Looking for Weather Pros.

[370bc]

I have found in the last couple of years that testing loads an hour before sunset is the best time weather-wise.
No mirage.
Not as many people at the range.
Less shadows.
Chrony works better. (Afternoon sun at my club is a killer).
Lesser amounts of gusts of wind.

The wind is what I have a question about. As the forecasting of weather becomes more and more accurate, ( In General ), so does the forecasting of the wind.
Yesterday pm, with the rain coming near by, the wind direction was all over the place. Still calmer than earlier in the day, but still changing. I had redneck wind flags out, so I could see the carnage. I know I need to practice in the wind, for sure. But when testing loads, a still wind is golden. And it shows on the targets. I think in the past when testing loads, say mid to late afternoon, I had dismissed loads that I had deemed unacceptable when really, I was not paying enough attention to the wind flags. ( Ribbons Stapled To The Edges of Target Holder Frames ).
Should a person just stay home when the forecast is for rain coming in when testing loads? Our range doesn't allow the fancy wind flags from sinclair to be placed out in the field. Just wondering how everyone deals with the wind when testing loads. Thanks.

 

[Immike]

My favorite is at first light during the dog days of summer. It is dead calm here.

 

[chuckbuster243]

Anytime the weather pattern is changing you are going to have funny wind conditions. If rain is moving in especially a thunderstorm you are going to have gusty erratic winds for sure. I would try and pick days to test loads that is in between frontal passages if possible that will be your most stable times. I follow the weather allot due to my job being in wildland fire both RX burning and wildfire control. Watching smoke columns will make me wonder how I can ever learn to read the wind. Matt

 

[chuckbuster243]

My favorite is at first light during the dog days of summer. It is dead calm here.

Here in GA its my favorite as well...

 

[Lapua40X]

Two rules I try to follow in testing loads

1. If it's windy limit the testing to MV
2. If there's wind above 3mph, limit testing for grouping performance to 100 yards (*)

(*) That typically holds my wind drift to within .25 MOA and if they'll shoot inside that I'm fairly well satisfied.

3. Test grouping beyond 100 yard when the air is still ..................

 

[CatShooter]

I usually wait for overcast days (no mirage) and maybe a very light rain - no wind and no one else at the range.

 

[Eddie Harren]

"The Wind is My Friend" Tony Boyer

 

[savagedasher]

I try to do my testing in the condition I shoot in. Head wind in the winter. Tail wind in the summer.
I don't want a gun the shoot only in perfect condition. My advice s to learn to deal with the conditions you shoot in.
Tony Boyer Is correct. Larry

 

[Outrider27]

I usually wait for overcast days (no mirage) and maybe a very light rain - no wind and no one else at the range.

;D Man, it's nice to know I'm not the only one that does that!

 

[Lapua40X]

I make no argument against Tony Boyer's philosophy and I'm happy to work with any wind in competition. But when I'm working up a load I want to know what it will do under optimum conditions so I can understand why it's not behaving as I might expect under adverse conditions. To each his own, I guess. :

 

[timeout]

I try to work up loads with very little to no wind. As for practice, I have started taking Tony's advice. I want to know more about dealing with the wind. Springtime is rough, what with the winds surging up and down in speed and switching directions back and forth! With your range not allowing wind flags, will they at least allow some sticks with surveyors tape? Makes it very hard to learn why your shots land where they do if you can't get some handle on wind speed and direction. Just my .02 and BTW, I am not a seasoned competition shooter.