Today is kind of cold, but WINDY!!! So since I hunt in the wind, I practice in the wind. I was shooting a traditional rifle. It was a T/C Renegade .54 caliber. I was shooting roundball.
I was surprised that the wind seemed to have very little effect out to 35 yards. Out to 50 yards, I began to notice a slight drift in them. At 75 yards, the wind was moving the ball almost an inch.
What I am getting at is, for those that hunt in the wind. If you have time, go to the target range and shoot at some of the distances you might encounter. Some of you might be real surprised when you see your target at long range.
I also did this because reading some of the information from members such as Lee, sabotloader and others, and how wind can effect things. I think it was important to see first hand what happened. A gust of wind can really slide them over. I was kind of surprised.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
I try and keep hunts in the wind to a min. Now with getting the ml i might go alittle windry wo good sug. I normaly shoot when i shoot even if theres a wind just not over 15. I ant sitting in a tree with a higherwind then 15
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Team 17: Kickers and Stickers
I went to the range once and had a steady 90 degree cross wind. I thought it around 20 mph. Anyways ... I was hitting tight 1" groups at 50 yards with my NEF Sidekick with 70 grains 3f Goex and the 385 GP. You may recall me posting about it. The centers of those groups though were nearly 3.5 inchs left of center. It surprised me to say the least so I went home and run it in the ballistics calculator and lo and behold (see attachment) the wind certainly accounted for movement of the groups. On a later trip in no wind, it was back to the center of the target.
This taught me three important things. First, NEVER mess with windage on a windy day to center on the target. Second, Its futile to adjust windage on a "gusty day" when the wind is a cross wind and fluctuates substantially. Third, if I hunted in conditions like that then I had better be close to game when I shot.
Dave, I really think that is one of outside forces that is taken for granted most often when shooting a ML - especially @ extended ranges. I always TRY to recognize the factor when I have the opportunity, by observing the vegetation around the animal as I am looking through the scope... + trying to maintain an awareness of the hunting field. What I really like are those 35-40 yards shots when you really do not have to do any MATH at all.
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
I was trying to time the gusts of wind. I am sure others have done that too. It was amazing to watch the difference on paper. The further back, the further the group moved to the side. Kind of like Pglasgo was explaining.
Sabotloader I know your careful. I read your reports of range time, and it seems the wind must blow a lot out there.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
On my "never mess with windage" comment .... what that means is do not attempt to center POI by adjusting one's rear sights windage setting or the windage of one's scope. What that will do is leave one without a rifle sighted in for benign wind conditions. In fact, it will only have one sighted in for that particular windy condition which isn't likely to happen while hunting anyway (precisely the same way I mean).
The sights of course need to be sighted for no wind and as cayugad said practice in windy conditions to learn how the wind affects POI. Once you have done that then its quite alright to "aim windage" by pointing in a different place on the target so that POI is centered.
I didn't want any confusion about what I meant by "mess with windage on a windy day". I meant specifically do not change the settings of your sights or scopes.
Just a suggestion
