What is "bullet drop" in the context of shooting?

Bullet drop refers specifically to the vertical distance that a bullet falls during its flight as a result of the force of gravity. When a bullet is fired, it does not travel in a perfectly straight line; instead, it follows a parabolic trajectory. While the bullet moves towards its target, gravity constantly pulls it down, causing it to drop from its initial line of flight. This drop needs to be accounted for when shooting at varying distances, as the longer the bullet travels, the more it will drop before reaching the target. Understanding bullet drop is essential for accurate shooting, especially at longer ranges, where the effects of gravity become more pronounced.

The other options focus on different ballistic factors: the distance traveled horizontally, time to reach the target, and wind effects do not specifically describe the phenomenon of bullet drop. Each of these factors plays a role in overall bullet trajectory and accuracy, but bullet drop specifically refers to the vertical impact of gravitational pull on the bullet's path.