Kestrel rotating vane?
- Thread starter JSF
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Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I think you would be better to start feeling that wind direction out yourself and making calls without the vane which you will dump sooner rather than later with enough practice -the Kestral is great tho to confirm your calls
I think you would be better to start feeling that wind direction out yourself and making calls without the vane which you will dump sooner rather than later with enough practice -the Kestral is great tho to confirm your calls
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I'd forgo the windvane, far more ways to tell wind direction without doing the GO GO gadget routine.
Best place for a handheld windspeed diviner is OFF the range. Learn to gauge windspeed so when standing on the line waiting for the prep call you can offer your guess to the cluster of Kestrel owners by closing your eyes, and holding a wetted finger in the air, it offers them a bit of theater.
Two things will most likely happen, they will have a spread and you will be inside it.
Best of luck
I'd forgo the windvane, far more ways to tell wind direction without doing the GO GO gadget routine.
Best place for a handheld windspeed diviner is OFF the range. Learn to gauge windspeed so when standing on the line waiting for the prep call you can offer your guess to the cluster of Kestrel owners by closing your eyes, and holding a wetted finger in the air, it offers them a bit of theater.
Two things will most likely happen, they will have a spread and you will be inside it.
Best of luck
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
Just another fancy bit of equipment that doesnt have too much use imo.
Just another fancy bit of equipment that doesnt have too much use imo.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
Thanks for the input. I am just starting out in long distance shooting. I wanted to get the Kestrel to learn to make wind calls. My approach would be to guess the wind, then look at the Kestrel until I was getting it right the majority of the time. I live in Oklahoma where the wind is constantly blowing and can change direction quite often. The vane looked like it might make it easier than constantly pulling out the Kestrel when the wind change direction. I see your point. Probably not worth the money if I would not be using it for very long.
Thanks for the input. I am just starting out in long distance shooting. I wanted to get the Kestrel to learn to make wind calls. My approach would be to guess the wind, then look at the Kestrel until I was getting it right the majority of the time. I live in Oklahoma where the wind is constantly blowing and can change direction quite often. The vane looked like it might make it easier than constantly pulling out the Kestrel when the wind change direction. I see your point. Probably not worth the money if I would not be using it for very long.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
JSF ,I am still learning myself after a number of years and I think you will see even old timers say that when it concerns the wind they're still learning too..
I remember I wanted every gadget known to man and a few of the guys said don't bother learn to feel the wind which I do now but still confirm if need be with the kestrel.
The other area you would do good to paid heed to is find more out about mirage reading as it will help you a lot .
I am still learning to adjust for mirage which does help with both strength of the "wind generally" and it's direction .There have been a few post on the forum about this .Good shooting
JSF ,I am still learning myself after a number of years and I think you will see even old timers say that when it concerns the wind they're still learning too..
I remember I wanted every gadget known to man and a few of the guys said don't bother learn to feel the wind which I do now but still confirm if need be with the kestrel.
The other area you would do good to paid heed to is find more out about mirage reading as it will help you a lot .
I am still learning to adjust for mirage which does help with both strength of the "wind generally" and it's direction .There have been a few post on the forum about this .Good shooting
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I love my 4500, but I don't think I've used it much for wind, I use it for DA readings.
I have one of these, and love it for wind. Why Kestrels don't even have a 1/4-20 hole is beyond me. I think for checking calls you are best served my a omnidirectional anenometer.
I love my 4500, but I don't think I've used it much for wind, I use it for DA readings.
I have one of these, and love it for wind. Why Kestrels don't even have a 1/4-20 hole is beyond me. I think for checking calls you are best served my a omnidirectional anenometer.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love my 4500, but I don't think I've used it much for wind, I use it for DA readings.
I have one of these, and love it for wind. Why Kestrels don't even have a 1/4-20 hole is beyond me. I think for checking calls you are best served my a omnidirectional anenometer.</div></div>
What is it that you like about that Skywatch? I do like that it is omnidirectional, and has the 1/4-20 hole, but I'm curious if there is more to it that I am missing.
Is it as accurate as Kestrels claim to be?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love my 4500, but I don't think I've used it much for wind, I use it for DA readings.
I have one of these, and love it for wind. Why Kestrels don't even have a 1/4-20 hole is beyond me. I think for checking calls you are best served my a omnidirectional anenometer.</div></div>
What is it that you like about that Skywatch? I do like that it is omnidirectional, and has the 1/4-20 hole, but I'm curious if there is more to it that I am missing.
Is it as accurate as Kestrels claim to be?
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd forgo the windvane, far more ways to tell wind direction without doing the GO GO gadget routine.
Best place for a handheld windspeed diviner is OFF the range. Learn to gauge windspeed so when standing on the line waiting for the prep call you can offer your guess to the cluster of Kestrel owners by closing your eyes, and holding a wetted finger in the air, it offers them a bit of theater.
Two things will most likely happen, they will have a spread and you will be inside it.
