Ballistics systems and methods

Abstract

A scope may include an adjustment dial, which may be moved among a plurality of positions to configure the scope to compensate for projectile drops. The adjustment dial may be labeled with dial-calibration data, which may include one or more distance indicators and/or one or more windage hold-off indicators. The scope may be attached to a gun and the dial-calibration data may be at least partially generated using ballistics performance data based on shots fired by the gun. The dial-calibration data may be at least partially generated using shooting conditions. An electronic device may include a derived distance calculation module, which may be configured to use a distance to a target and actual shooting conditions to calculate a derived distance. The derived distance may be used in connection with an adjustment dial labeled with dial-calibration data at least partially generated using shooting conditions different from the actual shooting conditions.

1 . A system comprising:
 a scope sized and configured to be connected to a gun, the scope including an adjustment dial sized and configured to move among a plurality of positions to configure the scope to compensate for projectile drops associated with a range of distances to a target, the adjustment dial being labeled with first dial-calibration data, the first dial-calibration data comprising:
 at least one distance indicator configured to indicate at least one of the distances; and 
 at least one windage hold-off indicator configured to indicate at least one hold-off for at least one of the distances. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment dial includes a first component labeled with the first dial-calibration data, the first component being sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a portion of the scope. 
     
     
         3 . The system in  claim 2 , further comprising a second component labeled with second dial-calibration data, the second component being sized and configured to be connected to and disconnected from a portion of the scope, the first and second components being sized and configured to be interchangeably used in the scope, the second dial-calibration data comprising:
 at least one distance indicator configured to indicate at least one of the distances; and   at least one windage hold-off indicator configured to indicate at least one hold-off for at least one of the distances, a second dial calibration data on a second portion of the turret, the second dial calibration data including windage indicators for indicating an amount of hold-off for wind;   wherein the windage indicators indicate an amount of hold-off when the turret is adjusted according to a distance to a target.   
     
     
         4 . A turret for use with a scope, the turret being movable relative to the scope, the turret comprising:
 a first dial calibration data disposed on a first portion of the turret, the first dial calibration data including distance indicators to indicate a distance to a target; and   a second dial calibration data on a second portion of the turret, the second dial calibration data including windage indicators for indicating an amount of hold-off for wind;   wherein the windage indicators indicate an amount of hold-off when the turret is adjusted according to a distance to a target.   
     
     
         5 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the windage indicators identify a windage hold-off at the distance to the target for a given wind; and
 wherein, when the scope is connected to a gun, the gun can be fired at the target compensated for the distance to the target and the wind.   
     
     
         6 . The turret as in  claim 5 , wherein a multiplier may be applied to the windage hold-off if an actual amount of wind is different than the given wind. 
     
     
         7 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the scope is attached to a gun and the dial calibration data is at least partially determined by ballistic performance data based on shots fired by the gun. 
     
     
         8 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the scope is attached to a gun and the dial calibration data is at least partially determined by actual shooting conditions. 
     
     
         9 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the scope includes a reticle with indicia to indicate hold-off and the amount of hold-off is determined according to the position of the turret when the turret is positioned according to the distance to the target. 
     
     
         10 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the dial calibration data is at least partially generated from one or more of the following factors: sight-height, muzzle velocity, dial specification, ballistic coefficient, ballistic performance, projectile form factor, projectile caliber, projectile weight, air density, air temperature, air pressure, air humidity, elevation and wind. 
     
     
         11 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the turret is interchangeable so that a first turret may include a first set of dial calibration data generated from a first shooting condition and a second turret may include a second set of dial calibration data generated from a second shooting condition. 
     
     
         12 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the turret is replaceable with other turrets than include dial calibration data generated from different shooting conditions. 
     
     
         13 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the first dial calibration data is at least partially generated from one or more of the following factors: sight-height, muzzle velocity, dial specification, ballistic coefficient, ballistic performance, projectile form factor, projectile caliber, projectile weight. 
     
     
         14 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the second dial calibration data is at least partially generated from one or more of the following factors: air density, air temperature, air pressure, air humidity, elevation and wind. 
     
     
         15 . The turret as in  claim 4 , further comprising a distance calculating device that determines a distance to a target, the turret being adjusted according to the distance determined by the distance calculating device. 
     
     
         16 . The turret as in  claim 15 , wherein the distance determined by the distance calculating device is a derived distance. 
     
     
         17 . The turret as in  claim 15 , wherein the distance determined by the distance calculating device is an actual distance. 
     
     
         18 . The turret as in  claim 4 , wherein the dial calibration data for the turret is determined at a given elevation and a given temperature; and
 wherein different turrets may have dial calibration data determined at different elevations and different temperatures.   
     
     
         19 . A method of aiming a gun with a scope, the scope including a turret with first dial calibration data with distance indicators to indicate a distance to a target and second dial calibration data with windage indicators to indicate hold-off for a given wind, the method comprising:
 determining a distance to a target;   adjusting the turret according to the distance to the target using the distance indicators of the first dial calibration data; and   determining an amount of hold-off according to the windage indicators of the second dial calibration data for a given wind.   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19 , further comprising determining an amount of wind;
 further comprising determining an adjusted amount of hold-off that should be applied according to the amount of wind; and   further comprising adjusting aiming of the gun according to the adjusted amount of hold-off.   
     
     
         21 . A method of aiming a gun with a scope, the scope including a movable turret that is adjustable relative to a distance between the gun and a target, the turret including first dial calibration data with distance indicators to indicate a distance to a target and second dial calibration data with windage indicators to indicate hold-off, the method comprising:
 determining a distance to a target;   adjusting the turret according to the distance to the target using the distance indicators of the first dial calibration data; and   determining an amount of hold-off according to the windage indicators of the second dial calibration data for a given wind.   
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 21 , wherein the windage indicators identify a windage hold-off at the distance to the target for a given wind; and
 wherein, when the scope is connected to a gun, the gun can be fired at the target compensated for the distance to the target and the wind.   
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 21 , further comprising multiplying the amount of hold-off by a multiplier if the wind is different than the given wind. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 21 , wherein the distance indicators and the windage indicators are at least partially generated from one or more of the following factors: sight-height, muzzle velocity, dial specification, ballistic coefficient, ballistic performance, projectile form factor, projectile caliber, projectile weight, air density, air temperature, air pressure, air humidity, elevation and wind.