we hunt a field that has been populated by ghogs for over 40 years. the field is 350 yds long and 250 yds wide and has an assortment of rocks with holes on all sides. there is a large dip in the middle and a sharp slope across the 250 yd part. the right side of the field has always been difficult in that we have had more misses here than the rest? this past weekend was the worst. we had kills to the left and straight but misses on the right side...some high and some low and some??? the wind was at 9 0'clock and even though i thought i corrected enough...no hits. i went to the range and checked my guns/loads and everything was poa=poi! what the hell! returned to the field on mon and NOW the wind was 12 o'clock...i set out some wind flags, which i'v never done before. the flags were straight into me and sure enough a pig comes out on the right. i was going to wait for a horizontal target since most misses seemed to be horizontal but the turd stood up and i could not resist. BANG...SPLAT and feet in the air!!! another stood up at 287 yds which were misses previously but BANG...SPLAT and DRT! i am suspecting this fields' topography is such that we have some weird winds swirling. have any of you encountered anything like this? tony boyer writes about winds being strange at one range due to a body of water over which the bullets must travel. i'm thinking about putting flags in the field which should be interesting...but how to read them?
?swirling winds and multiple misses!
- Thread starter lpreddick
- Start date
Early last night we had switchy 3-4 MPH winds seemed like in 270 degrees directions! Missed the first two at 470 and 495 but not by much as they didn't stick around for another shot! The wind subsided and I ran the next 5 from 400 to 512 yards! One direction wind is manageable but that switchy crap! :'(
What caliber are you shooting? Perhaps you could reduce the effects with more BC and velocity? ???
What caliber are you shooting? Perhaps you could reduce the effects with more BC and velocity? ???
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I understand prevailing wisdom indicates wind at 12:00 coming towards one tends to lift the bullet impact. At the range where I typically shoot, it works just the opposite, as the wind comes down in "steps" where the different target boards are cut into the hillside, tending to greatly push the bullets down. Go to another range, just the oppposite. Consider the topography of a feild having these differences is elevation, cuts, small ridges, tree lanes, etc., and you can bet that the characteristics of one part of the field will be different.
A few years ago someone posted a comment about wind. He said that if you look at a wheat field when the wind is blowing you will see the tops of the wheat bent in a large number of directions and many quiet areas. It isn't as simple as a couple wind flags indicating everything that's going on.
I have mostly had swirling winds/breezes when popping p-dogs out here due to the terrain which on the places I shoot are full of finger gullies and the winds are always changing or in a 700 yard ally coming from 2-3 different angles.
It can be 0 at the table, 8mph at 100 yds from the east and them 18mph at the other end southerly. Ive got so used to it I take a few seconds to see how it is around said p-dog, adjust & shoot.
It can be 0 at the table, 8mph at 100 yds from the east and them 18mph at the other end southerly. Ive got so used to it I take a few seconds to see how it is around said p-dog, adjust & shoot.
I have had three misses this year, all when it was a breezy to winding day - i.e 15 to 25 mph swirling winds. In these conditions, I always try to take the "crawler" shot as opposed to a ghog standing shot. I've read several articles by experts on techniques for shooting in winding conditions and I've still not mastered it yet. 
I try watching for indications of wind direction in the vegetation, mirage images, and even use a squeeze body with baby powder - I'm getting better at it but still have a long way to go to master it.
One thing that can help is going out to the range on a winding day and doing some shooting. Warning - it can be humbling but informative.
I try watching for indications of wind direction in the vegetation, mirage images, and even use a squeeze body with baby powder - I'm getting better at it but still have a long way to go to master it.
One thing that can help is going out to the range on a winding day and doing some shooting. Warning - it can be humbling but informative.
I think shooting in the field is a real challenge and is what makes it so enjoyable. Most of the time you don't know the exact distance or wind speed or direction and shooting positions are always different. It sure is a good feeling when you get everything figured out and make that one shot kill at long distance. I agree that when the wind is swirling it is better to wait for a horizontal target.
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