Advanced Marksmanship how good are you on wind calls

Re: how good are you on wind calls

When there are 4 different winds blowing across the range in different directions and I manage to hit the target cold bore I figure-better lucky than good. I'm pretty good out to about 150 though.
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Re: how good are you on wind calls

Ha! It would be great to see the wind calling pros actually do it in real life.

Me? I'm terrible at reading wind in general, and it all goes to pot in the field.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

I've made myself mad in the wind many times though last time out shooting in high winds I actually impressed myself. To me, nothing is as fun as holding 7-10 MOA windage and hitting your target. My problem with myself is being unconsistant. BUt I'm working on that. First round hits in the wind are awesome.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: force_multiplier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there is no wind on the internet!!!! </div></div>

Sure there is its called hot air...
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one can learn a lot doing a F class match </div></div>

+1.
i do this whenever i can. my local range only goes out to a little under 600, but its great practice and trigger time at the local monthly matches. I just go out and shoot against myself. If i do well, great, if not, the large paper target gives me something to study and see where i made my mistakes. either way its well worth it.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

Countering for the effects of wind, drag, temperature, and gravity is what you do when you're not in charge of conditions on the ground. It's basic marksmanship. If you don't get it, get some training. And, if you're the one setting the conditions, don't think that what you're doing intuitively means you've learned or know much about anything.

I do not think about "wind calls". I adjust my sight, or favor for everything effecting trajectory. I call the shot, and from the call/strike corollary, troubleshoot error, as required. Although wind can have the most effect on trajectory, it is not as difficult to counter as some allude to.

I think those who confuse executing the firing tasks with actually knowing something about good shooting, blame just about everything on the wind getting them when wind was the least of their problems.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sterling Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I think that most folks who confuse executing the firing tasks with actually knowing something about good shooting blame just about everything on the wind getting them when wind was the least of their problems. </div></div>

+1
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

Reading the wind is by far the weakest part of my shooting, but I always try to make a solid effort to work on improving myself when I get out and shoot. Stretching the .22 out to 300 yards has proven to be highly instructive and pretty humbling.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

I have my good days and bad days.

Im usually minute of camel out to 100 yards if the winds are between 3-5mph, but any more and I cant hit jack.

Just kidding.

Im still learning lots about the wind, and probably will be until the day i die, but for now im trying to take in as much about multiple direction winds.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one can learn a lot doing a F class match </div></div>

another +1.

I shoot a lot of BR from 565-1000yd. It's a great way for you to learn how to correct the things that you are doing wrong. It takes out a lot of variables. Aside from your guns capabiliteis, it leaves it all on your ability to consistently make the same shot. Everything from the consistency of your reloads, to how well you mount up to your rifle, pull the trigger, correct for any change of wind, etc...all comes into play, and that's when you really start learning what you need to work on to be more accurate and also how wind effects your shots. I've found it so much easier to shoot prone once I've honed myself on my errors that I know were me, not my gun, or the wind or whatever else people seem to think they are weak with.

Benchrest requires a lot more skill than most people think and I can attest to that. You can get a lot of good information from the Benchrest guys that will help you throughout any form of shooting.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JFComfort</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I cheat, I use dope and a Kestrel whenever possible. </div></div>

Me too!

But I do pay attention to the windage flags nature provides so that one day I can get a better SWAG on the wind without using the Kestrel.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

For me it seems like my best educated guess i can make normally Im ok, though shot a lot more this past summer then normal and seemed to get better. Which makes sense. Its a hit and miss with me stupid wind
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

Best of all, it's different every day you shoot! Seriously, not only can you learn a great deal shooting F class, but even more if you can shoot or watch the team events at a bigger match. I watched Mid Tompkins coach a team match at the nationals a few years back in Raton; sitting right behind, watching the wind change in the spotting scope and listening to his calls. Truly learned a great deal that day, and I've been shooting long range rifles for quite a few years. There is a reason that the Palma guys, on average, are the best wind callers in the business. It's called rounds downrange.
Best,
James
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

Best I ever did in wind was 80 yards with a .22...shot a starling from a tree in high wind first shot. Luck?

I have tried 300 yards with a .22 - using subsonic ammo. I can hit a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Not much help here from me.

I'll know more when I finally shoot my .308 at real distances.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one can learn a lot doing a F class match </div></div>

Actually... I'll go ya one better. Try shooting F-Class in a *fullbore* match. It'll either make you better, or make you cry, one of the two.

For added pleasure, make sure you pair up with someone shooting a very different caliber (i.e. .308 Win and 6.5-284) so you can't really 'cheat' by doping off the other guy's shot...

Of course... it gets a whole lot more interesting when you take the wind flags away
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Re: how good are you on wind calls

I shoot in the Desert, the wind is always blowing in three directions...

One calm day a month would be awesome,


I usually just hope for a consistent type gail force lately.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

I think shooting three on the mound is one of the best way to learn to adjust for the wind. It is basically a one shot match every shot.

In one of my business trips to Scotland in 98 I had the pleasure of shooting in their Championship at Blair Atholl, my introduction to UK style shooting - three on the mound, one shooting, one scoring, and the other getting ready to shoot. When it is your rotation to shoot, I think the target is exposed for 45 seconds. In their shooting you can't pick your condition and you can't chase your spotter.

It was intimidating at first, but lots of fun.
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ida83704</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm really good at wind on my 3rd shot.
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come on man, the first two are foulers
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

Shooting ridiculously BIG painted steel targets at distance has helped with my ability to dope the wind. The instant feed back and being able to instantly see where I am hitting has really helped me to learn how the wind affects my shots in real time.

I shoot this monster at 1000y. 4'x4'x1/2" mild steel.
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Re: how good are you on wind calls

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">one can learn a lot doing a F class match </div></div>

While I generally agree with this, I think one can learn just how good they really are at shooting in the wind by shooting in different locations and not just on terrain and wind patterns most like what they are used to.

For instance - I wonder what it would be like to shoot on a wide flat savanna or flat desert with expansive valleys and higher sustained wind speeds than what I am accustomed to. I'll bet the very first thing I notice is that the wind is more consistent regardless of the speed simply by virtue of it not forming eddies (odd vorticities) based on the surrounding terrain.

For the flat landers out there - your converse would be shooting in the mountainous areas. The wind speeds are generally lower but they have taken an extremely circuitous route to their destination by order of the surrounding topography and thus location specific idiosyncratic winds appear. Learning to read where these are likely to appear based on terrain is helpful.

We've all heard - 'wind is like water'. OK sure, but for most of us unless we are traveling hundreds of miles the 'river bed' is much the same.

Short of a different riverbed, folks should at least find a different riffle near their own headwaters every now and again.


Good luck
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

That's a pretty broad questions. In a place I know and shoot at a lot I would guess maybe 90% plus or minus. I've won matches shooting 72% against some very good shooters (we all get lucky every now and then).
I'm talking first round hits on targets that are 2 MOA with time restrictions and not always the best shooting position.

I think I'm pretty decent at wind calls but it's still my weakness like most of us. If it wasn't for the wind long range would be easy and not much fun
 
Re: how good are you on wind calls

What are you using to judge the wind.
It is cold or hot outside.
What's the elevation change from shooter-targer.
Is the rifle zeroed in after unloading.
What is the situation of the occurance , tactical , free shoot , or something inbetween ?
I wouldn't shoot more than a .243 for that distance.