DIY Wind Indicators

[Franky-sama]

Breezy day at the range made me want a homemade wind indicator. What do you guys use? Feather on some fishing line attached to a sling stud/barrel? "Wind in a bottle" aftermarket products? Talc? Just wonderin'.

Thanks for the input (sorry if this has been posted, did a search and didn't see anything)!

 

[sinister]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

Try some earth-tone yarn. Surveyor's tape if you don't have to be hidden.

 

[DPRoberts]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

I use Trail marking tape. I tie a length to my target stand and some to something near where I'm shooting. Its a cheap and easy fix for determining wind direction.

 

[MitchInOR]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

I use surveyor's tape, which looks the same as trail marking tape.

 

[SScott]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

I have a roll of flagging tape, ( 1" wide, orange) I staple it to a stick above the target stands.
I also grab a handfull of dirt and throw it in the air on my way to and from checking the target.
Oh yea, I also use a kestel as well.
SScott

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

Just a thought, while a method used to attach something to the weapon or close by may help you with reading wind at your position...

The chances of the wind being the same down range are slim. I wouldnt even waste the time.

Using engineer tape or a flag of sorts down range can be helpful when practicing. I say practicing because the chances of there being one down range when it matter is again, slim.

Whether you are Military, LEO, or just a competitive shooter you need to learn how to read wind without aides.

It can still be useful to tie a flag to the target or in between you and the target. Dont use that alone as a method. Look at mirage and other indicators. Learn what mirage looks like what amount of flag movement.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Franky-sama]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

Yeah, I figured that the wind at the target is different than at the bench, but I wondered what people used to give them at least an idea what the wind is doing. Optimally, having a wind sock or some other device on your target is best but that isn't always an option. I do try to use nearby land marks but sometimes that doesn't give you an accurate picture of the wind (re: low grass adjacent to a target may not indicate a cross wind). Thanks for the input and if any have pics that'd be great!

 

[notquiteright]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

Having your wind indicator at midrange to 3/4ths of the way TO the target is best. Having it up a few feet higher than the target so its in your trajectory not line of sight is best.

The ability to read mirage at the max ordinate, high point of the bullet trajectory, can not be overstated. It isnt easy and having an expert around to mentor you in the process is golden.

I shoot prone so a feather on my sling stud is pretty worthless. Ground effect negates a realistic wind reading that low to the ground. Talc in a bottle isnt easy to read once wind speeds get up to the point you would really like to know that speed.

The old dropping grass and observing the angle of fall is as accurate as any other method, given many Kestral owners dont use that gadget properly, hint it isnt a tricorder and you aint Spook!

You might be money ahead if you have the ability to set out stakes with ribbons attached to compare ribbon to mirage and really attempt to learn how to use mirage. Mirage maynot always be around but compared to alot of other things, like flags at max ordinate, or a feather on the rifle it is around alot more and alot more accurate.

Good Luck

 

[Franky-sama]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Having your wind indicator at midrange to 3/4ths of the way TO the target is best. Having it up a few feet higher than the target so its in your trajectory not line of sight is best. </div></div>

I think I am going to try this. I'll attach a bright ribbon to a pole.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You might be money ahead if you have the ability to set out stakes with ribbons attached to compare ribbon to mirage and really attempt to learn how to use mirage. Mirage maynot always be around but compared to alot of other things, like flags at max ordinate, or a feather on the rifle it is around alot more and alot more accurate. </div></div>

As summer approaches, I will definitely keep an eye out. I can always put a stake in the ground with a ribbon and see if there is a correlation between the mirage and the actual wind.

Thanks for the help!

 

[AMTeam4]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

About 10" of 550 cord guts taped to the end of your spotting scope works well for identifying direction of wind. It will look like a tactical tassel but it works. Throwing dirt in the air works, although it can be rude at a range. (and not practical for a hunter or sniper)

Regarding mirage, I can only read it consistently up to 6mph.
12-O'clock = 0mph
1-O'clock = 2mph
2-O'clock = 4mph
3-O'clock = 6mph or faster

 

[Platypus]

Re: DIY Wind Indicators

I have used the fibergalss poles for bike flags and attached 1" flagging, make sure you are using the same length so you have consistency with your reads. The poles get the flagging up higher and allows you to put a piece of flagging low on the pole as well for comparison. For PRACTICE this works well and as you make the trip to and from the target you can catch a reading at each location on a windmeter and also record in your data book the angle of the flagging from the pole. If nothing else this gives you a plus or minus when checking your flags later on. Unfortunately there is no shortcut to reading wind, there are tips and tricks but only really help when coupled with experience. Not that it is an awakening but eventually you will just get a feel for it.

Danel