John Barsness's (Mule Deer) latest exclusive column, "WIND FLAGS ," is on its way to your Inbox. If you haven't received this or previous versions, simply PM me (RickBin), and you'll be on board for future monthly columns.

Here are links to the last few columns:

"Scope Height"

"Rifle Brass"

"Getting The Most Out Of Your .30-06"

"Affordable Detachable Scope Mounts"

"Big Game Scopes"

Don't forget to check out John's (and Eileen's ) other stuff at http://www.riflesandrecipes.com.

Many thanks, as usual, John!

My shootin' days are long past, so my interest in range flags is altogether academic. FWIW2U, I can add very, very little from my leaky ol' memory. I suspect that these li'l nuggets will jibe neatly (pun intended) with JB's observations.

Somewhere in the middle of the midden that I live in, there's a large sheet of paper � a "wind map" that Homer Powley drew.

He stationed a bunch of helpers behind safe barricades at several in-between mid-range distances, then fired over their heads at the target beyond them.

As the bullet crackled past each mid-range observer, that fellow recorded the direction and the speed of the wind at his location, at that instant.

Homer's "map" shows that the wind was blowing every whichaway, at different speeds, between the muzzle and the target.

A wind flag fluttering at every ten to fifty yards between the muzzle and a distant target is indeed an interesting sight to see!

And an old (1950ish) photography magazine once ran a photograph of flags on opposite sides of the street rippling briskly in directly opposite directions at the same time.

So much for the assumption that a wind from 90� to the left is always and only at 90� or from the left all the way out to that far target.

Here's an example:

These are my flags that I use for BR competition, set up in my back yard, spaced 5 ft. apart. They are fitted with my own double roller bearing heads, so they respond instantly to any change in wind direction.

Wind speed was from 7 'oclock and approx. 8-10 mph.

First pic is as you'd expect to see..the flags showing a steady 7 o'clock condition:



This photo was taken immediately after the first, with no 'on your body' perceptible change in wind direction and/or speed.



Not only have flags 2,3,5 and 6 moved to indicate a pretty dramatic shift in wind direction....flag #4 is now indicating a near complete headwind situation.

Other than Jim Carmichael, JB is the only 'mainstream' gun writer that gives credence to the use of flags for load work, etc.

Food for thought..... -Al

Shooting at 500�1,000 yd, I've often wondered how many invisible, dustless "dust devils" might be swirling out there between my muzzle and that "death row" prairie dog.

What? Ne'er yet a question for John?

Gee, John, I didn't mean to hijack your thread!

My sincerest apologies, ol' Pard!

John,
Not a question, but a big thumbs up on a job well done.
Wind is the biggest Achilles heel of precision shooting at any distance.

xphunter,

Thanks!

Figuring the wind without flags is a really interesting process, even with one of the little electronic wind-gauges available today. Prairie dog shooting is one of the best teachers there.

Ken,

Naw, you didn't hijack anything.

Evidently I covered the subject fairly well!

Agreed!
Ernie

Really ENJOYED the article, Se�or.

GTC

Sorry I'm slow getting to this thread. Being a BR shooter I really know the value of good windflags. I also sell the BRT windflags from Australia. They were used by the Aussie team to win the World BR Championships in South Africa. Pictured below is one of our flags in Iraq. The US Military uses them in some places to help in launching their drones.

As was mentioned above, put out 5 flags and they can all be doing something different. Al's pics are great. The wind is hardly blowing and it makes it easy to see what the wind is doing.

The BRT flags have double ball bearings in the pivot and the propeller. The propeller on the BRT flags are primarily used to tell you when the wind picks up or lets off. They are very responsive. They are not good wind velocity indicators as they move so easily. That is the purpose of the tails that are made from sail cloth. They don't flop in the wind, they just move up and down depending on wind velocity.
Thanks for listening to a sales pitch.
Butch

Those a real nicely-designed flags!

Great article John...

A picture of 5 flags, telescoping stands, ground spikes, level and an aluminum carrying case. The aluminum case is 5"X11"X15". Very easy to take to the range.


Butch

John, I agree with the others great article. It's a must read if shooting good groups is a goal. I also agree that one seldom sees wind flags at the local ranges, even though most there are trying to shoot good groups. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that mostly because of your article we will begin to see more talk about flags and begin to see more of them at the ranges.

Sounds like a great article, I'd love to read it!

The "Wind Flags" link in the first post goes to the December 2009 article on "Cartridge Efficiency".

When I decided I was going to shoot benchrest, I bought 6 second hand Smiley Hensley wind flags. I put out 4 on the hundred yard range at my club and marvel at how many times the wind can change in 100 yards. The guys at my club refer to them as "wind [bleep]" but I am convinced in their value and won't burn off ammunition without them.

I would love to read it myself!



Steve

me too !

Try this one:

Wind Flags


I have a question related to wind drift more than wind flags. Does a bullets ballistic coefficient have much effect on wind drift? For example, will a flat base bullet drift more than a boat tail under similar conditions?

Jerry

Ballisic coefficient and velocity are the two factors in wind drift. Everything else being equal, a boattail bullet will drift less.

Jerry,
Thanks for the link!

Steve

Now the question is, which flags to get?

I'm not a BR shooter. Just a hunter/casual match shooter. Since I often shoot on my lunch break, I'd like something that sets up and breaks down easily and can fit into some kind of case for transport. Most of my shooting currently is under 150yrds but I'm going to be joining a range that has 300yrds now that the mighty Mississippi has put my go to range under 10' of water.

How many flags should I look at using for < 150yrds and how many when shooting at 300yrds? Again, quick set-up is important so I guess I'm looking for the minimum number of flags that would give a decent idea of what the wind is doing.

Those BRT flags look really nice. I also found these that looked nice http://www.killoughshootingsports.com/index.php/wind-flags/keeney-small-wind-flags.html Any other suggestions?

Mar336: Butch Lambert's flags are slick.

Dave Halblom at Flying Fish Fundamentals also makes a nice flag. http://www.flyingfishfundamentals.com/index.htm

Good shootin'. -Al

Thanks AL...Hilarious signature line BTW.

You're welcome.

The Dude abides..... -Al

I'm here trying to get into this groups mind so as to as some questions and this is the first place I have found to talk to any of you campfire folks.I am trying to get info on the so called 358 Alaskan Shooting Times or some other name .I have one,I think,that was built for me many years ago.My beanch rest gun smith said they apear to be the same.I know the folks that built and developed my rifle and don't think there are many better. I would like to exchange reloading data. idiot

idiot

Welcome, idiot!!

I have ask this question other place but as I'm not a computer fan at all I will repeat my self.I would like to talk with some one who knows history and reloading data on the .358 STA.I have one my beanch rest gunsmith said is the same but built some time earlier,by some very fine long range shooters.If any one can help I would be thankful,only problem is I don't know if I can find your replys as I don't know or like these one eyed monsters. idiot