Pro Tutorial

Weta Precision Pro (Weta Pro) has the same base ballistics calculator and user interface as the free version, but with some additional functionality such as zero-temperature and weather meter support for the advanced users. All development of new functionality is being done on Weta Pro, with only bug fixes and refinements being added to the free version.

Location Information

When you first run Weta Precision, you will be asked to allow access to your location. We use the OpenWeather online service to retrieve environmental information in your area, and for this to work Weta Precision requires access to your location.

We do not save your location, or use background location data.

Even if you intend to use a Bluetooth weather device, we still retrieve your location weather as a backup, so please select Allow when prompted.

Where to Start

Click the menu icon at the top left to open the drawer. Here you'll see various options including Rifles, Bullets and Devices.

As different countries and people prefer varying combinations of units, get started by clicking Settings and choose your preferences.

Settings

You can choose any combination of units, and many such as scope height and bullet speed can be overridden when entering details into forms.

The most important items are the weather and range units.

There's no Save option, simply select your preferred units and use the back button at top left to head back to the menu.

Edit Rifle

We've started you off with a sample rifle and bullet. You can edit their details by clicking the pencil icon to their right.

Edit the sample rifle and overtype the make and model and any other details.

I find it useful to enter my serial number here as I'm required to provide it at one of my clubs.

The rifle type (rimfire, centrefire) is purely to set a maximum slider distance in the calculator screen.

Barrel Details

Setting the barrel twist is required if you want your spin drift calculated.

Weta Pro allows you to specify the length of your barrel and muzzle thread for reference.

You can also add any notes about your rifle, and the make and model of a muzzle brake or sound moderator.

Zero Conditions

Along with setting your zero distance, Weta Pro allows you to specify the distance from your chronograph so that your velocity can be calculated accurately.

In addition, if you record the weather conditions when you zero, differences in weather can automatically be calculated for you.

Scope Height

Your scope height is the distance from the centre of the barrel to the centre of the scope, measured at the middle of the scope.

To do this, measure the barrel diameter and halve it. Measure the scope diameter and halve it. Finally measure the distance between them, then add all three numbers together.

Finally, select your turret type. There's no option to select a specific scope or reticle.

Click Save, which will save your details and take you back to the menu.

Select Rifle

The entry will update with your new details. When selected, it will be highlighted as shown above.

You can add as many rifles as you like. Just click "Add New Entry" under Rifles. Once added, they will be selected - new bullets are always added to the selected rifle.

Edit Bullet

Once you've selected your rifle, the list of Bullets will display the bullets you've added to it.

You can add multiple bullets to a rifle by clicking "Add New Entry".

Edit the sample by clicking the pencil icon, just as you did for the rifle.

Update Details

Overtype the text with your own details. There are a lot of entries you can add, and they're grouped to make it easier.

If you forget to add a mandatory item, you'll be prompted when you try to save it.

Powder Temp

Powders tend to burn faster at higher temperature - the burn rate. This increases pressure and velocity.

Weta Pro allows you to account for this when setting your velocity.

To use Powder Temp, chronograph your setup at different times of the year (i.e. at different temperatures) and enter at least two pairs in any order.

Weta Pro will then calculate the velocity of your bullet based on the current temperature.

Multi BC

The Metrics section contains a lot of important information about your bullet, and as with the free version, you can specify the atmospheric model and BC.

If you're using a bullet with multiple velocity based BCs, select "Multi BC" and enter the details from the bullet manufacturer, from highest to lowest velocity.

Enter as many as you need leaving the others empty. The final velocity should read 0.

Spin Drift

Before you save, remember to select the correct drag model (G1, G7 etc) for the information you have available.

The entries under Spin Drift are required if you want spin drift to be calculated for you. You can often find the bullet head length online.

Select Bullet

Your changes will be reflected in the Bullets card right away, but it will not be selected.

Select it and slide the drawer away to get back to the calculator.

You can add as many bullets to the rifle as you like. Just click "Add New Entry" under Bullets when you have selected a Rifle.

Weather

Your environmental conditions have enormous impact on bullet performance and trajectory.

Tap the top right location icon to see your current conditions as determined by the OpenWeather service.

min and max refer to the predicted minimum and maximum temperature in your location.

We can also fetch your what3words as Emergency Services are increasingly able to use them to locate you.

Refresh the location screen to get hold of it.

Override

You can override the forecasted humidity and air pressure (both very important for accurate calculations) by tapping that area of the screen.

Make your changes then click Confirm to save them. Your air pressure will be set in the unit you chose in Settings:

  • Inch of mercury (inHg)

  • Hectopascal / Millibar (hPa)

Temperature

You can fine tune the temperature to your exact location by sliding the display up and down, overriding the forecasted weather.

When overriding the temperature, the min, max and feels like will all read the same value and are not used in any calculations.

Navigate back to the calculator...

The Calculator

Set the Range

The calculator screen is broken down into cards such as WIND and RANGE. Each one has its own purpose: Some display information and others allow input of data.

