2.5 moa of mirage @500 really!

[savagedasher]

Well finally someone that thinks it was a lot. So here's the deal. This is my cheap howa, lite barrel 308 with a 3x9 Leupold and a LR reticle. I have been able to hit a 10" paper plate at least 80% of the time. At 500 prone. And the 20% misses are almost always wind. I've spent a lot of time perfecting my prone technique and reading the wind to get this 80%. Now honestly most of my shooting is done early when the wind is fairly lite. Say around 5 and not over 10. And of course mirage is lite also. With that said this is why I was so surprised to miss so bad. And not horizontal but vertical. Seems I have a new problem to overcome. Also for my 500 hash to work I'm on around 6 power. Lately I've been a little proud of myself. I can flop down put my 500 hash on target, hold for wind get a hit. Yesterday I overshot by a foot!! That's really not good for my confidence and the pride is gone.

All I have to say welcome to the shooting sport . Larry

 

[Milo 2.0]

Well finally someone that thinks it was a lot. So here's the deal. This is my cheap howa, lite barrel 308 with a 3x9 Leupold and a LR reticle. I have been able to hit a 10" paper plate at least 80% of the time. At 500 prone. And the 20% misses are almost always wind. I've spent a lot of time perfecting my prone technique and reading the wind to get this 80%. Now honestly most of my shooting is done early when the wind is fairly lite. Say around 5 and not over 10. And of course mirage is lite also. With that said this is why I was so surprised to miss so bad. And not horizontal but vertical. Seems I have a new problem to overcome. Also for my 500 hash to work I'm on around 6 power. Lately I've been a little proud of myself. I can flop down put my 500 hash on target, hold for wind get a hit. Yesterday I overshot by a foot!! That's really not good for my confidence and the pride is gone.

I live and predominantly shoot in WY, so a real moisture mirage is a 3-4 time thing a year.
I guess if you want to conquer this thing, my advice would be to get a 48" steel square target, and hang a 10" steel plate a foot in front of it, with fresh paint you could track it.

 

[savagedasher]

I live and predominantly shoot in WY, so a real moisture mirage is a 3-4 time thing a year.
I guess if you want to conquer this thing, my advice would be to get a 48" steel square target, and hang a 10" steel plate a foot in front of it, with fresh paint you could track it.

A 12 " should be good at 500 Larry

 

[dkhunt14]

The 30 degrees or raised temp would cause some of it. It would at 30 degrees print lower at 500. The density altitude would change. Throw in a tail or head wind and some more change. Now throw in the inaccuracy of the gun and the sun change in height and I can see 2.5 MOA change. Let a gun sit in a rest solidly and check it as the day goes on. You might be surprised how far the cross hair moves on the target. Matt

 

[savagedasher]

The 30 degrees or raised temp would cause some of it. It would,,are a,30i print lower at 500. The density altitude would change. Throw in a tail or head wind and some more chane. Now throw in the inaccuracy of the gun and the sun change in height and I can see 2.5 MOA change. Let a gun sit in a rest solidly and check it as the day goes on. You might be surprised how far the cross hair moves on the target. Matt

Matt
I have put a scope on my shooting bench and set the cross hairs on the center . Many of times it has moved over 10" at 600. If the wind isn't bad just aim where the bench mounted says an you will be close .
Like you said between pratice use the scope on the gun and trust it. Larry

 

[M14AMU]

God made mirage in Louisiana....in August!!

 

[mike a]

Matt
I have put a scope on my shooting bench and set the cross hairs on the center . Many of times it has moved over 10" at 600. If the wind isn't bad just aim where the bench mounted says an you will be close .
Like you said between pratice use the scope on the gun and trust it. Larry

Now there's a thought. I could mount a spare scope to the side of my spotting scope. Use its crosshairs, click on, and shoot, like taking candy from baby.

 

[Immike]

What's amazing once you put optics on the job and study this is that your seeing in a curve. Even over obstructions that you can see during low light. The target is still there in it's original place just the view has changed. I'm sure if a scientist studied this then there may also be air density involved in these big boils to add into what you expeirienced. We shot 1300 over crops for years and some days you were chasing a yoyo. Mother Nature is cruel to us shooters! Lol. As if wind wasn't enough! Ha

 

[perry42]

Shooting BPCR with my 45-90 at Mexia, TX a solid 2min of rising mirage with little or no wind is a fact.

perry42

 

[rardoin]

God made mirage in Louisiana....in August!!

Amen brother!

 

[Immike]

This is one of the least studied aspects of shooting and I scratch my heed why is that.. It has dramatic effects and nobody questions that... You need a point of reference to start a study but if your looking for interesting, this is it!

 

[savagedasher]

Now there's a thought. I could mount a spare scope to the side of my spotting scope. Use its crosshairs, click on, and shoot, like taking candy from baby.

No but it does help but only if you use

This is one of the least studied aspects of shooting and I scratch my heed why is that.. It has dramatic effects and nobody questions that... You need a point of reference to start a study but if your looking for interesting, this is it!

This is the reason I test at 100 . Larry

 

[Immike]

The tactical community may know more about this.... I can't believe I just said that. Lol. I shot with a police officer of ambitious notes during my field experience and he booked every shot for us. We tried to get a grip on it but it was something that was hard to measure due to light intensity and we just had rifles and eyes. Plenty of advice to avoid it for good reason if you can. But you will deal with it even @100 yds

 

[eric32]

https://thearmsguide.com/5331/long-range-shooting-external-ballistics-light-effects/


It's light bending and mind blowing!!!

 

[mike a]

What's amazing once you put optics on the job and study this is that your seeing in a curve. Even over obstructions that you can see during low light. The target is still there in it's original place just the view has changed. I'm sure if a scientist studied this then there may also be air density involved in these big boils to add into what you expeirienced. We shot 1300 over crops for years and some days you were chasing a yoyo. Mother Nature is cruel to us shooters! Lol. As if wind wasn't enough! Ha

Speaking of wind. Would switching from a 308 to a speedy high bc 6.5 help with vertical mirage? I think not. 2.5 moa of mirage is 2.5 moa regardless of cartridge. Yes?

 

[Immike]

Speaking of wind. Would switching from a 308 to a speedy high bc 6.5 help with vertical mirage? I think not. 2.5 moa of mirage is 2.5 moa regardless of cartridge. Yes?

It's not comparable to a wind condition as for a ballistic advantage. Your aiming at what you see but it's not physically there.

 

[mike a]

It's not comparable to a wind condition as for a ballistic advantage. Your aiming at what you see but it's not physically there.

Exactly. That's what I'm lamely trying to say. A speedy 6.5 is no advantage with regards to mirage. Additional there's nothing in my ballistic calculator that says x% of mirage equals x inches deflection.

 

[dskogman]

https://thearmsguide.com/5331/long-range-shooting-external-ballistics-light-effects/


It's light bending and mind blowing!!!

Good Info!
At a match last weekend 2nd match was 1 click lower (1/8moa) than the first and the 3rd was 2 clicks lower than the 2nd. 1st match was 80 deg and perfect conditions and 3rd was 95 deg and bad mirage. I was chalking it up to powder temp but now I suspect most was mirage effect.

 

[Immike]

Exactly. That's what I'm lamely trying to say. A speedy 6.5 is no advantage with regards to mirage. Additional there's nothing in my ballistic calculator that says x% of mirage equals x inches deflection.

Here's what I want you to do next time you shoot on a hot steamy day. If your banging away as usual and see a big cloud coming then stop and bag up the rifle on the center. Get off the rifle and just look through the scope and watch the target move back down to where it really is. This takes close to a minute so hang in there but don't touch the rifle until you see this.