Wind Flag Placement ?

[rjtfroggy]

This is for short range BR shooters. What in your opinion is the proper distance to separate flags from bench to target?
Also I have seen a field of as many as 7 flags for 100 yards and have shot over 5-6 at 100 and I think personally that is too many. It gets confusing trying to watch that many. Wouldn't 3 for 100 be enough and maybe 5-6 be enough for 200?
I've only been at this game for 5 seasons and am a old dog trying to learn something new.

 

[BenPerfected]

This is for short range BR shooters. What in your opinion is the proper distance to separate flags from bench to target?
Also I have seen a field of as many as 7 flags for 100 yards and have shot over 5-6 at 100 and I think personally that is too many. It gets confusing trying to watch that many. Wouldn't 3 for 100 be enough and maybe 5-6 be enough for 200?
I've only been at this game for 5 seasons and am a old dog trying to learn something new.

For CF, I like 4 flags or indicators @ 200 yds with all the flags visible in my scope.
Ben

 

[BartsBullets]

At 100 yards I go old school with 3 at 100 and 5 at 200. Most use 4 at 100 and 6 at 200.

Bart

 

[rjtfroggy]

How about spacing? 10 yards 50 yards 90 yards. Or do you put at close to equal distance 30 60 90 for 100?

 

[JMayo]

Which flag seems to be the one(s) you think tells the tell, first ones or nearer the target ?

I use them in rimfire and I've maybe developed some skill with them. But I've not used them CF BR.

 

[WyleWD]

Good follow up question by the OP. I generally use 3-4 flags at 100 and 5 at 200 but never knew what the proper spacing is or should be. WD

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

This is for short range BR shooters. What in your opinion is the proper distance to separate flags from bench to target?
Also I have seen a field of as many as 7 flags for 100 yards and have shot over 5-6 at 100 and I think personally that is too many. It gets confusing trying to watch that many. Wouldn't 3 for 100 be enough and maybe 5-6 be enough for 200?
I've only been at this game for 5 seasons and am a old dog trying to learn something new.

I think you are 100% correct in that you can get too much information at times, especially on switchy days with too much stuff going on down range. That said, you can't know what's happening where you don't have a flag. So, rather than the perfect spacing, I try to pay attention to the range and the wind while setting my flags. I.e., putting a flag at a clearing or cut through in trees etc along one side of the range and just paying attention to the wind, correlating it with any geographical anomaly down range. Sometimes it helps...sometimes it doesn't but it makes me feel better.

I typically use 4 or 5 at 100 and 5 or 6 at 200. The flag you leave in the truck can't help you but it does depend lots on the conditions. Some ranges have steady blows across most of the range while at others, it's hard to see two flags showing the same thing at the same time...much less 5-6. Those are the times I think you can overthink this game and just get tmi, confusing me more than helping.

Probably the most important thing we can train ourselves to do is to not get tunnel vision, down our own line of flags. The ones on both sides will show what's coming, first.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Which flag seems to be the one(s) you think tells the tell, first ones or nearer the target ?

I use them in rimfire and I've maybe developed some skill with them. But I've not used them CF BR.

The most important one is the one that moves just as you pull the trigger and maybe it's the one you left in the truck. Lol!

 

[BartsBullets]

How about spacing? 10 yards 50 yards 90 yards. Or do you put at close to equal distance 30 60 90 for 100?

With 3 to 5 flags I’ll usually 20, 50, 80 out 110 150 to 200

With 4 Flags 20, 40, 60, 80 for 100 yards then add 100 and 150 for 200 yards.

Also as Mike touched on I’ll place a flag on what I consider to be key terrain such cut in the berm or trees.

When setting flags I set the farthest flag first centered on the target and place the others at a slight angle as they get closer to me. I also stair step the height of the flags So that I can see the entire flag and flag tail while I’m down on the gun. I shoot with both eyes open and try not to blink while shooting. This way I’m watching the the flags and crosshairs at the same time.

Seldom do I key in on one certain flag. I’m am looking for a flow/condition. Look over the entire field of flags and see where the condition is coming from. Time how long it takes to get to you. That way you can judge how much time you have to shoot your group.
Or if you see a change coming from across the range you can wait.

Note what type of condition you shoot best in! Also note what condition hurts you the most and try and avoid it. For me the condition that hurts me the most is a let-up!

As far as how many flags to use... that’s up to you. There are no right or wrong answers. I’ve gone to 3 and 5 because it’s a cleaner set-up and plenty enough info without getting over loaded. The vast majority of group shooter use 4 and 6 because it’s the Boyer method. But I’ve seen 8 or 9 at 200.

One last note! If there is a flag that keeps getting tangled up with its flag tail, that’s a problem spot on the range.

Bart

 

[rjtfroggy]

I've read more than once the wind in the first 10 yards starts the bullet to go off course, so I would've thought that first flag at 10 or less and then maybe every 40 yards all the way out.
That would be 3 @ 100 and 5 @ 200.

 

[TrxR]

For rimfire I like one within the first 10 yards.

