Learning to shoot in the wind.

[Iowa Airgunner]

I made some simple ribbon flags from welding rods.
One at the target one between and I have one on my muzzle. Got some paint to freshen up the target also.

 

[JP806TX]

Augment your wind flag experience with what you were doing on post #14 (follow the strings).

Remember wind flags are probably not going to be present on a Field Target course.

BUT ...Strings will always be there (for now) and may give you the most information along your pellet's flight path.

If you are only going to shoot locally, I would find out what type of string(s) they use and buy some to see how they behave in different wind conditions.

If you are going to shoot Grand Prix. I would buy different strings, set them at different distances and just watch how they behave in the wind (even in the rain...if you are competitive like me). You are also watching what the leaves, branches, and grasses are doing and finally where your pellet is landing.

I hate those skinny Dacron ones with minimal wind drag.

 

[SoCalAirrifles]

I now have access to a 100 yard range. I am not ready to go there . But I will be putting together a bench rest gun. I mean a serous competitive rig.
So I’m debating the caliber and the slug vs pellet choice. I would go for slugs but some competition rules are for pellets only. So I need to do a ton of fun research before dropping that kind of money.

Yes the 100 yd pellet shoots are more common. EBR Oregon last year and coming up in May have 100yd bench slug class. So they’re starting to come around. Also the PRS stuff is growing and I look at it like FT for slugs.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Ya that extreme field target seems like a cool idea. I don’t have the money and am busy getting what I have going . But that’s something to keep and eye on.

I’m heading out now to shoot in 25 mph cross wind. This is nuts but I can’t wait to see what happens.

 

[dgeesaman]

Today’s setup: 1/2” kill zone target at 49y. I strung a plain string off to the right and at that length it takes a lot of tension so we added a couple streamers.

Four of us were trying to hit it. Holding off as much as two inches. Great fun.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

The first day of learning to shoot in the wind was very productive.

The wind was a blustery 25 mph from the right front. I started with just aiming at the bullseye to see the group. It was between the bulseye and two MOA lined right of my point of aim.
So I aimed 1.5 lines left and dropped the target with a bullseye in the kill zone.

Then I set up a new target and aimed about 1.5 MOA to the left and it put five in a nice group. Between my aim point and the bullseye. All were a little low but I was not factoring in the drop attributed to the left to right wind direction. Basically because I forgot. And my face and hands got cold .

But now I have a lot more confidence. And that is just day one.

I can’t wait till next week

 

[beerthief]

Thank you I am going to save that for sure.


Is that for shooting or peeing outside?

Both i would guess unless you just keep your back to the wind peeing .

 

[cavedweller]

Just a heads up for shooters not familiar with wind effects, side wind has a different influence on pellets versus slugs:

Pellets:

Slugs:

Ahh thanks for clarifying

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

So tomorrow at the same time it will be a ten mph less wind. So about 13-14 and from the other direction. The range faces west. Today wind was coming from my 11:00 position. Tomorrow it will be more like 2:00. I’ll be dressed a little better.
Going to shoot 25 again and just see what is happening. Fool around with holdover and windage. One thing I noticed pretty quick . The flag at the mid pint was blowing and the flag at the target was still. Pellet hit the aim point on one shot then went right on the next shot . I have to learn to see what is happening with the wind when I pull the trigger. It’s hard to predict the wind timing.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

That’s great advice. I’ll be building the corse I need to start looking st
General seasonal wind patterns

 

[cavedweller]

That’s great advice. I’ll be building the course I need to start looking st
General seasonal wind patterns

another issue is sunlight - if the sun is in a shooters eyes (directly or even at an angle) their pupils constrict, this makes seeing a target more difficult (darker) in the scope.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

I’m going out Saturday morning again. That’s is the only window I have. I wish there was a match to time it to. I don’t have any matches in my area but I am working on that.

 

[cavedweller]

I’m going out Saturday morning again. That’s is the only window I have. I wish there was a match to time it to. I don’t have any matches in my area but I am working on that.

Sharing some mirage info

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

The whole mirage thing is new to me.
I shoot indoors so much or in the woods. This is fascinating

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Great time shooting today. I am still trying to sight in and I got everything done and now need to start over.
But I got through the sight in and dope chart only to find my zero was off . The curve is good it’s just all one mil down for some reason.
It was a good practice and I will refine everything next week.
The wind was below five mph and from right to left.
What I learned today was that in lighter wind sometimes it stops. I shot a three shot perfect group from 40 yards . Two mil down two mil left. And they went straight together. The forth shot hit my POA and when I looked up the flag was hanging down. The wind stoped. It was actually still blowing some at 25 yards. But I did not check the wind. I just shot like I did the first three.

Also because I finally have a good scope and it was sunny. I could see the mirage. Didn’t It deal with that today. But definitely wavy lines .

Thr HFT-500 at 17 ft lb is so accurate. When the wind turned toward me I just stack pellets as I built up my range card.
Need start over now.
Chronny the gun. Adjust the regulator up just a touch and redo the whole procedure.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Today was a perfect day to shoot. Overcast and warm. Light breeze from my back. I got to the range at exactly 8:00 and set up my gun and target only to realize I forgot to load my compressor. Yep rule one for shooting in the wind. Have air.
Any how I set up my zero at 25 yards then and just shot till it fell off the regulator. Putting pellets on pellet at 50 yards.

 

[Troy Bakel]

Accurate and cheap:

1. The left indicator meets USA Shooting Specifications: 400 mm long, 50 mm wide, and 150 grams per meter squared

2 . The right indicator is satin ribbon using the rod from a landscaping marker flag.

3. Both wooden dowels have holes drilled large enough for the rod to spin freely allowing the flag end of the rod to always point down wind, and visually (through the scope):

a. When the wind is towards the target, the dowel will be before the flag.

b. The reverse is true when the wind is from the target.

4. Square dowel allows clamping to a structure, round dowel allows usage with a tripod.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

Thank you. That is gold information. I had no idea there was a spec for the wind flags.

 

[Troy Bakel]

Thank you. That is gold information. I had no idea there was a spec for the wind flags.

You are welcome.

No body sells them so they are hand made.

The wind flag shown (red) is used for all sanctioned 6400 matches on our Rifle Competition Course.

Each flag dowel is placed in a pvc tube in the ground that is set at a specific location relative to the target and shooter with the flag at a specific height.

I only know this because we hold a 6400 event every year and one of our shooters shot a perfect 6400 (one of 3 to date) and every aspect of the range had to be verified for the record to stand.

 

[Iowa Airgunner]

These are what I’m using now. I just bought some dowels for another project. I’m gonna make a couple “official “ ones now.