barney57 wrote:Well I was going to say watch the trees,,,,
Of course, but I would never have thought to wind on some wind because a tree or bush appeared to get slightly lighter in colour!
But maybe this is one of those things you get as a 'feeling' without conciously realising all the individual factors that contribute to your senses, as Bill described.
When i last shot my Winchester there at 100mtrs the wind suddenly got up and my rounds started going about 8-10" to the right when they'd been spot on previously.I know the 357 a slow moving round,but suprised me how much it was going off target at this distance.
Im no expert,but i tend to look at the flag at the top of the bullet trap with how windy it is and adjust accordingly-although the wind that height is greater than at target level.The trees seem to lull you into a false sense of security because you're pretty much sheltered from the driving winds comming across from the village.
That first 100m can be a delight to shoot on a still day and a nightmare to read on a windy day. I have some ripstop nylon streamers at home and they would be good wind indicators tied to the top of a garden cane at the 75/25m marks.
/d
Du lytter aldrig til de ord jeg siger. Du ser mig kun for det tøj jeg har paa ...
Steve wrote:I can vouch with how windy it can get at Barton.
When i last shot my Winchester there at 100mtrs the wind suddenly got up and my rounds started going about 8-10" to the right when they'd been spot on previously.I know the 357 a slow moving round,but suprised me how much it was going off target at this distance.
Im no expert,but i tend to look at the flag at the top of the bullet trap with how windy it is and adjust accordingly-although the wind that height is greater than at target level.The trees seem to lull you into a false sense of security because you're pretty much sheltered from the driving winds comming across from the village.
Accounting for wind can be a real dark art. Some just 'get' it and others can't without the flags. I must admit that i did think i knew what i was doing until i started stalking reds on the hills. There the wind will commonly change directions, swirl up and down hill faces, swirl right around and all the time the deer can be above or below you!
It can be infuriating to stalk from downwind , only for the wind to swirl around or bounce back from an obstruction and carry your scent to the deer.
People who believe that shooting 'behind' trees will mask them from the wind are wrong. What will actually happen is the wind will bounce against and over the trees, to then be dumped on the lea side resulting in 'lumpy' conditions; low level turbulence. For this reason i will wait for the deer to walk further from the treeline before shooting, especially if shooting beyond 300yds.
If i were shooting on a range which is bordered on both sides by trees, i'd at least try to shoot near the middle in order to minimise turbulence.
Essentially you have to watch for all and any indicators you can. I find grass to usually be my best indicator, but if the range is regularly mown..... You may well be restricted to the trees.
I know you may think me mad, but also watch the birds. How hard are the birds flying and are they flying 'up' or 'down' wind - down wind will flap little but sink in height before turning back into the wind in order to gain height.
