Editing Point-blank range

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Short description|Distance at which a firearm or projectile can be fired directly at its target and hit}}
{{redir|Point Blank}}
[[File:M1917 ladder sight Bruce Canfield.jpg|right|thumb|The ladder sight on an [[M1917 Enfield]] rifle. When the bar on the rear sight is raised, the barrel of the rifle points slightly upwards compared to the sights. This compensates for bullet drop over a given range.]]

'''Point-blank range''' is any distance over which a certain firearm or gun can hit a target without the need to elevate the barrel to compensate for [[bullet drop]], i.e. the gun can be pointed horizontally at the target.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=FZQEAAAAQAAJ&dq=POINT+BLANK+RANGE&pg=PA264 The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine, 1831 Part III]: "What is point-blank range?—with the gun-carriage standing on a level plane, point-blank range is the distance to which the shot will reach from the gun fired from its horizontal position, (as specified above,) before it touches the ground"</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Bi1RAAAAYAAJ&dq=POINT+BLANK+RANGE&pg=PA247 Charles Henry Owen (1871). ''The Principles and Practice of Modern Artillery: Including Artillery Material, Gunnery and Organization and Use of Artillery in Warfare''] p.247: "The point blank range of a gun is the range obtained at the first graze of the shot, when the piece is placed on its carriage is fired, with the service charge, on a horizontal plane with no elevation; that is to say, when the axis of the gun is parallel to the plane."</ref> For targets beyond-blank range, the shooter will have to point the barrel of their firearm at a position above the target, and firearms that are designed for long range firefights usually have adjustable sights to help the shooter hit targets beyond point-blank range. The maximum point-blank range of a firearm will depend on a variety of factors such as muzzle velocity and the size of the target.<ref>{{Cite web | title=ShootersCalculator.com {{!}} Point Blank Range Calculator | url=https://shooterscalculator.com/point-blank-range.php | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322194127/http://www.shooterscalculator.com:80/point-blank-range.php | access-date=2025-03-31 | archive-date=2012-03-22}}</ref>

In popular usage, point-blank range has come to mean extremely close range with a [[firearm]], yet not close enough to be a [[contact shot]].<ref name="guntec">{{cite web|url=http://www.midwayusa.com/guntecdictionary.exe/showterm?TermID=3768 |title=Definition for "point blank range" |publisher=[[MidwayUSA]] |access-date=11 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208234646/http://www.midwayusa.com/guntecdictionary.exe/showterm?TermID=3768 |archive-date=8 December 2007}}</ref> Point-blank (when describing a person) means direct or blunt.<ref>{{cite web |title=POINT-BLANK Definition & Meaning |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/point-blank |website=Meriam-Webster |access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

==History==
The term ''point-blank'' dates to the 1570s and is probably of French origin, deriving from {{lang|fr|pointé à blanc}}, "pointed at white". It is thought<ref>{{Cite book |last=Forsyth |first=Mark |title=The etymologicon: A circular stroll through the hidden connections of the English language |publisher=Icon Books Ltd |year=2011 |isbn=9780425260791 |language=English}}</ref> the word ''blanc'' may be used to describe a small white aiming spot formerly at the center of shooting targets. However, since none of the early sources mention a white center target, ''blanc'' may refer to empty space or zero point of elevation when testing range.<ref name="XnXQG">{{Cite web |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/point-blank#etymonline_v_17539 |title=point-blank {{!}} Origin and meaning of point-blank by Online Etymology Dictionary |website=www.etymonline.com |language=en |access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref>

The term originated with the techniques used to aim muzzle-loading [[cannon]]. Their barrels tapered from [[Breech-loading weapon|breech]] to [[muzzle (firearms)|muzzle]], so that when the top of the cannon was held horizontal, its bore actually sat at an elevated angle. This caused the [[projectile]] to rise above the natural line of sight shortly after leaving the muzzle, then drop below it after the apex of its slightly [[parabolic trajectory]] was reached.<ref name="instruction">{{cite book |title=Instruction Upon the Art of Pointing Cannon |author=Unknown |publisher=J. and G. S. Gideon |year=1848 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9NdqRRblXkkC&q=%22point+blank+range%22+cannon&pg=PA12}}</ref>

By repeatedly firing a given projectile with the same charge, the point where the shot fell below the bottom of the bore could be measured. This distance was considered the ''point-blank range'': any target within it required the gun to be depressed; any beyond it required elevation, up to the ''angle of greatest range'' at somewhat before 45 degrees.<ref name="instruction" />

Various cannon of the 19th century had point-blank ranges from {{convert|250|yd|m}} (12&nbsp;lb [[howitzer]], {{convert|0.595|lb|abbr=on}} powder charge) to nearly {{convert|1075|yd|m}} (30&nbsp;lb [[carronade]], solid shot, {{convert|3.53|lb|abbr=on}} powder charge).<ref name="instruction" />

==Small arms==

===Maximum point-blank range===
[[File:Torso Lethal Shot Placement rectangle of 450 × 225 mm (17.7 × 8.85 in) superimposed over silhouetted soldier.png|141px|thumb|Torso Lethal Shot Placement rectangle of 450 × 225 mm (17.7 × 8.85 in) superimposed over a silhouetted soldier.]]

