RDavies wrote:I have a definite view on whether to practice with a combination which gives lots of wind drift, or one which bucks the wind very well, and that definite view is that it depends, could be either way.
Different shooters minds work in different ways, and all can be right.
It is like some people say you must wind down to 20x if there is any mirage, while others prefer to stay at 55x. Both are right if it suits their particular brain.
It is like how I hold centre and adjust the scope for every shot, but Alan does the opposite, hardly touches the scope, but holds off for every shot. Both work for either of us.
As for do you practice wind reading with a 6BR and shoot comps with a 7mm? One school will say practice with what you compete with, so you get used to the calibers wind drift, recoil etc and for many shooters this could likely be the best solution. My way likely wont work for most and likely isn't best for me, but I like to play, so I make a rule never to use a 7mm at anything under a Queens level shoot, unless it is fire forming or load development. If I am practicing or at an OPM at 300yds, I will use my 6PPC, or 22 BR. If I am shooting 5-600 I will use my 6BR, 6BRA, or Dasher. Further out I will likely use my 6.5x47, or maybe even drag out my slow running 284, or will use my 308 F/tr gun. In this way, with ballisticly limited calibres I really have to work hard to keep up with the bigger guns, so my wind reading, tactics, set up and concentration has to be spot on.
The downside of this is when I get to a Queens, the recoil of the SAUM comes as a bit of a surprise for the first few shots but I get used to after a few ranges. I also have to adjust how much wind I need compared to my little guns but this works for me. Maybe I would do better staying with a SAUM all the way, not sure. For many, my approach would not work at all and they would struggle with different holds, winds, recoil etc and are much better off doing what they are doing, and practicing with what they compete with.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it works for ME and maybe not you.
Yep agreed.
Every person is wired differently and what works for one won't work for the other. For a new shooter I think it matters more about reliably consistent accuracy than absolute wind cheating BC and tack hole accuracy. If you give a new shooter a gun that is consistently capable of .5-.75moa, that they can manage the recoil of, then they have a platform that they can build all other skills from. Skills of wind reading but also, barrel and rifle maintenance and reloading. Chances are that if they have a bad day, and then they have a consistent platform, then hopefully only one of those variables was the cause. If they don't have a consistent platform to reference then it's easy to end up down a rabbit hole of "what was the real issue today" or "how many of those issues did I encounter today".
For an experienced shooter all those 1% gains add up and different comprimises are made between winning and reliability because they have learnt how to identify what the issue is and correct it before it becomes detrimental.