External Ballistics | In-Person Classroom / Webinar

Duration: 2 Hours | Format: Non-Live Fire Classroom Instruction

Course Overview

This comprehensive classroom course provides students with a foundational understanding of external ballistics—the science of projectile flight from muzzle to target. Students will learn how gravity, atmospheric conditions, and bullet design influence trajectory, and gain insight into the environmental factors that affect precision at long range. This course demystifies the physics behind bullet flight and equips shooters with the knowledge to understand what happens after the trigger is pulled.

Training Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will:

Define external ballistics and its importance in precision shootingUnderstand ballistic coefficients and drag models (G1 and G7)Understand gravity's effect on bullet flight and trajectoryDefine max ordinate and calculate bullet dropUnderstand the difference between station pressure and barometric pressureUnderstand how altitude, temperature, and humidity affect bullet trajectoryUnderstand the Coriolis effect and when it mattersLearn about spin drift and angled shooting considerationsRecognize how environmental factors combine to influence long-range accuracyApply external ballistics knowledge to improve shooting performance

Course Content Highlights

Foundations of External Ballistics

Definition and the three phases of ballisticsFundamental forces acting on a bullet in flightWhy external ballistics matters for precision shooting

Gravity and Trajectory

Understanding gravity's constant accelerationBullet drop and max ordinate explainedLine of sight vs. line of boreTrajectory visualization

Ballistic Coefficients and Drag Models

What is a ballistic coefficient (BC)?G1 drag model (origin and limitations)G7 drag model (advantages for modern bullets)Advanced drag modeling: Doppler radar and custom drag curves4DOF and axial form factor explained

Atmospheric Conditions and Their Effects

Barometric pressure vs. station pressure (critical difference)Altitude effects on air density and trajectoryTemperature effects on air density and powder performanceHumidity effects (the counterintuitive truth)

Advanced Environmental Factors

Coriolis effect: what it is and when it mattersSpin drift from barrel riflingAngled shooting (incline/decline compensation)The rifleman's rule and cosine angle compensation

Wind and Its Effects

Horizontal wind drift and crosswind deflectionVertical wind component (updrafts and downdrafts)Full value, half value, and no value windsCombined wind effects in mountainous terrain

Integrating External Ballistics Knowledge

How multiple environmental factors combineUnderstanding density altitudeReal-world trajectory predictionUsing ballistic solvers effectivelyValidating ballistic data in the field

Who Should Attend

This course is essential for any precision rifle shooter who wants to understand the science behind long-range shooting. Whether you're a competitive shooter looking to gain an edge, a hunter preparing for extended-range opportunities, a law enforcement professional requiring mission-critical accuracy, or simply a student of marksmanship, understanding external ballistics is fundamental to consistent precision shooting performance.

Prerequisites: No prior physics or mathematics background required. Concepts are explained in practical, shooter-friendly terms.

What to Bring

Bring a notebook and any questions you have about external ballistics. This is a classroom-based, non-live fire event.

Questions?

Contact info@thecadretraining.com for additional information about this course, pricing, or registration details.