Summer shooting question

[bobcat93]

How does one learn to shoot through a heavy mirage accurately..if I turn my scope down its not so bad, but then I don't see the bulls eye..my eyes suck..are there any good articles I can read, or tips I can practice
Thanks

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Hello Bobcat93, let me see if I can start the discussion here. Actually, that is a very good question, that is often asked in different ways, but always a good controversial subject.

Let me say right off that mirage (or rather, atmospheric distortion) can be used to your advantage if your know what to look for. Here on the Texas Gulf Coast, mirage is a fact of life 10 months out of the year, I think December and January may be mirage-free or poor, and sometimes February as well.

The neat thing about that shimmering we call mirage is that it can be a great indicator of what the conditions are at the place where you are observing it. Mirage is much more susceptible to change than flags and can also act as a precursor or portent to an upcoming change. Mirage will appear like a river in your scope and that appearance can be used to guage the strength of the prevailing conditions, at that distance. At the 1000 yard range, I like to focus my spotting scope at around 600 yards and my riflescope at the target line. Sometimes the shimmering is in the same direction, other times it is not and you need to know that and factor that in.

When the shimmering loses its appearance of a river, and starts boiling, this can be an opportunity to fire, or a sign to hold off. It's up to you to decide how to make it work for you. The boiling mirage will move the apparent target up some, so you may need to aim at a different location; again, this is something you learn and you need to experiment with.

In our neck of the woods, mirage will essentially stop being useful when the wind goes about 12-15 MPH. In fact the faster the mirage flows, the more difficult it is to guage and you may wish to rely more on the flags, but that's something for you to decide and get familiar with.

The best thing that I can tell you about shooting in a mirage is that you need to do it and learn. If it was easy, everyone would do it.

Lots of people power down their scope in mirage, others don't. Unless it's really horrible, to the point I can't make anything out, I do not power down, I want to see what's happening at the target line. You have to decide what works for you. Good luck.

 

[Cakes]

With some practice you'll come to think of "mirage as your friend"! If its a reliable mirage giving me an accurate read on things (which it is 99% of the time) and I hate to admit it but I can go almost thru the entire course of fire (weekend-120 shots) without hardly looking at flags. I feel a bit lost when there is no mirage to read as those darn flags will lie to ya!! I'll always trust the mirage over flags but need to improve my skills at using both...another tool in the bag! I don't turn my scope down either...maybe once in the last ten years and didn't seem to help me but I know lots of folks do to "clean up the picture". Good luck on your quest! Eric in DL

 

[M14AMU]

What you're really asking is how much windage do I need to hit the target looking at this mirage? Mirage is nothing but wind as seen through several various layers or density of air. The best advice I can give you is to get an established no wind zero as near as is possible and shoot on days when the wind is blowing; not just on days when a feather would hit you on the toe if dropped from your nose! Taking for granted that you're abiding by all of the iron-clad rules of marksmanship which are unyielding in their nature, shoot your no wind zero and with good breaks record where your shots hit! If they're off the frame....get a wider frame and measure your shots from center of bull! Over a period of time, shooting under varying conditions and temps and KEEPING AN ACCURATE DATA BOOK will give you vast insight as to what windage for a particular day may prove useful! Wind moves in cycles, fast, faster, slower, slow....but it's going to change somewhere within a string of shots! The next best suggestion that I can give you is to find ONE LOAD that works well in your rifle and stick with it!

 

[bobcat93]

Thank you..what priceless insight..I have been shooting most of my life..but I'm now taking it seriously..I like.." if it was easy, everyone would be doing it" ..I guess any clown can set up and pull a trigger and get lucky every couple shooting session...
I don't want to be a clown anymore..lol..
I never considered how mirage would move the target ..almost like a poor lens..but looking at my targets it makes perfect sense..I would have a few shots right on top of one another ( like a little clover) and then one shot about 3/4" high, or 3/4" left..i thought it was because I was pulling the shots....and it still could be..but for now I'll blame the weather..lol..it is starting to make sense to me know..thanks you for sharing your knowledge..I really appreciate it..and will keep these things in mind..