Creating a Dope Card.

🎯 Step-by-Step Tutorial: Creating a DOPE Card with Burris Ballistic Tools

Open Burris Ballistic Tools

Go to: Burris Ballistic Tools

Here you’ll find Burris’ Ballistic Services—a suite of web tools that includes the DOPE Card Builder, Ballistic Calculator, Reticle Analysis, Eliminator programming, and Custom Knob ordering.

Select the DOPE Card Tool

On the Ballistic Tools page, click the big red “DOPE CARD” button to open the DOPE Card Builder.

 

Rifle Setup Data

Dope Cards don't require that you select a scope family, or specific optic. You can skip this step. 

Input your rifle setup:

• Height Above Bore – Measure from the center of your scope to the center of your rifle’s bore (chamber).
• Zero Distance – Enter the distance where your rifle is sighted in (100 yards/meters is standard).

Once all of your information is input. Click on the Step 2 Button. 

 

Select Ammunition / Bullet Type

Choose one of three options:

• Factory Ammunition – Best if you shoot commercial loads. Burris’ library covers thousands of options.
• Bullets Only (Handload) – Use this if you reload but know your bullet model (weight, BC, etc.).
• Manual Input – Use if your ammo isn’t listed. You’ll enter all bullet details yourself.

Input Factory Ammunition (Example)

If you selected Factory Ammunition:

1. Select Manufacturer – e.g., Hornady
2. Select Cartridge – e.g., 6.5 Creedmoor
3. Select Bullet – e.g., Hornady 143gr Precision Hunter ELD-X

The system auto-fills bullet type, velocity, BC, bullet weight, and drag table.

Manual Input (Alternative)

If your load is not in our Library. Visit the website of the ammunition manufacturer to find the following details needed to make a Dope Card. If you cannot find them, on the website give the ammunition manufacturer a call. 

If your load isn’t available, choose Manual Input and type the data:

• Bullet Style/Type
• Muzzle Velocity (fps)
• Ballistic Coefficient (BC)
• Bullet Weight (gr)
• Drag Table (G1 or G7)

This produces the same results as factory selection—accuracy depends on your data.

Once you have input your data, or selected your factory load click on the Step 3 button. 

Environmental Conditions

Environmental conditions are critical for accuracy.

• Enter Conditions Manually – Input altitude, pressure, humidity, and temperature.
• Use Density Altitude (Recommended) – Enter a single DA value plus temperature.

Example: DA = 6000 ft, Temperature = 59°F

DA can be obtained from a local airport, a Kestrel device, or a smartphone app.

Once you have input your environmental conditions, click on the Step 4 button. 

Generate and Export Your DOPE Card

The default Dope Card will look something like this. Default outputs include range, velocity, energy, path, drop, drift, TOF, and zero adjustment.

You can adjust:

• Start Range, Max Range, Increment (Adjustable from 1 yard to 100 yard increments)
• Zero Adj in Clicks, MOA, or MILs

• Wind Drift in Click, MOA, or MILs

  Click Generate to create your card after you have adjusted any values. 

Export options: Print, Email, Save (CSV), or Customize fields.

Customize for Long-Range Shooting

Example Settings:

• Max Range = 2000 yards
• Increment = 25 yards
• Zero Adj = MOA

With these settings, a 6.5 Creedmoor 143gr ELD-X requires ~107.5 MOA to reach 2000 yards.

✅ Final Notes

• Always confirm your DOPE card by shooting at real distances (“truing”).
• Laminating or taping your printed card to your rifle stock makes it field-ready.
• Update environmental conditions often—Density Altitude changes daily.