RE: Send(ing) it
(Edited)
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I read all the way through :)
Thanks for the deep dive. Is there an appreciable reduction in the effect of gravity at higher altitude or does altitude really only affect air pressure?
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That's a legit question.
As far as I know, gravity, the effects of it, remain the same at greater altitude, at least until one gets into space, but shooting in space brings issues all of it own of course, just ask Han Solo.
The air is thinner up high though and so less elevation input will be required as discussed in the post. That's the beauty of the density altitude measurement...It represents conditions with humidity and temperature co-factored with altitude leaving the shooter only one figure (DA).
To my knowledge physical altitude does not affect the force of gravity, but will greatly affect the shot in other ways.
I just ran some figures on StrelokPro for you...Same everything, only changed the density altitude. as you can see. Look at the elevation dial in MRAD.
700m range, DA-250: U6.3MRAD
700m range, DA 200m: U6.1MRAD
700m range, DA 1250m: U5.6MRAD
700m range, DA 2500m: U5.2MRAD
These figures are obviously for the particular rifle system, calibre and load I have worked up for it, but tells the story. Not adjusting elevation dial (or hold) at that range will mean a miss, quite clearly.
I know clocks run slightly faster at extreme elevation, than those at sea level; due to reduced gravitational pull. I think that's more at an atomic level and over a longer period, than something that would affect a bullet over less than a second in the air.
It's really interesting I think and something I would love to test first-hand. The highest I've shot, in actual physical elevation, is around 1200m above sea level but I've seen density altitudes of far more than that. It would be fun doing physical tests, although my ballistic and mathematical skills only go so far, and so I have to rely on other people's DOPE.
I didn't know about the clocks. I mean if one gets high enough then gravity will be less obviously, as atmosphere changes to space...But I'm not sure at what altitude the effect takes place...And if a person could physically shoot at that altitude anyway? I think at about 10,000m alt, the ambient temp is around -50°C.