Wind flags

[rardoin]

If you shoot when a flag is fully extended you know direction but you actually don’t know what the speed is. You just know it’s blowing hard enough to at least fully extend the flag. You’ll have to shoot on a less severe condition for the flag to indicate speed.

As @lawman29 stated, you can get a feel for velocity based on the movement in the flag, not just the angle to the ground. Want to get burned by a let off? Just take your shots when the wind is at max velocity/flag out near horizontal...but disregard the 'ripples'. Keep shooting when the flag starts to show lazier ripples but still at the same angle to the ground...and wait for the spotter showing up "upwind" near your aim point. The inertia of those big old flags will hold the flag up for a few seconds before the angle changes in an abrupt let off...but the ripples will get to a lower frequency first, portending the coming let off. Been there, done that, have the scars (or should I have said scores?). There is a lot of information in those flags...angle to the ground, angle to the axis of the range and rippling motion.

 

[Texas Solo]

"I have no idea how someone could see mirage at 200 with a 600 yard focus."

Simple...turn the focus know.

At Cmp Talladega, they have 3 flags on either side, at 200, 300 & 600

And watch your point of impact change.

Turn it back to 600yds after reading the wind.
OR...
Use a spotting scope set at 300yds

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Ok...listen to the SR guys. They've been using flags for what...50 years now?

I'm kinda jokingly saying that...and kinda NOT!

 

[6BRA]

"I have no idea how someone could see mirage at 200 with a 600 yard focus."

Simple...turn the focus know.

At Cmp Talladega, they have 3 flags on either side, at 200, 300 & 600

Turn it back to 600yds after reading the wind.
OR...
Use a spotting scope set at 300yds

Changing parallax after sighters is dangerous business in my book! All I have to say

 

[Webster]

As @lawman29 stated, you can get a feel for velocity based on the movement in the flag, not just the angle to the ground. Want to get burned by a let off? Just take your shots when the wind is at max velocity/flag out near horizontal...but disregard the 'ripples'. Keep shooting when the flag starts to show lazier ripples but still at the same angle to the ground...and wait for the spotter showing up "upwind" near your aim point. The inertia of those big old flags will hold the flag up for a few seconds before the angle changes in an abrupt let off...but the ripples will get to a lower frequency first, portending the coming let off. Been there, done that, have the scars (or should I have said scores?). There is a lot of information in those flags...angle to the ground, angle to the axis of the range and rippling motion.

At 1000 yards the highest point in the trajectory I think is about 55 inches above the line of sight.

 

[rardoin]

At 1000 yards the highest point in the trajectory I think is about 55 inches above the line of sight.

I’m not sure how that relates to my quoted statement. I’m all ears…

 

[6BRA]

At 1000 yards the highest point in the trajectory I think is about 55 inches above the line of sight.

That's 600 yards

 

[LCazador]

I shot at Ben Avery range when it was Black Canyon, so that's how old I am. I never ever shoot without a wind flag, no matter the range. Reading mirage is an art but wind reading trumps mirage reading. That short range wind flag also makes it easier for shooting that one half grand or a grand group a success. In a gale anybody can get lucky! Success is not letting it get you, there's another day.