How much does a 5.56 bullet drop at 200 yards?

With a 50-yard zero, 5.56 drops approximately 3 inches at 200 yards. With a 100-yard zero, the bullet is still about 2 inches high at 200 yards. This makes both zeros practical for close to mid-range shooting without holdover adjustments.

How much does a 5.56 bullet drop at 300 yards?

With a 50-yard zero and M193 (55gr at 3,240 fps), 5.56 drops approximately 13-15 inches at 300 yards. With a 100-yard zero, drop is about 8-10 inches. Use our ballistics calculator above for your specific load and zero distance.

Is 223 or 556 more powerful?

5.56 NATO is more powerful, loaded to approximately 58,000 psi versus .223 Remington's 55,000 psi. The 5.56 NATO chamber also has a longer throat (.125 inches longer), allowing higher pressure loads. Never fire 5.56 in a .223-only chamber due to pressure concerns. .223 Wylde chambers safely shoot both.

What is the best zero distance for AR-15?

50-yard zero is the most practical: it gives a max ordinate of about 2 inches high at 200 yards and keeps the bullet within 6 inches of aim from 0-250 yards. 100-yard zero works for range use but requires more holdover past 200 yards.

What is ballistic coefficient (BC)?

BC measures how well a bullet retains velocity against air drag. Higher BC = less drop and wind drift. Match bullets (0.4-0.6 G1 BC) perform better at distance than budget FMJ (0.25-0.35 BC). BC is measured using G1 or G7 drag models.

How much does wind affect bullet trajectory?

At 300 yards with a 10 mph crosswind, M193 drifts about 10-12 inches. Wind has more effect than most shooters realize, and it compounds with distance. At 500 yards, the same wind causes 25-30 inches of drift. Use our calculator to practice wind holds.

What is the effective range of 5.56 NATO?

Point target (torso): 300-400 yards. Area target: 500-600 yards. Maximum ballistic range: 3,600 yards. Effective range depends on barrel length, ammo, and shooter skill. From a 16-inch barrel, M193 stays supersonic to about 650 yards.

How do I convert MOA to MRAD?

1 MOA = 0.29 MRAD (roughly 1/3 mil). 1 MRAD = 3.44 MOA. At 100 yards: 1 MOA = 1.047 inches, 1 MRAD = 3.6 inches. Our calculator outputs both. Choose MRAD if your optic is in mils, MOA if it uses MOA adjustments.

Ballistics Chart 2026: 5.56 vs 300 BLK vs .308 Drop by Range

Range	5.56 M193 (16")	.300 BLK 125gr (16")	.308 168gr Match (20")
Muzzle	3,240 fps / 1,282 ft-lbs	2,215 fps / 1,360 ft-lbs	2,650 fps / 2,620 ft-lbs
100 yd	+1.3" / 2,830 fps / 977 ft-lbs	+0.5" / 1,990 fps / 1,099 ft-lbs	0" / 2,520 fps / 2,369 ft-lbs
200 yd	-3.0" / 2,460 fps / 738 ft-lbs	-10" / 1,780 fps / 879 ft-lbs	-3.4" / 2,395 fps / 2,139 ft-lbs
300 yd	-14" / 2,120 fps / 549 ft-lbs	-38" / 1,590 fps / 701 ft-lbs	-13" / 2,275 fps / 1,931 ft-lbs
500 yd	-65" / 1,520 fps / 282 ft-lbs	-160" / 1,230 fps / 419 ft-lbs	-54" / 2,045 fps / 1,560 ft-lbs
800 yd	-270" / ~960 fps (transonic) / 113 ft-lbs	-680" / ~870 fps (subsonic) / 210 ft-lbs	-195" / 1,720 fps / 1,104 ft-lbs

What is External Ballistics?

External ballistics is the study of bullet behavior after leaving the barrel. Once the projectile exits the muzzle, it's subject to gravity, air resistance, and wind. These forces cause the bullet to drop below your line of sight and drift laterally in crosswinds.Understanding these forces lets you predict where your bullet will impact at any distance. This knowledge is essential for making accurate shots beyond close range, whether you're shooting steel at 300 yards or hunting at 400.

Understanding Ballistic Coefficient (BC)

The ballistic coefficient measures how well a bullet resists air drag. A higher BC means the bullet retains velocity better, drops less, and drifts less in wind. BC depends on bullet weight, diameter, and shape.

G1 vs G7 Drag Models

Bullets are compared against standard projectile shapes. G1 is the traditional reference based on a flat-base bullet from the 1800s. G7 is based on a modern boat-tail bullet and is more accurate for today's projectiles.

G1: Most commonly published. Works well for flat-base and shorter-range calculations. Most manufacturer specs use G1.
G7: More accurate for boat-tail bullets at extended range. Better models transonic/supersonic transition. Preferred by precision shooters.

