Moving on to a very tightly contested topic of wind reading.
Hopefully this will spark some keen interest, contributions from all shooters.
What is the wind reading - it is a condition effect on the projectile during its flight to the target.
What are the elements in reading the wind- direction, strength, consistency absolute strength, peeks and troughs.
What skills do you need to master the wind - there is no skill like experience and if anyone says they can tell the exact wind condition at any time they are not being truthful rather elevating their own self belief.
To be clear this is only wind reading, Mirage will come in another topic later on.
Now for some tips:
As a new shooter you have come to a match, Short Range, Fly, rimfire, Air Rifle, F class basically any shooting sport that involves the use of rifle Benchrest and read bag.
We have covered the set up, now you are at the bench flags waiving at you and everyone else for that matter what are you going to do.
Some will fire shots into the target at a known point then click their scope to the shot and hold this, shoot as fast as they can to try and dope the wind. Some times produces fruit more often not. In short range this can be sudden loss of the targets group and possibly the match.
A more considered approach would be to view the wind as a parameter, use your digital timer, time the wind cycles, wind will come and go at the same strengths in a cyclic rhythm. This is also determinate with the colouring of the flags in the lane and what you optical observe. Write these down then time away from the condition and back on the condition. This is a great skill for right to left or left to right winds.
Fishtail winds that don't necessarily settle- when the flage cross from 11.00 o'clock to 1.00 o'clock area looking down on the flag pole from directly above the strength value at that moment is zero so when two of your flag cross at the same time then you only to have align the third flag for a reference point. You can shoot a group in this condition at point of aim.
Use your sighters for information not to give you a condition you like. In short range the ability to use as many sighters as you want is such a great tool. Most shooters do not use this rule to its fullest capacity. Some will shoot two or three shoots and if they are in the same hole up they go to the group target and on their merry way to a group only to find 1 shot out or a split group.
If the shooter is concentrating on the sighter target for a tight group they are not looking at the conditions for the real group above on the scoring target. I bet there is any number of shooters me included who have four shots in a .1 something then two shots in the same hole on the score target only to have the next three visiting somewhere else on the scorings rings.
Reading the wind is a challenging task of observation skills, available information and mental toughness, when the shooter has gained his information and employed a strategy for the group only then will he be able to repeat great targets time and time again.
You have 7 mins in short range to make your decision of when to start and end a group don't be the first to have your group finished it isn't a race it is a journey use the first few minutes to do your homework and build your plan for the group.
Hope this helps everyone HOF please feel free to contribute I am confident providing these building block will encourage new shooters to our sport.
Good shooting to all
Les Fraser
HOF 36
