Point-Blank Range (PBR)
Definition
The maximum distance at which the bullet stays within the vital-zone radius above or below the line of aim without the shooter needing to apply an elevation correction.
- Field
- Exterior ballistics
- Definition
- Max distance bullet stays within vital-zone radius
- Practical effect
- No elevation correction needed within PBR
Common questions
How is point-blank range different from muzzle contact or close-range firing?+
Contact and close-range terms describe firing distances relevant to wound pattern and gunshot residue deposition. Point-blank range is a ballistic aiming concept describing how far a shooter can hold a fixed sight setting and still hit within an acceptable vertical error, unrelated to muzzle-to-target contact.
What factors change a cartridge's point-blank range?+
The zero range chosen, the bullet's trajectory and drop characteristics, and the size of the vital zone the shooter defines as acceptable all shift the calculation, so PBR is specific to a given cartridge, load, and target-size assumption rather than a fixed number.
Related terms
- Ballistic Solver
- Software (JBM Ballistics, Strelok Pro, Hornady 4DOF, AB Quantum) that computes trajectory accounting for drag, BC, muzzle velocity, and atmospheric conditions. Supplementary...
- Battle-Sight Zero (BZO)
- The zero range selected by a military or paramilitary organisation as the standard setting for field use. US Army M4: 300 m....
- Bore Axis
- The centreline of the barrel through which the bullet travels. The starting reference line for measuring gravity drop and the elevation difference...
- Gravity Drop
- The vertical distance a bullet falls below the bore axis at a given horizontal range, accumulating continuously from the instant of muzzle...
- Near-Zero Crossing
- The shorter of the two distances at which the bullet's trajectory intersects the line of sight. For a rifle zeroed at 300...
- Trajectory Rod
- A rigid fibreglass or aluminium rod inserted through a bullet wound channel and aligned with the channel geometry to define the bullet's...
- Vital Zone
- The defined target area used to compute point-blank range. For human thorax: typically 20 cm diameter (10 cm radius) centred on the...
- Zero Range
- The horizontal distance at which the bullet's trajectory crosses the line of sight. At this range, the point of aim and point...