[[Small arm]]s are often sighted in so that their sight line and bullet path are within a certain acceptable margin out to the longest possible range, called the ''maximum point-blank range''. Maximum point-blank range is principally a function of a [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge's]] external [[ballistics]] and target size: high-velocity rounds have long point-blank ranges, while slow rounds have much shorter point-blank ranges. Target size determines how far above and below the line of sight a projectile's trajectory may deviate. Other considerations include sight height and acceptable drop before a shot is ineffective.<ref name="fgWIS">{{cite web |url=http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexplained/4th/55.cfm |title=Point Blank Range |publisher=exteriorballistics.com |access-date=11 September 2007 |archive-date=10 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010141631/http://www.exteriorballistics.com/ebexplained/4th/55.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Hunting====
A large target, like the vitals area of a [[deer]], allows a deviation of a few inches (as much as 10&nbsp;cm) while still ensuring a quickly disabling hit. [[Vermin]] such as [[prairie dog]]s require a much smaller deviation, less than an inch (about 2&nbsp;cm).<ref name="zLf4K">{{cite web|url=http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/February02.htm |title=Point Blank Range |publisher=Load From A Disk |access-date=11 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801101808/http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/February02.htm |archive-date=1 August 2007}}</ref> The height of the sights has two effects on point blank range. If the sights are lower than the allowable deviation, then point blank range starts at the muzzle, and any difference between the sight height and the allowable deviation is lost distance that could have been in point blank range. Higher sights, up to the maximum allowable deviation, push the maximum point blank range farther from the gun. Sights that are higher than the maximum allowable deviation push the start of the point blank range farther out from the muzzle; this is common with [[varmint rifle]]s, where close shots are only sometimes made, as it places the point blank range out to the expected range of the usual targets.

====Military====
Known also as "battle zero", maximum point-blank range is crucial in the military. Soldiers are instructed to fire at any target within this range by simply placing their weapon's sights on the center of mass of the enemy target. Any errors in range estimation are effectively irrelevant, as a well-aimed shot will hit the [[torso]] of the enemy soldier. No height correction is needed at the "battle zero" or less distance, but it can result in a headshot or even a complete miss. The belt buckle is used as battle zero point of aim in Russian and former Soviet military doctrine.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|author=Gordon Rottman |title=The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series Assault Rifles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qK9Nn-2xocUC&pg=PA42 |access-date=24 December 2011 |date=24 May 2011 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-84908-835-0 |pages=42–}}</ref><ref name="NmSuM">{{cite web|url=http://russianoptics.net/400mzero.html|title=Using a 400 meter zero with 5.45x39|access-date=16 November 2014}}</ref>

The first mass-produced [[assault rifle]], the World War II [[StG 44]], and its preceding prototypes had [[Iron sights|iron sight]] lines elevated over the bore axis to extend point-blank range. The current trend for elevated sights and flatter shooting higher-velocity cartridges in assault rifles is in part due to a desire to further extend the maximum point-blank range, which makes the rifle easier to use.<ref name="DsgEH">{{cite web|url=http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=599 |title=An Improved Battlesight Zero for the M4 Carbine and M16A2 Rifle |access-date=11 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="tuFJs">{{cite web|url=https://www.ar15.com/content/webPDF/TM9-1005-319-10.pdf |title=TM 9-1005-319-10 (2010) – Operator's Manual for Rifle, 5.56 MM, M16A2/M16A3/M4 (Battlesight Zero pages 48–55)|access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref> Raising the sight line {{convert|48.5|to|66|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} over the bore axis, introduces an inherent [[parallax]] problem as the projectile path crosses the horizontal sighting plane twice. The point closest to the gun occurs while the bullet is climbing through the line of sight and is called the near zero. The second point occurs as the projectile is descending through the line of sight and is called the far zero. At closer ranges under the near zero range (typically inside {{convert|15|to|25|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}), the shooter must aim high to place shots where desired.

==See also==
* [[Table of handgun and rifle cartridges]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* Nosworthy, Brent. ''marconibrenner''. Constable and Co. Ltd, 1995 {{ISBN|0-09-477240-1}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|pointblank}}
* [http://civilwarartillery.com/tables.htm Tables for Cannon & Artillery Projectiles used in the American Civil War] (includes point blank ranges).

{{DEFAULTSORT:Point-Blank Range}}
[[Category:Ballistics]]
[[Category:Firearm terminology]]