Best of luck </div></div>
ok starting to like this guy
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd forgo the windvane, far more ways to tell wind direction without doing the GO GO gadget routine.
Best place for a handheld windspeed diviner is OFF the range. Learn to gauge windspeed so when standing on the line waiting for the prep call you can offer your guess to the cluster of Kestrel owners by closing your eyes, and holding a wetted finger in the air, it offers them a bit of theater.
Two things will most likely happen, they will have a spread and you will be inside it.
Best of luck </div></div>
ok starting to like this guy
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I like that I can pop the top and mount it to a 1/4-20 (tripod or spotting scope stand) and it gives wind speed and temp. Or just hold it up, the vector doesn't matter to get a valid velocity reading. Just the basics, and yeah its accurate-just doesn't give all the data the 4500 does.
Wind and DA are two different environmental factors affecting my shooting. DA I check along with range, then wind is a seat of the pants on the fly call while I'm on target. My Kestrels's little guard over the impeller rarely gets opened.....
As many have said, the best use for a wind meter is to practice your wind calling skills. Rarely is what I read at the firing position what I adjust my wind hold for downrange. I prefer to use midrange indicators and mirage while shooting than any meters.
I like that I can pop the top and mount it to a 1/4-20 (tripod or spotting scope stand) and it gives wind speed and temp. Or just hold it up, the vector doesn't matter to get a valid velocity reading. Just the basics, and yeah its accurate-just doesn't give all the data the 4500 does.
Wind and DA are two different environmental factors affecting my shooting. DA I check along with range, then wind is a seat of the pants on the fly call while I'm on target. My Kestrels's little guard over the impeller rarely gets opened.....
As many have said, the best use for a wind meter is to practice your wind calling skills. Rarely is what I read at the firing position what I adjust my wind hold for downrange. I prefer to use midrange indicators and mirage while shooting than any meters.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
Elevation is science-that's where DA and dope come in.
Windage is voodoo. An art that needs to be cultivated....
Skip the weatherstation windvane. If they came with cool roosters on top, that'd be different.....
Elevation is science-that's where DA and dope come in.
Windage is voodoo. An art that needs to be cultivated....
Skip the weatherstation windvane. If they came with cool roosters on top, that'd be different.....
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I have an iPhone for a ballistic calc and weather, a Garmin GPS for on site altitude and barometric pressure, so I like the idea of a simple wind only device. If I had to choose between a Kestrel 1000/2000 or one of these, I think I'd have to opt for these Skywatches.
I have an iPhone for a ballistic calc and weather, a Garmin GPS for on site altitude and barometric pressure, so I like the idea of a simple wind only device. If I had to choose between a Kestrel 1000/2000 or one of these, I think I'd have to opt for these Skywatches.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I prefer the kestrel to any wireless weather-often where you are shooting can be different conditions than where the info the i-phones are getting is, and a fast DA number from the kestrel is easier than doing the math to interpolate it from pressure and temp data.
That's just me, take it with a grain of salt.
They don't sell the model I pictured anymore, but there's many anenometers with an open 360 impeller.
I prefer the kestrel to any wireless weather-often where you are shooting can be different conditions than where the info the i-phones are getting is, and a fast DA number from the kestrel is easier than doing the math to interpolate it from pressure and temp data.
That's just me, take it with a grain of salt.
They don't sell the model I pictured anymore, but there's many anenometers with an open 360 impeller.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
now, if you could get a program that can read multiple bluetooth inputs from multiple kestrels that are setup down range...
that would be cool.
Then the vane would see some good use. Along your wind flags you could use kestrels that send data to a ballistic calculator that takes more than one wind reading, and gives a true indication of adjustments needed.
But then wheres the art in that?
now, if you could get a program that can read multiple bluetooth inputs from multiple kestrels that are setup down range...
that would be cool.
Then the vane would see some good use. Along your wind flags you could use kestrels that send data to a ballistic calculator that takes more than one wind reading, and gives a true indication of adjustments needed.
But then wheres the art in that?
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I guess I will just get the Kestrel for now. I have the FDAC on the way. Would this be a good start to get me on target out to 600 yards for a beginner? I don't have anyone around with experience to guide me. So, I will be going at this alone until I can take a class. Badlands is pretty close and Rifleonly is not to far either. Just have to find the time.
I guess I will just get the Kestrel for now. I have the FDAC on the way. Would this be a good start to get me on target out to 600 yards for a beginner? I don't have anyone around with experience to guide me. So, I will be going at this alone until I can take a class. Badlands is pretty close and Rifleonly is not to far either. Just have to find the time.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wind flags are for pussies...</div></div>
whats a wind flag?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wind flags are for pussies...</div></div>
whats a wind flag?
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
I was looking at the Kestral 2500 just for the weather station features. Does one acquire a feel for barometric pressure and relative humidity as well?
I thought temp, relative humidity, etc. would be good to record with my shots to see how they affect POI over time.
Ben
I was looking at the Kestral 2500 just for the weather station features. Does one acquire a feel for barometric pressure and relative humidity as well?
