Uphill and Downhill shots.......

[RB Rooson]

Almost all of the shooting that I do is on a level plain.  How do you adjust for uphill and downhill shots?

Even in Cowboy shooting, I have noticed that shooting from stationery horseback has resulted in some misses on targets lower than I am in the saddle.  

When involved in a military competition recently, on one stage - there were some targets down in a hollow/ravine at 80 yards and alot of the shooters were missing.......this was about a 30 foot drop from where we were standing.

What's the secret, Guys?  Is there a rule of thumb?

[His lordship.]

I know from experience with my powerful pellet rifles that if I shoot on a level plain, like my gun range, my pellet rifles need alot of increased trajectory as they really rainbow at 100 yards, about 4'-6'.  When I shoot out of my upstairs window at crows, the rifles will shoot right on or maybe 2" low at the same range.

I had read in an article that the aiming up or down of a gun negates the effect of the gravity in comparison to a level field.  It is true with my pellet rifles.  Also, the misses could have been caused by habit we have of shooting a gun on a level angle, I had some misses like what you have described with my Colt black powder revolvers years ago where I was shooting high, on low fixed targets, I simply corrected and managed to hit em'.  My arm simply was not used to the downward angle being called upon and had natural upward joint and muscle pressure.

[Castaway]

Nothing we mere mortals do can change the effects of gravity.  Shooting uphill or down hill we are reminded of the colour sergeants' words, "shoot low at the limbers boys."  At long distances and steep angles, the bullet will strike lhigher than what the sights tell you.  It becomes apparent at angles around 45 degrees and distances above 200 yards (not absolute figures mind you).  While you are looking at a distance of 200 yards down or up a hill to the intended target, the actual distance you need to consider is the not the hypotenuse (line of sight to target) but the leg of a right triangle between you and the target which is much shorter.

[RB Rooson]

Yah......and I'm gonna remember that on horseback over a 2-day course?

I have to hit a 16" square metal target with a Marlin '94 Cowboy II Limited using a .357 - 158 gr. lead bullet.  I usually aim to dead center of mass (should I now aim to the top of the target going uphill and low edge of the target going downhill)?

The military matches are the same over rough ground forcing use of a variety of shooting positions.  Targets are level, up, down and sometimes partially covered.

It's tough to go out and practice this sort of thing - am just looking for expertise from others.

[Rick Teal]

AIM LOW!

For a normally sighted firearm (where the projectile crosses the line of sight twice) shooting uphill or downhill changes the angle at which gravity affects the bullet path, making your point of impact higher than it would be when shooting level.  

A downhill shot has a higher point of impact than an uphill shot, and never crosses the line of aim a second time.  An uphill shot will cross the line of sight a second time, but it will likely be well outside any reasonable hunting range.

[1911crazy]

I've only made one shot down hill with my 338win.mag. and i didn't see any error and i didn't think the blackbear that was about 25yds away and it didn't see any either.  Maybe it was too close to have or see an error?                                                              BigBill

[S.S.]

I think all of this depends on the velocity/weight of the projectile.
My 45-70's will all hit high shooting down hill.
I make no adjustments at all for my High velocity
rifles.