Originally Posted By: Dan brothersfast shots... or close shots... is not what I'm talking about here... it's calculated... longer range... thought out... one shot kills.
AND... it's not about shooting three at your feet.... it's more of a sniper thing, that knocks those coyotes off their safe feeling hill tops.
I just thought the wind drift thing was a real eye opener... having never really looked at it before.
All fun aside. You are on the right track Dan. I just know that when you apply the wind charts to actual long distance there are to many variables for the chart to calculate.
Bullet B.C is difficult to nail down in a number relative to your environment. Manufactures list their "tested" B.C, but often it is not actual at another test site [yours]. Also The barometer has a big effect on bullet B.C the higher in altitude you go the thinner the air and the lower the barometer. This has to be allowed for in the calculation of the chart. [Air density]
Next there is no way to calculate with a computer app the variable wind direction that most often will be present at long distance. You start with a 15 mile wind at your 3 o'clock but closer to the target it is a 20 mile wind at your 9 o'clock. Hard to tell that from where you are. Guys who set up in the same locations for years can learn what that wind is doing out there in that location kind of like a shooting range, but for a run and gun hunter those locations can change often. As does the environment.
Read your charts play with your apps, but in the end, get out there and learn to shoot the wind. It is a challenge but worth it. I just do not believe that you can app, chart, graph, or print your way to being a good long range shot. Application is where it is at. Stick with one rifle and one load. Practice a lot and learn what your combination will do. Unless you are in a vacuum or a controlled environment the charts are hard to apply in the field. IME But get out there and do it. That will tell you all you will need to know.
Have fun!