Shooting on hillsides

[SAJones]

Embarassed to ask this 'cause I should know: when shooting up or downhill, would your ball go higher or lower? I would think lower, based on phsyic, but I got a low C in that field of study.

Reason I'm asking is I maybe able to get more hunting done now that I don't have to show up anywhere at 0700 just so's I get a paycheck. Where I hunted in Wyoming & elsewhere it was flat enough not to worry about, but seems every critter I see here is on the side of a mountain. Incidentally, 150 yds is my personal max for my flintlocks. Can't see anything too well beyond that.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Aim lower. The ball drops as it is effected by gravity over the horizontal distance between you and the target, not the slope distance between the two.

 

[roundball]

Embarassed to ask this 'cause I should know: when shooting up or downhill, would your ball go higher or lower? I would think lower, based on phsyic, but I got a low C in that field of study.

Reason I'm asking is I maybe able to get more hunting done now that I don't have to show up anywhere at 0700 just so's I get a paycheck. Where I hunted in Wyoming & elsewhere it was flat enough not to worry about, but seems every critter I see here is on the side of a mountain. Incidentally, 150 yds is my personal max for my flintlocks. Can't see anything too well beyond that.

Actually, steep up or down angles result in shots printing higher in both cases. Maximum gravity effect is straight downward on a bullet when it is traveling flat/90 degrees to that downward gravity.

Shooting up or down at an angle makes the gravity force being applied at less than it's maximum 90 degree angle, reducing the effects of gravity accordingly, so there's less deflection of the bullet and the bullet prints higher in both up or down shooting angles.

 

[Davecoughlin]

There is a pretty good discussion of this subject in the first edition "Lyman" book.

Jester

 

At muzzleloading ranges it's insignificant, and the correct answer is lower.

Vic

 

At muzzleloading ranges it's insignificant, and the correct answer is lower.

Vic

That is incorrect. Roundball and Stumpkiller and others have it correct, the correct answer is higher. You also say the difference is insignificant at ML ranges, but that just means it's insignificant to you. Somebody else might think it's significant.

 

[roundball]

Yes, it's been written about in every hunting / shooting magazine for decades ad-nauseum...any angle off the straight and level prints higher...it may not be noticeable to the naked eye at close ranges with shallow changes in angles, but the bottom line is that it prints higher in both cases...it's a law of physics, not my opinion

 

guys you getting this poor fellow all confused LMAO
the ball will print higher which means hits higher, you have to aim lower when shooting up hill for compensation .
as for bein insignificant LMAO not so , even bow shooters have to remember this same principle or in a small target at 35 yards up hill you will miss

 

[CoyoteJoe]

But that is why it's called ARCH-ery. Them sliver slingers have a lot of problems I don't. :: ::
Worrying about it is a lot more likely to cause problems than not. Within reasonable range and on grades you can actually walk on I'd say don't worry.

 

[doc623]

Old addage - More hair less hair.
Sorry - more hair less air.

 

The correct answer is you aim lower. I should have included the verb "aim". My grammatical error. Yes, bullet strike is higher. Learned that 40 years ago and yes it is a fact of physics.

At the distances I would consider taking game it is insignificant to me, and I killed some game in steep country when we lived in Wyoming with muzzleloaders, BPC rifles and modern, high velocity rifles. With open sights I can't see well enough at 150 yards for a shot to be in the realm of possibility. Aperature sights would be another matter.

 

[hobbles]

I was goin to say "YOUR ALL WRONG,, I HIT MY GAME AND DON'T AIM LOW " THEN i GOT TO THINKIN,, HECK, ALL MY SHOTS ARE DOWN IN A HOLLER, i SIGHT IT IN WITH THE TARGET DOWN IN THE HOLLER,, ( darn caps) I bet I couldn't hit a barn in Kansas,

 

[Davecoughlin]

At muzzleloading ranges it's insignificant, and the correct answer is lower.

Vic

I don't know about that. I know of at least one bear out there that got to walk around for an additional day because I forgot to adjust for shooting at a steep angle. It does matter!!

Jester :cry:

 

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be a jerk, but his question was will the ball go lower or higher, and since you left off the word "aim", it appeared you were saying the ball would go lower, which of course is incorrect. I apologize if I caused any confusion.

Bottom line is, aim lower, shot will go higher. How much depends on different factors, and is probably best found out by trial and error.

 

[Slamfire]

I was goin to say "YOUR ALL WRONG,, I HIT MY GAME AND DON'T AIM LOW " THEN i GOT TO THINKIN,, HECK, ALL MY SHOTS ARE DOWN IN A HOLLER, i SIGHT IT IN WITH THE TARGET DOWN IN THE HOLLER,, ( darn caps) I bet I couldn't hit a barn in Kansas,

My rifle range is down in the hollar also. I don't think there's a level spot on my place 'cept where all the gravel came up out of the well while it was bein' bored. As for that barn, I could hit it, if I were inside. :haha:

 

Static...forget it, you didn't sound like a jerk. I was the one who didn't type as fast as I thought. Given the question asked my brief answer was incorrect. I'm actually glad you pointed it out. I have to laugh because my first thought was "what in blue blazes is this guy talking about....you aim lower!!!!" Then I re-read both posts.........and wiped the egg off my face.....

Vic

 

[SAJones]

Well, seems my posting fer thanks for all the help didn't seem to take, so try again; Thanks for the help. Just need to remember to aim low when the "buck ague" strikes & the critter is on a hill. May get a chance to do some downhill shooting just to get an idea of how much I need to hold lower.

 

[jim gray]

You also have to remember at really steep angles you have to consider the path the bullet will take through the animal. Shooting downward you want to hit higher than you would if your shot were level, and do the opposite if you are shooting uphill.

 

[roundball]

You also have to remember at really steep angles you have to consider the path the bullet will take through the animal. Shooting downward you want to hit higher than you would if your shot were level, and do the opposite if you are shooting uphill.

Exactly right...if you line up for a shoulder shot as if on level ground, a close, steep angle down from a treestand will hit the spot, but can pass right down under the heart on the near side, harmlessly out through the hide on the belly...leaving a dozen short white hairs in the leaves with a faint trace of blood and the buck will be in the next county, no real harm done...been there/done that and won't ever forget it...a good mature 8 pointer right at dusk