Well this past Sunday was my second match (1k). Oddly enough my first was the same match at Butner one year ago. Just like last time I met some great people. I would like to give a huge thanks to Ken Barfield of DoubleHgunsmithing…don’t know if he’s on here or if I can even post that but either way he was patient with me when I botched up his scorecard, slowed him down in the pits flubbering with the scoring and gave me a bunch of help on shooting…great time of fellowship too. God bless you man.
The first relay, the wind was very calm. If I could have held my own, I would have scored very well. 2nd match had a little wind but I still managed sort of ok for a newbie. The 3rd match was where the bottom fell out. I've been winded in the deer stand but never at the range. Behind the berm you could see the trees/grass lean one way, then 15 seconds later they were bent the other way. I was doing my best to read the mirage and look at the flags but things were getting crazy. By the time I guessed the wind value and hold, the wind was moving the other way. I was aiming 4-6min left, then next shot 3-5min right. Most of the time I was under-correcting…I can only recall one or two times where I actually over-corrected. Something for me to be aware of next time. I started off dialing windage but that got really complicated so I re-zero’d and just held off. It was hard for my brain to allow my body to aim nearly on the target next to me.
Of all of the wind reading stuff I have seen/heard everyone talking about, it never really sunk in until this past weekend. I get it. I’ve spent countless hours on my ammo, that’s all fine and dandy but I really need to practice at distance in windy conditions.
I am going to try to shoot at Quantico, if not, it’s back to looking for farmland to lease a spot at least 600yds. For now I will shoot at 250yds with my .17hmr, the wind seems to really screw with that round beyond 100yds.
FWIW I didn’t make it out with my 200 Hybrid load, ended up trying a secondary load I had with 168 hybrids and Varget. From what I can tell, my vertical wasn’t excellent but it wasn’t bad, I’d say around 8in. That could be my load, (never shot it past 250). but most likely me. I need to get a new rear bag. I was using a Caldwell bunny ear bag but it kept rolling on me, or twisting so the bottom was starting to show, if that makes sense.
The first round, my reticle came back on my target nearly everytime, by the third I was have to slide the bipod over after every shot. Need to work on my form, that was quite frustrating.
The first relay, the wind was very calm. If I could have held my own, I would have scored very well. 2nd match had a little wind but I still managed sort of ok for a newbie. The 3rd match was where the bottom fell out. I've been winded in the deer stand but never at the range. Behind the berm you could see the trees/grass lean one way, then 15 seconds later they were bent the other way. I was doing my best to read the mirage and look at the flags but things were getting crazy. By the time I guessed the wind value and hold, the wind was moving the other way. I was aiming 4-6min left, then next shot 3-5min right. Most of the time I was under-correcting…I can only recall one or two times where I actually over-corrected. Something for me to be aware of next time. I started off dialing windage but that got really complicated so I re-zero’d and just held off. It was hard for my brain to allow my body to aim nearly on the target next to me.
Of all of the wind reading stuff I have seen/heard everyone talking about, it never really sunk in until this past weekend. I get it. I’ve spent countless hours on my ammo, that’s all fine and dandy but I really need to practice at distance in windy conditions.
I am going to try to shoot at Quantico, if not, it’s back to looking for farmland to lease a spot at least 600yds. For now I will shoot at 250yds with my .17hmr, the wind seems to really screw with that round beyond 100yds.
FWIW I didn’t make it out with my 200 Hybrid load, ended up trying a secondary load I had with 168 hybrids and Varget. From what I can tell, my vertical wasn’t excellent but it wasn’t bad, I’d say around 8in. That could be my load, (never shot it past 250). but most likely me. I need to get a new rear bag. I was using a Caldwell bunny ear bag but it kept rolling on me, or twisting so the bottom was starting to show, if that makes sense.
The first round, my reticle came back on my target nearly everytime, by the third I was have to slide the bipod over after every shot. Need to work on my form, that was quite frustrating.
