Windtronic or Kestrel

[broncman]

I need something to measure windspeed. I know the Kestrels are popular, but I like the idea of the Windtronic not being direction sensitive. Just getting started and the only way I can gauge wind speed is to try and backfigure from my groups shot in the wind and play with my ballistic calculator till they match. Not real accurate.

If you were buying for the first time what would you get and why?

 

[Uthink Uknow]

You didn't mention rifle or distance so I'll jump in blindly. I would get a few good windflags and set that out strategically along the flight of the bullet. In this way you know the wind direction and with practice you'll also learn windspeed.

 

[6BRinNZ]

I bought the windtronic - slightly cheaper than the bells and whistles kestrels and I didn't plan on using the extra features of the kestrel. I use mine at the range to get a gauge on the max and min conditions and out varminting.

Some guys have said they think the kestrel is better as you have to turn it to get it into the wind direction which in turn tells you what the direction is....in reality I have found that other indicators are more useful for wind direction (flags, grass bushes etc).

IMO both are very good....the kestrel would future proof if you wanted to use some of the extra features at a later time.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

I am not familiar with Windtronic but I watched a lady run a Kestrel in a long range match...She was able to determine the varance from zeros to poi between target changes between 800 and 600..She looks at density altitude...Says it was 1834' at 800yds now it is 2166'...Your zero will be off 4" from normal...97% shot the sighter 4' high dont matter about the other 4%.....LT

 

[broncman]

This will be for my home 300 range and for the 600 classes. Got wind flags but be nice to know a value to assign it to what I see.

Density altitude? Off to go google...

 

[SDDasher]

Used the Windtronic last weekend for a State F Class Championship. I watched for increases and letoffs to focus on the wind flags. If all were consistent I let em fly. Worked out well keeping up with the conditions/changes.
+1 for the Windtronic.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Used the Windtronic last weekend for a State F Class Championship. I watched for increases and letoffs to focus on the wind flags. If all were consistent I let em fly. Worked out well keeping up with the conditions/changes.
+1 for the Windtronic.

Yup another vote for the windtronic.. Not direction dependant and has std camera tripod mount threaded hole on bottom so you can use a variety of mounting/stand options. I epoxied a bolt of the appropriate thread size to a spring clamp and can mount/place it any place. On my rest, on my spotting scope stand, wherever... Love the windtronic...

Rod

 

[broncman]

Thanks guys. I will go with the windtronic. With everything I need to purchase to have a decent Ftr setup, this will help. I still need to get a decent stand and spotting scope.

 

[wwbrown]

Keep in mind a couple of things. The wind you are measuring the wind at your location and the wind will vary along the bullet's path. The other thing that effects F-class shooters is that you are measuring the wind at the ground level or maybe a foot above it. The wind at the ground level is almost always lower than that say 5 feet above the ground. I bring this up so if the windage from a ballistics calculator does not match the what you are seeing when you shoot that does not mean that you, the wind meter, or the ballistics solver are wrong. The solutions from the ballistics calculator are usually pretty correct for the data you input, but you can not collect all of the necessary data.

I used to carry a Kestrel with me when I walked around outside and I would take it out occasionally and try to estimate the wind by how it felt and looked and then check it with the Kestrel. I did this so I could learn better how to estimate the wind without a meter. You will find that most of over estimate the wind.

wade

 

[FroggyOne2]

I have been wanting to get one so that I could spend some time mapping our range.

 

[broncman]

I used to carry a Kestrel with me when I walked around outside and I would take it out occasionally and try to estimate the wind by how it felt and looked and then check it with the Kestrel. I did this so I could learn better how to estimate the wind without a meter. You will find that most of over estimate the wind.

wade

Thats exactly what I want to do. I want to put a value to what I feel and see if I can. All week at my home range I overestimated and allways dialed in to much.

Ken