New windmeter

[03bulletstopper]

WeatherFlow

For those that already use their Iphone for ballistics and other weather data. Here is another new gadget that keeps your phone as a true all in one. I don't know anything about it. Only that it looked interesting

 

[Ring]

not bad, but it just does wind... for 30$ u can get a caldwell wind wizard that will do wind and temp

 

[roggom]

Thanks for the tip, I ordered one. Hell its only $35, and combined with weather station apps may prove to be useful. The logging and data transfer is what I am most interested in. Doesn't look to be marketed to the ballistic crowd, once they find out, they will prob paint it OD green and charge $70, lol.

 

[03bulletstopper]

That's what I figured also. I have a kestrel also but for the price I will leave it in the glove box of my truck. My sons have a tendency to use or borrow my stuff and it doesn't always get back to the gear bag. The temp. Baro. I can get off the phone already then with ballistics and most of the reticles I use already on the phone it makes it easy. I did see another one today but it was the double cup style and a little to exposed. Not that I plan on it being in a rough environment.

 

[Pathfinder-7]

Got a newbie question...
New to long range shooting...beyond 600 yds or so (just looking to have fun reaching 1000-1500)
But my question is about the use of wind-meters. Here in Colorado, the wind can change in 3 different directions and velocities within an area of a football field. So why a heavy emphasis on knowing what your wind is from the shooting position? After all, it's most likely going to be irrelevant past 300 yards. Wouldn't it be better to get good at reading mirage between yourself and the target?
Looking for some enlightenment...thanks!

 

[Diablo]

Did you notice this is an old thread (like 2013)?

Reading mirage is a good skill to develop, useful when there is mirage.

In the mountain areas, suggest paying attention to which way the wind blows, up the canyon, or down the canyon depending on the time of day and the time of year.

 

[Pathfinder-7]

Did you notice this is an old thread (like 2013)?

Reading mirage is a good skill to develop, useful when there is mirage.

In the mountain areas, suggest paying attention to which way the wind blows, up the canyon, or down the canyon depending on the time of day and the time of year.

hahaha...2013. Like I said, newbie... But thanks for the insight Diablo!

 

[Diablo]

hahaha...2013. Like I said, newbie... But thanks for the insight Diablo!

No problem, and welcome to the Hide.

I meant what I said about the wind direction.

 

[Pathfinder-7]

I meant what I said about the wind direction.
[/QUOTE]

I'm with you 100%. Greatly appreciated!

 

[Dthomas3523]

Got a newbie question...
New to long range shooting...beyond 600 yds or so (just looking to have fun reaching 1000-1500)
But my question is about the use of wind-meters. Here in Colorado, the wind can change in 3 different directions and velocities within an area of a football field. So why a heavy emphasis on knowing what your wind is from the shooting position? After all, it's most likely going to be irrelevant past 300 yards. Wouldn't it be better to get good at reading mirage between yourself and the target?
Looking for some enlightenment...thanks!

If I told you that you had three different directions of wind and you could:

A: have to figure them all out on your own without any equipment

B: you can know at least the first one down to the exact mph, as well as use that knowledge to make an assessment based on what you see downrange (including mirage)

Which one would you pick?

 

[Pathfinder-7]

I understand what you're getting at. But if it was left up to A or B, I would have to go with A, Though I am new to long-range, I am well enough familiar with ballistics and the environment. And hence my question and lack of understanding for the use of a wind-meter.
The velocity of a bullet is at its peak when it leaves the barrel of a gun. Between your shooting position and about 300 or so yards/meters, the wind will generally have no affect on the bullet path. It's not until the bullet begins to slow down when wind is a legitimate issue. And if you have multiple directions and velocities of wind, I think it would be most important to make an educated guess on what you can deduce down-range where the winds have most influence. With changing directions of wind, within the path between you and the target, knowing that at my firing position, I have definite information telling me that there is a 16mph wind from 90°, is not relevant 600 yards and beyond where my bullet is [relatively] rapidly loosing momentum. Hence my question about the wind-meters and their popularity...seriously, I am wanting to know.

 

[Steel head]

If I told you that you had three different directions of wind and you could:

A: have to figure them all out on your own without any equipment

B: you can know at least the first one down to the exact mph, as well as use that knowledge to make an assessment based on what you see downrange (including mirage)

Which one would you pick?

