DOPE Card Builder
DOPE - Data On Previous Engagements - is the drop chart you tape to your stock so you know your come-ups cold. Pick a load or enter your own numbers and this builds one: bullet drop in inches, MOA and MIL, plus retained velocity, energy and wind drift, computed with a real G1 ballistic solver. It is a calculated starting point to take to the range, not a replacement for confirming on paper.
| Yds | Dropin | MOA | MIL | Velfps | Energyftยทlb | Windin |
|---|
How to read and use this
- Drop (in) is how far below your line of sight the bullet hits at that range - the negative number is how much you must hold or dial up.
- MOA and MIL are that same come-up in the units on your scope turrets. 1 MOA โ 1.047 in at 100 yd; 1 MIL = 3.6 in at 100 yd. Dial the value at your range and hold center.
- Energy is a guide to whether the load is still adequate for your game at that range - compare it against the thresholds in the cartridge & energy guide.
- Wind is the sideways drift for the crosswind you entered, at a full 90ยฐ. Past 300 yd wind usually moves the bullet more than a ranging error moves your drop - it is the harder variable, and the reason to keep shots inside proven range.
โ ๏ธ These are calculated numbers at standard atmosphere - not your rifle's truth. Real velocity varies from advertised, ballistic coefficients are nominal, and altitude, temperature and your exact barrel all move the point of impact. Treat this card as a starting point: shoot it at 100, 200 and 300 yards, write down the real come-ups, and hunt only within the range where you can place every shot in the vitals. Ballistics do not make a shot ethical - shot placement and honest range limits do.
Part of the Advanced Whitetail Track. See also the cartridge comparison, the quick holdover estimator and shot placement guide.