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flags, Flags, FLAGS!!!!

Downhill

Gold $$ Contributor
Did some shooting at 200 yards. Was well on my way to a superb 200 yd group. Checked the spotting scope on #4, wow. In haste I let #5 go, out to the right. Had 4 wind flags out, 1 and 2 still showing 3 to 5 mph but 3 and 4 were now showing zero. This happens when not paying attention to the flags.
 

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Wind is just part of the rifle shooting game - but gee - that is a really good group! Nice shooting.

PS: I'll take a .401 horizontal anytime. :):) But I know, we all want them is the same hole and that is good - always strive to get better.
 
Did some shooting at 200 yards. Was well on my way to a superb 200 yd group. Checked the spotting scope on #4, wow. In haste I let #5 go, out to the right. Had 4 wind flags out, 1 and 2 still showing 3 to 5 mph but 3 and 4 were now showing zero. This happens when not paying attention to the flags.
Yep, always use them! At least they'll tell ya why a shot comes out, usually. Lol!
 
I hear all the talk about "flags" but how can you get them into your scope zoomed in 55X and make an guesstimated decision, do you use flags for 600 and 1K IBS shooting ?
I'm a total newb and maybe I just don't get it
 
Did some shooting at 200 yards. Was well on my way to a superb 200 yd group. Checked the spotting scope on #4, wow. In haste I let #5 go, out to the right. Had 4 wind flags out, 1 and 2 still showing 3 to 5 mph but 3 and 4 were now showing zero. This happens when not paying attention to the flags.
Downhill -

Howdy !

Golly.... look what happens when you DO pay attention to the flags, but mis-interpret ghe condition that you thought they were showing !! Held outside the group for the last 2 shots, because of what I thought the flag showed. AAAaaackk !

5-shots 100yd Marlin M-336 XLR .35 Remington. Pics below


With regards,
357Mag
 

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I hear all the talk about "flags" but how can you get them into your scope zoomed in 55X and make an guesstimated decision, do you use flags for 600 and 1K IBS shooting ?
I'm a total newb and maybe I just don't get it
There's more to that answer than I'm going to go into this late but maybe others will. Bottom line, scopes have gotten bigger and that comes at the price of a reduced fov. The longer the distance, the better and more and more mid and long range shooters are seeing the value of windflags.
Reading flags well, is an acquired skill but you can only read what you can see. That said, you have to learn to watch the flags in your scope but also the ones that aren't and the ones on both sides of your shooting lane. Those are the ones that tell you a switch is coming. The ones in your scope are the ones you can see best, but not always the most important ones. They are the ones that show the subtle changes but the ones on either side are what keep you from screwing the pooch bad.
More later but I'm pretty sure someone will fill in the blanks before I'm back on here. Hope this helps.
 
As a Short Range Group and Score Shooter, I do not worry about flags being in the scope.

I shoot totally heads up.

Learning to decipher what your flags are telling you is like playing a piano. there is no short cut. The only way to get good at it is to do it.
 
After a few zillion conversations trying to get shooters to use flags I have discovered their underlying thought . They say "I can't" but what they mean is "I won't". It is neat when someone does try and starts to see the results.. Those who try will learn but many are stuck on, "I won't".
 
As a Short Range Group and Score Shooter, I do not worry about flags being in the scope.

I shoot totally heads up.

Learning to decipher what your flags are telling you is like playing a piano. there is no short cut. The only way to get good at it is to do it.
I don't do it all the time but there are times that I do. It can work well.
 
I hear all the talk about "flags" but how can you get them into your scope zoomed in 55X and make an guesstimated decision, do you use flags for 600 and 1K IBS shooting ?
I'm a total newb and maybe I just don't get it
Screenshot_20220725-092825_Gallery.jpg
Here are 7 - 9 flags at out to 300m. This is kinda my view without the scope. When they all turn a color you can see it out to 200. The farthest 3 are in the scope. The Tails are the real deal. Direction is just the direction
Ppl know i set allot of flags mainly because I have them. (It was a little bit of a buying obsession of mine) But it's really cool to see them all line up the same way. Easy to see. . Helps me have a plan.
 
Speaking of flags we use regular 3 X 5 that sell for around $5.00 (any country will do) online and have them at 200 yards out to 900 yards. They last a few months before they need to be replaced. We try to use the angle formula to read wind. It seems to be working...I guess?

From the online Dr. Google Ballistician and Brain Surgeon...
"When a flag is on a pole perpendicular to the ground, determine what the the angle between the pole and the bottom side of the flag is, then divide by 4. For example, if the angle of your flag with the pole is approximately 40 degrees, the wind speed is roughly 10 mph."
 
After a few zillion conversations trying to get shooters to use flags I have discovered their underlying thought . They say "I can't" but what they mean is "I won't". It is neat when someone does try and starts to see the results.. Those who try will learn but many are stuck on, "I won't".
After a couple of years of shootin' with yinz, you know I don't put
out any flags. I'm not a bench rest shooter, just happen to go to
match's that use a bench....LOL Seriously, I like to see what natural
terrain is doing. I was a little disapointed when Tom mowed down
the hay between 100 an 200 prior to the 300 yard match. That tall
hay had more to say over planted flags.....Then there is the choice of
a cartridge and bullet weight for a given distance and condition. I'll
save that argument for another time.
 
Flag newbie here. What is the flag numbering convention? #1 closest to the shooter or the target?
I really like Mike's flags - BTW. I'm trying to get them in the scope FOV but not shoot holes in them.
Thank you! Most organizations have rules regarding max flag height. Generally, it's a stright line from the top of the bench to the bottom of the TARGET. That rule SHOULD keep bullet holes out of the flags. Lol!
 
Man I'm Lazy but I would love to shoot some Fclass matches and maybe have a tutor and learn the wind reading game, bucket list
No real shortcuts, just get some flags and start shooting over them. You'll learn as you go, like the rest of us.:).
First thing you should do is try shooting a group in a complete reversal. That'll show you why flags matter so much. Then I think you'll make learning to use them to your advantage as much as possible, a priority in your shooting. I honestly think flags are the single most important tool of all your equipment. Maybe not so much until you're shooting sub .5moa or so but once you're consistently shooting better than the condition value, they are. Yes, you can use mirage, trees and grass, etc, but there are two ways to shoot consistently better than the conditions. One is flags and the other one is luck. ;)
 
You can buy a green laser for not too much $$ and set it on the bench, pointed near the bottom of your target, then follow it out while using that to set the line and height of your flags.

DUB recently showed me how easy that process is.
They do work but there was some controversy over them a few years ago due to the potential of eye injury to yourself or someone else downrange. FWIW.
 
After a couple of years of shootin' with yinz, you know I don't put
out any flags. I'm not a bench rest shooter, just happen to go to
match's that use a bench....LOL Seriously, I like to see what natural
terrain is doing. I was a little disapointed when Tom mowed down
the hay between 100 an 200 prior to the 300 yard match. That tall
hay had more to say over planted flags.....Then there is the choice of
a cartridge and bullet weight for a given distance and condition. I'll
save that argument for another time.
One problem, that tall grass holds moisture and causes mirage.Cut it down, short. Fuj I am going to harass you on flags until you give in to shut me up, lol.
 
One problem, that tall grass holds moisture and causes mirage.Cut it down, short. Fuj I am going to harass you on flags until you give in to shut me up, lol.
Ain't going to happen. You ought to know me by now.... :cool: Now I do
appreciate the wind socks that I donated to the club being set up at each
match. But technically, I'm personally not placing them, so my honor is
still intact !! :rolleyes: Which reminds me,,,,,Ethan did not shoot over flags at
last years match. He won, and I took small group. It don't happen often
but it's sweeter when it does happen. Coming Saturday will be fun. Hope
Tom gets them small socks ironed out for use.
 
There gets to be a point where people will make a big deal out of anything. I doubt there is a statistic worth mentioning that covers accidental injuries from setting up flags with lasers on a shooting range - I could be wrong.

Now, as for accidental injuries caused by firearms....

There were a couple of people using them and they were quite easy to see. As with anything, pay attention to what you and everyone around you are doing when at a range. I've been more nervous from sitting next to people who's loads were obviously way too hot and they kept on shooting anyway.
I totally agree.
 

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