For practical purposes under 600 yards with quality ammunition, G1 data works fine. For precision work beyond 600 yards, G7 values provide better accuracy. High-BC match bullets are where this matters most: the 6.5 Creedmoor 140gr ELD Match (0.610 G1) stays supersonic past 1,400 yards, while a typical 5.56 62gr load (0.304 G1) goes transonic around 800.

Environmental Factors

Air density affects how much drag the bullet experiences. Lower air density means less drag, so the bullet retains velocity better and drops less.

Altitude

Higher altitude means lower air pressure and density. At 5,000 feet, air density is about 85% of sea level. This reduces drag and can change your drop by several inches at long range. Shooters in Denver or Salt Lake City will notice their rifles shoot flatter than at sea level.

Temperature

Hot air is less dense than cold air. A 40-degree temperature swing can change point of impact by 1-2 inches at 300 yards. If you zero at 70F, expect to shoot slightly high on a 100F summer day and low in 30F winter conditions.

Humidity

Water vapor is lighter than the nitrogen and oxygen it displaces, so humid air is actually less dense. However, the effect is small, typically less than 1% change in air density. You can usually ignore humidity unless you're doing precision work at extreme range.

Range	Vel	Energy	TOF	Drop	MOA	Drift	MOA
0 yd	3240	1282	0.000s	-2.5"	0.0	0.0"	0.0
50 yd	3060	1143	0.048s	-0.8"	1.5	+0.2"	0.4
100 yd	2878	1011	0.098s	0.0"	0.0	+1.0"	0.9
150 yd	2694	886	0.152s	-0.3"	0.2	+2.3"	1.5
200 yd	2508	768	0.210s	-1.7"	0.8	+4.3"	2.1
250 yd	2320	657	0.272s	-4.6"	1.8	+7.1"	2.7
300 yd	2128	553	0.339s	-9.1"	2.9	+10.8"	3.5
350 yd	1921	450	0.413s	-15.5"	4.2	+15.7"	4.3
400 yd	1695	351	0.496s	-24.2"	5.8	+22.2"	5.3
450 yd	1451	257	0.592s	-36.1"	7.7	+30.9"	6.5
500 yd	1133	157	0.708s	-52.2"	10.0	+43.1"	8.2
550 yd	897	98	0.858s	-75.1"	13.0	+61.4"	10.7

Using Your Ballistic Data

Holdover vs Turret Adjustments

There are two ways to compensate for bullet drop: hold over the target with your reticle, or dial your turret to move the point of impact up.

Holdovers: Faster for dynamic shooting. Use BDC reticle marks or estimate hold based on target size. Works best inside 400 yards where drops are manageable.
Turret adjustments: More precise. Dial the exact MOA/MRAD correction and aim center. Essential for precision work beyond 400 yards.

MOA vs MRAD

Both are angular measurements used to quantify adjustments. Neither is inherently better: choose based on your optic.

MOA (Minute of Angle):1 MOA = 1.047" at 100 yards (roughly 1" per 100 yards). Common on American scopes. Typical clicks: 1/4 MOA or 1/2 MOA.
MRAD (Milliradian):1 MRAD = 3.6" at 100 yards. Popular in military and long-range precision. Typical clicks: 0.1 MRAD. Math is simpler (base-10 system).

Creating a Dope Card

A "dope card" is a quick-reference chart of your drop and drift corrections at various distances. Use the calculator above to generate your data, then record it on a card taped to your stock or stored in a scope cover.Verify your calculated dope at the range. Real-world performance may vary slightly from calculated values due to lot-to-lot ammo variation, chronograph accuracy, and shooting conditions. A real muzzle velocity from a shooting chronograph is the single biggest accuracy unlock for the calculator above; box-velocity numbers routinely miss true MV by 50-100 fps.

Limitations & Accuracy

This calculator uses a point-mass trajectory model with atmospheric corrections. It provides accurate predictions for most shooting scenarios but has limitations:

Doesn't account for spin drift (significant only beyond 800+ yards)
Doesn't model Coriolis effect (relevant only for extreme long range 1000+ yards)
Assumes constant wind speed and direction (real wind is variable)
BC values are approximations: actual performance varies by lot

For practical rifle shooting to 600 yards, these limitations are negligible. Always verify your data at the range before relying on it in the field.

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Ballistics Chart: 5.56 vs .300 BLK vs .308 by Range

Quick Answer: What You'll Learn

What is External Ballistics?

Understanding Ballistic Coefficient (BC)

G1 vs G7 Drag Models

Environmental Factors

Altitude

Temperature

Humidity

Ballistics Calculator

Ammunition

Zero Settings

Environment

Wind

Trajectory Table

Trajectory Chart

Using Your Ballistic Data

Holdover vs Turret Adjustments

MOA vs MRAD

Creating a Dope Card

Limitations & Accuracy

Recommended Optics for Long-Range Shooting

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