Frankly, anything is better than nothing but once you see the value in good flags, like so many things, you're probably better to buy once and be done.
Wind Flags?
- Thread starter RabbitSlayer
- Start date
This is extremely sound advice in my opinion. The most important aspect is the OP recognizes the value of monitoring wind and learning from it. Wind is the bane of our sport, just examine wind drift charts and one will quickly see the truth of that statement.
While I use a simple method at the range (ribbons) because I am cheap and the AR guys would splatter anything more sophisticated that I will put up at mid-range, the professional flags are no doubt better and more can be learned from using them.
I firmly believe that, other than your example of mirage, every shot fired without flags is wasted.
Practicing with no flags while concentrating on mirage only is a worthwhile endeavor. Shots are certainly not wasted when you approach it as a learning experience.
Right. Mirage and learning how to read it is of value. Especially when used in conjunction with flags. The two agree...sometimes. Lol!
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
You said a mouthful. That flag vs mirage can drive a guy crazy at times. The question is, Where is the truth?
...on the target.
Use a hand drill with a concrete bit.
I use Rick Graham's flags. I used survey tape on wires for years. Adding real flags was like an epihony moment.
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One truth for me is to never, ever shoot when the mirage it is not in agreement with the flags. Recipe for disaster.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
Lol, sometimes the truth is ugly. My conscious mind says boil, my unconscious mind wants it to not be boil. I have painfully learned to ignore my unconscious mind, usually. Lol.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
Your right. But there is this thing called a clock. Shooting, the act of delivering a bullet on target. Wind and mirage is a whole other sport. The latter can make the former seem very easy.
I have never had a situation where mirage was running opposite of the flags for a 7 minute match. All I have ever seen it is in spurts with agreement coming back around. He who only pays attention to the flags will eventually get burnt.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
Come to the Southfork Groundhog Match in Pa and trust the mirage you see and you might just change your mind certain days. Same thing for the St Thomas shoot. You will go home shaking your head. Don't get too caught up on absolutes.
Are you using flags in those matches?
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
Your correct but I also belive it cuts both ways. But the over ruling thrust of this thread is most important. Shooting without flags is shooting blindfolded most of the time. Then of course there are times the is little or no mirage.
When I posted this I didn't have time to explain what I ment about sticking with what you pick. We make our flags so if we want to change something we can. We probably have 5 different sets of flags. All for different conditions. Heavy wind, light low to no condition, rain ect. Seemed like a good idea. Problem was we never learned one set to the level we needed to have. The reason I said a popular flag is let someone else cut some of your learning time down. They have probably went through different flags to land on what they are using.
Shooting behind flags takes shooting to a different fun level. People that don't shoot behind flags don't realize the fun they are denying their selves. Its so satisfying to find a condition, wait on it and bust a x. Wait and then another x and then another. Its really fun to see your work come around.
Mike Ezell flags are a very good flag. You would be in a fine way with a set of his.
Todd
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
At the regular SF GH match there are no flags. But just behind the 300 yd berm the range angles slightly th and is a 20 I'd wide swatch cut through the woods to 500 id's. That portion of the range vs the first 300 yds, old strip mine, has it's own conditions. At St Thomas due to the lay of the land at 300 yds your shooting inches over the ground on the way to the 400 yd berm. The mirage coming off that can be overwhelming and not what is going on at 400. It can cause you grief, to say the least. Two very challenging ranges.I have seen very good shooters shoot 30 or more rounds at a 400 yd sighters trying to figure it out. St Thomas has a couple range flags and ribbons.
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