Long range sight corrections

[Don McDowell]

Kenny's 1879 thread on Shiloh and the discussion going on has me wondering.
At Raton during the creedmoor especially, there are some upper level winds that really can't be read, that can raise holy ned with your scores. Byers and Alliance have a similar condition at times. So I got to wondering during the match and now am really wondering, Are we hurting our scores by trying to chase a 6, until we land 2 in a row? Does chasing a shot cost you points, by not taking into consideration groups size at that distance, along with strange stuff going on we can't see?
Looking at my targets here at home I don't have much verticle in my groups, yet when I get to someplace where each shot is spotted and marked, things get a bit sporatic...
So the question is can we spend to much time chasing random shots, and mess up a score?

[Old Jim]

I think that over the years, we all have chased 'em. Mostly a waste and it keeps ya busy but then, sometimes it was ok. When you add in a switchin' tail-wind and ya really got something to have some fun with.

I don't get around much, so this is just my $0.02,

Jim

[Don McDowell]

Jim I'm thinking you may be right on the waste of time thing.
Especially if during sighters etc, you are getting center hits, and then things start changing.

[Kurt]

Don.


That has crossed my mind may times. I came to the conclusion that if I'm hitting black then get a high or low especially if the wind is head on or a tail wind I don’t adjust, but I do make sure my eye cup is tight
I think i'm pretty sure what is going on with the unexpected vertical with head and tail winds besides the normal fast switching head and tail directions we get here at Lodi and I noticed it at Raton when I spent time on that range last winter. I think the wash board effect the black cinder berms cause with the head or tail winds 6/12 or 4/10 with the wind velocity gaining or dropping is the gremlin in the wood pile. Especially when it's hot out. Just like the big hill range where the vertical is more pronounced with the wind velocity change the way that range is laid out.

I seen just one flag change to a lifted tail several times on some where the rest hung normal then get back into the normal lay. High over head down drafts are harder to spot unless your really good with the flags. I dont think you can spot that with the mirage, I'm not at that point yet

Kurt

[Don McDowell]

Kurt the vortex's that come off of those canyons and that butte on either side of the range at Raton would be an interesting study. A "smoke" machine placed at certain places up there would surely provide some valuable observations.
That deal there at Big Hill in that canyon with those ridges and the trees makes an almost impossible situation to spot. Ekalaka has somewhat of the same thing with the Rocks and the pine groove along the way to the buffalo.
I noticed the last time I shot at Alliance, those trees along the west side of the property have grown big enough now that they are throwing some interesting things into consideration for the 500 yd gong especially.
I've about come to the conclusion that at Byers, unless you see a real change in the windflag on top of the target berm or change in the mirage at the target line, you can get into real trouble trying to chase the windflags between the firing lines .

[Kurt]

That is why I look at the Mirage and the flags. The mirage will show a faster change if you can pick one up. I like small 3" down feather hanging on a thread

[Don McDowell]

What a person really needs is someway to be able to read what's going on about 30 ft above the ground half way to the target.. That's where I think a lot of stuff goes on that maybe makes us start chasing our tail with the knobs on the sight..
I compare that to often times when out checking the cows, there will be no wind on the ground, yet the windmill will be pumping away, and oft times it's the opposite standing at the base of the windmill the wind will be wrinkling the water on the tank yet the mill may or may not even be turned into the direction of the ground winds....
And we think we can send big fat slow bullets 1000 yds down range to a tiny little x in the target...

[Kurt]

Yeh gotta grease the turret shaft now and then!!!

[Tombstone 71]

Just got in from shooting 800 in the back yard. 71 and sunny with 10 to 15 mph wind From 10 oclock. Got on the target in 3 and then Hit 6 and wind changed, Took me 5 to get back on and then hit 12 in a row. This is a 46 " round plate all black. I figger if I hit the thing anywhere then it is a 7 or better. I have been over correcting on my windage big time and need to learn to read the wind better.

Tim

[Don McDowell]

Tim that's the sort of thing it takes to get good at the long range stuff.
Keep up the hard work.
30 degrees and snow here all day with winds gusting up pretty good. Couldn't tell you how good, the little propeller housing is iced over...