Using sighters to measure wind speed or direction

[Dave M.]

I don’t shoot high power but shoot F-Class. When I started we used pit services to mark targets. Now most of the clubs use electronic targets. With pit services the target is pulled down after each shot and marked for score. Also marked is the impact with a spotter. The best guys could pull a target mark the score and raise the target back into position for the next shot In about 5 seconds. Could take up to 10 seconds for some. That’s a lot of time and conditions will usually change. That’s why you shouldn’t make adjustments or hold off based only on your last shot. With the electronic targets there should be a delay programmed into the system to match what the pit service would provide. Some of the clubs around here don’t have that delay programmed into the system and you can run the gun based on your last shot If conditions hold.

There is a delay easily programmed into the shot marker system. We use 7-8 seconds in big events.
Dave

 

[Spoonbill]

I dont like to dial in when going for record but will in first relay with unlimited sighters (I try not to shoot more than 6 sighters).

Keep in mind I just started shooting club f open matches. Also my scope is mrad so I dont have super high magnification or adjustments. But I do have multiple subtensions to try to match up with a site specific spot on the target for hold overs.

 

[diego-ted]

I’ll give it a go even though you say you are good. . There is a saying in High Power sling shooters …. “is it the same or has it changed ?” I watch the pick ups and let offs and switches in wind direction and try to determine the most frequent condition that is occurring prior to taking the firing line. When you get into position to shoot you check the flags, mirage and grass or trees blowing down range and pick an indicator during the dominant condition. Pick something you can see from your belly behind the gun. In your example … on a sighter where shot is not in the middle… you should chase the spotter and get the dope to bring you in the middle. Once you are there, check the “indicator” you chose and be disciplined enough to wait for your condition and break shots quickly when it arrives with the sight setting you had for that condition. When you break the shot and follow through…. Check your indicator and ask…” is it the same or has it changed ? “. If the indicator is the same but your shot is not on call in the middle … it is not advisable to crank the knob to correct windage error to “chase the spotter. It is you dude. If the condition has changed and in a direction that accounts for the off call shot. Wait for your condition and shoot again and then ask the same question. Minor tweaks or hold offs inside the 10 ring can be made but it takes a huge change in wind conditions with a short time left in the stage to make me crank the knob to a new condition zero.

If you only turn the knobs in response to the previous shots location and correct to center without looking and conditions or being brutally honest about your shot call… you are chasing the spotter and likely to shoot a bunch of 9’s and 8’s.

The other old adage is a minute of hold beats 3 mph wind call holds true. It all works better when you can shoot x ring size groups to start with.

a minute of hold beats 3 mph wind call meaning
please explain? Thx

 

[Jeff Porter]

a minute of hold beats 3 mph wind call meaning
please explain? Thx

I am referencing sling shooting and F class not BR.

If you shoot tight groups, you can miss a wind call by a bit and still be in the 10 ring. If you are shooting big groups you may not be able to hold the 10 ring on a calm day.