Reading Wind

[garandman]

A number of guys in my club actually shoot wind better than calm conditions. I'm a year or so into wind reading, and am working up a "wind theory."

Logically, it would seem the following is the logical progression of the best wind conditions to shoot in: (# 1 is best, and in decreasing order)

1. Zero wind.

2. A wind (any direction) that won't move you off the 10- scoring ring.

3. A wind that will push the shot sorta straight line. (e.g. 6 / 12 / 5 / 11 o'clock)

4. Anything else.

Right now, I'm working on (1) reading wind speed using flag tails and (2) anything other than a straight line push type wind, and something called "spin drift.

I think we're most all familair with this graphic:

Trouble is, when I use this graphic for my "hold" I get some *really* wonky results at times.

The 7 / 1 o'clock "holds" on this chart look especially daft (to me, anyway) - where the shot actully moves "into" the wind, rather than "with" the wind.

Is "spin drift" - where the rotation of the bullet interacts with the direction of the wind to produce a NON-straight line push - a real thing?

What's your experience?

 

[Terry]

F Class, Sling, or Benchrest Targets?

 

[J.d. Popkes]

Following....

 

[K9TXS]

If you haven't already read this, The Wind Is Not Your Friend, take a look. It's an interesting read.

 

[JFrank]

Spin drift is real

 

[garandman]

F Class, Sling, or Benchrest Targets?

Mostly benchrest, but feel free to differentiate in any responses.

 

[Terry]

A number of guys in my club actually shoot wind better than calm conditions. I'm a year or so into wind reading, and am working up a "wind theory."

Logically, it would seem the following is the logical progression of the best wind conditions to shoot in: (# 1 is best, and in decreasing order)

1. Zero wind. Equals instability. Wind currents exist that you can't see.

2. A wind (any direction) that won't move you off the 10- scoring ring. Rare

3. A wind that will push the shot sorta straight line. (e.g. 6 / 12 / 5 / 11 o'clock) Produces vertical.

4. Anything else. Mirage.

Right now, I'm working on (1) reading wind speed using flag tails and add Mirage (2) anything other than a straight line push type wind, and something called "spin drift. Spin drift exist regardless of wind. RT to LT wind pushes up and left. LT to RT wind pushes down and right.

I think we're most all familair with this graphic:

Trouble is, when I use this graphic for my "hold" I get some *really* wonky results at times.

The 7 / 1 o'clock "holds" on this chart look especially daft (to me, anyway) - where the shot actully moves "into" the wind, rather than "with" the wind. Spin Drift.

Is "spin drift" - where the rotation of the bullet interacts with the direction of the wind to produce a NON-straight line push - a real thing? Yes

What's your experience?

 

[TAJ45]

Question here:
Opinion on the possibility of a lead rf .22 round being proportionally more affected by spin drift than high speed jacketed? With the rifleing being about 50% shallower, it seems counterintuitive.

If so, why?
If not, why?

Years back, I downloaded a "game/exercise" where the direction and magnitude was given for a shot to be made. Not a lot of time to work the mouse or ponder. Challenging to say the least. My goal was to make adjustments quickly, nearly automatic but life, energy etc pushed it aside.

 

[Terry]

Spin drift is minimal 0-100 yards. 600 or 1,000 now it counts.

 

[garandman]

Spin drift is minimal 0-100 yards. 600 or 1,000 now it counts.

My general, limited experience in 22rf 50 yd tends to confirm this.

 

[JMayo]

I can't put it into words what I do but I do let the sighters show me.
Shoot enough you're bound to kinda get it.
I haven't shot rf outdoors much at all this year and my last outdoor match showed it. ...
Indoor is here again. I got half a case of Eley ....hoping for that 2500 ARA target again !

 

[Terry]

Try this...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1510739726/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[TrxR]

I myself prefer a bit of wind over no wind.

I really don't think there is such thing as no wind, just wind you can't see. I've got bit more times when the tails are dead still.

I like to find a good steady condition to shoot in.

I'm not the most experienced shooter though just an amateur rimfire shooter for now.

 

[garandman]

Indoor is here again. I got half a case of Eley ....hoping for that 2500 ARA target again !

What distances, indoors?

 

[natdscott]

Garandman, you need to invest in some books, and read them cover-to-cover twice.


"The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters"

"Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting"

Maybe McCoy's "Modern Exterior Ballistics"

...and for interest, Edward Crossman's "Small-bore Rifle Shooting"


Books are a helluva lot shorter and cheaper way to learn why right twist barrels have a different impact than left twist, etc. etc.... than spending the rest of your life and all your money "reinventing" what may have been known 100 years ago.

My way of thinking: if these giants who preceded us felt it worth their short time left in life to spend some of it to write down what they knew, so's to pass it along, then maybe little ol' me could take the time to listen.

-Nate

 

[normmatzen]

try "WindReader" software. search wind reader.

 

[INShooter]

While reading what experienced shooters have written is beneficial, nothing can beat real world practice with good equipment. Also your chart looks to be generally correct but individual range features can alter wind effects. I am talking about terrain features and things like tree lines. Wind flags are a MUST HAVE!

 

[natdscott]

Wind flags are a MUST HAVE!

Wimp.

 

[INShooter]

Wimp

You don’t believe in flags??

 

[natdscott]

hahaha! Yeah, I do. I’m just jerkin your chain.

It’s important to ME to be able to read wind passably without them, but they are definitely a good learning tool sometimes. Most of the time. Maybe.

A competitive rifle shooter most often needs to be able to read them if presented. A well rounded marksman needs to be able to do without.

Eta: I am far from “there” yet, myself..but I can see the light.