Reading wind flags while shooting apetures.

OkayShooter

OkayShooter

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So I started to try and use wind flags, nothing more than coat hangers and trail marking tape attached off the target stands. But I find they're not useful, as apetures you get tunnel vision. I utilize a blinder on my rear peep so it covers my left eye.

Are the only way to use them is to have them directly in your view?
 
When I'm using flags (Tape attached to the T-stands) I keep both eyes open. But I'm using a scope or irons, I don't have peeps. Does using the left eye distract your aim ? Maybe have the tape hanging 'just off-center' of the target so it's in your 'tunnel' ? I also have 'bubba-flags' made with bamboo dollar-store garden-stakes with coat hanger stuck into the hollow to suspend the tape a few inches away from the stick.
The range I use almost always has switchy-winds due to trees on both sides of a 50-yd clear range. Dead-still is rare.
 
jlovie said:
I could never get used to them no matter where they were placed, I always seemed to over compensate. I ended up buying an expensive wind gauge (kestrel are they called?), which has been out of the box but that's about it.
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The gusts that get me. Not uncommon to see 20-50kph gusts on an avg Valley day. But cannot seem to figure how to make them useable without obstructing my target. It only an issue with apetures.
 
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I can't say I'm familiar with the flag reading techniques used by position shooters (i.e. ISSF or Olympic style shooting), but many shooters using flags when shooting from the bench shoot free recoil. This means that once the crosshairs are set on the target the shooter may not need to look through the scope any longer, at least for a short while. He is able to watch the flags to show the conditions and when it's appropriate to shoot.

Holding the rifle when its on a shooting rest while watching flags is a combination of activities that can be difficult to simultaneously master. I suspect that one or the other or both may suffer from want of attention.
 
Probably why ISSF or Olympics, shooters use the much larger front apeture ( 22mm ) to get a better FOV? Guess I should switch to cleat insert.
 
OkayShooter said:
So I started to try and use wind flags, nothing more than coat hangers and trail marking tape attached off the target stands. But I find they're not useful, as apetures you get tunnel vision. I utilize a blinder on my rear peep so it covers my left eye.

Are the only way to use them is to have them directly in your view?
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Shoot with both eyes open. ... takes practice, but it will improve your results. The tension in your face and neck from winking is a real thing ... and you can see the windflags.
 
Canuck65 said:
Shoot with both eyes open. ... takes practice, but it will improve your results. The tension in your face and neck from winking is a real thing ... and you can see the windflags.
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Bingo! Couldn’t agree more but don’t know how feasible it will be with a hooded rear sight. I guess just try and see if it will work.
 
I recently got a new RX and contacts. So should help the agistism and near sighted. Why I ran the left eye blinder as it took more effort to focus and left me fatigued. I know not the most ideal vision for apetures sights but still enjoy it.

But thanks I'll try it without.
 
What works for one may not for another but as long as your having fun and enjoying, that’s all that matters. You’ve peeked my interest to try shooting aperture’s on my 1913 Supermatch. Just dug them outah the box and reinstalled o the rifle. Cheers
 
Did find that most will use their other eye to read the flags.. So yes my blinder is hindering me.

I did learn how the wind will effect the bullet. Blowing to the left it will move the bullet up and to the left, wind blowing right. You'll get low right.
 
OkayShooter said:
I did learn how the wind will effect the bullet. Blowing to the left it will move the bullet up and to the left, wind blowing right. You'll get low rig
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The blinder should be as narrow as possible and, ideally, made of translucent plastic. This will allow you to maintain a good field of view and you should be able to see your windflags with your left eye.

Something like this:

6j1o2Gy.jpg
 
250-25X said:
The blinder should be as narrow as possible and, ideally, made of translucent plastic. This will allow you to maintain a good field of view and you should be able to see your windflags with your left eye.

Something like this:

6j1o2Gy.jpg
Click to expand...
Yeah this probably wasn't helping.
20240730_111141.jpg
 
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I’ve only shot fullbore with wind flags but I’d suppose that it might help to have the flags set up so you can see them through the rear sight off to the side of the front sight.. that worked at 900m for me back in the day. May not be practical at .22 ranges so take this with a few grains of salt.
 
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