Do you use wind flags during load development ?

[JFrank]

I always use flags when testing and practicing, the flags help me interpret the results on the target and keep me from making decisions based on skewed results. I’ll post this example of a target with four separate powder charges being altered by conditions on the two middle groups while in fact all four charges are within the same node. If I hadn’t had flags out this day I may have scraped a good load.
My question is , how many guys use flags when testing or practicing ?
Yes I use flags ?
No i never use flags?
I find no value in flags?

 

[courtgreene]

No I never use flags. I do see the value in them, but I still don’t use them. If I had my own long range shooting facility, maybe. However, I usually use public shooting ranges. Not only that, but just knowing me, that maybe was generous. I still wouldn’t use them. One more thing to pack, deploy, repack and then store. I don’t even bring my spotting scope anymore. I’m a bad sample group for your research.

 

[LoonWulf]

I dont, not for lack of interest more from lack of braincells to remember them.....i need to start too.

 

[JFrank]

I was told recently that it wasn’t a matter of reading the wind it was matter of reading the load.
This was a puzzling statement as I wondered how do know if the wind is skewing the results or not or by how much ?

 

[LoonWulf]

I was told recently that it wasn’t a matter of reading the wind it was matter of reading the load.
This was a puzzling statement as I wondered how do know if the wind is skewing the results or not or by how much ?

I suppose if we assume that the wind is doing the same thing throughout The shots fired in a specific string......then....maybe?

I could be misunderstanding what is meant to though....

 

[JFrank]

During the period of time I shot the above test target I had very calm conditions on the first three shots followed by a light breeze quartering towards me from my right, during the third three shots the light breeze changed to a switching head wind and picked up slightly, had I not shot the last group nor had flags present I may have mis interpreted the results and walked away believing the load had gone vertical for whatever reason when in fact it was good.

 

[JFrank]

Not everyone owns a set of flags but a small bit of surveyors tape tied to a tree limb is better than nothing.
There is always threads about load development or ladder tests but rarely do you see conditions mentioned or noted. When asked the normal reply is that there wasn’t any wind.
Really ? How did you determine that ?

 

[Walkalong]

If you want to get serious

 

[Chuck R.]

I do..

Because I could throw out a decent load due to a missed wind call.

Here in KS there's ALWAYS wind. It might be so small that my Kestrel can't pick it up, but it's there.

 

[lightman]

I don't have a proper set of flags but I hang a strip if surveyors tape on a half stick of conduit stuck in the ground at the half way point and another on the target frame.

 

[Walkalong]

there's ALWAYS wind. It might be so small that my Kestrel can't pick it up, but it's there.

I’ve been in a match where the air was wet/heavy, but not showing on the flags, but the gremlins were out there, big time.

Shooting 1s an 2s isn’t easy. 3s either actually.

 

[jmorris]

I almost always have some wind indicator I observe, sometimes a number of them, if I am shooting much distance at all.

 

[JFrank]

Without the last group on the target j posted, the information is totally different without knowing the conditions.
Just to add a thought.. when testing we don’t compensate for wind we interpret and try to remember how far the bullets are getting pushed around so when it’s time to practice or compete we’ll be more prepared to make an adjustment and stay centered up.

 

[Varminterror]

there's ALWAYS wind.

Yup. I always have flag somewhere when I’m shooting load dev. I don’t string out multiple flags along the span if I’m only at 100, but for 300-600 load dev, I’ll have a few on targets spread down the KD range, one on the target stand I am shooting, and one at my firing position. Kestrel at hand, naturally.

 

[Litetrigger]

Reading the wind and understanding what it does to a bullet is the bread and butter of accurate shot placement. Here are pics of a forest of wind flags at a major benchrest match. Shooters often have as many a ten flags from bench to target. Notice field of flags behind my wife at benchrest match, she is probably smiling because she shot another money winning group. She reads wildflags like an open book, while I only try to outguess the wind, so she usually beats me.

 

[Hookeye]

No flags. My old club had berms segregating ranges, also blocked most wind.

Of course my weekends or days off work usually had the wind coming from the only non blocked direction LOL.

Range was only 100 yards max.

 

[Nature Boy]

At 100 I’m not using flags but I am paying attention to the wind.

200 and longer I’m using a couple of things.

1. A piece of engineering tape on the top of my spotting scope stand.
2. Reading the mirage

Before I head to the range I use wind forecast app called Windy. If it shows I’ll be facing a 10:00 to 2:00 headwind I’ll probably choose not to do any load testing that day.

 

[lysanderxiii]

You have to sign the flag out at range control before you open the range . . . don't you?

 

[luv2safari]

I always use flags when testing and practicing, the flags help me interpret the results on the target and keep me from making decisions based on skewed results. I’ll post this example of a target with four separate powder charges being altered by conditions on the two middle groups while in fact all four charges are within the same node. If I hadn’t had flags out this day I may have scraped a good load.
My question is , how many guys use flags when testing or practicing ?
Yes I use flags ?
No i never use flags?
I find no value in flags?

I sometimes use wind flags. They're something that has a lot of value in my breeze-prone country.

Actually, I can just watch the tumble weeds to gauge healthier "breezes".

 

[JFrank]

Oh yes’ If I don’t have flags handy I’ll use anything at my disposal including the mirage.

 

[JFrank]

Seems a limited interest in using wind flags.
I thank those who’ve posted to the thread and hope value is found to those who do not currently use them.
J

 

[doubleh]

I made an effort to use them. No trees to tie surveyor's tape to and soil too shallow to stick something in so I made one that clamped to one of the target board holder's uprights and one with a heavy base that I could set on the ground. I never got better results than just waiting for the wind to lull and did away with them. Less stuff to haul around. I am only competing with myself so no time limits to worry about. If the wind is too high to have lulls I am not at the range. High wind is no fun for any activity.

Two things I do is watch the grass and also the mirage. Nature provided wind flags.

 

[Nature Boy]

Nature provided wind flags.

I don’t have any, you’ll have to ask someone else

 

[jmorris]

I don't have a ton of wind exposure here at home but I still have flagging tape to give me a little idea of whats going on.



Tied to the corn cob holder....

 

[JFrank]

Does anyone remember Vera Carter ?

01 Vera Carter - How to Read the Wind - Intro

Hey hot shots - here's an introductory video on how to read the wind. We’ll eventually get into really advanced techniques, but this first video is going to...

www.youtube.com