What do ballistic calculators compute?

Ballistic calculators primarily compute various factors that affect a projectile's flight. These factors include, but are not limited to, the projectile’s velocity, the angle of elevation at which it is fired, environmental conditions like wind speed and direction, air density, and elevation differences. The purpose of these calculations is to predict where a projectile will land based on its initial parameters and external influences during flight.

By accounting for these variables, ballistic calculators help shooters make more accurate predictions about the trajectory and point of impact of the projectile. This predictive capability is essential for precision in shooting, whether in military applications, hunting, or competitive shooting sports.

The other options, while relevant to the broader context of firearms and ammunition, don't capture the core function of ballistic calculators. For instance, projectile mass and size are important characteristics, but they are just part of the data that might be inputted into the calculator, rather than what the calculator computes. Similarly, weapon performance is related but more about how the weapon functions rather than directly computing flight dynamics. Types of ammunition available do not pertain to the calculation process itself but rather sales and inventory aspects of firearms. Therefore, the focus of ballistic calculators is indeed on calculating flight-affecting factors.