Wind estimation and accuracy of estimation over the flight path

[med358-boise]

Used the search function and couldn't find anything on this topic.

First my question is not about kestrals or other measuring devices or apps that run the calculations because those devices can only measure where they are located and even on ranges as short as 200 yards and 75 yards wide I have seen the flags be limp at 100 yards and indicating 10-12 at 200 yards or indicating 10-12 on the left side and limp on the right side.

My question is:

1) What spotting scope do you use or other device to evaluate mirage?

2) How accurate is a good wind caller - 10%, 20%, 30%

3) Do you have any rules of thumb that lead to a "no shoot" decision; e.g., @ 500 yards, I am not going to shoot in a 20 mph wind because my drift is just has to high a likelihood of variation given the target size.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Following

 

[Plinker147]

Any good spotting scope will do. I can see mirage in my 15x swaros Bino's easily.

When you say a wind caller I'm assuming you mean another person. And that just depends on their experience. I'm not great so I would give myself 60-70% accuracy. I friend is probably 90% accurate. He shot a lot of F class.

I've found in my areas I hunt that when wind gets over 20-25 it seems to be more erratic and gusty harder to read. Under 20 it stays more consistent probably cuz the higher wind are generally from a front moving in. In these conditions I cut my limits to under 500 usually less than that. Also depends if my target is a coues deer or an elk

 

[med358-boise]

Any good spotting scope will do. I can see mirage in my 15x swaros Bino's easily.

When you say a wind caller I'm assuming you mean another person. And that just depends on their experience. I'm not great so I would give myself 60-70% accuracy. I friend is probably 90% accurate. He shot a lot of F class.

I've found in my areas I hunt that when wind gets over 20-25 it seems to be more erratic and gusty harder to read. Under 20 it stays more consistent probably cuz the higher wind are generally from a front moving in. In these conditions I cut my limits to under 500 usually less than that. Also depends if my target is a coues deer or an elk

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. By winder caller, I just meant whoever is calling the wind whether or not it's the shooter or a spotter.

 

[Greatgrandad]

There are several articles and books over many years on reading the wind, and the NRA and various other precision shooting websites have these old/new articles. As a previous NM and 800-1,000 competitor, LR varmint shooter, etc, a good quality spotting scope or just using a good rifle scope made it easy to see and read mirage. Just focusing our rifle scopes from close to far and then back gives very good ideas of wind speed and direction.

As for changing winds at different distances, the wind direction and velocity in the first half of your distance is the most critical in your wind drift calcs. Basic physics - An object in motion tends to stay in motion. Once the angle an velocity of drift is imparted, it will continue to increase toward the target. Of course, wind direction and velocity changes in the latter half will have an influence on drift, but not nearly as much as the first half.

"A good wind caller" - If he/she is truly a well experienced, trained wind reader/caller/shooter, then I have seen their calls be very, very accurate. If not and they just think they are, then it can be a toss up or a disaster. I've been both shooter and spotter in matches, shooting and hunting in my life, and acting as a spotter made me a better shooter. And vis-versa.

 

[med358-boise]

There are several articles and books over many years on reading the wind, and the NRA and various other precision shooting websites have these old/new articles. As a previous NM and 800-1,000 competitor, LR varmint shooter, etc, a good quality spotting scope or just using a good rifle scope made it easy to see and read mirage. Just focusing our rifle scopes from close to far and then back gives very good ideas of wind speed and direction.

As for changing winds at different distances, the wind direction and velocity in the first half of your distance is the most critical in your wind drift calcs. Basic physics - An object in motion tends to stay in motion. Once the angle an velocity of drift is imparted, it will continue to increase toward the target. Of course, wind direction and velocity changes in the latter half will have an influence on drift, but not nearly as much as the first half.

"A good wind caller" - If he/she is truly a well experienced, trained wind reader/caller/shooter, then I have seen their calls be very, very accurate. If not and they just think they are, then it can be a toss up or a disaster. I've been both shooter and spotter in matches, shooting and hunting in my life, and acting as a spotter made me a better shooter. And vis-versa.

Thanks had never considered the first part of the flight path starting the "off course" path.

 

[Barbourcreek]

35-40 power (non zoom) is the best for mirage
Mirage is extremely accurate if you know how and where to read it

Ask my students at Barbour creek about what I teach them. Many of them are here on this forum

It is my own technique I developed many years ago and patented in my app (with student unlock code)
Eagle Ballistics

 

[Ken61]

I didn't read all the above,but after many years on the dog towns, I make my best guest, fire a sighter, and go from there.

 

[Greatgrandad]

How to Read the Wind: Intro to Precision Rifle Shooting – Precision Shooting

How to Call Wind for Long-Range Shooting - RifleShooter

Whether it's competition, hunting or general plinking, learning how to call wind is an important factor for long-range precision.

www.rifleshootermag.com

You are being redirected...

Long Range Shooting - Calling Wind Accurately - Guns and Ammo

Tips on dealing with the trickiest variable of long-range shooting.

www.gunsandammo.com

NRA Family | How to Read the Wind

Some rules of thumb to get you started.

www.nrafamily.org

An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | Reading the Wind—Sometimes Simple is Best

Wind is an ever-present challenge in outdoor shooting, it pays to know how it moves the bullet on the way to the target.

www.ssusa.org

An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | A Guide To High Power Rifle Wind Reading

These tips from former AMU Service Rifle Team Head Coach Sgt. 1st Class Walter Craig will help you determine wind corrections

www.ssusa.org

Amazon.com

The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters

Just a few.

 

[Barbourcreek]

Trust me all the books on mirage and military manuals are to large of a guess !
They leave much error 1-2 mph that's a miss 1st round at 1000 yards

 

[med358-boise]

Trust me all the books on mirage and military manuals are to large of a guess !
They leave to much error 1-2 mph that's a miss 1st round at 1000 yards

Yeah, in the reading I have done in the last hour or so, I am seeing things like this = 4-7, this = 8-12. For the cartridges, I shoot 1.5 mph is 5.5 inches at 750.

The Black and Yellow Device at the beginning of the video is that interacting with the optic?

Are the students making their wind estimations solely on observing mirage in the video?

 

[Barbourcreek]

Yeah, in the reading I have done in the last hour or so, I am seeing things like this = 4-7, this = 8-12. For the cartridges, I shoot 1.5 mph is 5.5 inches at 750.

The Black and Yellow Device at the beginning of the video is that interacting with the optic?

Are the students making their wind estimations solely on observing mirage in the video?

mirage and rain only I don't let them use wind meters unless there is neither

 

[Barbourcreek]

 

[dfanonymous]

So if it's not raining, which is usually isn't in most places, and you don't have mirage because of low light, range, or terrain you're just SOL then?

How do you discern a 15 mph mirage from a 30 mph if someone is novice enough to ask on a forum?

If you're shooting from a peak to a valley floor at say 900y, is just pulling out the eagle ballistics the solution?