Steep uphill Shot

[CG6018]

Over the past three years, I've had two opportunities for standing shots with my .54 cal. flintlock, in the 50-60 yard range, at steep up hill angles. After each miss, I have stood in wonderment at just what the heck happened! I think I convinced myself that I needed to hold a bit high on this angled shot. I'm not at all sure why I was so easily convinced, but each shot was a clean miss high over the deer's back. I'm hoping for some logical explanation beyond my poor shooting skills, and am wondering if you need to change the point of aim on these shots. I'd appreciate the help since I hunt the Blue Mt. here in northern Berks Co., PA., and these up hill shots aren't a rarity.

 

[whummell]

Cant really give you the technical explanation but yes it does happen. Same as shooting down hill also changes your bullet path. I believe its covered in the Speers reloading book. Shooting up and down hill. Im not sure I dont have the book near me.

 

[uncrichie]

1776Patriot. The easiest way to think of it is this. If you were shooting straight up in the air or straight down your bullet would have zero arc. In other words gravity has less effect on the bullet the more vertical your shot is. That would be both up a hill or down a hill. So in essence you would not aim higher on either occasion. Depending on distance you might have to aim lower. Uncrichie...

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yup. Gravity only works on the distance between two perpendicular lines(1) up from the earth's center-point from you and the target. If you're aiming at a target 60 yards away, but at a 60

 

[rifleshooter2]

Shooting up hill and down hill both require the same corrective measure. Always compensate by aiming lower. Think of a limbo dancer always go low. If we zero our rifles on flat ground by setting our line of sight above the target to counteract the bullet drop. This establishes a certain exact height between the bull's-eye and your sight setting. Now when you aim uphill or down hill 30 deg or more gravity pulls your bullet at the same rate, so your sights still the exact same height above the bullets path but that vertical drop causes your to impact higher. I have attached a photo to this that shows how this is possable. the dashed line represents the fixed distance your sights were set at above the bull's-eye on flat ground. as you change the angle of shooting that fixed distnce stays the same because graity does not change (unless you really get into really high altitude and then you should worry more about getting air than where your bullet is striking). Notice how the dashed line is the same length and hangs vertically from your line of sight just like on flat ground, but there is now a gap between it an the bull's-eye your aiming at. Remember your bullet is impacting at the bottom of the dotted line. The higher the angle the greater the distance between the point of impact and the bull's-eye.
I know this is a bit long but it's hard to explain just remember always go low.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/rifleshooter2/114_1476.jpg

Andy

 

[CG6018]

To all you gentlemen, I appreciate your insights. Obviously, I have been compensating in the wrong direction by aiming a bit high. Maybe it is a left-handed, right-brained thing. Now, if I can just get that opportunity again before the end of our PA. flintlock season next weekend. I was hoping for a little snow tonight, but I don't think it will make it south of the Poconos.

Thanks again for your quick responses. An old dog CAN learn a few new tricks! :redthumb:

 

[flaming canvas]

At 50 or 60 yards no compensation is needed. A hunting load should produce at least 1500 fps velocity. At 50 yards and allowing for air friction you have a flight time of about 1/8 second. This gives a figure of 3 inches for the actual drop of the ball if it is fired in a perfect horizontal direction. Fired at a 45 degree angle, this translates to 2 inches drop, at 60 degrees its 1.5. This is well within minute of deer.

More important would be to remember that you are shooting at the deer's vitals and need to choose your aiming point on the hide accordingly. :m2c:

 

[rayb]

At 50 or 60 yards no compensation is needed. A hunting load should produce at least 1500 fps velocity. At 50 yards and allowing for air friction you have a flight time of about 1/8 second. This gives a figure of 3 inches for the actual drop of the ball if it is fired in a perfect horizontal direction. Fired at a 45 degree angle, this translates to 2 inches drop, at 60 degrees its 1.5. This is well within minute of deer.

More important would be to remember that you are shooting at the deer's vitals and need to choose your aiming point on the hide accordingly. :m2c:

Now who's the physics teacher??? :applause: caught you at it ::::

rayb

 

[Slamfire]

At 50 or 60 yards no compensation is needed. A hunting load should produce at least 1500 fps velocity. At 50 yards and allowing for air friction you have a flight time of about 1/8 second. This gives a figure of 3 inches for the actual drop of the ball if it is fired in a perfect horizontal direction. Fired at a 45 degree angle, this translates to 2 inches drop, at 60 degrees its 1.5. This is well within minute of deer.

More important would be to remember that you are shooting at the deer's vitals and need to choose your aiming point on the hide accordingly. :m2c:

While it is true you wouldn't need to hold low on this shot, holding high can cause a miss, just like occurred. :imo:

 

[Nimrod]

A rifle {center fire} sighted in at 200 yds zero will shoot 7" high at a 45 degree angle up or down doesnt matter. I would bet that you even aimed a tad high also. Gravety doesnt have that much influence on the bullet at these angles. eace: :imo: :m2c: :results: