Kestrel Wind Meter Guidance

[Max Owner]

Hey all.

Was gonna get a 4500 with the Horus ballistics contraption but have heard un kosher things about it.

So I'm leaning towards one with Bluetooth to work with my Iphone.

Having a hard time of making heads or tails of the rest of the meters. Anything without Horus is priced decently.

Looking for some guidance, please......

 

[Jordan Smith]

Wind Speed app for the iPhone...

 

[AKD]

here you go. http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/caldwell/catalog.asp?product=Wind-Wizard

I think i paid just shy of $50 for mine after tax. works great. sensitive to wind and temperature change and gives you the confidence in its accuracy. The only other data you need is Altitude. Use your GPS for that.

Here is a good review if you would like more than just my word. http://www.chuckhawks.com/caldwell_wind_wizard.htm


I have the iphone app as well,,,,,, garbage.

 

[Ian Robertson]

Search for "Litz Tests Android OS Ballistics App at Ultra-Long Ranges" on the 6br web site for some info on meters.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx guys.

Think I am stuck on Kestrel because they seem to be the "gurus" of meters.

Can buy a top of the food chain Kestrel but wonder if a lesser model is better value money spent.

 

[SandRoad]

Was gonna get a 4500 with the Horus ballistics contraption but have heard un kosher things about it.

So what are problems with the Horus ballistics? Curious as I was looking at that meter or getting one without it.

 

[icedragonmx]

If you want cheaper look at the 4000 model- bottom of the page

ht tp://www.impactdatabooks.com/Tools_s/128.htm

 

[gravyboat]

Have you thought about a Kestrel 4000 and iSnipe on an Apple device?

 

[AKD]

Temp, alt and wind speed. That's all you need.

And if your going to gave the fancy gadgets go shoot and keep real life data.

Also check ur temp often threw out the day.

Suns up sights up. Possibly account for this as well if u find an effect. Like mirrage can have a big or no effect depending on the individual.

 

[Max Owner]

So what are problems with the Horus ballistics? Curious as I was looking at that meter or getting one without it.

Fella on one of the U.S. sniper forums was having issues trying to learn how to use the meter. Very little info. Web site stuff very vague. Kestrel said talk to Horus. Horus said talk to Kestrel....

Few other things that I have forgotten. Sounded like allot of money for something that was working for him.

 

[pazzo]

Temp, alt and wind speed. That's all you need.

True, if you’re in ALBERTA.

Read "Ballistic Software" and "Getting the Pressure": http://www.arcanamavens.com/LBSFiles/Shooting/Downloads/Baro/

 

[AKD]

....well... isant that convient !

 

[Jordan Smith]

The purpose for measuring altitude is to account for pressure. So you're both right

 

[AKD]

I kind wanted to say ,,,, but I liked how he threw Alberta in there

 

[Westside]

I believe you want a pressure reading and not just an altitude reading.

While shooting here at sea level our pressure can vary a great deal depending on the current and incoming weather patterns.

I have a Kestrel 3500 that i purchased from ATRS approx 1 year ago, it has been thrown into the bottom of my work bag since day one and works every time i pull it out.

When i take the time to record the temp, pressure and wind and then input the data into my ballistic software i am amazed by how often i first shot hit on target. Using Ballistic FTE mainly on Iphone.

 

[AKD]

Altitude, temperature both ammo and out side, wind speed and spin drift.


you can get nit picky past that but its like accounting for corollas effect. usless. We are only talking about rifle shooting here. not artillery.


I think pressure changes with temperature.

 

[gravyboat]

Altitude, temperature both ammo and out side, wind speed and spin drift.


you can get nit picky past that but its like accounting for corollas effect. usless. We are only talking about rifle shooting here. not artillery.


I think pressure changes with temperature.

Density Altitude changes with temperature.

 

[Max Owner]

How well does the bluetooth work with an Iphone?

 

[emerson]

Density Altitude changes with temperature.

I have been reading military shooting manual from Lee Enfield 303 days and they cover the the same ground we do in the "super electronic" age. The manual notes the 303 drifts 5 MOA to the left @1000 yds and drops 350yds at a range of 2500 yds...

Does density altitude include temp, press, and humidity? These all affect the "thickness" of the air.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

I have been reading military shooting manual from Lee Enfield 303 days and they cover the the same ground we do in the "super electronic" age. The manual notes the 303 drifts 5 MOA to the left @1000 yds and drops 350yds at a range of 2500 yds...

I don't understand "the 303 drifts 5 MOA to the left @1000 yds", that doesn't make sense on its own. (a .303 bullet would be blown 5 MOA at 1000 yards by a 3mph-4mph wind, but I don't think that's what they are talking about?)

Does density altitude include temp, press, and humidity? These all affect the "thickness" of the air.

"Density altitude" is something that pilots use. It relates the actual density of the air at an airfield (which is affected by altitude, barometric pressure, temperature and humidity) and expresses it as an equivalent altitude if the other parameters (temp, baro press and humidity) were at there standard values. Pilots are interested in this since aircraft performance (length of takeoff roll, climb rate etc) is very directly affected by air density.

Similarly with rifle ballistics, the air density is a key parameter. The drag on a bullet is directly proportional to the air density. Air density means how many kg of mass there is per cubic metre, or how many pounds per cubic foot.

It is not convenient to directly measure density, but it is very straightforward to measure temperature and pressure. It is somewhat less straightforward to measure humidity, but fortunately of the three parameters it has the least effect on air density.

Given air temperature (degrees-F or degrees-C) and air pressure (Pascals, or inches of mercury, or psi), and an assumed or estimated or measured humidity value, one can easily calculate the air density (that's why good ballistics programs ask for temperature, pressure or altitude, and humidity - it is how they figure out the air density).