Range Report Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

[ToKeepAndBear]

I shoot in mountainous terrain over a valley at 550-1000 yards at my regular spot. I have found that some of the more challenging days for shooting are when the winds are actually calmer. Winds in the 3-5mph range often tend to be variable at this location and full value, vacillating between 90 and 270 degrees. I believe it is a combination of wind and updrafts that plague this spot. This gets to be very challenging beyond 600 yards. The wind is not strong but will cause you to miss a 15in wide target if you are not very carefully paying attention to the mirage (the only reliable indicator I have found as you are shooting over a valley).

Shot this last weekend and there were a number of times that the winds were going different directions at the same time at different distances.

When we pulled up my buddy thought we were going to "tear it up" as the last time we shot the winds were gusting to 30mph. I told him that it is going to be harder than he thinks because I could feel the wind shifting direction 180 degrees while we were setting up targets. He then proceeded to miss the first four shots at 680 yards. These misses were only a few inches off target but misses all the same. I had better luck but it wasn't my first time shooting in these "easy" conditions. Give me a steady 15mph wind any day!

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

Yes. I find I generally shoot better (better scores) on ranges where the wind is a good solid 10-15 mph plus. On the day (or ranges) with lighter winds I see more swirling, switching, wind going one way here the other way there, up/down drafts, etc. Drives me absolutely batty.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

Our ELR spot is in a long valley that is home to a dry lake and meadow. The wind comes out the west and pours over the north side or south side of a mountain at the west end of the valley. This results in a 11 0' clock to 1 0' clock with respect to firing position. It is by far the most difficult wind I've ever shot in and I've shot in eastern Montana in 25-30 mph winds. It doesn't have to be a strong wind either. 3-5 mph is enough. I can be be spot on at 1250 yds and suddenly be 3 feet off the plate when the wind shifts just a few degrees without warning.

I love/hate wind. It separates the men from the boys, but switching winds are a royal pain.

John

 

[jwoolf]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

One of the main ranges I shoot on is similar.... many days we'll get wind going from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock blowing from 7-18mph.

Usually the mirage gives away the conditions and you can wait for the boil on many days and hold over accordingly on the other shots. For me, this usually keeps me on a 10" plate on days like that at the 1000yd line but, it is tricky.

There aren't wind flags on that range so, you really have to depend on the mirage ( and what the wind is doing where you are even more )... some days it lies a bit but most it does not. Of course, you can focus on the mirage at different ranges too.

Don't think there's an easy answer other than, pay attention to EVERYTHING and, of course, lots of practice learning to trust your calls ... learning to have confidence in them is key.

As jrob points out... what SUCKS is when it begins switching as you touch the round off and you watch your well thought out shot miss by 3' LOL

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

I don't care how fast the wind is going as long as it is constent, when it is fishtailing, gusting or reversing that's when the fun begins and i wish i wasn't at a match.

 

[raptor99]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

AMEN!! Never were truer words spoken. First time I tried shooting to 1000yds I had waited for weeks to get a nice "Calm" day. I got up early went out set up my target and made it to 800yds before the wind started to come up. It was only about 3 to 6mph and a tail wind so not a problem. WRONG!!

It was my first time shooting in a fishtailing wind and by the time I got done I had a target the size of a chevy suburban to see where I was hitting. I was chasing bullets all over the place I went back home dejected and waited for a nice 10 to 15mph wind to shoot in.

 

[Bronco]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

Last weekend at the Tulsa 1000 yd. F-Class match we had these conditions. There are flags but they are 50 to 75 ft. below where your bullet flys. Gave most everyone fits. Flags would be every direction, mirage would give some indication but varied so much between shooting position and target that it was still hard to call. While in the pits I was taping hits that would go from the outside edge of 9 ring to the other outside edge of the 9 ring on consecutive shots that were less than 30 sec. apart.

 

[nfoley]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

This morning seemed to be great morning to shoot long range - light winds (maybe 3-5 mph). Placed a target at 1040 yds and shot 5 rounds. Was very disappointed with vertical spread - about 18-20" with my 308 and 175SMKs. At 600 yds not an issue - shot several 1/2 MOA groups.
Two weekends ago had pretty consistent crosswind at 10-15 mph and once I had the wind figured out was only getting 8-10" vertical spread at the 1040 yard mark.
So I am gonna agree, I prefer a consistent stiffer wind to those calm inconsistent winds!

 

[nfoley]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

Sorry, meant horizontal spread, not vertical!

 

[LawnMM]

Re: Do you find variable 3-5mph difficult?

Shifting headwinds and tailwinds can be tricky but unless its really blowing the mirage will tell you what its doing. For me, winds randomly changing speeds are harder to notice, register the degree of change, and account for.

A steady wind, even shifting, seems easier to deal with. Then again I'm not shooting across a valley or off the side of a mountain.