First Time Shooting Outdoors - Man Wind is Your Enemy!

[Colorado_CJ]

Took my Veteran .22 to my outdoor range up in the mountains today.

Set a target up at 50 yds. and started shooting groups. I had some decent groups, then the wind picked up.

The range is constructed with large berms on each side and the wind was blowing every which way. So my shots were all over the place, some high, some low, some left, some right. There was no real way to dope for the wind. My groups went from 1/2" to 2" in a hurry.

Next time I am going to bring some slugs and see if that works better than the 18.13gr JSB's

 

[Sqwirl57]

Stick to pellets and learn to read the wind. Shoot inbetween gusts. Watch the grass, trees, floating dust In your scope and either wait for it to calm down, or just compensate some. It takes some getting used to, but once you get a handle on it, every bullseye feels that much more earned!

 

[esingle]

Hello Sqwirlfugger57 said it best, learn to read the wind . A little cheat you can do is get some ribbon and a few sticks make some makeshift wind flags out to your target and when they start moving see what it is doing to your shot impact but more importantly is what the natural surroundings are doing (like Sqwirlfugger57 said) so you can learn to read the wind. Hope this helps Eric

 

[GeneT]

Tony Boyer is the most accomplished benchrest shooter in history. I think it's telling that one of the prefatory pages in his book ("The Book of Rifle Accuracy") says only:

"The wind is my friend" - Tony Boyer

I take that to mean that by learning to shoot well in the wind, he dominated the competition, who tried to shoot when there was no wind. I'm certainly no Tony Boyer, but I've notice that same discriminating factor.



GsT

Edit: punctuation

 

[L.Leon]

Like @geneT, said think of the wind as a teacher and a friend. Because even on the calmest of day air is moving all around us. A zip tie with a piece of yarn at the end of my barrel, along with strings on sticks at my targets helps immensely. Like others said above, watch the grass, dust, etc. Getting repeatable good hits in the wind is satisfying and helps build confidence. But, yes 18 grain JSB Exact Jumbos get moved around a bit at 50 yards.

 

[Vetmx]

The wind is not a friend to slugs out of an airgun either. They are a little better but don’t get your hopes up. 

 

[oneeleven1990]

This is what makes shooting pellet guns so great anyone can pick up a powder burner that shoots like a lazer learning to account for all environmental factors is priceless!!

 

[dan_house]

Even on calm days there is wind…..



Wind has two states: less wind, and more wind



Learning to read the wind is a lifetime task. But that means you need to shoot more to learn it, and thats a good thing too

 

[r1lover]

That is one of the great things about shooting air rifles; with a little wind, a 50 yd. range and a pocket full of pellets a shooter can "enjoy" similar challenges that long range bench rest shooters experience without the hassle associated with powder burners and finding 500 or 1,000 yds. to shoot. Field Target is more than a bunch of grown men and women playing a child's game with air guns. Give it a try some time (with appropriate equipment) if you get the chance.

 

[elh0102]

Tony Boyer is the most accomplished benchrest shooter in history. I think it's telling that one of the prefatory pages in his book ("The Book of Rifle Accuracy") says only:

"The wind is my friend" - Tony Boyer

I take that to mean that by learning to shoot well in the wind, he dominated the competition, who tried to shoot when there was no wind. I'm certainly no Tony Boyer, but I've notice that same discriminating factor.



GsT

Edit: punctuation

When I was shooting CF benchrest years ago, Tony could beat my best calm day results in a thunderstorm! But, he is not the norm, even for highly accomplished shooters. I admit, I'm a coward. My strategy for shooting in the wind.....wait for a calm! Of course, time doesn't often allow it. As a result, I did poorly in the wind. I envy those who do well.

 

[uglymike]

I live in Nebraska, the wind blows pretty much all the time. I still haven't figured it out.