 

[Dthomas3523]

I understand what you're getting at. But if it was left up to A or B, I would have to go with A, Though I am new to long-range, I am well enough familiar with ballistics and the environment. And hence my question and lack of understanding for the use of a wind-meter.
The velocity of a bullet is at its peak when it leaves the barrel of a gun. Between your shooting position and about 300 or so yards/meters, the wind will generally have no affect on the bullet path. It's not until the bullet begins to slow down when wind is a legitimate issue. And if you have multiple directions and velocities of wind, I think it would be most important to make an educated guess on what you can deduce down-range where the winds have most influence. With changing directions of wind, within the path between you and the target, knowing that at my firing position, I have definite information telling me that there is a 16mph wind from 90°, is not relevant 600 yards and beyond where my bullet is [relatively] rapidly loosing momentum. Hence my question about the wind-meters and their popularity...seriously, I am wanting to know.

You chose wrong then.

As it sits, your logic is you have it right and everyone else has it wrong by using a wind meter.

You have the answer to your question. Wind meters give you a reading at the shooter. Which does matter.

Choose to not use the wind meter and be at a disadvantage.

 

[Dthomas3523]

View attachment 7263715

Yep. I love it.

“I’m new to this, but I’m going to argue why I know more than every other experienced shooter on the planet”

 

[hlee]

The wind at your shooting locate is the only wind you can measure. Everything else is inferred from observations. Even at short range, wind can push a bullet off target, don’t fool self. Wind is affecting the bullet path over the entire flight of th projectile. But, more to the point, how do you know how fast the wind is moving at 600 yards? You can’t see it. You can only see it’s affects on other stuff. Your shooting location is “ground truth” because you can correlate observations to wind speeds. What is the wind doing at your location? What is it doing down range? Is it stronger or weaker than at your location? A lot? A little? Now we can hone in on how much windage to put on the shot. If you’re not using a wind meter, you’re leaving valuable information on the table.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Google is your friend on matters like these before you come on here explaining how you know enough about shooting and ballistics learn us something.

https://kestrelinstruments.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/100/

 

[Dthomas3523]

 

[Pathfinder-7]

The wind at your shooting locate is the only wind you can measure. Everything else is inferred from observations. Even at short range, wind can push a bullet off target, don’t fool self. Wind is affecting the bullet path over the entire flight of th projectile. But, more to the point, how do you know how fast the wind is moving at 600 yards? You can’t see it. You can only see it’s affects on other stuff. Your shooting location is “ground truth” because you can correlate observations to wind speeds. What is the wind doing at your location? What is it doing down range? Is it stronger or weaker than at your location? A lot? A little? Now we can hone in on how much windage to put on the shot. If you’re not using a wind meter, you’re leaving valuable information on the table.

Thanks hlee. Gives me something to think about. I guess the big take away is that a wind meter gives a reliable variable that you can base a lot of the info down range off of.
And thanks for the explanation rather than just saying, "you're wrong dumbass".

 

[THEIS]

The wind at your shooting locate is the only wind you can measure. Everything else is inferred from observations.

Hi,

Not necessarily correct, .
Depends on what your budget is.

Sincerely,
Theis

 

[Dthomas3523]

Thanks hlee. Gives me something to think about. I guess the big take away is that a wind meter gives a reliable variable that you can base a lot of the info down range off of.
And thanks for the explanation rather than just saying, "you're wrong dumbass".

You got the “you’re wrong dumbass” answer after you decided to tell us you knew enough about ballistics to know that wind doesn’t matter out to 300yds.

 

[Dthomas3523]

And apparently still haven’t read up enough to realize the first 1/3rd is the most important and the wind at the target is the least.

With wind in the middle being increasingly important the further the distance, but unless at very extended ranges, not as important as getting the first 1/3 wind.

 

[Steel head]

You got the “you’re wrong dumbass” answer after you decided to tell us you knew enough about ballistics to know that wind doesn’t matter out to 300yds.

I personally feel he earned that

 

[b6graham]

is it just me or does the new search favor 2010 and 2013 threads over newer stuff?

 

[MarinePMI]

Hi,

Not necessarily correct, .
Depends on what your budget is.

Sincerely,
Theis

LIDARrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....???

 

[_Windrider_]

Is this still available?

 

[atomic41]

And hence my question and lack of understanding for the use of a wind-meter.

I read this as you are trying to learn and here's your theory in the same post, reading comprehension is often absent from the keyboard commandos, hence all the aggression towards you. It seems as if you are coming here to see if you are correct...not educate the forum.

Yes, accurate wind speed at your location is one piece of the puzzle and a wind meter gives you that. The wind from you to the target is the rest of the puzzle, learning how to solve that puzzle takes time especially in your challenging conditions that you describe. ?

