My range (sighting in) day is gonna be windy...

7.62NATO · 10-01-2010, 06:54 AM

Been planning on going to the range all week to get my ML sighted in today, got all prepped last night, etc. Takes a good bit of tweaking to set aside 3-4 hours for anything, so planning for today wasn't easy.

Anyway, we've got wind about 15mph today. As much as possible, I'll fire when conditions are calmest. I'm wondering how much the wind is going to affect a 250-260 gr projectile out to 100 yards? I know when I shoot 150gr at 2800 fps not to look at my groups like they are the gospel, but at 100 yards it doesn't affect things radically.

I'm wondering what to expect from 100 extra grains of weight, but moving much slower at approx 1700 fps. I can always come back for a shorter range trip to fine tune things, but do you think that things will be affected enough so that I will not be able to determine which projectile groups the best for my gun?

Your replies are ALWAYS appreciated!!

Colorado Cajun · 10-01-2010, 07:22 AM

I would still go shoot and start off at 50 yards. The wind may affect you some and you probably won't get the best possible groups but I would think you will leave the range with a good idea of what loads you will want to try again or fine tune next time. As far as how much the wind will affect your bullet, I don't know. Good luck! I hope you get some tight groups and you are happy with your gun. Now go make some smoke!

7.62NATO · 10-01-2010, 07:30 AM

2 hours and counting...I'm psyched! It's funny, when I first picked up the gun in the spring, I wasn't the least bit excited about it. It was just...whatever. Now I cannot wait to shoot the thing!

benamen · 10-01-2010, 08:54 AM

I took out a new rifle a month ago to get sited in. Quite windy that day as I had to wait for wind to calm down at times so it would not buffet me around. The wind made me concentrate on the target and I had some of my best groups ever out of that rifle.

Kathwacckkk · 10-01-2010, 09:40 AM

Just keep everything consistent from shot to shot. Load, weight, powder, cleaning regimine, POA, etc... Once the bullets are hitting consistently you can sight in for accuracy. If everything is consistent, you should know what one variable change i.e. wind gust, powder charge, bullet weight, etc... has on the impact point.

Whenever I have a range session, I want to fire so badly I seem to get in a hurry, something might not be consistent, didn't let the barrel cool down, powder charge was not the same as previous shot, harder ramrod pressure, etc... Try and make yourself slow down. You only get one shot in the field, so practice like that and make it count on the range.

I have since cured my need to "spray lead" at a range session by also bringing my Glock 19 9mm and 6 30 round clips. Go through two clips as fast as possible seems to have a calming effect. Get some strange looks when I tell people I am trying to calm down though.