So, you wanna improve combat rifle accuracy?

Came accross this today: Lockheed to Develop Advanced Rifle Scope - Army Technology
The meat of the article:

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The dynamic image gunsight optic (DInGO) is an optical scope attachment to be used on standard combat rifles, which will provide the soldiers with an accurate target view without the need to change scopes or decrease optical resolution.

DInGO uses a low-power laser rangefinder, which automatically calculates the range and digitally zooms into the target taking into account environmental conditions. It then projects the bullet's point-of-impact calculated from the embedded ballistics computer.

The system will significantly enhance the soldiers' ability to accurately hit targets at a range of between 3m and 600m.

Based on Lockheed Martin's One Shot advanced sighting system, the DInGO uses a similar precision engagement technology to automatically transmit crosswind information to a long-range sniper's scope and exactly display the place where the bullet hits.

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If and when this comes out, and it and when it works, it may be the next "revolutionary" step in combat optics. I know I sure want one... :danceban:

Sounds a bit like an active/electronic equivalent of Nikon's BDC (bullet drop compensation) markings on the reticle. Hard to tell without more details.

It's probably going to cost a pretty penny

Well, as I understand it, the laser range finder calculates the range to the target you are aiming at. The optic digitally magnifies the image so that you are always seeing roughly the same "field of view" of the target. The computer calculates bullet drop (and windage, somehow, apparently?) and tells you where the bullet will strike if you pull the trigger "now." So, you move that strike point to be where you want the round to impact and, voila.

Since range estimation and poor wind reading are the main causes of misses (at least in my experience employing snipers) at long distances, a LRF and ballistic computer will be of immense help in shots beyond 200m or so (roughly where most half-decent rifleman can reliably hit a torso sized target w/o magnifying optics, again in my experience).
As long as this is kept reliable, robust, light, and easy on batteries (yeah, I know, simplest thing in the world, right?), I think it has amazing potential to increase our soldier’s ability to put effective rounds on target at 300-600m. That sounds pretty good to me.

My question: What are the size, weight and power requirements. All this wizz-bang stuff is great until you have to hump it, maintain it and power it.
But it does sound really awesome.

Best way to improve my rifles accuracy......is let somebody else shoot it.Old age and my disability has taken it's toll,I have to shoot left handed and ain't as steady as I once was,I call my kind of shooting suppressive fire

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Originally Posted by dukalmighty

I call my kind of shooting suppressive fire

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:rofl: I no longer give my shooting names. I fear it'll call down the wrath of the accuracy gods on my head. :embarassed:

Seriously, the average person isn't going to notice much change with this thing. I'm sure that 95% of the problem with accuracy for normal folks is going to be training, breathing, triggering technique, the rifle/barrel connection (ie, free-floated or badly interfering).

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Originally Posted by ccw9mm

:rofl: I no longer give my shooting names. I fear it'll call down the wrath of the accuracy gods on my head. :embarassed:

Seriously, the average person isn't going to notice much change with this thing. I'm sure that 95% of the problem with accuracy for normal folks is going to be training, breathing, triggering technique, the rifle/barrel connection (ie, free-floated or badly interfering).

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I respectfully disagree, though this isn't really about "normal folks" anyway; it's about combat troops engaging the enemy out to 600m.

Beyond point blank range (real point blank range, not the Hollywood idea of what PBR is), range estimation becomes critical, and it is something that even trained persons sometimes have trouble with, especially over steeply sloping terrain. Range estimation aids like mil-dots and similar systems are great, but they can be slow and require a good bit of practice to master, especially under "combat" conditions. An LRF tied into the ballistics chart for your rifle/ammo combo would make the process much faster and simpler.

Couple this with an "auto-focus" magnification where you don't have to make any physical adjustments to your optic when going from 6m to 600m - while still maintaining the same "sight picture" - and you've got a pretty nice thing going indeed.

Yes, the key will be keeping it light and durable, with good battery life (and, of course, BUIS), but for combat troops that are already "pretty good," this will be a big step forward (when all the bugs are worked out!)

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Originally Posted by dukalmighty

Best way to improve my rifles accuracy......is let somebody else shoot it.Old age and my disability has taken it's toll,I have to shoot left handed and ain't as steady as I once was,I call my kind of shooting suppressive fire

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I lean towards "SHOCK & AWE" myself!:rofl::rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by OPFOR

The computer calculates bullet drop (and windage, somehow, apparently?) [...]

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In ground-based astronomy (and directed energy weapon research) there is a technique called adaptive optics. A low-powered laser is fired and used to measure the variations in air density along the bore track. What this means is that the real laser (or telescopic optics) can be adjusted so that the atmospheric refractions caused by the measured density variations tend to re-focus the resulting beam (or sight line) rather than scatter it.

All this is based on measuring the air with a laser. In the article somebody posted today about One-Shot (the system from which this optic is derived), there was a reference to measuring the "air turbulence". So, to me it sounds like they are applying adaptive optics techniques to feed the ballistics computer for atmospheric variations. I think that sounds like a great idea! :hand10:

That's some cool stuff...

Generally, I'm not a gee-whiz gadget guy - I believe in fundamentals and training. However, NASCAR drivers aren't using the same technology that they were 40 (or 4) years ago, and neither are surgeons... Yes, they must have strong fundamental driving/surgical skills, but if technology can make them just that much better, I'm for it.

In this case, if this optic is used to supplement the strong fundamental shooting skills of the rifleman, I think it will be able to do wonders for our hit ratios out past 300m. I just hope it comes out in a usable form (and for under 5 figures) before I'm too old to carry one! Fat chance of that, I know, but a grunt can dream....

That sounds like total coolness, dipped in awesome sauce.

I was wondering when range-finder technologies would combine within the scope. It only makes sense. And yes, technology can always fail, but that's why there are redundant systems (like iron sights).

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Originally Posted by OPFOR

... though this isn't really about "normal folks" anyway; it's about combat troops ...

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My point exactly. Non-expert marksmen. "Normal" folks. "Average" folks. The bottom third.

Saw this in another thread:

DARPA's New Sniper Rifle System

You can expect newer generations of optics (years from now) to make use of info feeds from satellites along with preprogrammed settings for a variety of ammo/rifle combos and video capture/transmission in real time. The optic's display will also eventually include a go/no go icon that can be prompted by a commander at a distant location who is watching the video feed.

Luuuke ... use the Force!

Does sound like it shows the "Kentucky windage" when targeting. Used to spot where the first shot hit when hunting rockchucks on the far side of the canyons out in WA. After that, it was game on.