 

[Dthomas3523]

I read this as you are trying to learn and here's your theory in the same post, reading comprehension is often absent from the keyboard commandos, hence all the aggression towards you. It seems as if you are coming here to see if you are correct...not educate the forum.

Yes, accurate wind speed at your location is one piece of the puzzle and a wind meter gives you that. The wind from you to the target is the rest of the puzzle, learning how to solve that puzzle takes time especially in your challenging conditions that you describe. ?

Ironic. You mentioned reading comprehension and skipped right over this gem.

This is a statement. Not a question. “I don’t understand why people use wind meters because wind doesn’t matter inside 300yds” is what he basically told everyone.

Seeking knowledge usually doesn’t start with making incorrect and uneducated statements as the basis of why you don’t understand something.

 

[atomic41]

Ironic. You mentioned reading comprehension and skipped right over this gem.

This is a statement. Not a question. “I don’t understand why people use wind meters because wind doesn’t matter inside 300yds” is what he basically told everyone.

Seeking knowledge usually doesn’t start with making incorrect and uneducated statements as the basis of why you don’t understand something.

View attachment 7263926

...someone needs a snickers.

 

[Diver160651]

Let me try to take a step back to the questions before it got muddy.

why a heavy emphasis on knowing what your wind is from the shooting position?

Above is our home range. It rises out of the valley below and crates all kinds of wind eddies and directional switches. Afternoon winds well above 20+ are not uncommon, nor are wind flags flying in opposing directions. Sometimes we are shooting in a wind shadow, others at the top of the ridge where a venturi effect is making the wind speed increase. Point being, I understand your concern about the FFP's wind value being different than the flight path. With that, is it all possible to take it for face value that I understand your premise?

If we agree, let's take one more step and realize that a square range used in F-class, bench-rest, or other traditional NRA sports are not the same as open-country or ranges often used for what a shooter in this forum might be shooting and competing. Most of the square ranges you'll encounter are relatively flat, not across canyons where mirage may not be present. Square ranges often use huge paper targets that suck up the first round lousy shot. Then continue to use sighters, wind flags, and targets with concentric rings. With the traditional square range sports like above, they're usually working with one target distance trying to read mirage, indicating the difference in wind values, not the wind itself. People coming from square range sports or with their base only from being around these types of shooters do not understand the value of breaking wind into an MPH value from shot to shot at various distances. More often than not, they will not even use or believe in solvers. Most of the people on the Hide are place a very high value on first-round impacts, key form PRS, NRL, Field Matches to Long Range Hunting. Hopefully, you can acknowledge there are different needs once away from the typical bench crowd.

I will use myself as an example and not have the hubris to claim I speak for everyone or anyone on the site. While I like to think that years on a foredeck, sponsored as a windsurfer and decades of long-range shooting, I am reasonably good at judging wind, it is a localized skill-set that is highly perishable. When I am spun up and shooting several times a week, I see distance and wind one way, but when I travel to a new spot, I am not nearly as accurate. Same if I have taken time away from shooting.

In a nutshell, what the wind meter does is give me a scientific data point to calibrate the overall wind read I am going to run.

The reason I use a windmeter:

A) To keep my brain calibrated to my eyes.​

1. While spun up and at my home range, I generally do not use the wind meter, but I still will from time to time to stay calibrated the best I can.​

2. Whenever I am at a new location where the visual clues are different, I'll use a wind meter.​

3. Whenever I have had some time away from the range, I'll use a wind meter.​

B) Practical reasons to use the windmeter.​

1. When the mirage is funky and makes no sense.​

2. When there is no Mirage.​

3. When it is blowing extremely hard.​

4. When it is exceptionally gusty and or switchy​

​

I use the data I gather with the wind meter to blend with the information my eyes, face, and brain are compiling to make my call. Then merge the data with what the bullet did.​

​

Value to a newer shooter.​

1. See everything above​

2. How else are you going to learn what a 5mph vs a 14mph or a 28mph wind feels and looks?​

Wouldn't it be better to get good at reading mirage between yourself and the target?

See above.

Restated, mirage is not always present. If it is present, mirage is often not readable to a reliable MPH once the wind direction or speed reaches certain directions and velocities.


Hope this helps.. welcome to the Hide...

 

[Pathfinder-7]

Thanks for all the good insight. I appreciate it greatly.
Next time I will try not to be so offensive by sharing a personal understanding of something, and then look for clarification when it doesn't jive with a majority.