In long-range or competitive shooting, a DOPE card - short for “Data On Previous Engagements” - is one of the most valuable tools a marksman can carry. It serves as a personalized ballistic "cheat sheet," helping target shooters quickly reference elevation and windage holds for various distances. Whether you’re racing against the clock during a match or engaging steel targets at distance, a well-prepared DOPE card can save time, boost confidence and increase your chances of making first-round impacts.
In this NSSF video series, Ryan Cleckner—former special operations sniper and instructor, current firearms attorney, co-founder of Gun University, and bestselling author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook—guides you through the practical application of your knowledge of Mils and MOA in the field.
Mils
MOA
Step 1: Get a Good Zero
Everything starts with a rock-solid zero.
A bad zero at 100 yards will throw off your data at every distance beyond. Even a 0.2 MIL or ½ MOA error can translate into a miss at long range, and the longer the shot the more dramatic the error. So take your time, use a stable shooting position, confirm your wind conditions and make clean, consistent shots. Remember, fundamentals are key!
Tips for a good zero:
- Use a solid front and rear support (bipod + rear bag or sandbags)
- Confirm your group is tight and centered
- Recheck your zero on different days if possible
Once you’ve confirmed your zero, lock it in and don’t second-guess it unless you change ammo or modify your rifle setup.
Step 2: Gather Basic Ballistic Data
A DOPE card is only as accurate as the data behind it, it's essential to take this step in the process seriously and make deliberate decisions and actions.
Option A: Use Factory Ballistic Charts
The box your ammunition came in may have a basic ballistic chart. While this is a helpful starting point, it will likely not be entirely accurate when compared to your setup. Factory data is often generated using test rifles in controlled environments, with potentially different:
- Barrel lengths
- Twist rates
- Muzzle velocities
Still, it gives you a rough idea of drop at various distances and can help you get on paper.
Option B: Use a Ballistic App
The better method is to build your own data profile using a ballistic calculator. Popular options include:
To build a ballistic profile, you'll need to input several data points such as:
- Bullet type and weight
- Verified muzzle velocity (preferably from a chronograph)
- Sight height over bore
- Zero distance
- Environmental data: altitude, temp, pressure, humidity (this variable data should be input at your intended shooting location)
These tools will produce a drop chart in MILs or MOA, depending on your scope setup. This chart and corresponding data becomes the backbone of your DOPE card.
Tip: Many competitive shooters and hunters alike use a Kestrel Weather Meter, which combines a ballistic solver (such as Applied Ballistics) with a handheld, powerful weather meter that uses your rifle data with real-time environmental data to produce an accurate firing solution.
Step 3: Validate Your Data at Distance
There is no substitute for going to the range and validating the data from your ballistics solver. Take your rifle to the range and shoot at steel or paper targets at multiple distances—300, 400, 500 yards and beyond. Record the actual adjustments needed to get consistent hits.
During this stage of the process, many shooters will choose to only focus on their elevation. Shooting at a target with a "waterline" can be one of the best ways to shoot a group and check your elevation, without focusing on wind. A waterline target is basically a shooting target that has a horizontal line on it. This line helps shooters line up their shots better. It acts like a guide for making adjustments to how high or low they aim, so they can see how their shots are grouping in relation to that line.
Validation checklist:
- Print or save your calculated drop chart
- Engage targets at known distances
- Confirm or adjust data based on good impacts
- Note any bad trends (example: consistently hitting low at 600 yards)
After validating, you now have true DOPE that reflects your unique rifle and ammo combo.
Step 4: Format and Create Your DOPE Card
Now that you have good, validated data, format your DOPE card in a way that suits your needs.
DOPE Card Essentials to Include
- Distance (in yards or meters)
- Elevation hold (MIL or MOA)
- Wind holds for common wind speeds (e.g. 5 mph, 10 mph full value)
- Rifle info, load info, environmental conditions at time of validation (this is optional, but if you have space on the back of your card, or have more than one load for a specific rifle, it's a good idea).
You can format and organize this information using a spreadsheet application like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, reference a ballistic app on your mobile device or handwrite it on an index card. Many target shooters laminate their cards and attach them to their rifle stock or secure them to the inside of their wrist.
Dope cards made by Nedved Precision Shooting, designed for rifle competitions.
Bonus Tip: Create different cards for different locations or altitudes. If you're planning to shoot in Colorado but live in Alabama, plug in anticipated weather and environmental data into your calculator and write it down. Higher elevation = less dense air, so your ballistic data will change.
Step 5: Use It in the Field or Match
A DOPE card really shines during competition or field shooting where time is limited and of the essence.
Quickly referencing your card allows you to:
- Instantly dial or hold the correct elevation
- Adjust for wind conditions
- Focus on shooting fundamentals instead of math
You can also make adjustments for targets at odd distances. For example, if a target is at an in-between distance like 435 yards, you can estimate between 400 yard and 450 yard DOPE.
Conclusion
Whether you’re prepping for a PRS match or ringing steel targets at the back of the range, a dialed-in DOPE card gives you confidence in both your equipment and your ability to make the shot.
Helpful Long Range Shooting Resources
Scope Finder Tool
Find the perfect combination of rings, bases, and lens caps for your scope and rifle using the Gun University Scope Ring Finder.
