (PBR) and what zero should I use?
Point-blank range is the maximum distance at which you can aim directly at the center of your target and still keep the bullet within a specified tolerance band above or below your aim point. For deer hunting with a 6-inch vital zone, a ±3-inch tolerance is common. The optimal zero for maximum PBR is typically not 100 yards — it's the distance where the bullet's midrange rise equals the tolerance. For a .308 Winchester with a ±3-inch band, zeroing at approximately 200 yards gives a PBR of roughly 250 yards, meaning you can hold dead-on from the muzzle all the way to 250 yards without any holdover. This calculator shows your PBR based on your entered tolerance and zero range, helping you optimize your zero for your specific hunting or competition application.
How does altitude and temperature affect bullet drop?
Higher altitude means lower air density, which means less drag on the bullet, which means less velocity loss and less drop at long range. The effect is significant: at 5,000 feet altitude, air density is roughly 15–17% lower than at sea level, which can reduce your bullet drop by a similar percentage at long range. Temperature also matters because warm air is less dense than cold air. A 30°F temperature swing (say, 30°F in winter vs 60°F in summer) changes air density by about 5–6% and shifts your point of impact by a few inches at 500 yards. Our calculator accounts for both via the atmospheric correction factor (F_atm) and displays the density altitude — the standard atmosphere altitude equivalent to your actual conditions. Always re-verify your DOPE when shooting in significantly different conditions from where you originally zeroed.
What are the supersonic, transonic, and subsonic zones?
Supersonic flight means the bullet is traveling faster than the speed of sound (approximately 1,125 FPS at sea level, 59°F). In this zone, the bow shock wave in front of the bullet is stable and predictable. Transonic flight is the transition zone between roughly 1,116 and 1,340 FPS where the shock wave moves around and can destabilize bullets, causing sudden changes in trajectory that are difficult to predict. Many otherwise accurate bullets open up significantly in groups when they pass through transonic. Subsonic flight (under ~1,116 FPS) is actually quite stable again — dedicated subsonic loads and suppressed rifle setups often operate entirely in this zone. The table in this calculator color-codes these zones: normal for supersonic, amber for transonic, and red for subsonic, so you can immediately see where your bullet enters each zone and plan accordingly.