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

[wolfmangreg]

@pablonicolasme - Will likely get a little heat for this from some in the HAM gang, & will probably deserve it , but here goes:

Once the app is popular, you could get bombarded with "when will my reticle/projectile be added???" comments & questions. Keeping those databases current might become a real pain.
The one time purchase aspect is great & I'm all for it, but given human nature... there are a lot of folks who will think their $10 buy gets them instant support for life, with all new options added as soon as they hit the market.

Not suggesting you reconsider the one time purchase (I too dislike subscription models), but maybe temper expectations for updates in the app description?

Here's where I'll catch heat, quite sure these are minority views:

Wouldn't bother me much if there were no projectile database. Both Strelok Pro & the Athlon app make it very easy to add your own with only four inputs: name, length, diameter, and bc. Speed & zero distance are also required, but that's true for every individual setup regardless of whether or not the projectile is in the database.

Couldn't care less about the reticle database. I know what the hashmarks on my scopes indicate, & can easily match the numbers in mils/moa to the correct hash(es) for a given shot. Maybe just use a couple of generic reticles, one each in mils & moa, to have some visual representation? Possible to design a way to add your own reticle using photos or drawings from the manufacturer's website?

 

[Pumacarl]

@pablonicolasme - Will likely get a little heat for this from some in the HAM gang, & will probably deserve it , but here goes:

Once the app is popular, you could get bombarded with "when will my reticle/projectile be added???" comments & questions. Keeping those databases current might become a real pain.
The one time purchase aspect is great & I'm all for it, but given human nature... there are a lot of folks who will think their $10 buy gets them instant support for life, with all new options added as soon as they hit the market.

Not suggesting you reconsider the one time purchase (I too dislike subscription models), but maybe temper expectations for updates in the app description?

Here's where I'll catch heat, quite sure these are minority views:

Wouldn't bother me much if there were no projectile database. Both Strelok Pro & the Athlon app make it very easy to add your own with only four inputs: name, length, diameter, and bc. Speed & zero distance are also required, but that's true for every individual setup regardless of whether or not the projectile is in the database.

Couldn't care less about the reticle database. I know what the hashmarks on my scopes indicate, & can easily match the numbers in mils/moa to the correct hash(es) for a given shot. Maybe just use a couple of generic reticles, one each in mils & moa, to have some visual representation? Possible to design a way to add your own reticle using photos or drawings from the manufacturer's website?

Greg, I agree with you on evertything but the reticle database. It's extremely helpful, especially if you are using an SFP scope with a big magnification swing. Nobody has to guess and figure, the app does it. If people want updated reticle databases charge .99 cents for it like everyone else does for an update or added feature. I use a lot of different scopes, at different powers, and love this feature. The magnification slider is the difference between Strelok free and Strelok Pro.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Greg, I agree with you on evertything but the reticle database. It's extremely helpful, especially if you are using an SFP scope with a big magnification swing. Nobody has to guess and figure, the app does it. If people want updated reticle databases charge .99 cents for it like everyone else does for an update or added feature. I use a lot of different scopes, at different powers, and love this feature. The magnification slider is the difference between Strelok free and Strelok Pro.

Touche... the SFP/magnification change scenario is one I did not consider, having only fixed or FFP (that I rarely change magnification). Must concede the point.

That said, still like the idea of being able to add your own (if feasible), would reduce the burden of database maintenance for the OP.

 

[Miles_M]

MERO of course is the true successor to Chairgun particularly as it is now maintained by the original developer of Chairgun. MERO also has the greatest choice of airgun projectile reference drag laws, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. If that is important or not to you depends on the speed range and distance you are shooting at, and the degree of accuracy you want. There comes a point though when any greater accuracy needs a change to purpose drag laws and not using BC based methods, however, just using the available systems properly will probably produce the greatest increase in modelling accuracy.

The big problem for many with MERO is that it is not available for IPhone, due to the charges IPhone wanted to impose when it was originally developed.

