Range Report Wind help for a beginner

[jpistolero02]

I finally got a chance to take my new Remington SPS Varmint (.308) out to some extended ranges today. This is my first real experience shooting past 200 yards. I just bought a new Sightron SIII 6-24 based on the recommendations of a few Hide members. I am very pleased with the scope. After 4 shots I had the rifle on the money and zeroed at 100 yards. I stepped back to 300 yards so I could test my shooting a little more and try out the Android ballistics app. I could not feel any real wind so I left things at zero on the wind. My first two shots went into an inch about 3 inches right of the circle and dead on elevation. Obviously, I have no real experience because I underestimated the effect of wind. I changed the app to have 5mph of full value wind from the 9 o'clock and fired three shots. They all went inside the three inch circle I was shooting at. I was feeling pretty good about the way things were working so I went to a target that lasered at 890 yards. I was guessing the wind value and often times it would seemingly go dead calm and then at times start to blow ever so slightly. It took me 4 shots and some guessing to get on target. I was shooting at a 20" steel circle so I didn't have much room for error. I guess my main question is how to become more precise with my windage? Would it be best to get one of those hand meters? This long range stuff is addicting. I had a huge smile when I saw that steel swinging and the delayed gong.

 

[223man]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

I got a kestrel and practice feeling the wind, and also look around at your surroundings and see what they are doing. Then take a guess and use your kestrel to check what you came up with. Also think about signing on to the online training on here Frank and Jacob have a really good lesson on the subject.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jpistolero02</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I guess my main question is how to become more precise with my windage? Would it be best to get one of those hand meters? This long range stuff is addicting. I had a huge smile when I saw that steel swinging and the delayed gong. </div></div>


by sending many rounds down range under various windy conditions. Having a wind meter is one thing but keep in mind that it only gives you the wind pattern at your location. At the point of Max ord., any wind there is going to afffect the flight of your bullet. Then wind at the target also. Once you get beyond 600 yards, everything will be magnified.

 

[shadowlid]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

Well my dad got me this old vhs tape called reading the wind.

Here is a couple of tips.

2-4mph - you can just fell wind on your face, large leafs light stems move like maple leaves.

4-8 - will make small leaves move, heavy stalks move

6-10 will move the tips of short needle trees like spruce or pine trees.

8-12 will make brush move small pine trees sway

I would say anything over 12 use a kestral or other wind reading device.

A good way to guess the wind at midrange is to use like a 10x binocular or spotting scope. And adjust til you see the mirage.

Then look at what angle the mirage is

60 degrees 1-3mph
45degrees 4-7mph
when the mirage is perfectly horizontal 8-12mph

Note i got all of this off the video and in no way do i take credit for the information here. I am just a beginner like you. Just thought this might help. I have some other tips also on reading flags and other stuff. If you would like it shoot me an pm.

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

Tag.

 

[USFTR]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

I have found that mirage is easier for me to read than other things in the environment (leaves and such) more times than not. What helped me was to take good notes on mirage and fire a round and see where it impacts. Keep doing this as much as possible and you will start to get a "feel" for mirage appearance vs bullet impact. Now, that doesn't mean I ignore any range flags or bushes or trees. So short answer is to get practice reading mirage vs your bullet impact.

 

[jwoolf]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: usftr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have found that mirage is easier for me to read than other things in the environment (leaves and such) more times than not. What helped me was to take good notes on mirage and fire a round and see where it impacts. Keep doing this as much as possible and you will start to get a "feel" for mirage appearance vs bullet impact. Now, that doesn't mean I ignore any range flags or bushes or trees. So short answer is to get practice reading mirage vs your bullet impact. </div></div>

What he said.

I read the wind the best I can using everything and make a call. Get that zeroed while watching the mirage and make every shot after that a call only on the mirage and what I see in the scope. FWIW.

See the mirage die and boil.... better not shoot or adjust before cutting the next round loose down range.

Mental notes of what the mirage looked like EVERY shot is essential to master wind at long range, IMHO. The key being able to make confident windage moves before sending the next round.

 

[USFTR]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

I can also add that having a true no wind zero is very important. I don't use a 100 yard no wind zero either. I just don't trust it as much because it is too close and may mask some small error. Making corrections in switching winds becomes easier with a solid no wind zero.

 

[jwoolf]

Re: Wind help for a beginner

I'm just getting back into shooting after years of being out but, I shot the national match course as a kid and learned about mirage then. The AMU even came to our club and gave a week long class so many years ago.

There are so many details that make hitting a spot over and over at long range.... never put your bullets in the sun... never leave a round in a hot chamber more than a few seconds... ( other things too that don't affect a scope as much but, things like the fact that mirage can make a target appear flatter so a simple light change can affect impacts also.

If you can work your rifle well on a bipod and you have a good load that can hit the same spot over and over, the key to shooting well is going to be making the wind calls before you fire the next round and paying attention to detail in the environment, IMHO.

Also, when shooting, you can de-focus your scope to view the mirage closer to you. When shooting the match course as a kid, we'd have to use our spotting scopes to see it so, we'd de-focus our spotting scopes by 1/4 turn to focus on the mirage about 150yds in front of the target at 600yds, for example.

I'm remembering all the old lessons but, I'm sort of new again at the game since I'm 45 now and, I was a jr. shooter when I was winning awards.