Range calculations and ladder sights.

[Kmrere42]

Hi,



I am looking for information to calculate range data for a Mauser ladder sight.  I have sight height measurements and I am trying to correlate this to where my bullet should land on target.




Thank you.


Paul

[gunnut69]

I'm not a military rifle aficionado but the concept is simple. The sight was set so the bullet from a specific loading would land on target with the sight in the appropriate position and of course a good hold. That is if the target were 500 yards distant one just set the sight at 500(meters likely) and fired away. Of course it only works for a single loading and the sights were generally such that long range accuracy was problematic at best.. The ballistics programs can tell the amount of vertical deflection would be generated by a specific amount of sight change over a specific sight plain length and somewhere I've a formula that can do that for you but of course it can't be found just now.  Is that what you're looking for?

[Kmrere42]

Hi Gunnut,



That is the basic idea.  I am rebuilding a mauser in 6.5x55 with a surplus barrel.  I am planning to set the front sight to properly hit with the 200 setting after developing an accurate load.  Next I want to calculate the remainder of the sight trajectory without having to expend several boxes of ammo.  Also the range that I have access to maxes at 200yds.


Paul

[Val]

Have a look at this on-line Ballistic Calculator.
http://www.biggameinfo.com/BalCalc.aspx

[gunnut69]

Remember the key to the ladder sight is the curved ramp the elevation slide rides against. The ramp's curve provides the correct elevation for the load being fired. Ballistic calculators can give estimates of a bullets flight but as with many things is the gun world field experience is the best teacher.