 

[Billm]

MERO of course is the true successor to Chairgun particularly as it is now maintained by the original developer of Chairgun. MERO also has the greatest choice of airgun projectile reference drag laws, many of which cannot be found anywhere else. If that is important or not to you depends on the speed range and distance you are shooting at, and the degree of accuracy you want. There comes a point though when any greater accuracy needs a change to purpose drag laws and not using BC based methods, however, just using the available systems properly will probably produce the greatest increase in modelling accuracy.

The big problem for many with MERO is that it is not available for IPhone, due to the charges IPhone wanted to impose when it was originally developed.

I’ve downloaded MERO based upon your posts about it, but I haven’t gotten the files to install on my Mac. I’ll have to try it again. I actually loaded it. I had to disable the security. None of the pellets I use (AEA) are in the database, which is a pretty small database. I will research it some more.

 

[pablonicolasme]

Pumacarl, wolfmangreg — this exchange has been gold, thank you. Rather than promising "we'll add everything" (which, as wolfmangreg says, ends in an avalanche of "when will MY reticle be added???"), let me ask the group a design question: when the reticle or projectile you need isn't in the database, what would you expect from the app? (a) an editor to add it yourself in a couple of minutes, (b) request it and wait for an official database update, or (c) import a file another user shared. How much I invest in each path depends on your answers. And to be clear on the $0.99 idea: the plan remains one price, everything included — I'd rather solve this with architecture than with add-ons.

 

[wolfmangreg]

Would personally prefer option A. Think this also makes the most sense for you as the developer.

With the one time purchase model, I would only expect updates as needed for bug fixes & to maintain compatibility with operating systems as they are updated.

Already expressed my distaste for subscriptions, but if I were to buy one... expectations would change. Ongoing payments imply ongoing service, meaning (to me) regular database updates.

 

[Pumacarl]

And to be clear on the $0.99 idea: the plan remains one price, everything included — I'd rather solve this with architecture than with add-ons.

That's a noble thought, but with this kind of thing it probably won't happen if you have to get it perfect before any release.

As to your question, I completely mirror @wolfmangreg's response. (good one Greg!)

 

[windmaster]

For what it is worth, I have been building something in this space for a while: WindMaster, a ballistic calculator with FT, HFT and Benchrest simulators, focused on wind reading and training. An all in one approach where a good ballistic calculator is the core.

A few points in this thread I found very interesting:

• Beta testing by experienced shooters is a must. I am lucky to have very good competitors in my beta group, including a multiple world champion in Field Target, and their input has been extremely valuable. So I echo @Billm completely on getting real shooters on it before release.
• On the pellet database: once you have a BC for a given drag model, that number already carries the sectional density and the form factor. Drop and wind drift then come out of BC and muzzle velocity alone. Weight, diameter and length do not move the trajectory independently of the BC. The only places those measurements genuinely earn their keep are muzzle energy and gyroscopic stability through the Miller rule. In my case I decided to let the user enter their own pellet measurements rather than ship a large database. For anything that actually changes where the pellet lands, I do not see what the database adds.
• iOS support is needed. That was my biggest mistake on this project, and I am working hard to release the iOS version in the coming weeks, only available in Android at this moment. I was surprised by how many iOS users there are.
• Reticle database: for my educational approach to wind reading it was essential, and by far the hardest part to develop. Possibly less important if you are only focusing on ballistic calculation.
• Monetisation: I went for free access to almost all features, with a one time payment for reticles and some of the advanced ballistic features. But this is a very personal decision.

I have opened a separate thread to carry on with my app features and feedback rather than take over yours: Ballistic Calculator with with FT, HFT and BenchRest simulators

Honestly, healthy competition is great for end user, so more than one good calc here is good for everyone, and if anything in mine is useful to you, take it. It will only improve the airgun community.

Hope the opinion of someone who has just been through this helps.

 

[Billm]

I guess I’m most surprised that developers think there are more android users. In the U.S., IOS commands 55-60% of the market share in 2026.