Custom Ballistic Solver App and Tuning Platform

[Billm]

I’ve been working on a project designing an app that functions as a match management hub, target generator, challenge creator, video hosting, and a ballistic solver with reticles etc. I created an armory where shooters can store their favorite airgun, pellets and slugs. it’s actually become an obsession at this point.
I’m now breaking the ballistic solver out as a semiautonomous app. It will allow you to use just the ballistic section without the other sections (you can still use both). I have connected it live to FX chronographs and I will try to combine Chrono data to the shooters armory entries. Personally I think the FX apps are a little clumsy and I don’t fully get how some of the info is useful to me for tuning.

Only the FX True Ballistic Chronograph and the FX Pocket Chronograph Pro will connect via Bluetooth. Other chronos can be used, but you will have to enter the data into the app. Android devices will connect to the chronograph seamlessly with no user interaction required. I have intentionally created a Progressive Web Application (PWA). It works like an app but does not have to be sold or listed in the Apple App Store or Google Play. This means there is no fees from either platform and most importantly they can’t shut the app down due to political pressure. Apple effectively punishes PWAs by not allowing PWAs to access Bluetooth, which is required to connect to the Chronograph. The workaround is to use a free App Blufy, browser which allows the PWA to use Bluetooth. It is totally safe and Apple approved. But it means IPad and IPhone users will be prompted to allow it to download Blufy. It can be bypassed with one click if you don’t want to connect to your chronograph. I’m using it and it’s effortless. I don’t know if Garmin or Athlon chronographs have a developer kit. If they do, I may add them later.

I want this to be a useful airgun tuning tool. I’m terrible at keeping records and my memory is not the greatest. I can be lazy and I want a tool that makes all of this as easy as possible.

I’ve never used Strelok, I have used a couple of other ballistic apps and I only have a basic need for them. My point being that I’m willing to consider input on needed/desired features.

I’m a hobbyist not a professional developer. I’ve been coding since the 1970s and built all of my own websites over the years. This means that initial users are the “Beta Testers” and there will be bugs found and repaired along the way. It’ll be rough at times, but will smooth out with time and input and patience.n

I had three major goals with this project:
1. Make it useful to a broad range of airgunners: hunters, match shooters, plinkers, tinkerers- wherever you fit in.
2. Make it immune as much as possible to being de-platformed by non Airgun friendly forces.
3. Make it free or affordable. It is costing me considerable money and effort to build.

None of these tools are new. I’m just trying to bring them all together into a polished and hopefully easy to use platform. It will evolve. Some functions may be removed and some added as time goes on.

I have tried it with three shots. It’s raining here so not much shooting today.

Below are a few screenshots. The first one us the range mode and is very basic for use out in the field or range with no internet. The others just show iPad screenshots showing the live chronograph data.

The app is getting intricate and I’m working on adding documentation.

 

[FL22]

I said your work was next level, I take it back. Yeah more like rockstar level .

 

[Billm]

I said your work was next level, I take it back. Yeah more like rockstar level .

Until you come along and point out what doesn’t work lol

 

[FL22]

Until you come along and point out what doesn’t work lol

Bill, if you ever need something stress tested, just put me on it. I’m the master of disaster .

 

[Billm]

Bill, if you ever need something stress tested, just put me on it. I’m the master of disaster .

You know you’ve been very helpful lol.

 

[Billm]

I added probably the most accurate weather data you can get without a handheld wx device, for wherever you shoot - unless you shoot at an airport lol. With a simple click it will find the 10 nearest personal weather stations and pull the data from the nearest one to where you are shooting. In my case I have 5 within 1/2 mile of my house. But, the nearest is my own, which sits 8 yds from my bench and 10’ to the side of my shooting lane. You can also use your phone data, but that’s usually pulled from a public weather station miles away. Very useful for accurate ballistics. You can buy your own station for as little as $125 and joining the weather networks are free.

 

[Pumacarl]

I’ve never used Strelok, I have used a couple of other ballistic apps and I only have a basic need for them. My point being that I’m willing to consider input on needed/desired features.

