Where's OnTarget v2.XX

In December of 2008 I announced that I had started working on the next version of the OnTarget Precision Calculator and it would be released in a few months. I was adding and testing new features when in February 2009 I was approached with an idea for an entirely new project. After some research, in April 2009 I made the decision to put OnTarget v2.XX on hold and redirect my efforts towards the the new project.

That decision is based on several factors. First, the current program, v1.10, is very stable and requires little effort in the way of support and maintenance. I had expected the popularity of the program to fall off after the first year of release. In reality the visitor and download counts from the website continue to rise over time as the program becomes more accepted and popular within the shooting community. Second, the new release would require at least several hundred hours to complete and release. After that I need a break so the new project would have been delayed at least a year. And third, I believe the new project has more value to the shooting community than a new version of the OnTarget group measuring tool.

There are many planned improvements including: std/metric output, language translations, direct editing of the holes, expanded group information, better scanning... the list goes on. The planned changes are the result of user feedback I've received over the last two years. And, while I have not abandoned v2.XX it will remain on hold for the near future.

Now, about that mystery project that I've been working on.

In February 2009 I was contacted by Dan Killough, owner of Killough Shooting Sports and the Professional Shooting League, about creating a program that would automatically calculate the score of the targets used in rimfire benchrest competitions. After nearly a year of research, development, and extensive testing the OnTarget Scoring System has been successfully used to score the targets in the first two PSL matches of 2010. The program scans the target, locates the bulls and bullet holes, calculates the score, and exports the data for use in a spreadsheet. An operator monitors the process for accuracy and manually checks the score for any bull that is marginal. The program has dramatically reduced the time necessary to complete target scoring during the PSL competitions.

Our next step is to use this process to create a program that will analyze the accuracy and consistency of ammunition and firearms. The shooter will fire one shot at each bull on the target. When the target is scanned the program will combine all of the shots into a composite group and calculate the group statistics. A selection of targets will be available to cover a wide range of firearms, target distances, and ammunition.

I will be posting more information about the new target data software as we get closer to release.

- Jeff