Wind meter/Kestrel for Nrl hunter competition

[WKR]

How essential is a wind meter for nrl hunter?
If you have an understanding on reading wind and making wind calls, is a kestrel still advantageous?

Keep in mind that the RF binos i use have in board atmospherics.

 

[Lunchbox37]

I guess it would depend on your “system” or process. Definitely not advisable to be scrolling thru one to get ballistic solutions on the clock. I’ll be using one for periodic environment variable checks, other than that just running the LRF Binos with AB elite on the garmin watch.

 

[northernalpine]

On board atmospherics won’t provide the wind call at actual location, which is arguably as or more important than air density/temp/humidity. I wouldn’t put faith in weather station wind info.

If you have the skills to accurately call wind based on flags, vegetation, or mirage, I would go that route. I can’t consistently do it yet so I use the basic Kestrel that, even if restarting after an auto-shutdown, can get me a spot on wind call in about 8-10 seconds.

Side question: what is the time limit/standard per target for NRL Hunter matches?

 

[Lunchbox37]

Theres a time limit of 4 minutes per stage but not a standard time per target. Stages are usually a 1 target x 4 positions (1x4), 2 targets x 2 positions (2x2) or 4 targets x 1 position (4x1). You figure you'll spend the first 45 seconds just setting up a glassing situation, 1 - 2 minutes glassing to ID and range the target(s) and the remaining time engaging.

 

[northernalpine]

Theres a time limit of 4 minutes per stage but not a standard time per target. Stages are usually a 1 target x 4 positions (1x4), 2 targets x 2 positions (2x2) or 4 targets x 1 position (4x1). You figure you'll spend the first 45 seconds just setting up a glassing situation, 1 - 2 minutes glassing to ID and range the target(s) and the remaining time engaging.

That sounds like an awesome format. I need to look into this - thanks for the info @Lunchbox37

@WKR I can see how things could turn into a rodeo quickly with too many gadgets to manage. I use mine for any shots over 300 under field conditions, but take my input with a grain of salt on this one

 

[Lawnboi]

You won’t use it on the clock. But I’d put it as very important for obtaining atmospherics and measuring wind whenever you can when not.

A wind meter lets me put a number to what I’m feeling, without it it’s a real wild guess.

 

[WKR]

You won’t use it on the clock. But I’d put it as very important for obtaining atmospherics and measuring wind whenever you can when not.

A wind meter lets me put a number to what I’m feeling, without it it’s a real wild guess.

Which one are you using?

 

[Lawnboi]

Which one are you using?

I have a 5700. I’d buy the elite if I could go back and am going to upgrade my 5700 to an elite eventually.

Having backup ballistics is nice. Custom drag is nice. I do a lot of other shooting though and could benefit from some of the features beyond the basics.

Really you just need a reliable wind meter, the 5700 will do most of what’s needed for the average guy. Kestrels are fairly complex tools to use but they seem to be reliable. Being able to put a number on what you’re feeling and seeing in various locations is invaluable. As is adjusting atmospherics, though I know you said your binos do that already.

As I said for nrl, no way you’re pulling it out on the clock. But between stages and for assessing wind at different times it’s a great tool.

 

[WKR]

I have a 5700. I’d buy the elite if I could go back and am going to upgrade my 5700 to an elite eventually.

Having backup ballistics is nice. Custom drag is nice. I do a lot of other shooting though and could benefit from some of the features beyond the basics.

Really you just need a reliable wind meter, the 5700 will do most of what’s needed for the average guy. Kestrels are fairly complex tools to use but they seem to be reliable. Being able to put a number on what you’re feeling and seeing in various locations is invaluable. As is adjusting atmospherics, though I know you said your binos do that already.

As I said for nrl, no way you’re pulling it out on the clock. But between stages and for assessing wind at different times it’s a great tool.

What makes you want to upgrade to the elite?

at my home range, where I can shoot out to 880, I plan on putting up an actual weather station, to use and punch in manually to an app or calculator. So the kestrel would be mainly for when I travel or go to competitions.

 

[JohnJohnson]

That sounds like an awesome format. I need to look into this - thanks for the info

Here's a video on a match with triggercam and all that from Phillip Velayo. Go to the 10 minute mark to see the actual stages from then onwards. The stuff before then is just explaining the format, and they are doing it as a 2 person team which is an option.

 

[Lawnboi]

What makes you want to upgrade to the elite?

at my home range, where I can shoot out to 880, I plan on putting up an actual weather station, to use and punch in manually to an app or calculator. So the kestrel would be mainly for when I travel or go to competitions.

Custom drag curves for longer range and 22lr. Target card feature for PRS.

 

[ID_Matt]

I don't think it is a huge deal if you have a good understanding of wind to begin with and have something else to read the atmospherics - D/A, temp, etc. I have a kestrel and bring it to the competitions but the only time I may pull it out is to check wind speed between stages and get a baseline idea for what I may encounter on the next stage or if I want to cross reference my dope with my binos, but I have found the solutions my Sig RF binos give to be plenty adequate. A basic wind meter would probably suffice for just spot checking the wind speed occasionally. The 3 matches I shot last year, you were mostly sheltered in between stages so you had no idea what exact direction you were shooting or what the wind would be like at the actual stage... plus you were generally shooting across a canyon so wind wasn't terribly relevant where you staged.

 

[codym]

Question for you that have shot nrl hunter. On a 4 position stage could you technically shoot from your first position go to the second position shoot from there and then go back to the first position as it’s technically a different position from number two or do they all need to be completely different positions and how much designates a new position? I’ve read the rules, can’t find an answer and watched videos that would imply both scenarios.. thanks

 

[Lunchbox37]

It would be up to the Match Director... they might have 4 positions that are marked, or they might have it where you have to move to 4 different positions, or they may allow you to re-use a previous position. Its a question you would ask in the match safety brief or the RO of the stage.

 

[codym]

I appreciate it, that’s kind of what it seemed like.

 

[Juan_ID]

I’ve only done 4 nrl hunter matches so not a ton of experience but this is all I use for wind metering. I’ve never won a match either so there is that…

 

[Shortschaf]

If there's no wind or stable wind, its not important.

If there's lots of wind or changing winds, it is important. Especially if you care about first hits.

I bring mine with hunting, so I bring it with to NRL. If you have it, you will use it.


EDIT:
Post #12 is spot on

 

[Okie_Poke]

I'm going to revive this thread instead of starting a new one on the same topic. I'm planning to shoot an NRL Hunter match next March. My rangefinder has on-board environmental sensors and a ballistic solver (AB Lite) built in. I'll have my phone w/app and a physical range card for backup regarding ballistic data. So, for this match, I'm not going to spend several hundred dollars to get one of the Kestrels with all of the ballistic bells and whistles. If I start shooting more matches, I'll probably want to get one of the top-shelf Kestrels, but I'm not there yet.

Still, I'm thinking about spending up to $100 to get a basic wind meter, either from Kestrel or Weatherflow or something like that. (I'd happily spend less if I could trust the output from something cheaper . . . ). I'm not really planning to use it on the clock, but as a training tool to get better at guessing/reading wind, and I'd use it off the clock at the match for more of the same.

Is this a good idea or waste of money? Anyone have a recommendation on a good, no-frills wind meter they trust? I appreciate your input.

 

[hereinaz]

Good idea to calibrate your wind sense with a wind meter. You don’t need it for data for 95% of the stages. Just keep your rangefinder out of the sun