Wind meters, ballistic apps and such

[Tinker-S]

In the past, I did my calculations by hand with the help of a Kilo range finder, and I was successful, but the ranges available to me back then were 500yds and below. Now I have access to a 1000yds range, and my calculations were a bit off and decided to change a few things. First, I purchased BallisticsARC to minimize searching for ballistics beyond 500yds. I also invested on an entry level bipod, and most recently, decided to invest on a wind meter. I have seen and read many comments on the WeatherFlow wind meter for long range shooting, so when it became available, I purchased one. Unfortunately, the meter did not pair up with BallisticsARC, and the seller said that a solution was on the works, so I sent it back and purchased a Kestrel 2700. Well, the 2700 series does not work with BallisticsARC neither, so I went with the ballistic calculator that comes with the Kestrel, and I cannot complain about it. It allows me to set up a profile on my phone, send it to the Kestrel and that is it. I do not need the phone connected to the 2700 unless I change rifles. The only draw back on the 2700 is that it reaches its max range at 845yds or so, but that is not bad for the price. I do not want to spend $700 on the most advanced series that reaches all the way to 4000yds. Today, I went to the range, and the wind speed was 15 to 20MPH with up to 35MPH gusts, but I did have success while engaging targets as far as 600+Yds with a .243 Win bolt gun and hand loads. The wind meter was a big help to get hits on target. After setup, I double-checked the firing solutions, and my previous calculations were off by several tenths of a milliradian and in some cases by 1 mil, and the wind calls were somewhere close to my guesstimations. BTW, the connectivity issues are not the responsibility of BallisticsARC, they have a good support center for their product.
What do you guys use to help you to engage long range targets?

 

[Walkalong]

The two best things I did to improve my dope was switch from the phone to a Kestrel, and true my BC at 1K.

 

[Tinker-S]

The two best things I did to improve my dope was switch from the phone to a Kestrel, and true my BC at 1K.

Walkalong,
Thank you for your reply.
I plan to verify MV with the Kestrel the next time I go to the range (tomorrow ) or the next time with better wind conditions.
Not having to stay connected to the phone looking for a shooting solution is indeed a big plus now with the Kestrel.

 

[Varminterror]

Performance using Phone apps vs. kestrel is really just a matter of correcting inputs. Either work - the ballistic solvers really aren’t so complex, the math isn’t difficult. It’s always just a matter of inconsistency in inputs whenever two ballistic engines don’t converge.

Personally, I’ve not been able to find true advantage for connecting via Bluetooth any of my kit - EXCEPT for when I need to move rifle profiles from my phone to my kestrel. Nothing in the field or at the range actually seems to bring any advantage.

Something different: the 2700 does not correlate density altitude, and often, this DOES mean a difference in ballistic solver output (it’s not correcting air density in the same way as the 5700 - effectively using different inputs, see my first point above).

StrelokPro, AB Mobile, Hornady 4DoF, BallisticARC, Shooter, or the branded Nikon, Bushnell, Zeiss, Winchester, etc apps, or even the old JBM excel spreadsheet paired with a simple wind meter like the Caldwell Wind Wizard can get you on target, within 1-2 clicks, out to 1,000yrds. Just a matter of including the appropriate inputs. The 5700’s are well worth the price if you want a one stop shop for wind, weather, and ballistics. I actually prefer the 4DoF version to the AB version, but both work.

Absolutely take the time to true your BC at 90% of your transonic boundary. There are chronographs you can trust for accurate MV, but absolutely true your BC. It’s often worthwhile confirming your Powder temp sensitivity and corresponding MV shifts as well.

 

[taliv]

I don’t even like them connected.

my advice is to use your wind meter to calibrate your brain’s wind calls. Just walk around town all week or wherever you are and every so often make a wind call and then check it with the wind meter.
Make some observations about how wind affects things that will help you.

Most wind charts will talk about leaves and grass and so forth. An example is that I used to have custom molded ear pro with a string. When the wind changed velocity it would make the string vibrate and input sound into my ear. I got to where I could make wind calls based on the pitch of the sound. And it would alert me to wind changes even more obvious than feeling it on my face.

the point is, the bullet doesn’t experience the wind at the shooter. It’s most affected by midrange wind at the highest point of its trajectory and when it’s traveling slower than it was at the muzzle. And sometimes I shoot from a lower position or from inside a car or building out the window or over a valley. So why would I want the kestrel to give me a hold based on where I am? Make your own wind call then input it into your calculator.

DA and temp don’t change much during the day. Every hour or two you can check your kestrel and then type the new DA into your calculator if needed. No need to link it. Especially if you’re getting the nearest airport DA off the internet instead of measuring it.

There are some super slick systems that give you a solution quickly. I like the rianov one. But I’ve never felt the need to connect kestrel to calc unless I’m also getting a LRF reading and sensing angle and cant as well

 

[Hugger-4641]

When I was at my clubs 600yd range last week, the wind at bench was from behind, wind at 200yds was left to right, half flag, wind at target was right to left gusting full flag. I didn't bother trying to enter or dial anything for windage. How would you decide what to enter, just try to guess at a net wind velocity and direction at mid range?

 

[taliv]

I'd generally try to estimate in zones and net it out because i'm trying to get first round hits. in NRA HP where you get sighters, look at all the flags and shoot your sighter holding center and then see which flag was telling you the truth. Usually ONE of the flags will match what's really going on, then you can mostly pay attention to that one. worst case, it may be a combination of a couple flags. but try to shoot your rounds in that condition. if you have time, and wind changes, pause and wait for the flags to come back to that condition again. otherwise, sorry about your luck, use your best guess.

also, if you get lucky, you'll be on a spotter/scorer relay first and can watch shooter's trace in the wind to see what matches the flags. really much more effective way to learn the wind is to spot for other shooters.

if you don't have flags, a lot of people try to look at the terrain. if it's flat, the wind is probably all going the same direction so it doesn't matter. in the hills, a lot of people think wind flows like water and you kind of imagine what the water would do as it hits hills or valleys, etc. I've had mixed results with that approach.

 

[Walkalong]

Agree wholeheartedly on the flags and determining which one is giving good info, a lot of merit to that in Benchrest as well.

 

[Varminterror]

I don’t even like them connected.

This is probably a more direct way of saying what I meant - I can’t find any reason to connect, and it just ends up with extra time spent connecting or reconnecting, or overriding… between phone, weather meter, and LRF that can be connected, I don’t bother connecting anything.

 

[Walkalong]

Like you posted, for transferring rifle profiles it’s great.

My buddy Jeff was using his phone, updating weather from my Kestrel, but finally bought a Kestrel, loves it, said he should have gotten it sooner.

I let my Kestrel update weather automatically and adjust my speed accordingly, which works much better for me than using a ballistic app on a phone and using internet weather.