What this tool does
IRON NEST crews load powder charges and set gun elevation to hit distant targets. This calculator turns a target distance into a verified firing solution: the recommended powder charge, the exact elevation in degrees, and a side-by-side comparison of all six charges. Everything runs in your browser, the firing queue is saved locally on your device, and it is built for quick use mid-mission: one input, one answer.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the target distance in kilometers or meters. Verified distances run from 1 to 30 km.
- Press Calculate to generate all six powder charge solutions at once.
- Read the recommended charge and its elevation, then compare every charge in the All solutions table.
- Name the target, add it to the firing queue, assign the left or right gun, and copy the firing card.
The elevation formula
Elevation equals 12 × distance in kilometers ÷ powder charge. The gun cannot aim above 60°, so every charge level adds 5 km of maximum range: charge 1 reaches 5 km and charge 6 reaches 30 km. Results below 12° are withheld because that low-angle band is not yet verified.
Powder charge quick reference
Higher charges fire flatter and reach further. The calculator recommends the smallest charge that keeps the shot within the 60° limit.
| Powder charge | Verified window | Elevation character |
|---|---|---|
| Charge 1 | 1–5 km | Steepest gun elevation |
| Charge 2 | 2–10 km | Steep gun elevation |
| Charge 3 | 3–15 km | Balanced gun elevation |
| Charge 4 | 4–20 km | Moderate gun elevation |
| Charge 5 | 5–25 km | Shallow gun elevation |
| Charge 6 | 6–30 km | Flattest gun elevation, longest reach |
Plan a mission with the firing queue
Save verified firing cards, name each target, and record bearings and shell types. Assign every card to the left or right gun, then copy any card to your clipboard to share the firing plan with your crew.
How to read a firing card
Every firing card carries the target name, bearing, range, powder charge, elevation, and shell type, together with its assigned gun. Bearings run from 0 to 359.99°, and the card text is formatted so a crew member can read the aim back line by line. Copy any card to your clipboard to paste it into crew notes or a briefing.
How results are verified
All values come from the community model community-linear-v1, last verified 2026-08-14. Elevations between 12° and 60° are covered; angles outside that window are marked instead of guessed. The elevation guide and the firing table list the same verified values in full. Game updates can invalidate the model, so recheck your solutions after every patch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate elevation in IRON NEST?
Multiply the distance in kilometers by 12, then divide by the powder charge. For example, a 7.35 km target on charge 2 aims at 44.10°. Read the full elevation formula guide
Which powder charge should I use?
Use the smallest charge that can still reach the target: divide the distance by 5 and round up. Higher charges lower the elevation angle, so the recommended charge is the one that keeps the gun at or below 60°.
Why does a solution show no elevation?
Angles above 60° are unreachable with that charge, and results below 12° are not verified by the current community model. Those cells stay empty instead of guessing.
Does the calculator work for The Gorge mission?
Yes. Enter the distance shown in your current game state and use the recommended charge. The Gorge guide also walks through the manual workflow for when the in-game calculator is unavailable. Open The Gorge guide
Is this the official IRON NEST calculator?
No. This is an unofficial community tool running model community-linear-v1, last verified 2026-08-14. Steam build verification is still pending, and game updates can invalidate results.
Does the calculator upload my data?
No. The firing queue lives in your browser's local storage only. Nothing is sent to a server, and clearing your browser data removes the queue.