Holdover question

cdoc42 · July 29, 2024, 08:48 AM

It is my understanding that aiming at a hunted quarry at an angle of 45 or more degrees requires the aiming point to be lowered since the point of impact will be higher than expected.

My question is, if one uses a range finder in that circumstance, would that also change the accuracy of the distance observed?

ocharry · July 29, 2024, 08:59 AM

some range finders compensate for the angle...the one i use is old but i think it even tells the degree of angle

Nathan · July 29, 2024, 11:31 AM

Any angle needs compensation, especially over 20 degrees. Typically your rangefinder gives you a los or line of sight distance. Drop should be figured on a cosine of the line of sight angle. Wind should be calculated on the full distance. Ideally, you would put los distance and the angle in your ballistic solver.

jmr40 · July 29, 2024, 04:48 PM

Unless the angle is extreme, and the range is long it usually isn't much of a factor with rifle cartridges. This is really more of an issue with archery hunters.

When you're shooting at a target or game animal that is higher, or lower than your elevation a range finder will measure that distance. But the target/animal is actually a bit closer in relation to the earth.

Some good illustrations here.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...ng&FORM=HDRSC3

One of those graphs shows a deer 21 yards from the base of a tree. The hunter is 20 yards up the tree. A straight line from the hunter to the deer shows 30 yards on a range finder. But the arrow is only traveling 21 yards. That 7 yards will make a huge difference in point of impact with an arrow.

With rifle shots inside 300 yards you have to be shooting at a pretty significant angle for the bullets point of impact to change enough to miss.

You would see the same difference in trajectory if the hunter were shooting upward at the same angle.

cdoc42 · July 29, 2024, 10:35 PM

Thanks, everyone. My question has been appropriately answered.

July 29, 2024, 08:48 AM	#1
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,718	Holdover question It is my understanding that aiming at a hunted quarry at an angle of 45 or more degrees requires the aiming point to be lowered since the point of impact will be higher than expected. My question is, if one uses a range finder in that circumstance, would that also change the accuracy of the distance observed?

July 29, 2024, 08:59 AM	#2
ocharry Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2006 Posts: 700	some range finders compensate for the angle...the one i use is old but i think it even tells the degree of angle __________________ The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury. Therefore what he must be taught to fear is his victim." - Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC

July 29, 2024, 04:48 PM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,860	Unless the angle is extreme, and the range is long it usually isn't much of a factor with rifle cartridges. This is really more of an issue with archery hunters. When you're shooting at a target or game animal that is higher, or lower than your elevation a range finder will measure that distance. But the target/animal is actually a bit closer in relation to the earth. Some good illustrations here. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...ng&FORM=HDRSC3 One of those graphs shows a deer 21 yards from the base of a tree. The hunter is 20 yards up the tree. A straight line from the hunter to the deer shows 30 yards on a range finder. But the arrow is only traveling 21 yards. That 7 yards will make a huge difference in point of impact with an arrow. With rifle shots inside 300 yards you have to be shooting at a pretty significant angle for the bullets point of impact to change enough to miss. You would see the same difference in trajectory if the hunter were shooting upward at the same angle. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

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July 29, 2024, 11:31 AM	#3
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,488	Any angle needs compensation, especially over 20 degrees. Typically your rangefinder gives you a los or line of sight distance. Drop should be figured on a cosine of the line of sight angle. Wind should be calculated on the full distance. Ideally, you would put los distance and the angle in your ballistic solver.

July 29, 2024, 10:35 PM	#5
cdoc42 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,718	Thanks, everyone. My question has been appropriately answered.