How does a ballistic model differ from a measurement?
A measurement records a value with an instrument. A model calculates further results from known or assumed values. A rangefinder might, for example, measure a direct distance while also displaying a calculated equivalent distance. Both numbers appear on the same screen, but are produced differently.
A measurement records a value with an instrument. A model calculates further results from known or assumed values. A rangefinder might, for example, measure a direct distance while also displaying a calculated equivalent distance. Both numbers appear on the same screen, but are produced differently.
For a measurement, the number of displayed digits is not all that matters. Possible error and the similarity of repeated readings also count. Consistently similar numbers can still be systematically wrong. An average from a few readings does not replace a properly documented test.
Calculated results also need context. For ballistic coefficients, G1 and G7 refer to different reference shapes, so their numbers cannot simply be ranked by size. Good reports identify the origin of the data: manufacturer information, independent measurement or calculation. They also explain conditions and assumptions. Many decimal places or one particularly small group do not replace this information.