You are an amazing individual Bill, great effort! To the point above, I wish that you had used Strelok before because it would make explaining something easier for me. On your first example up top it says Wind 14mph@3 and the representation dot shows the correction spot that you want to click to; Strelok shows that dot on the anti-coordinates that you want to hold on if you don't want to click your scope at all. In other words, the put the dot on your target picture of the reticle, which I am used to now and prefer it. I hope that made sense. Just my preference, coming from a Strelok backround, I'm not taking anything away from you or your work, awesome job! Good luck with it!

 

[Billm]

You are an amazing individual Bill, great effort! To the point above, I wish that you had used Strelok before because it would make explaining something easier for me. On your first example up top it says Wind 14mph@3 and the representation dot shows the correction spot that you want to click to; Strelok shows that dot on the anti-coordinates that you want to hold on if you don't want to click your scope at all. In other words, the put the dot on your target picture of the reticle, which I am used to now and prefer it. I hope that made sense. Just my preference, coming from a Strelok backround, I'm not taking anything away from you or your work, awesome job! Good luck with it!

I think I know what you mean. I went out and shot a few shots at 75yds and then used the app reticle image to shoot a few at 50yds. That’s where I had to backstops and I just wanted to see if everything was playing nice together and the that the suggested corrections came close using the average BC. As I’ve mentioned I’ve never used a reticle image like that, but I tried. The way I have it set up right now and I ended up just using the numerical out to adjust my hold under. If I’m correct you’re saying depict the aim point and not the holdover point on the graphic. In the simplest terms a 90 degree left to right crosswind that would result in 1” drift to the right at 100yds, would be depicted by an icon on the 1 MOA gradient to the right of the center of the crosshairs. Basically showing the crosshairs holding 1” to the left. Another attempt: place the icon on the reticle where the slug will impact?

 

[Pumacarl]

I think I know what you mean. I went out and shot a few shots at 75yds and then used the app reticle image to shoot a few at 50yds. That’s where I had to backstops and I just wanted to see if everything was playing nice together and the that the suggested corrections came close using the average BC. As I’ve mentioned I’ve never used a reticle image like that, but I tried. The way I have it set up right now and I ended up just using the numerical out to adjust my hold under. If I’m correct you’re saying depict the aim point and not the holdover point on the graphic. In the simplest terms a 90 degree left to right crosswind that would result in 1” drift to the right at 100yds, would be depicted by an icon on the 1 MOA gradient to the right of the center of the crosshairs. Basically showing the crosshairs holding 1” to the left. Another attempt: place the icon on the reticle where the slug will impact?

Yes, and for the reasons you stated while you were shooting. If you don't want to click you just look at the picture, and if you know that you are going to click you are just going to look at the numbers anyway. That's how I use Strelok anyway.

 

[Billm]

Yes, and for the reasons you stated while you were shooting. If you don't want to click you just look at the picture, and if you know that you are going to click you are just going to look at the numbers anyway. That's how I use Strelok anyway.

It makes me more sense to me now and should be a quick fix.

 

[Billm]

Corrected views, along with what you will see in Range mode.

 

[Pumacarl]

Bill, if you are holding 1.3mil down, the dot should be above the horizontal plane , not beneath it, if you want it to represent where to hold and not where to correct to. You got the wind direction correct this time, you do want to shoot into the direction the wind is coming from and the dot is showing that axis correctly.

 

[Billm]

I added probably the most accurate weather data you can get without a handheld wx device, for wherever you shoot - unless you shoot at an airport lol. With a simple click it will find the 10 nearest personal weather stations and pull the data from the nearest one to where you are shooting. In my case I have 5 within 1/2 mile of my house. But, the nearest is my own, which sits 8 yds from my bench and 10’ to the side of my shooting lane. You can also use your phone data, but that’s usually pulled from a public weather station miles away. Very useful for accurate ballistics. You can buy your own station for as little as $125 and joining the weather networks are free.

Bill, if you are holding 1.3mil down, the dot should be above the horizontal plane , not beneath it, if you want it to represent where to hold and not where to correct to. You got the wind direction correct this time, you do want to shoot into the direction the wind is coming from and the dot is show that axis correctly.

I deleted the correct image and uploaded the uncorrected. This is actually what I had changed it to.n