Do You Find Variable 3-5mph Wind Difficult?

[ToKeepAndBear]

There is a large difference between shooting targets and shooting animals. You don't seem to know the difference. A 3-5MPH wind is an easy shot on a animal at beyond 1000 yards whereas a 30 mph wind is only a fool's choice to even shoot beyond 500 yards.

I agree, there is a large difference between shooting targets and animals. A target is stationary, provides more time for ranging/calculation, shot from a very stable position (typically prone), does not usually have an associated adrenaline surge/tremor, and usually includes multiple shots. A game animal is moving, shots are typically more rushed, often not able to shoot from prone position, shooter has an adrenaline rush, and must rely on an accurate cold bore shot.

You do not say what particular animal is an easy shot at over 1000 yards in variable 3-5mph winds. (Maybe you are the guy that can "just dial and shoot" groundhogs at 1200 yards with his Huskemaw scope!) I will assume you are talking big game, and let's use the common whitetail as an example. If you are just talking about making a hit on an animal. I guess anywhere on the animal is a hit. I strive to hit an animal in the vitals. I would say a 15 inch target is pretty close to the vital zone of a whitetail deer.

Lets use your example of the easy shot at OVER 1000 yards (let's say 1100 yards to make it easy). The data below is my friend's ballistic dope for the 7mm Mag pushing the 168 VLD at 2950 (BC .617) at 2000 feet elevation and 50 degrees.

Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (in) (mil) (in) (mil) (ft/s) (none) (ft•lbs) (s) (in) (mil)
0 -2.1 *** 0.0 *** 2955.0 2.670 3256.8 0.000 0.0 ***
100 -0.0 -0.0 0.5 0.1 2807.8 2.537 2940.4 0.104 0.0 0.0
200 -2.3 -0.3 1.9 0.3 2665.5 2.408 2650.0 0.214 0.0 0.0
300 -9.5 -0.9 4.4 0.4 2527.7 2.284 2383.1 0.329 0.0 0.0
400 -22.2 -1.5 8.0 0.6 2394.1 2.163 2137.8 0.451 0.0 0.0
500 -40.9 -2.3 12.8 0.7 2264.6 2.046 1912.7 0.580 0.0 0.0
600 -66.4 -3.1 18.9 0.9 2139.0 1.933 1706.4 0.717 0.0 0.0
700 -99.5 -3.9 26.4 1.0 2017.4 1.823 1517.9 0.861 0.0 0.0
800 -141.2 -4.9 35.6 1.2 1899.9 1.717 1346.3 1.014 0.0 0.0
900 -192.5 -5.9 46.3 1.4 1787.0 1.615 1191.0 1.177 0.0 0.0
1000 -254.7 -7.1 59.0 1.6 1678.9 1.517 1051.2 1.350 0.0 0.0
1100 -329.2 -8.3 73.6 1.9 1576.1 1.424 926.5 1.535 0.0 0.0

If you are shooting at 1100 yards, estimate a 5mph wind from the left, and the wind switches from the right at 5mph (very subtle and difficult to read in the mountains, shooting over a valley). You are holding 37 inches to the left, but now the wind pushes your bullet another 37 inches away from the target for a miss of 74 inches. (Yes you might hit somewhere on the animal, but not likely the vitals.)

Let's use your example of the fool shooting over 500 yards in 30mph winds, let's say 600 yards. You are much more likely to correctly determine the angle/direction of the wind in these strong conditions. Let's say it is a 30mph wind but you are way off and guess 10mph. I will even give you a 90 degree full value wind. You are 20mph off on your estimation. Your impact will be 38 inches from your point of aim at 600 yards.

I guess I just don't understand your difference between shooting a target and shooting an animal.

 

[liltank]

I hear a sucking noise. Better pucker up TKAB!

 

[elkaholic]

There is a large difference between shooting targets and shooting animals. You don't seem to know the difference. A 3-5MPH wind is an easy shot on a animal at beyond 1000 yards whereas a 30 mph wind is only a fool's choice to even shoot beyond 500 yards.

I think he mentioned the word (variable)! Not so easy when it's 5 mph one direction and is switching as fast as you can dial in and may very well be, and often is, different from one side of the canyon to the other........Rich

 

[FEENIX]

You might be surprised at the difficulty of these "easy/calm" conditions. My 260 shooting 142 SMKs is a fairly efficient round at bucking the wind. At a measly 680 yards, wind drift for a full value 5mph wind is 14 inches. This means you have to hold 6.5 inches off the 15 inch wide target to get a center hit. What happens when the wind changes direction 180 degrees and of similar 5mph speed? You just missed the target by 20 inches. Of course it gets much worse as you move out further.

My buddy is a good shooter and he has even better ballistics with his gun. He shoots a 7mm Rem Mag pushing Berger 168 VLDs at 2950fps. He shot better in the gusting 30+ mph winds than he did in the, "simple for a Montanan", 3-5mph winds.

I will gladly invite you to educate us anytime on these variable, 3-5mph winds in mountainous terrain.

I NEVER said anything about EASY shots with 3-5 MPH or for that matter zero winds at LRs, just a true statement that most of us Montanans will take any time.

Yes, I hunt the mountainous terrains of MT with adverse conditions ... if I cannot open my eyes because of wind (I use sky diving goggles just to navigate my way on an elk hunt) or cannot keep my binocs or rifle steady even with bipod, that's too much wind.

 

[FEENIX]

I hear a sucking noise. Better pucker up TKAB!

LL! lightbulb