Ballistic vs Hornady Reloading Guide
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ballistic
This advanced ballistics calculator provides precise trajectory calculations for serious shooters. It accounts for atmospheric conditions, Coriolis effect, and gyroscopic spin, offering a comprehensive tool for hunting and range practice with extensive projectile data and a rangefinder.
- Advanced ballistics calculations
- Atmospheric condition adjustments
- Coriolis effect and gyroscopic spin
- Extensive projectile and load library
- Rangefinder and range log
- Heads-up display
- 3D trajectory imaging
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For serious shooters who are serious about their shot!!! ••• The most advanced ballistics calculator on the market ••• Trusted by the best: Armed Forces / Shooting Instructors / Lifelong Marksmen ••• Advanced Precision Ballistics 5 STARS: "I shoot on Team Louisiana Precision Rifles in Tactical rifle matches. Everyone on the team that uses Ballistic has had great results. This program has really been a game changer in the precision rifle world." - Bannon 5 STARS: "I have used this app for my 308 Rem 700 to my 338 Lapua. I have made some fun shots using this app. I have been using it ever since it was an iPhone app. US Marine Approved. Thanks!" - Ob1goose 5 STARS: "I used the data from Ballistic for a cold bore shot at 760 yards and center punched the plate. Sent another right on top of it. Done. No loading hassle or BS, just accuracy!" - Rick Ballistic is a highly-accurate ballistic calculator and range companion. With its advanced capabilities, Ballistic can calculate for atmospheric conditions, Coriolis effect, gyroscopic spin, and more. It's also much more. With a vast library of nearly 5,000 projectiles and factory loads, rangefinder, range log, and head-up display, Ballistic is a complete mobile companion for hunting or at the range. Ballistic's world renowned JBM ballistics engine delivers the gold standard in calculations that other applications compare themselves to. Advanced Edition Features: - iPhone internal barometer supported - Kestrel K5 LiNK / Drop integration (in-app purchase) - An advanced heads-up display for mounted operation - Advanced wind kit configurable for up to 8 wind sources - Bryan Litz' custom G7 ballistic coefficients - 3D Trajectory imaging for visualizing bullet path - Mil-Dot ballistics heads-up display Features: - World renowned JBM ballistics engine for the most precise, accurate calculations in the industry. - Load Library: 5,000 commercial and military projectiles and factory loads from leading manufacturers or specify your own projectile properties. Includes latest commercial data and military coefficients established at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Also includes Bryan Litz' advanced G7 ballistic coefficients and bullet lengths. - iCloud Sync: Sync your favorites, optics profiles & range log to all of your devices - One-Touch Atmospheric Correction: Instantly adjust your calculations for zero or current atmosphere. Weather updated based on your current location (from a weather service), or enter your own atmospheric values. - Advanced Wind Kit: Powerful tool enabling you to create complex wind configurations for up to eight different wind sources! - Variable (Stepped) BCs: Includes many popular commercial projectiles from select manufacturers, for more precise calculations. - Ballistic Charts: Display a chart of the current projectile including drop, energy, and velocity. Compare wind drift. Compare up to eight projectiles on the same chart. Zoom charts up to 300% and save a full size chart to your photo album. - HUD: Full featured Mil-Dot ballistics head-up display; estimate using on-screen Mil-dot reticle, and see milling holdovers, with easy on-screen adjustment. - Target Log: Keep a journal of all your hunts, shoots, adjustments, points of impact, and scores. Includes group calculator, integrated score log, multiple target types, and camera and GPS support. Generate cold barrel and scoring reports for each rifle. - Angular Acquisition: Aim the device at the target like a remote control, or mount on your weapon to receive real-time angular correction. - Adjustable Units: Elevation and windage output units in inches, centimeters, arcminutes, milliradians, and click values ranging from full click to 1/8 click (or custom click values). - Calculate your own ballistic coefficients based on two chronograph measurements or data from the back of an ammo box. ... and much more!
Hornady Reloading Guide
Access comprehensive reloading data for hundreds of cartridges and bullets, based on extensive testing. Purchase individual data sets, the entire current edition, or subscribe for continuous updates and full access to all data on your mobile device.
- Reloading data for 200+ cartridges
- Data for 300+ bullets
- Safe data based on controlled testing
- Purchase individual cartridge data
- Purchase full handbook edition
- Subscription for all data and updates
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Derived from extensive testing by Hornady Manufacturing Company, this app includes reloading data for over 200 cartridges and 300 bullets. Under carefully controlled conditions using the components and test equipment specified, we report only data that proved safe in our research. Users have the ability to purchase data for individual cartridges, purchase the whole current edition of the handbook, or subscribe and receive the entire handbook plus more. Subscription provides access to all handbook data on your mobile device and real updates for all new data without waiting for the new handbook publication to be produced.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hornady Reloading Guide at 4.6 against Ballistic's 3.7. Hornady Reloading Guide also leads on ratings volume (16K vs 513). Ballistic's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 32%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Ballistic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hornady Reloading Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Hornady Reloading Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hornady Reloading Guide has 16K ratings behind it against 513, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Ballistic's written reviews are positive against 32% of Hornady Reloading Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Ballistic ships an update every 3 months, Hornady Reloading Guide every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Ballistic | Hornady Reloading Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (513 ratings) | 4.6 (16K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.9% of reviews — better | 31.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 513 | 16K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Federal Premium Ammunition | Hornady |
Customer experience
Ballistic
Hornady Reloading Guide
User reviews
Ballistic
From 513 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Accurate ballistics calculations
- 👍 Comprehensive features
- 💡 Customizable settings
- 🔒 Secure data storage
- 🎯 Helpful for long-range shooting
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes when adding targets
- 🔍 Outdated bullet/load data
- 🤔 Confusing wind input configuration
- 🤯 Restricted to G1 drag model only
- 🤫 Data mining concerns
Hornady Reloading Guide
From 16K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Comprehensive reloading data
- 📱 Convenient mobile access
- 👍 Helpful range log and notes features
- 🔍 Ability to purchase individual cartridges
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and errors
- 💰 Paywall for accessing data
- 🔒 Account and login issues
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
Bugs and requests
Ballistic
Reported bugs
3 issues- Windage values change unexpectedly when adjusting max range
- Favorites and target data being lost or inaccessible
- App crashing when trying to use certain features
Requested features
6 requests- Add support for newer calibers and loads
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Implement better data syncing and backup options
- Provide more detailed instructions and tutorials
- Add support for metric units
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- Integrate with external devices (e.g., Kestrel)
Hornady Reloading Guide
Reported bugs
4 issues- Purchased data disappearing or inaccessible
- Unable to log in or access account
- Blank screens and unknown errors
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Offline access to data
- Improved range log with more details
- Seamless integration with in-app purchases
- Support for more powder and bullet options
In-app purchases
Ballistic
- Kestrel LiNK$9.99
Hornady Reloading Guide
- Reloading Guide Subscription$19.991 Year
- Hornady Point$0.99
- 20 Hornady Points$19.99
Questions
Is Ballistic free?
Is Hornady Reloading Guide free?
Which has better reviews, Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide?
Do Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide have ads?
Which is updated more often, Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide?
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