Set the distance in the RANGE card by sliding the indicator. You can fine tune it by clicking - and +. The distance is shown between them in the units you chose in Settings.

The highlighted bar shows the distance past your zero range. Here we have zero set at 100 metres and the distance is 520 metres.

As you change the distance, the drop and spin drift are calculated automatically, updating the ELEV and WIND cards.

The ELEV card shows us that our bullet will drop more than 2 metres so we need to adjust our .1 Mil scope (1/10th milliradian) UP 42 clicks.

Set the Wind

Specify the direction the wind is coming from in the WIND card by sliding the dial to the appropriate position.

This assumes you are facing your target

Next, specify its strength by spinning the wind speed meter inside the direction dial.

We've chosen a 5 mph wind coming towards us, slightly from the left. You'll see that the WIND card has updated itself to show that the bullet will veer almost 32 cm to the right, so we need to adjust 6 clicks LEFT in our milliradian scope.

You'll also notice the lowermost card updating with the time taken to reach the target, final mach number and speed at target.

Hit RESET to return the dial to the top and wind strength to 0.

Shooting Angle - Tracking

Angle

The ANGLE card allows you to specify whether you're shooting up or down hill.

By default it assumes you are on a level surface. i.e 0 degrees.

Double Tap

The ANGLE card can detect your angle.

To do this, double tap it. It will use your phone's accelerometer to detect the angle.

On a flat level surface, it should read 0.

Single Tap

Set your phone on your turret or barrel to detect the angle, then single tap it to set the angle.

You can also slide the indicator to manually set the angle.

Hit RESET to set it back to 0.

Pull-down Details Card

The top most 'Details' card displays the make and model of your selected rifle and bullet.

Slide it down to reveal additional information, including your rifle's serial number if you filled it in while editing.

All details are only ever stored on your device

Extra Distance

If you need to push further than the range slider will allow, hold down the range button for at least 1 second. When you release, a popup will allow you to dial in a longer distance.

It will also display 1 MOA, milliradian and click at the current distance.

Click Confirm to update the calculator.

New Calculation

The new trajectory will be calculated and the range button updated with the furthest your bullet will travel before it loses too much energy.

Here, my .308 load will reach a distance of 1250 metres after 3 seconds, travelling at only 904.3 fps.

Trajectory Table - Zero

No ballistics app would be complete without a trajectory table showing your drops! To display it, tap the table icon at the top right, next to the Location button.

The table can be scrolled in all directions and displays the mach number, energy and time to distances in increments of 100 for centrefires, and 10 for rimfires.

Your zero range will be highlighted in blue.

Trajectory Table - Transonic

You can see the Energy and Velocity dropping rapidly here.

The calculator adds an extra entry for your transonic point, and highlight it in red.

You can also export this as raw data by clicking the share icon to the top right.

Bluetooth Weather Meters

One of the main benefits of Weta Pro is the ability to retrieve a live feed from Bluetooth weather meters.

Devices

The main menu of Weta Pro has a Devices section. This stores a list of the Bluetooth devices you've added.

Click "Add new Device"

Scan for Devices

Next, power on your weather meter and it will appear in the list of nearby devices.

You do not need to "pair" your device in your phone's Bluetooth settings.

Add Device

Click a device and it will be inspected for support.

Once the battery level and manufacturer details have been updated, click "Add This Device" to be taken back to the main menu.

You only need to add a device once.

Device List

Here, I've added both devices by running through the Scan sequence twice, and selected the Skywatch meter.

You can remove a device at any time by clicking the bin icon next to it.

Connect to Device

If you have a device selected, the Device icon will be displayed above the calculator.

Supported Devices

Weta Pro currently supports Weatherflow WEATHERmeter, and the Skywatch BL series of weather meters.

As details are streamed from the device to Weta Pro, they will update the interface, displaying temperature, humidity and air pressure.
The wind speed will be sampled and graphed to show the current speed and max gust in the units you chose in settings.
In addition, a 10 second average will be calculated and displayed along with an indicator line on the graph.

*Wind direction is not currently supported, but will be added to an update very soon

Weatherflow

Skywatch

To make use of these values, tap "Use Current" to update the calculator with the current wind speed; 7.8 mph in both cases above.

Or tap "Use Average" for the 10 second average; 8.0 and 7.4 mph above, which I find more useful.

Both situations, the current temperature, humidity and air pressure will be used (and can be seen in the weather screen shown earlier) and you'll be taken back the calculator, which will be refreshed with these values.

Bonus Features

Weta Pro will introduce new features and utilities as feature requests come in...

Range Finder

I've been working on a virtual Range Finder, which utilises your phone's GPS location in order to estimate the distance from your target.

This provides a very handy estimate if you don't own a laser range finder.

Skywatch

Click "Reset", and as you walk the estimated distance will be calculated and displayed.

The accuracy depends entirely on your GPS signal strength (better outside than indoors), phone and operating system.