Custom Drag Factor (CDF)
Elevating Accuracy with Advanced Truing Capabilities
At Applied Ballistics, innovation has always driven new advancements. With the latest release of AB Quantum™ (v3.2) and AB Analytics (v88), a powerful enhancement to truing capabilities has been introduced: Custom Drag Factor. This feature provides precision shooters with flexible and accurate truing methods, ensuring pinpoint accuracy even at extreme distances.
For over a decade, the calibration process in the supersonic portion of flight has relied heavily on muzzle velocity (MV) truing. However, with the widespread availability of advanced Doppler radar chronographs, such as the Garmin Xero C1 and Labradar and SpeedTracker, accurate muzzle velocity measurements have become more accessible. This development prompted the addition of new truing methods, including the Custom Drag Factor (CDF), giving shooters unparalleled control over their ballistic solutions.
Why Custom Drag Factor Matters
Various factors, including bullet aerodynamics and launch dynamics conditions, have always influenced long-range accuracy. Even with precise muzzle velocity data, discrepancies may arise due to small variances that differ from weapon system to weapon system
The Custom Drag Factor was introduced to address these issues directly.
- Fine-Tuned Drag Models:
CDF allows users to adjust the drag based on real-world observations, ensuring the ballistic solver precisely matches bullet performance downrange.
- Enhanced Accuracy at Extended Ranges:
By scaling the drag factor without altering muzzle velocity, shooters can use their muzzle velocities directly measured from their chronographs and achieve a perfect match between predicted and actual trajectory, particularly at long distances where small errors are magnified.
Truing Options: Choosing the Right Method
Shooters are now given three distinct options to match their specific equipment and confidence levels:
- Muzzle Velocity (MV) Truing:
Recommended when advanced chronograph data is unavailable. MV Truing adjusts the solver’s initial velocity to match the observed drop at a supersonic range.This works best when utilized with AB’s Custom Drag Models (CDMs), which are captured using a high-performance Doppler radar to measure the trajectory of the bullet.
- Drop Scaling (DSF):
Designed for users with accurate chronograph data but unverified scope tracking. DSF allows piecewise calibration, ensuring precise corrections across multiple ranges.
- Custom Drag Factor (CDF):
Ideal for users with:- An accurate Doppler chronograph
- Verified scope tracking
- Using a Custom Drag Model (CDM) from the Applied Ballistics™ custom library
Real-World Use Case: Superior Accuracy Achieved
Consider a scenario where a shooter equipped with a chronograph uses a bullet with a Custom Drag Model. Despite having precise muzzle velocity data, long-range accuracy suffers due to slight discrepancies in drag due to variations in the specific weapon system (like barrel wear). With the Custom Drag Factor Scaling, the shooter:
- Uses the accurate MV reading from the chronograph.
- Adjusts the drag factor to match observed impacts.
- Achieves precise trajectory alignment without altering muzzle velocity.
By implementing Custom Drag Factor Scaling, the shooter significantly improves consistency and confidence.
Exclusive Features for AB Elite Users
The enhanced truing capabilities, including Custom Drag Factor Scaling, are available exclusively to Applied Ballistics Elite® users. These features are first launched in AB Quantum™ and AB Analytics, followed by integration into other Applied Ballistics-enabled platforms.