Wind flags..decision, decisions

[Lkwebb]

Well I'm down to my last few items to buy to fully self sufficient when I shoot nbrsa etc.
I'm looking at flags and it makes my head hurt deciding what to buy.
When I shot my first club match I used the vanes with the daisy wheel 3 of them.
I'm looking to get 2 to 3 of those possibly and one that acts as a wind meter with the Styrofoam ball etc..
I understand it's each to their own when choosing and trial and error. I'm just trying to cut down cost and buy once since I've spent so much already...

 

[cem]

Strictly my opinion and for folks who know read Tony Boyer and all the rest. I am not competitive and don't pretend to be. I set out 5 old Sinclair w/Daisy and watch for the flag assembly to settle into a condition. If I cared I would spend a lot of money to update to the finest of joy stick rests for instant adjustment and worry about flags so sensitive that I never get caught by a reversal. I think traditional read older flags have way too much weight or inertia ignore small changes and respond too slowly. More than good enough for past times and for me at pushing 80 but as firearms have maybe standardized the rest of the gear has entered a period of drastic change and high expense.

 

[jimmymac]

It’s hard to beat Graham Flags IMO. They are light and respond well. The vanes are large and hi viz which helps greatly at 200. Smaller flags are lacking IMO. The whole idea is to be able to see what's happening. Whether or not you go with a daisy is purely personal. Most guys here in the east use daises. The whole range will be filled with them with the occasional non daisy variety. If you buy a set of Graham flags, you won’t go looking for something else after the fact.

For poles, I prefer the ones previously made by Smiley Hensley. I believe they are still available. They are robust. Flimsy poles sway like crazy when raised high and the wind is up.

Get in touch with @Mr.Spradlin for your flag needs. Good luck to you.

 

[garandman]

Most any wind flag is far better than no wind flag.

The high end flags will probably only help someone with more than 20K rounds down range in competition. For most of us, we got tons to learn about reading wind / flags before to spending the big bux really helping us.

See Disclaimer (below)

 

[jimmymac]

Most any wind flag is far better than no wind flag.

The high end flags will probably only help someone with more than 20K rounds down range in competition. For most of us, we got tons to learn about reading wind / flags before to spending the big bux really helping us.

See Disclaimer (below)

It is true that any flag is better then none, but...

A good set of wind flags is cheap in comparison to all the stuff we buy in our pursuit to become better shooters. There are places where saving a buck makes sense but as far as flags go, I'm all in on good flags. They are high on my personal list of must have items that will have a direct correlation to results on target. Don't leave home without them! YMMV

 

[garandman]

It is true that any flag is better then none, but...

A good set of wind flags is cheap in comparison to all the stuff we buy in our pursuit to become better shooters. There are places where saving a buck makes sense but as far as flags go, I'm all in on good flags. They are high on my personal list of must have items that will have a direct correlation to results on target. Don't leave home without them! YMMV

True. Penny wise can be pound foolish. Cheaping out can be a waste of $$$. Responsiveness is key in wind flag choice. Mechanicals that drag or delay can give us bad info.... give us the wind of 0.5 second earlier, and not the moment of our shot.

And sometimes spending more money is not the best solution. More expensive is not necessarily better. I compete with (and beat) some guys that use 5 different types of wind flags on a 50 yd rimfire match. Upper / downers and whirly gigs and all kinds of crap.

I put my 1 wind flag out about 10-12 yards down range. And am always competitive with and often beat Mr. Flagmeister. For 50 yd rimfire / ARA, I'd recommend getting the one flag and learning that before spending $1,500 getting all my friends flags. More benefit from buying ammo and getting range time with the 1 flag than buying 4 more that we don't know how to use / information overload ya. When ya mastered that, go nutz buying flags. IF ya really still think ya need all that stuff....

See Disclaimer (below)

 

[jimmymac]

$600 gets you a nice set of flags and stands that lasts damn near forever. It is cheap compared to the reloading minutia items people buy thinking it will improve their game.

 

[garandman]

$600 gets you a nice set of flags and stands that lasts damn near forever. It is cheap compared to the reloading minutia items people buy thinking it will improve their game.

I got 2 of the same flag, just basic flags i.e. this Graham flag ....



... with quality stands. Spend about that much. I'm not hurting in my scores for it. My game will improve with more range time, not more flag.

 

[jimmymac]

That’s my whole point. Those Graham flags are great and IMO are considered high end. For center fire BR at 100 to 300 yards, 6 of those is all a guy needs.

 

[garandman]

Yup. But you should see summa the crazy flag happy guys I compete with.... its like a minefield. You gotta walk all the way around that mess....

 

[garandman]

Some of the best info / advice I got was to focus on the flag(s) closest in to your bench, as the effects of the wind there have the initial and largest effect on your bullet and where it impacts down range. I'm only smart enuf to focus on 1 flag at a time for 50 yd ARA & IR 50/50 comps.

In swirling winds....I'm screwed.

 

[WyleWD]

Mike Ezell makes a really good windflag and is a site member. He goes by gunsandgunsmithing on the board here. WD

 

[rjtfroggy]

Yup. But you should see summa the crazy flag happy guys I compete with.... its like a minefield. You gotta walk all the way around that mess....

View attachment 1275257

This is the reason I normally leave my flags in the truck. I seem to loose sight of mine because there are so many out there, so I just watch others.
As for the closest or furthest at our range the one closest to the 200 yard target is usually telling the truth, the wind is almost a constant swirl and a lot of flags are going in different directions.

 

[FNSafari]

David Halblom's flags and poles are very good.

flyingfishfundamentals.com

 

[garandman]

This is the reason I normally leave my flags in the truck. I seem to loose sight of mine because there are so many out there, so I just watch others.
As for the closest or furthest at our range the one closest to the 200 yard target is usually telling the truth, the wind is almost a constant swirl and a lot of flags are going in different directions.

I'm sure my game (50 yd ARA) "plays" different than your game (200 yd + BR)

 

[Lkwebb]

Most any wind flag is far better than no wind flag.

The high end flags will probably only help someone with more than 20K rounds down range in competition. For most of us, we got tons to learn about reading wind / flags before to spending the big bux really helping us.

See Disclaimer (below)

That's kinda where I am at. I have rifle handling skills that need to be honed etc

 

[R.Morehouse]

Flyingfishfundimentals is a great place for your poles & sailtails and very nice people to deal with. I have not tried their flags, I chose Ezell flags some years ago and find them to be very responsive with the sailtails. Whatever you decide on I would suggest getting all the same.

Regards
Rick

 

[rjtfroggy]

David Halblom's flags and poles are very good.

flyingfishfundamentals.com

AA+