Thinking of building a proper ChairGun successor — what would it actually need?

[pablonicolasme]

Engineer and airgun shooter here. (Reposting — my earlier thread accidentally went out in Spanish thanks to my browser's auto-translate. Sorted now. Thanks pan60 for the friendly heads-up.)

ChairGun's death left a hole nothing quite fills: firearm ballistic apps treat airguns as an afterthought, and the one great app that covered us properly is gone from the stores.

I'm evaluating building the successor myself: airgun-first physics (diabolos and slugs, real low-velocity drag), works fully offline at the range, one-time purchase around $10 — no subscription, ever. I know some of you use Chairgun Elite+ at $10/year; I'd rather charge that once and be done.

Before writing a single line of code I want to hear it from actual shooters:

1. What 3 features are non-negotiable for you? (Reticle holdover points? Pellet database? Slug BCs? Printable drop cards?)
2. Would you actually pay ~$10 one-time for it?

Nothing to sell today — this thread decides whether the thing gets built. Thanks for any input, including "don't bother, X already does it".

 

[hameditor]

Engineer and airgun shooter here. (Reposting — my earlier thread accidentally went out in Spanish thanks to my browser's auto-translate. Sorted now. Thanks pan60 for the friendly heads-up.)

ChairGun's death left a hole nothing quite fills: firearm ballistic apps treat airguns as an afterthought, and the one great app that covered us properly is gone from the stores.

I'm evaluating building the successor myself: airgun-first physics (diabolos and slugs, real low-velocity drag), works fully offline at the range, one-time purchase around $10 — no subscription, ever. I know some of you use Chairgun Elite+ at $10/year; I'd rather charge that once and be done.

Before writing a single line of code I want to hear it from actual shooters:

1. What 3 features are non-negotiable for you? (Reticle holdover points? Pellet database? Slug BCs? Printable drop cards?)
2. Would you actually pay ~$10 one-time for it?

Nothing to sell today — this thread decides whether the thing gets built. Thanks for any input, including "don't bother, X already does it".

Very interesting idea. And welcome to the HAM Community!

 

[Billm]

I’d pay $10, but not a subscription. A complete database that can easily be added to. BCs and BC confirmation. Graphing. A polished low friction user interface. Good luck with your project.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Currently using Athlon's ballistics program for most things, since it doubles as a repository for chronograph data.

Still using Strelok Pro on an ancient, offline phone, for one thing- calculating bc via velocity decay (recorded speed at two distances).

Would pay the $10 for a program including that feature.

I don't put much stock in "one size fits all" bc values.

 

[Pumacarl]

I still use Strelok Pro and love it. Do what it does, and you'll be all set. Just do it here, so you won't get blocked.

Welcome to HAM!

Edit: One time pay. Subscription anything, is a deal breaker.

 

[RobbieGio]

Yes, I would pay if it had certain things. As @Billm and @wolfmangreg mentioned, BC data and ability for user to update for their personal data gathering. Add GA drag coefficient. And, personal preference, more than a few rifle profiles. Never had opportunity to get Strelok, so used the Element one. Seemed okay, but was limited to four rifle profiles. That is until the recent update / change wiped out all my data.

 

[pan60]

welcome to HAM!

I would pay 10.00 but I I am apple I-phone so it would have to work on a I-phone

 

[hameditor]

welcome to HAM!

I would pay 10.00 but I I am apple I-phone so it would have to work on a I-phone

Agreed. iPhone version is mandatory for me also.

 

[Solo1]

Iphone for me to. I currently use strelock pro the closer to that the better. I wont pay a subscription would be willing to pay up front

 

[PapaT]

I've not used any of them but doesn't mean I wouldn't try it out. Following because I'm interested.

 

[BBGunn]

Any ballistic program I use needs to work on a PC, and be free.

 

[Pumacarl]

Any ballistic program I use needs to work on a PC, and be free.

Wow! You're tough. People do need to make a living, and should be rewarded for good work. Regular Strelok was free and pretty good, but Pro was worth paying for.

 

[BBGunn]

Wow! You're tough. People do need to make a living, and should be rewarded for good work. Regular Strelok was free and pretty good, but Pro was worth paying for.

I don't disagree with what you wrote at all. But we all use ballisitic data in differnt ways and to different degrees. For me (as I've mentioned in other threads), very basic ballistic data is all I need for how I use it. And so, it would not be a value for me to pay for a program when there are plenty of free available that work for my needs.

