Wind and bullets

[Ucsdryder]

I was having a discussion with a big brained shooter and we were discussing wind and bullets, specifically what part of the bullets path is most affected by wind.

He stated that the first portion because the wind, even pushing the bullet a small amount, would result in a much greater change to the POI because the bullets course would change. Similar if you miss a target 1” left at 100 yards, at 1000 yards that error would now be ~10”.

My understanding has always been that the bullet will stay on its path, it’ll just get nudged over x amount, but stay on it’s current path.

 

[Billy Goat]

I'm interested in the responses.


I guess you are talking about a shot thats like 800-1k?

 

[Pacific_Fork]

He’s correct. Closer to the muzzle, crosswinds near the shooter give the bullet a small lateral velocity jump. Makes a big difference at long range. Crosswinds at the target only affect left and right for a shorter amount of time in the bullets flight.

 

[mt terry d]

From GROK:
Key Insight from Litz's Analysis, Wind near the shooter has a greater effect on the bullet's total deflection at the target than the same wind speed near the target. This is a counterintuitive but well-substantiated principle in external ballistics.Why Wind Near the Shooter Matters More

• The bullet "weathervanes" (yaws slightly) into the crosswind due to aerodynamic drag, creating a small angular deviation from its original line of flight.
• When this deflection happens early (near the muzzle), the bullet travels the remaining distance on this new, angled path → resulting in greater cumulative offset by the time it reaches the target.
• Wind near the target pushes the bullet sideways for less remaining flight time, so the deflection is smaller.
• Additionally, the bullet slows down over distance (increasing "lag time" relative to a vacuum trajectory), but the primary driver is the time/distance remaining after the initial deflection — not just the slower speed making it "easier to push."

Supporting Evidence and Examples

• In analyses shared by Applied Ballistics (and echoed in forums/shooting resources referencing Litz), the first third of the trajectory often accounts for 40-50%+ of total wind influence, while the last third accounts for only 10-20%.
• A common myth is that wind near the target matters more because the bullet is slower and more susceptible to being "pushed." Litz and ballistic modeling debunk this: early deflection has more time to accumulate.
• Practical rule of thumb from long-range shooters citing Litz: Prioritize reading wind at your position first, then mid-range, and least near the target (though all sections matter in variable conditions).

For deeper reading, check Chapter 5 in Litz's Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting, where he covers the mechanism of wind deflection in detail, including diagrams and equations showing why near-muzzle wind dominates.

 

[Ucsdryder]

From GROK:
Key Insight from Litz's Analysis, Wind near the shooter has a greater effect on the bullet's total deflection at the target than the same wind speed near the target. This is a counterintuitive but well-substantiated principle in external ballistics.Why Wind Near the Shooter Matters More

• The bullet "weathervanes" (yaws slightly) into the crosswind due to aerodynamic drag, creating a small angular deviation from its original line of flight.
• When this deflection happens early (near the muzzle), the bullet travels the remaining distance on this new, angled path → resulting in greater cumulative offset by the time it reaches the target.
• Wind near the target pushes the bullet sideways for less remaining flight time, so the deflection is smaller.
• Additionally, the bullet slows down over distance (increasing "lag time" relative to a vacuum trajectory), but the primary driver is the time/distance remaining after the initial deflection — not just the slower speed making it "easier to push."

Supporting Evidence and Examples

• In analyses shared by Applied Ballistics (and echoed in forums/shooting resources referencing Litz), the first third of the trajectory often accounts for 40-50%+ of total wind influence, while the last third accounts for only 10-20%.
• A common myth is that wind near the target matters more because the bullet is slower and more susceptible to being "pushed." Litz and ballistic modeling debunk this: early deflection has more time to accumulate.
• Practical rule of thumb from long-range shooters citing Litz: Prioritize reading wind at your position first, then mid-range, and least near the target (though all sections matter in variable conditions).

For deeper reading, check Chapter 5 in Litz's Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting, where he covers the mechanism of wind deflection in detail, including diagrams and equations showing why near-muzzle wind dominates.

I hate being wrong….

 

[mt terry d]

After being married 48 years you'll get used to it.

 

[rickyw]

After being married 48 years you'll get used to it.

I hate being wrong….

especially when you’re right but you’re still wrong