Comparison

Ballistic vs Hornady Reloading Guide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

Features & Functionality Modernized User Interface • Clean, contemporary design • Improved visual hierarchy • Faster access to critical shooting data • More intuitive navigation and setup process • Optimized for both novice and experienced shooters Enhanced Data Visualization • Improved readability of charts and shot data • Cleaner presentation of trajectory information • Better organization of environmental and ballistic inputs • Easier interpretation under field conditions Unified HUD & DOPE Chart Experience • HUD Screen and DOPE Chart combined into a single interactive workspace • Real-time trajectory information displayed alongside adjustment data • Environmental updates, elevation, and wind corrections available in one location • Reduced need to toggle between screens Streamlined Navigation • Consolidated data screens • Reduced taps to access critical information • Faster profile management • Improved organization of rifles, loads, and favorites More Personalized Experience • Easier access to saved rifle profiles • Improved load management • Favorites-based menus • Faster retrieval of frequently used configurations

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Ballistic4 screens
Hornady Reloading Guide3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hornady Reloading Guide at 4.6 against Ballistic's 1.1. Hornady Reloading Guide also leads on ratings volume (17K vs 71). Ballistic's advantage is review sentiment (55% vs 31%). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hornady Reloading Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hornady Reloading Guide has 17K ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Ballistic's written reviews are positive against 31% of Hornady Reloading Guide's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ballistic ships an update every 3 months, Hornady Reloading Guide every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Ballistic versus Hornady Reloading Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBallisticHornady Reloading Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.1 (71 ratings)4.6 (17K ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.8% of reviews — better31.4% of reviews
Number of ratings7117K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1515.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB71 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperFederal Premium AmmunitionHornady

Customer experience

Ballistic

All ratings40 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews325 reviews
Positive54.8%
Neutral4.9%
Negative40.3%

Hornady Reloading Guide

All ratings16,899 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews271 reviews
Positive31.4%
Neutral10.0%
Negative58.7%

User reviews

Ballistic

From 71 App Store ratings

What 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 17K App Store ratings

What 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
Show 1 more
  • 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

1 purchases

Ballistic

One-time1
  • Kestrel LiNK$9.99
3 purchases

Hornady Reloading Guide

Subscriptions1
  • Reloading Guide Subscription$19.991 Year
One-time2
  • Hornady Point$0.99
  • 20 Hornady Points$19.99

Questions

Is Ballistic free?
Ballistic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hornady Reloading Guide free?
Hornady Reloading Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide?
Hornady Reloading Guide is rated higher. Ballistic averages 1.1 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Hornady Reloading Guide averages 4.6 from 17K ratings.
Do Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide have ads?
Neither Ballistic nor Hornady Reloading Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ballistic or Hornady Reloading Guide?
Ballistic ships an update every 3 months, and Hornady Reloading Guide every 2 months. Most recently, Ballistic was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hornady Reloading Guide on October 29, 2026.

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