 

[Tim Singleton]

With 3 to 5 flags I’ll usually 20, 50, 80 out 110 150 to 200

With 4 Flags 20, 40, 60, 80 for 100 yards then add 100 and 150 for 200 yards.

Also as Mike touched on I’ll place a flag on what I consider to be key terrain such cut in the berm or trees.

When setting flags I set the farthest flag first centered on the target and place the others at a slight angle as they get closer to me. I also stair step the height of the flags So that I can see the entire flag and flag tail while I’m down on the gun. I shoot with both eyes open and try not to blink while shooting. This way I’m watching the the flags and crosshairs at the same time.

Seldom do I key in on one certain flag. I’m am looking for a flow/condition. Look over the entire field of flags and see where the condition is coming from. Time how long it takes to get to you. That way you can judge how much time you have to shoot your group.
Or if you see a change coming from across the range you can wait.

Note what type of condition you shoot best in! Also note what condition hurts you the most and try and avoid it. For me the condition that hurts me the most is a let-up!

As far as how many flags to use... that’s up to you. There are no right or wrong answers. I’ve gone to 3 and 5 because it’s a cleaner set-up and plenty enough info without getting over loaded. The vast majority of group shooter use 4 and 6 because it’s the Boyer method. But I’ve seen 8 or 9 at 200.

One last note! If there is a flag that keeps getting tangled up with its flag tail, that’s a problem spot on the range.

Bart

Awesome information from one of the best!
And at no charge!

 

[BenPerfected]

For rimfire I like one within the first 10 yards.

In ARA 50 yd RF, I pay most of my attention reading Wind indicators and then just glance at the flags for a change of direction. I agree that the indicators/flags close to the bench are the most important in RF.
Ben

 

[BartsBullets]

I've read more than once the wind in the first 10 yards starts the bullet to go off course, so I would've thought that first flag at 10 or less and then maybe every 40 yards all the way out.
That would be 3 @ 100 and 5 @ 200.

Fellas,

It doesn’t matter if it’s the 1st, 4th, 2nd, 5th or 3rd flag. At any given moment in time the most important flag on the field is the one that’s not the same as the others.

Bart

 

[liljoe]

Here is a picture of my setup.
Right or wrong, it's how I like them.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Here is a picture of my setup.
Right or wrong, it's how I like them.View attachment 1095104 View attachment 1095105

No need to split hairs over YOUR flags and what works for YOU, but I like to stagger from rt edge of target to centerline of mine and the bench to my left, as well as stairstep them back to me at the bench.
Your setup looks good though. I wouldn't cry about it if I was shooting over that setup. Biggest thing is, you should try my flags. They are pretty dang good! NOT TALKING ABOUT YOURS... but some flags are great and some are total junk. I've seen just about everything. Flags are not an area to skimp on. Every br shooter in the country will tell you that the wind separates the winners from the also...loaded everything, drove miles and miles and lost crowd.
Yours look nice! Just sayin. It comes naturally and I can't help myself sometimes.
The very best flag can only show what has already happened. The best ones are A LOT closer to real time over some I've seen. We spend a ton of money on everything else and some people go cheap on the one thing that most experienced shooters will say matters most or close to it. If your flags work great, don't change a thing. --Mike

 

[BartsBullets]

No need to split hairs over YOUR flags and what works for YOU, but I like to stagger from rt edge of target to centerline of mine and the bench to my left, as well as stairstep them back to me at the bench.
Your setup looks good though. I wouldn't cry about it if I was shooting over that setup. Biggest thing is, you should try my flags. They are pretty dang good! NOT TALKING ABOUT YOURS... but some flags are great and some are total junk. I've seen just about everything. Flags are not an area to skimp on. Every br shooter in the country will tell you that the wind separates the winners from the also...loaded everything, drove miles and miles and lost crowd.
Yours look nice! Just sayin. It comes naturally and I can't help myself sometimes.
The very best flag can only show what has already happened. The best ones are A LOT closer to real time over some I've seen. We spend a ton of money on everything else and some people go cheap on the one thing that most experienced shooters will say matters most or close to it. If your flags work great, don't change a thing. --Mike

Liljoe is a 4 Gun National Champion and a Pain in the A$$ to shoot against.

Bart

 

[liljoe]

Thanks Bart, Love ya buddy.

 

[BenPerfected]

Here is a picture of my setup.
Right or wrong, it's how I like them.View attachment 1095104 View attachment 1095105

I really like your flag set up, especially if your cross hairs can be on the target. To get everything in perfect alignment if helps to have a flag partner. Change benches?....start over.
Ben

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I really like your flag set up, especially if your cross hairs can be on the target. To get everything in perfect alignment if helps to have a flag partner. Change benches?....start over.
Ben

I just sold a nice March scope with a raised reticle. I loved the reticle. It's where the intersection of the crosshairs is high in the scope, making the field of view much greater below the crosshairs. It really helps with getting the flags in the scope. I don't think anyone is offering that reticle choice now. Maybe Bart can get Valdada to do it...or maybe they already do. I think it's perfect for short range br, though.
It was a straight 60x and was just a tad too much on some days. Most days, the scope was great. Mirage got a little crazy at times or I'd kept it.