Observations and advice on the effects of wind in coulees and valleys

[DocB]

Good info! Tagging in too.

DocB

 

[THEIS]

Not trying to steal the thread but it feel it can add to the OP's question. Whats the though these days about the bullet being affected by wind more at the shooter vs. at the further range in say, the same environment as we were talking about?

Hello,
Radar data from Overberg facility in South Africa shows that environmental conditions will show greater affects on the projectile when it is at its slower velocity than at its' fastest velocity.
If you could picture which velocity does same environmental conditions affect a plane at...faster plane speed or slower plane speed??

The "issue" becomes....do you take the environmental conditions you can triple check with instruments at your position or CAN you read the downrange conditions (where the bullet is slower and more "influenced" by the environmental conditions) better??

six of one, half dozen of the other......

The BIGGER picture is the various and different micro environments the projectile flies into, through and out of while enroute from firing position to target position. For some light reading on that subject...I recommend on reading on how hot air balloons can take off, fly around and land at same location with no directional thrust engine/propeller system All just by going up or down in roughly 10ft micro environments to get different wind direction. THEN pair that effect with the terrain affect and you get real world data.

THEIS

 

[bigngreen]

Theis, I love your comparison to water. Wish I had heard of that a long time ago. It does not take very much wind to humble you when your shooting 500 plus.

There is a good article from Shawn Carlock using the water analogy.

 

[dibbs]

What you're describing makes perfect sense. The problem with coming with a solution for a 1st round hit is that there are too many variables to establish a standard.
A "first round hit" is the product of your familiarity with your immediate environment, how observed wind behaviors are most likely to affect your shot based upon what you know about your bullet and muzzle velocity, and how well you remain true to the basics of good marksmanship.
There are no short cuts to wind reading. The anemometers will give you only an immediate wind reading in a fixed location for the present moment.
Practice; take the shot, call the shot, analyze the results - then shoot again.
Best of luck to ya .....
gun) - - - - - - - - - - - - - (x)

VERY well said... every shooting situation is different, and reading the wind, for me, is a lifelong learning adventure.

 

[Canhunter35]

I've found in a gusting wind, say it's blowing from 5-13 mph, that shooting while it's building around the mid point(9mph) seems to offer the most consistency in wind reading across the bullet flight.
Then the other day it occurred to me that I'm picking wind like an fclass shooter and animals rarely are as accommodating as targets so I began shooting in the ebbs and high points trying to gauge it at that moment....wind is a humbling force.