Wind flags

[ned kelly]

G'day Alan,

I think you'll have to agree that a plantation of short range BR flags is a very "in your face" departure from the traditional full-bore flags that have been used for years and years.
Alan

I was just correcting the historic details from a previous post, nothing more,
however, for the record, 6 flags are not a plantation, a typical BR match with 50 or more flags is a plantation, 6 flags are simply a localised infestation!

Nevertheless, the reaction to my post about the wind flags and their use on this forum was more akin to the use of agent orange to wipe out 6 weeds! when it could have been achieved with the use of a small spray bottle of weed killer.

Although, it did prove to me that the bigger flags due to their inertia do lie about what is actually happening out there too.

food for thought........I'll go away now!

Cheerio Ned

[Nathan P]

I originally made these flags for use at my home range because for what ever reason there are no flags after about 200 yards and there is a few big clumps of trees around the targets so I wanted to be able to see what was going on down range, that coupled with the fact we are in tassie and in winter there isn't alot of mirage to watch most of the time, so I do think there are times when these flags can be useful for everyone on the range if they are in front of EVERY target being used, I'm not trying to get the rules changed or anything but I do think it would be good if people didn't just shut a bloke down when he is doing something that could benefit everyone

[DaveMc]

Nathan - first of all if it was my post you thought was shutting you down - I didn't mean it that way but sometimes written text quickly jotted down can be interpreted with the a different intent to which the poster was meaning (or feeling).

You asked for interpretation and that is the discussion we are having. It is a worthwhile one as obviously there have been some that interpret the rules differently to others. And I can see why. This is another example of something that needs clarifying in the SSR's.

It is not a case of whether the BR flags are better (they are). It is not a case of whether the NRAA flags are heavy and take time to go up and come down (they are). It is a case that wherever you go around the country (or indeed around the world) you can expect to have the same (or at least similar) wind indicating devices and they are "standardized".

The "art" in TR and FClass is using those standard indicators at your disposal and doing the best you can with them. Everyone is on a level playing field and it comes down to shooter ability and skill to use them. As soon as someone puts out a non standardized system there is an advantage that comes from the "personalized" wind indicators rather than a common one.
If you feel your range does not have flags in the right positions then talk to your club about getting some more put in. Competitors who spend a lot of money to travel and compete should be able to turn up at a range and know the system in place is one they are familiar with.

As far as the intent of the rules go the general interpretation is NO they are not allowed but that does not mean there can't be a debate about changing the "standard" system.

[Barry Davies]

Hi Ned,
For the record my reference was to the time they were used at the Vic Queens in Bendigo ( some years ago ) It was not you as you do not shoot Queens and I have never shot the VPRC meeting, and was not aware the flags were used at Werribee. I guess in that wind tunnel ( Werribee ) they would be of some benifit as the big flags are rather useless.

[aaronraad]

If anything I wish we were able to adopt the multi-class shooting option that BR allows for. I know it's not practical for anything but a single range event per day, but it would completely change the tactics as to how shooters would approach an OPM.

[Bindi2]

Having shot on several ranges where none of the standard flags agreed at any time. There was a small infestation of windmills that did more than a fair job of indicating what the wind was doing. I have no + or - with them personally but do watch them if they are out and the other flags are suspect.
If they are placed in line with the numbers between the ranges they will not be a problem. Too much information is better than none.
I have just come from a range where 2s were common because the standard flags were to slow indicating wind shifts and there were no windmills.