I thought temp, relative humidity, etc. would be good to record with my shots to see how they affect POI over time.
Ben
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
You might find this interesting: Making Ballistic Cards Using Density Altitude
You might find this interesting: Making Ballistic Cards Using Density Altitude
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
Caldwell and others make very cheap wind-o-meters. John Deere makes a rain guage, wind direction and speed indicator for 12 bucks.
Reading wind on the firing line is easy enough to learn if hitting within 1MOA of center out to 600 is the goal.
What pooches this pup is reading the DIFFERENT wind effects downrange. Shooting across a valley is so different than shooting across rough ground.
Open ground at the firing line and the target way up a protected gully can have you scratching your head. A bowl impact area can actually change the wind direction from 4 o'clock to 7.
My absolute worst scenerio is attempting to time the shot through waves of gusts.
So to my mind once you leave the civilized flat groomed range getting the firing line wind speed down to some fraction is low down the list.
Create a wind card and you see there is a slop factor there. I tend to concentrate on what downrange I havent accounted for that ruins my fragile male ego self image as the chisel jowled bug shooter.
Oh and yes Kestrals can vary in the reading. Get a group of owners together and see. Course onething I get a chuckle out of are those owners who think the kestral is a tricorder and ya just whip it out and voila it tells you all you want to know.
But I learned that from my 3rd girlfriend, just whipping it out doesnt mean success, you have to know how to use it properly.
Caldwell and others make very cheap wind-o-meters. John Deere makes a rain guage, wind direction and speed indicator for 12 bucks.
Reading wind on the firing line is easy enough to learn if hitting within 1MOA of center out to 600 is the goal.
What pooches this pup is reading the DIFFERENT wind effects downrange. Shooting across a valley is so different than shooting across rough ground.
Open ground at the firing line and the target way up a protected gully can have you scratching your head. A bowl impact area can actually change the wind direction from 4 o'clock to 7.
My absolute worst scenerio is attempting to time the shot through waves of gusts.
So to my mind once you leave the civilized flat groomed range getting the firing line wind speed down to some fraction is low down the list.
Create a wind card and you see there is a slop factor there. I tend to concentrate on what downrange I havent accounted for that ruins my fragile male ego self image as the chisel jowled bug shooter.
Oh and yes Kestrals can vary in the reading. Get a group of owners together and see. Course onething I get a chuckle out of are those owners who think the kestral is a tricorder and ya just whip it out and voila it tells you all you want to know.
But I learned that from my 3rd girlfriend, just whipping it out doesnt mean success, you have to know how to use it properly.
Re: Kestrel rotating vane?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Caldwell and others make very cheap wind-o-meters. John Deere makes a rain guage, wind direction and speed indicator for 12 bucks.
Reading wind on the firing line is easy enough to learn if hitting within 1MOA of center out to 600 is the goal.
What pooches this pup is reading the DIFFERENT wind effects downrange. Shooting across a valley is so different than shooting across rough ground.
Open ground at the firing line and the target way up a protected gully can have you scratching your head. A bowl impact area can actually change the wind direction from 4 o'clock to 7.
My absolute worst scenerio is attempting to time the shot through waves of gusts.
So to my mind once you leave the civilized flat groomed range getting the firing line wind speed down to some fraction is low down the list.
Create a wind card and you see there is a slop factor there. I tend to concentrate on what downrange I havent accounted for that ruins my fragile male ego self image as the chisel jowled bug shooter.
Oh and yes Kestrals can vary in the reading. Get a group of owners together and see. Course onething I get a chuckle out of are those owners who think the kestral is a tricorder and ya just whip it out and voila it tells you all you want to know.
But I learned that from my 3rd girlfriend, just whipping it out doesnt mean success, you have to know how to use it properly.
</div></div>
I too am really startin to like this guy
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: notquiteright</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Caldwell and others make very cheap wind-o-meters. John Deere makes a rain guage, wind direction and speed indicator for 12 bucks.
Reading wind on the firing line is easy enough to learn if hitting within 1MOA of center out to 600 is the goal.
What pooches this pup is reading the DIFFERENT wind effects downrange. Shooting across a valley is so different than shooting across rough ground.
Open ground at the firing line and the target way up a protected gully can have you scratching your head. A bowl impact area can actually change the wind direction from 4 o'clock to 7.
My absolute worst scenerio is attempting to time the shot through waves of gusts.
So to my mind once you leave the civilized flat groomed range getting the firing line wind speed down to some fraction is low down the list.
Create a wind card and you see there is a slop factor there. I tend to concentrate on what downrange I havent accounted for that ruins my fragile male ego self image as the chisel jowled bug shooter.
Oh and yes Kestrals can vary in the reading. Get a group of owners together and see. Course onething I get a chuckle out of are those owners who think the kestral is a tricorder and ya just whip it out and voila it tells you all you want to know.
But I learned that from my 3rd girlfriend, just whipping it out doesnt mean success, you have to know how to use it properly.
</div></div>
I too am really startin to like this guy