For those who will use a more complex ballistic program, I'm sure the OP's proposed work would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pumacarl]

I don't disagree with what you wrote at all. But we all use ballisitic data in differnt ways and to different degrees. For me (as I've mentioned in other threads), very basic ballistic data is all I need for how I use it. And so, it would not be a value for me to pay for a program when there are plenty of free available that work for my needs.

For those who will use a more complex ballistic program, I'm sure the OP's proposed work would be greatly appreciated.

My response was more tongue in cheek than anything. Strelok's 'free version' is a gateway drug, once you get used to it and realize what you're missing out on, and why you need it, you WANT to buy Strelok Pro. Having it with you on your phone totally supersedes pc use, unless, of course, you're shooting from your pc desk. I'm just speaking generally of course. To me shooting pcp means not just having a pcp, but also having Strelok Pro ready, and a laser rangefinder. Our targets are small, our trajectories are loopy, and the wind is a bear.

 

[pablonicolasme]

This thread is gold — thank you all. What I'm hearing loud and clear:

- iPhone matters as much as Android here. Noted: both stores, same one-time price.
- Editable, expandable pellet database; real-world BC from two chrono readings; unlimited rifle/tune profiles; proper graphs. That's the core spec.
- As close to Strelok Pro's workflow as it gets, and one-time purchase only. No subscription, ever.

BBGunn — fair play, free-and-PC has its place and MERO covers a lot of that ground. My bet is simply what Pumacarl said better than I could: the app that lives on the phone in your pocket at the range supersedes the PC desk — and that's worth ten bucks, once.

I'll keep quiet and keep reading — every reply here is shaping the spec.

 

[wolfmangreg]

As per usual, @Pumacarl nailed it.
Strelok Pro-like for one time $10 charge = shut up & take my money

 

[BBGunn]

Okay, I've learned my lesson. Me, my flip-phone and my shirt-pocket drop chart will stop polluting these 'ballistic' threads.

I'm the opitome of the saying, 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'.

 

[Billm]

One point that is very important and I don’t think has been mentioned: the app needs a solid beta program. The app needs to be tested by airgunners that know what they’re doing with a ballistic app. Probably tested by both dedicated hunters/pesters and competition shooters as their needs are not necessarily the same. Tested by shooters like @Pumacarl and @Solo1 that seem to shoot frequently and use ballistic apps as part of their shooting. I’m sure there are others both here and on other platforms that would be good beta testers. It needs to be tested by everyday users not just YouTubers.
I don’t mind paying for something that works. I don’t want to buy an app and then find out that I’m paying for a product in development. Continuing development is fine, but it has to work from day one.

I currently only use the DNT app, which I believe is based upon Chairgun. In its present form it’s not very useful. I spent a couple of hours shopping the Garmin Tactix watches that use the Applied Ballistics platform in conjunction wth the Garmin C2 Chrono and the Kestrel weather devices. I personally would pay extra for a pro version that could link to chronos and Kestrels etc..

 

[Pumacarl]

One point that is very important and I don’t think has been mentioned: the app needs a solid beta program. The app needs to be tested by airgunners that know what they’re doing with a ballistic app. Probably tested by both dedicated hunters/pesters and competition shooters as their needs are not necessarily the same. Tested by shooters like @Pumacarl and @Solo1 that seem to shoot frequently and use ballistic apps as part of their shooting. I’m sure there are others both here and on other platforms that would be good beta testers. It needs to be tested by everyday users not just YouTubers.
I don’t mind paying for something that works. I don’t want to buy an app and then find out that I’m paying for a product in development. Continuing development is fine, but it has to work from day one.

I currently only use the DNT app, which I believe is based upon Chairgun. In its present form it’s not very useful. I spent a couple of hours shopping the Garmin Tactix watches that use the Applied Ballistics platform in conjunction wth the Garmin C2 Chrono and the Kestrel weather devices. I personally would pay extra for a pro version that could link to chronos and Kestrels etc..

I am really looking forward to having something as good as Strelok Pro to recommend to people. It has to be available at an app store or people won't bother to go looking. If they knew what they were missing, they would, instead they're just missing.

 

[pan60]

I had chairgun and by the time I got it half figured out I upgrade my cell phone and it wont even open any longer and I never could get Strelok as I am on iPhone.
a good app that will be easy to use and work is something I as well as others have wanted for years.
it seems Strelok is the one everybody likes ( I have no view as I dont have it ).
I think haveing the available ammo for airguns would be a awesome think as apes to a app that was geared to firarms ammo.