Which weather meter does everybody use and do you need all the bells and whistles?

I am currently trying to make up my mind on which Kestral to buy. The 3500 looks like it does everything anyone would want but I trust your opinions so please help me buy once and be happy. Primarily I will use it for Hvac and shooting.

 

Most in our area use the 2000, all we really seem to need is wind speed. Other options are nice but not all that necessary, shooting fclass,

 

3500 will do everything you need

 

If its pointing left, the wind is coming from the right.
If its pointing right, the wind is coming from the left.
If its wet, its raining.
If its white, its snowing.
If its missing, its blowing too hard to shoot (yep, we had a flog pole blow over in the middle of a shoot before).

 

I’ve been using the Kestrel 4500 since I started into Long Range Shooting. although I want the newer models I have no real need to replace it it does everything I need and there’s never let me down yet

 

Could not agree more!

 

I have the 5700 with applied ballistics... works good..

 

Where I shoot, the only thing the Kestrel gives me over what my ballistic app pulls from the local station (usually an airport) reporting to the GPS is the wind where I am standing. If you're close to a reporting station, all you need is a wind meter.

 

Educate me.

How are you using it?

 

My 4500 has Applied Ballistics, before I got a smart phone and the app I use it for dope at the range of coarse all weather conditions at my shooting position that is its main functionStill learning about bracketing wind with it more people I talk to there’s always something new to learn .You can also change input such as velocity bullet types etc. and see how it changes your dope on target therefore giving you information about different bullets velocities weather etc. without actually having to shoot that combination

 

I use a Kestrel 4000. It gives me everything need. To me the most important statistic is Density Altitude as I tune to what it tells me. Wind means nothing at the point of this instrument. I have windflags to indicate the wind from bench to target and that is second most important.

 

I've had a Kestrel something or another in my shooting bag for 10 years. I think it's been used a couple times? Maybe.... I guess I need to check the batteries before I hit the road to Phoenix, might actually use it.

 

Kestrel 2500, Caldwell Pro, a Casio 3-sensor watch and a Mk.1 wet finger tip. They read close enough to each other that I just carry the watch and the finger now and pretty much leave the kestrel twirling to the tactical barbies.

 

I have a 4500, bought it thinking it was going to be instrumental to me making long shots. It is a great product and does everything its suposed to, ive used it below zero and in 100 degree weather. Carried it a lot and used it the first little while I had it. But.....

After carrying it and referencing before shots I noticed how for 95% of what I do its not needed. Now it sits in my loading room like a neglected toy. It gets pulled out very few times a year. The only time it goes on a trip is if there is a significant change in elevation and I have to make first round connections. If its a match with sighters I dont need it, if I'm hunting big game the differences in atmosphere will sill be minute of deer. Wind speed at the shooter isnt a huge help. If I was being dropped off by a helicopter in the middle of an unknown place and my life relied on a first round connection the Kestrel would be going for sure. Other than that it stays home.

Another but....When learning wind (I'm still learning it) a wind meter was a useful tool. To be hiking or working and feel a breeze on your face and to be able to check windspeed to know what a 3mph, 5mph or 15mph breeze feels like is pretty important. I bought my girlfriend a low cost meter off amazon that was in the weekly bargin post here and it reads the same as my Kestrel and she keeps in it her sling bag so she can check wind anywhere she is to learn



It helped

 

Save your money and buy a thermometer and altimeter. Use those as inputs to a ballistics calculator. Leave humidity at 50% or just guess. It doesn’t matter much. If you want a wind meter, they can be had very cheaply.

Kestrels are obscenely expensive for what you get.

 

I twist the barrel tuner on my .30BR in accordance with the density altitude and what my notes tell me my performance was at that DA previously. It works for me in short range BR. The widest swings I’ve experienced in DA were at Webster City, Iowa at the IBS Score Nationals and I won there.

 

I want one because our club is between hills. Where we shoot from isn't as windy as the 50 yard mark as we shoot across wind because it was set up many years ago that way. Some days I get crazy results so I walk down to the target only to realize it is windy from about half way to the target so I thought a kestrel or equivalent would be very handy.

 

Jon, Windflags would Go a long way in wind reading.

 

Wind meter shows you the wind at one spot. So what. You can't disregard the rest of the range. Get flags space them out to your target, I try to locate one at any significant terrain feature and have at it. Uthink Uknow is right on.

 

I use a Weatherflow along with my cell or pad. Itis a good price and I believe the ap was free. I use it mainly for finding temp. and Density Altitude but it shows wind direction and speed after I got the wind vane to fit.