In Part 1 of our High Angle Shooting series, we spent time talking about the theory and concept of how to compensate for high angle shooting and showed some examples. It turns out that to successfully engage at high angles, it depends solely on knowing the angle at which the shooter is engaging the target. So what we need to discuss in Part 2 is how we can estimate what that angle is.
Estimating the Angle
When it comes to making the actual calculation, the theory and formulas are all fine and dandy on paper where it all can be calculated easily, but in the field, things can get tricky. The trickiest and most important part of this is trying to estimate the angle to the target. Of course, you can always guess the angle, which will get you closer than making no adjustment at all and with practice can actually be pretty accurate. In fact, as your skill level improves with experience, this is probably the preferred way of doing it as it takes the least amount of time. Additionally, depending on the distance to the target and how shallow the angle actually is, your accepted level of error can actually be fairly high and it will not lead to a miss. For example, if you are off by as much as 10 degrees it will likely not be significant at shots under 400 yards. But that is no excuse to not strive for perfection.
A crude and cheap method that can work in a pinch is to have the spotter put a navigation protractor along the barrel of the rifle while the shooter aims at the target area. With an attached string dangling from the center of the protractor with a weight connected, the spotter can then read the angle that the string shows. It is a cheap method that can be awkward, but if it’s all you got, it works!
A very common, and effective, way of measuring the angle is to buy one of the “cosine” indicators that attaches to your scope base. There are a good number of these indicators out there from makers such as Sniper Tools Design Company, Nightforce, and others. The picture above is a picture of the one from Sniper Tools Design Company which Badger Ordnance distributes.
One important thing to notice is that these “cosign indicators” do not tell you the angle, but rather it tells you the cosine of the angle. Since this is actually what we want anyways, this is very convenient. Do these tools work? Yep, they do. They are also somewhat bulky and can get in the way occasionally, but they are a good solution for determining the precise slope angle, up or down. Simply estimate the straight line range using your eye, mil-dots, or LRF and then multiply it by the number indicated on the cosine tool (with a decimal at the front, don’t forget), dial in that dope (and any other adjustments) and engage the target.
The Most Ideal Solution?
Of course, the easiest and most precise solution out there is the use of any modern Laser Range Finder (LRF) as they all have inclinometers with angle compensation built in, which is accurate and easy. When you laze the target, they typically will give you both the actual straight line distance as well as the angle compensated distance. Just use the angle compensated distance for your final firing solution and you should be good to go. But just be aware that the same limitations of LRFs in general are still going to apply when using it for slope dope. Limitations such as dust, rain, and fog limiting their usefulness, potentially giving your position away if the enemy has NODs or laser detection devices, or even just breaking the LRF or the batteries dying. But if you understand the concept and remember you always hit high, even just using Kentucky windage/holdovers can keep you in the fight.
With the basic concept described in Part 1 and now with ways to determine your angle, you are prepared to go out and practice high angel engagements. But, it turns out there is a new formula and concept to get even more accurate and we’ll talk about that in Part 3. Until then…shoot straight…or at an angle.
Sniper Central
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