Wind Flags?

I

Ideal Tool

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Hello, Just wondering, how many of you put out wind flags when doing load development? I usually put out at least 2 when shooting at 100yds. Only one at range doing this..get some funny looks..But hey..it beats wondering if that shot was me or an errant breeze!;)
 
.22 at 100+

I've got a .22 range on my place and we shoot a bit over 100 yds. I have a piece of flagging on a rod at the most wind swept portion. The whole set up is for F-T/R practice w/ a .22.
 
Just about every serious benchrest and cross sticks competitor at the Texas Muzzleloading Rifle Association shoot uses three or four windflags downrange. You won't believe how far even a 5mph crosswind will drift even a .50 caliber patched roundball at 100 yards.
You also have to pay attention to the light conditions, a cloud changing the light from bright sun to overcast will change the point of impact when you are using iron sights.
 
I shoot at my local Missouri Dept. of Conservation range at Lake-City, the walls in that place are like twelve feet high or so, and we shoot into a giagantic bullet trap at the distance of one hundred yds.

When I use to practice down in the bootheel we used small pieces of cloth tied to a branch, one at each side of the burm at one hundred yds and one on each side of the firing line.

It,s a must really I think.;)
 
At a recent muzzle loading competition, shooting benchrest with an offhand rifle at 100 yards, I had three 9s with a couple possible 10s but two high 8s that would have been in the 9 or 10 ring if I had paid attention to the wind coming from directly behind me. My wind flags were back home. Won't be again.
 
With larger calibers and high BC bullets, the wind would really have to be howling to have any real effect at 100 yards.

The effect of wind on bullets is exponential related to range. At 200 yards it can definitely have a pronounced effect, and yes- we use flagging at 100 and at the target.

The other point I would make is that if it's windy enough for concern, we just don't do load development, period...Wait for a better day.
 
Much as I despise shooting in indoor ranges, I often use them for load evaluations. No wind is one more variable that I don't have to worry about.
 
Wind Flags

I use these homemade ones.
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Much as I despise shooting in indoor ranges, I often use them for load evaluations. No wind is one more variable that I don't have to worry about.
Click to expand...

Never seen a 100 yd indoor range. What kind of price do they get for using it?
 
There's a 100 yard indoor range in Oak Hill, TX, they charge $14/hour, one hour minimum.
The place is pretty busy, sometimes there's a wait for an opening.
 
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