Target Shooter 1

If you want to go for other models that are of a
more custom design then again, you need to look
at the USA as a supplier. Carbon River Windflags
(www.carbonriverwindflags.com), Killough
Shooting Sports (http://www.killoughshootingsports.com/)
do have a selection of designs to
look at.
The alternative is to make your own, which is
something I have done over the years I have
been shooting Benchrest and with some recent
success. I was sent a wind flag design by a
friend in the US, Doug Weeter, who is a bit of a
mean shot himself. I have found this model very
useful in recent years and it has improved my
understanding of the wind and with it my shooting.
My homemade 360 degree speed
and direction flag, design courtesy
of Doug Weeter
see the angle the wind is blowing at. Some will
use several of the same type of flag and others
will have a variety of types within the same match.
That choice is yours, as is the number you use.
I tend to just use between three and eight. For
better or worse, it’s all I can concentrate on at any
one time! In practise, I tend to look at 3 or 4 main
flags with others in my peripheral vision. Using
more may just come down to training and each
shooter will work in their own way. I know a few
shooters in the US that use up to 15 at anyone
time in the same match! Does this work? For them
yes - it all depends on what you need to inform you
of what is going on between the rifle and the target.
Doug’s design indicates both the direction of
the wind via the main vain, with a ribbon to
supplement this. The red paddle at the top
indicates wind strength as it is pushed by the wind
and calibrated with a weight at the bottom for
different conditions. Therefore I can change
the way this works if I am shooting in light or
heavy winds. At present it is calibrated for winds
up to 10 miles per hour. (To be honest if I was
shooting in winds above this speed then I would
be in difficulty unless they were constant). As this
type of flag shows wind speed from all angles
it is slightly easier to interpret when shooting.
If you would like some plans to make a number
of types of windflags or windicators then go to the
Homemade 180 degree wind indicator
There seems to be a small cottage industry
making flags in the US, with a number of
models available from people who started off
developing them for their own shooting and
have then developed products for the needs of
other shooters. There are a few major suppliers
out there like Caldwell, who also make the
cheaper rests and bags. They do have flags that are
readily available via Midway UK and obviously make
them in large quantities. They are a standard prop
type and are reasonably priced for a set of three.
Target Shooter 49