Comparison

BulletDrop+ vs Handloader

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

Head to head
About

BulletDrop+

Calculate bullet trajectory, energy, and drift with precise inputs. Store custom loads, fetch weather data, and choose output units for accurate shooting predictions. Ideal for handloaders and shooters to understand cartridge performance.

Highlights
  • External ballistics calculation
  • iCloud support for load data
  • Store commonly used datasets
  • Selectable drag function
  • Selectable output units (inches, MOA, mils)
  • Fetch weather conditions
Features
Read full description

A simple, easy to use external ballistics calculator. It accepts inputs of bullet weight, ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, sight height, zero range, wind speed & angle, etc and calculates velocity, energy, flight path, and drift. Features: * iCloud support. Store load data on iCloud and have it available on all your iCloud-enabled iOS devices. * Clean & simple user interface. * Store commonly used datasets. * Selectable drag function for ballistic coefficients calculate based upon models. * Selectable output units: inches, MOA, & mils. * Selectable max range and range increments under Settings. * Fetch weather conditions for your location. BulletDrop+ is intended for hand loaders and shooters of all varieties. It give them an idea what various cartridges and load recipes will do at the range. As alway, the information provided by BulletDrop+, or any other calculator, is no substitute for actual range time. Get out and shoot!

About

Handloader

This app is a digital journal dedicated to the sport of ammunition reloading. It covers reloading for pistols, rifles, and shotguns, along with the science of pressures and bullet performance. Subscriptions are available for purchase within the app.

Highlights
  • Ammunition reloading journal
  • Covers pistols, rifles, and shotguns
  • Explores science of pressures
  • Details bullet performance
  • Magazine subscriptions available
Features
Read full description

Handloader the ammunition reloading journal is the only magazine in the world dedicated to the sport of reloading. Handloader has been published for 50 years and covers reloading for pistols, rifles and shotguns. In addition to reloading it covers the science of pressures and bullet performance. Magazine Subscriptions are available for purchase inside this app. Six months subscription - $10.99 (automatically renewed until canceled) One year subscription - $12.99 (automatically renewed until canceled) Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period unless you change your subscription preferences in your account settings. You can manage your subscriptions through your account settings after purchase on your device. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Please visit http://www.magzter.com/ns/privacy-policy.html for our Privacy Policy and http://www.magzter.com/ns/terms_condition.html for our Terms & Conditions

Screenshots

BulletDrop+4 screens
Handloader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: BulletDrop+ at free with in-app purchases against Handloader's subscription. Handloader's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. BulletDrop+ sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Handloader sells 41 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for BulletDrop+ against 3.9 for Handloader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 55 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of BulletDrop+'s written reviews are positive against 57% of Handloader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BulletDrop+ ships an update every 4 months, Handloader every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BulletDrop+ versus Handloader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBulletDrop+Handloader
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (76 ratings)3.9 (55 ratings)
Positive reviews51.4% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings76 — better55
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB40 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperMark DescalzoMagzter Inc.

Customer experience

BulletDrop+

All ratings76 ratings
Positive68.4%
Neutral13.2%
Negative18.4%
Written reviews74 reviews
Positive51.4%
Neutral18.9%
Negative29.7%

Handloader

All ratings55 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral3.6%
Negative23.6%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

BulletDrop+

One-time6
  • Chocolate Bar$0.99
  • Cup of Coffee$1.99
  • Doughnut$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Coffee-themed Beverage$4.99
  • Bag of Coffee$14.99
  • Sack of Coffee$29.99
41 purchases

Handloader

Subscriptions3
  • Handloader 30$8.991 Year
  • Handloader$10.996 Months
  • 1 Year Digital Subscription7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time38
  • Handloader August-September 2014$4.99
  • Handloader October - November 2014$4.99
  • Handloader December -January 2015$4.99
Show 35 more
  • Handloader February-March 2013$4.99
  • Handloader December - January 2012$4.99
  • Handloader December - January 2011$4.99
  • Handloader February -March 2015$4.99
  • Handloader August - September 2015$4.99
  • Handloader June - July 2016$4.99
  • Oct - Nov 2018$4.99
  • Handloader April - may 2011$4.99
  • Handloader August - September 2017$4.99
  • April - May 2019$4.99
  • Handloader - June July 2024$4.99
  • Handloader June - July 2012$4.99
  • Handloader April - May 2015$4.99
  • Handloader August - September 2016$4.99
  • Handloader April - May 2013$4.99
  • Handloader August - September 2012$4.99
  • Handloader August-September 2013$4.99
  • June - July 2019$4.99
  • Handloader Oct - Nov 2019$4.99
  • Handloader June - July 2011$4.99
  • Handloader June July 2022$4.99
  • Handloader December - January 2010$4.99
  • Handloader October - November 2016$4.99
  • Handloader February - March 2017$4.99
  • Handloader April - May 2017$4.99
  • Handloader December - January 2013$4.99
  • Handloader October - November 2011$4.99
  • Handloader June - July 2015$4.99
  • Handloader Oct - Nov 2014$4.99
  • Handloader October - November 2015$4.99
  • Handloader Dec 2019 - Jan 2020$4.99
  • Jun Jul 2020$4.99
  • Handloader April - May 2010$4.99
  • Handloader Special Issue 2018$7.99
  • Winter Special 2017$7.99

Questions

Is BulletDrop+ free?
BulletDrop+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Handloader free?
Handloader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BulletDrop+ or Handloader?
BulletDrop+ and Handloader are both rated 3.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 76 and 55 ratings respectively.
Do BulletDrop+ or Handloader have ads?
Neither BulletDrop+ nor Handloader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BulletDrop+ or Handloader?
BulletDrop+ ships an update every 4 months, and Handloader every 8 months. Most recently, BulletDrop+ was updated on October 9, 2026 and Handloader on October 2, 2026.

Other comparisons