Shooting
Uphill or Downhill

When shooting either uphill or downhill, hold a little lower than you would on a level shot.

How much lower depends on the mass, shape, and velocity of the bullet you're shooting, the vertical angle, and the time of flight.

But that's too much to calculate for every shot, so here's a rule of thumb: 

For a 300 yard shot (slant range), if your vertical angle is 45 degrees (up or down), put 200 yard dope on your rifle.  For a 500 yard shot, use 300 yard dope.  For an 800 yard shot, use 500 yard dope.

Much less than 45 degrees?  Just hold a few inches lower. 

60 degrees?  Half the range setting (shoot 300 yard dope for a 600 yard shot).

If you want to be more exact, you can use the following formula:

Sight setting = Slant Range x Cosine of the Vertical Angle. 

Can't see the diagram above?  Click here for a larger image at the end of this e-mail.

Bottom line:  If you're shooting uphill or downhill, hold a little lower!

Shooting tips every month!