Boiling mirage

[Texas Solo]

I was at a match with the range facing west. Targets were well lighted. No issue at 8am. By 9am, mirage set in.
There was no wind. Mirage was boiling. The entire 10 ring was a blurry.
I turned my power down from 60x to 40x. Also played with parallax.
Nothing seemed to help.
Fortunately I was using a 7 o'clock
hold, so that helped a little.
I shot 598 39x, so still a decent day.

So what else can I do but shoot into the boil?

 

[BoydAllen]

Have you tried a reducer ring on the front of your objective?

 

[Texas Solo]

Have you tried a reducer ring on the front of your objective?

Yes. Not on that day, but previously.
Didn't seem to help at all.

 

[Clancy]

Mirage is so bad in WTX that I can’t shoot well at 100 yards on 15-20X if the sun is in the sky. I have never found a solution or even heard of one, so I’m watching this thread with great interest.

 

[ogre1911]

SW Az watching also....

 

[Fire Dog]

I was at a match with the range facing west. Targets were well lighted. No issue at 8am. By 9am, mirage set in.
There was no wind. Mirage was boiling. The entire 10 ring was a blurry.
I turned my power down from 60x to 40x. Also played with parallax.
Nothing seemed to help.
Fortunately I was using a 7 o'clock
hold, so that helped a little.
I shot 598 39x, so still a decent day.

So what else can I do but shoot into the boil?

Reducing magnification and reducing front aperture {reducing the opening at the front of the scope} will help and here is a link to an interesting article that also includes a chart.

Reading Mirage & Estimating Wind Speed With a Spotting Scope

Start Reading Mirage & Estimating Wind Speed Like A Pro (Using A Spotting Scope). Follow Our Easy To Understand Guide With Diagrams Included!

www.targettamers.com

Thread 'f class shooters question, boil mirage'

Jan 29, 2020

hi
in f class shooting prone, how do you deal with being forced to shoot in a boil? I know the answer would possible be dont shoot, but running out of time and you must send a round.
thx for the help!

• kawsam62s
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Competition Forum (All Calibers)

• 

 

[K22]

While I am not a competitor, I use the SouthTexasshooting.org charts. They are excellent.

I have one range where the mirage is especially pronounced. However, even using the aforementioned charts, while it helps, I have never completely mastered adjusting for mirage. Turning down the power helps discern the aim point, but the mirage is still there, but if you can see the bull thus you have a basis for making the adjustment based on the boil.

When you combine mirage with wind, that's where the challenge really increases. Would like to hear from experienced competitors and their methods. That will be helpful.

 

[Will Henry]

I have always used the mirage a lot, as a wind indicator. Of course, displacement of the target image is an issue as well. In general, image displacement is seldom over 1/4 minute except under special conditions. In a heavy boil, the mirage is telling you nothing except that the wind isn't blowing. I would be inclined to hold 1/4 low and cut loose. I don't think that making the mirage invisible necessarily eliminate the image displacement. The image is still displaced; you just can't see it. WH

 

[Big Mc]

I was at a match with the range facing west. Targets were well lighted. No issue at 8am. By 9am, mirage set in.
There was no wind. Mirage was boiling. The entire 10 ring was a blurry.
I turned my power down from 60x to 40x. Also played with parallax.
Nothing seemed to help.
Fortunately I was using a 7 o'clock
hold, so that helped a little.
I shot 598 39x, so still a decent day.

So what else can I do but shoot into the boil?

I use a UV filter from any camara shop. Tommy Mc. You can find them on ebay for around 12 bucks.

 

[BKA]

Where were the two 9's located on the target? Both low? Both high?
Boiling mirage can also indicate a direct head wind or a direct tail wind.