Welcome to Long Range Science where the goal is to make better shooters, through science. I fully believe that understanding the “why” behind reloading, ballistics, shooting, and the engineering, help you better incorporate those principles. This isn’t just another influencer blog, these are tools and articles that will make you a better shooter and understand why at the same time. This is Long Range Science.
Phase 1: Internal Ballistics: Before the Bullet Leaves the Barrel
Long range hits start before the bullet even leaves the barrel. Get to know the basics and what you need to be looking for before even hitting the range.
- Getting started: Getting Started in Reloading: The Gear
- Powder & pressure: Rifle Powder Burn Rates Explained
- Headspace: Rifle Headspace
- Standard deviation basics: Standard Deviation in Reloading: What SD Really Means
- Sample size reality check: How Many Shots Until You Can Trust Your Velocity Data
- Tool: Neck Tension Calculator
- Tool: Cost Per Round Calculator
- Tool: Load Development Lab (LRS Pro): track your load over time, not just one session
Phase 2: External Ballistics: After the Bullet Leaves the Barrel
This is the physics: drag, gravity, wind, spin. When you have to start adjusting holds for distance and wind, this is what makes or breaks a shooter.
- Ballistic coefficient: G1 vs G7 Ballistic Coefficients Explained
- BC deep dive: Ballistic Coefficient Deep Dive: Using It to Calculate Bullet Flight
- Bullet jump / seating depth: Bullet Jump & Seating Depth: How It Affects Accuracy → How to Find Your Rifle’s Lands (measurement guide)
- Muzzle devices: Muzzle Brake Science and Rifle Crowns
- Scope setup: Effects of Rifle Scope Cant and MOA vs MIL: Understanding Scope Adjustments
- Wind: How Wind Angle Affects Long Range Shooting
- Tool: Basic Ballistics Calculator: free, G7/G1 engine
- Tool: Advanced Ballistics Calculator (LRS Pro): spin drift, Coriolis, custom truing
- Tool: Bullet Stability Calculator: Miller Twist Rule, muzzle RPM
- Tool: Bullet Drag Lab (beta): compare bullet shapes and see where the drag comes from
- Tool: Ranging Calculator
- Tool: MOA/MIL Converter
- Tool: Recoil Calculator
Phase 3: Reading Your Own Data
Science is all about collecting data and using it properly. Knowing if you can make a shot before the trigger is ever pulled.
- Hit probability: Hit Probability at Long Range: The Math Behind Making the Shot
- Tool: Group Analyzer
- Tool: Hit Probability Calculator
- Tool: Match Stage Builder (LRS Pro): plan holds, wind brackets and hit probability for every stage, then print your stage cards
- Tool: Long-Term Load Tracker (LRS Pro): follow velocity, SD, groups and temperature sensitivity for the life of the barrel
- Tool: My Rifles & Loads (LRS Pro): one profile for your trued BC, velocity, SD and accuracy
Phase 4: Choosing a Cartridge
Once the fundamentals click and you know what you need for your situation, you can start narrowing down what is going to work best for you.
- Resource: Ballistics Charts Hub: 26 caliber-specific pages, G7 drop tables, real factory load comparisons
- 6.5 Creedmoor · .308 Winchester · 7mm PRC · .300 PRC
- Tool: Cartridge Database: compare case dimensions, bolt face, and published velocity side by side
Phase 5: Bookmark the Free Tools
Every calculator on the site, in one place: the full Calculators hub.
New Articles. Calculator Updates. Ballistic resources
Science backed ballistics articles, reloading deep dives, and calculator updates. Stay up to date and make yourself a better shooter, through science.