Thread: Longer Range Shots

Shot a hind on Sunday night at 540 yds across a gully with a 143 ELD-X. Elevation was spot on but ended up hitting her bit to far back of the shoulder. Light southerly blowing down the gully but not so much, so experience told me not to allow for any wind.

Its got me thinking though, whats the general thoughts on the distance you start to allow for wind, and how strong does that cross wind have to be to have an effect

Thoughts???

540y is a long shot in a hunting situation and any wind would need to be allowed for. Also remember if shooting over a "gap" eg your gully windspeed will be alot higher than what you observe at shooting location and at target. Take a look at @Norway website THLR.com for some super practical how too video. Windcalls are a skill that need practice and can always be improved...

I don't think there's a clear point. Call the wind effects as they are for the conditions and your system, and correct for them. 540 yards is a long way and a little wind will have an effect - for example a 1ms breeze is pretty light, just a breath of wind, but you'd expect about .5mil of wind at 540 yards. 25cm or so.

Originally Posted by Bos

Its got me thinking though, whats the general thoughts on the distance you start to allow for wind, and how strong does that cross wind have to be to have an effect

Thoughts???

Wind will have an effect at almost any distance.

The amount of effect depends on the size of your target area, the wind strength and direction, the ballistics of your projectile, your muzzle velocity.

Spend some time on a rifle range where the centre 'X' ring is 1/2 MOA - 2 1/2 inches at 500 yards. Wind has a significant effect particularly if it is a gusty cross wind.

Your description suggests you were shooting in a cross wind and should/could have allowed for the wind and either wound your scope/sights or aimed off.

Before Easter we put up a gong "range" for sighting in. It ran from 200 to 720 yds, there was a swirling light to medium breeze from the left. Almost everyone started applying windage at 300 yds and missed. Shots were called off the left edge, aiming centre plate scored 2-3 inches right. At 4 and 500, same thing aim halfway to the left edge, one person with a dialling scope put .2 mil on and called that good.
Only one guy got the 720, 300 PRC with a sig bdx scope the rest of us ran out of talent at between 4 and 500. A lot of fun and very instructional, as we realized we over estimate wind especially without knowing the actual wind speed and paying scant regard to down range conditions.
Target sizes, 8 inch at 200, 12 at 3,4,450 and 720 yds and 16 at 500 because the target hanger got confused and wasn't going back to fix it

shooting rabbits up in Mackenzie country one night 30 ish years ago with bunch of guys from Timaru deerstalkers...howling norwest wind...five of us in wagon and three just gave up...two of us were still getting consistant hits at 25-30 yards..when asked how I was managing to hit them...aiming off by a half bunny length!!!!

Originally Posted by gimp

I don't think there's a clear point. Call the wind effects as they are for the conditions and your system, and correct for them. 540 yards is a long way and a little wind will have an effect - for example a 1ms breeze is pretty light, just a breath of wind, but you'd expect about .5mil of wind at 540 yards. 25cm or so.

Makes sense Gimp
Probably 1 - 2 m/s so 25- 50 cm roughly would be about right

Shawn Carlock, a US long range guru said he always dial for the wind, even if is a 0moa dial.

Always dial wind

Ah snap @stug

Originally Posted by Hunty1

540y is a long shot in a hunting situation and any wind would need to be allowed for. Also remember if shooting over a "gap" eg your gully windspeed will be alot higher than what you observe at shooting location and at target. Take a look at @Norway website THLR.com for some super practical how too video. Windcalls are a skill that need practice and can always be improved...

This makes sense- wind accelerates uphill. But even if the gully is lined with trees?

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

At 540 yards id hold 1 minute min with what I call a light wind(who knows what you call a light wind).wind is such a tricky thing to get right, a puff early on in the bullet flight will send it way off at long range.

This is a great resource

https://defensiveedge.net/wp-content...G-THE-WIND.pdf

Print out some range cards with a ballistic calculator. Windage Depends strength of wind and on calibre , 22lr from 20m , 338lap mag 300 gr 200. Go shoot F class or fly blokes adjusts at 100 on

I will correct myself, you'd be looking at about .25 mil at that range with 1ms which is closer to 12.5cm, all very approximate.

If shooting at these ranges it's very difficult to avoid the odd cockup even with all due diligence and thorough preparation.