Practical and Tactical Archives - Talking Guns


Mike MillsapSeptember 7, 202413min68010

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By Mike Millsap

The effects of wind on a bullet’s trajectory are crucial for accurate shooting, whether in
military, law enforcement, or competitive shooting contexts. A bullet, once fired, travels
through the air, and various environmental factors—chief among them wind—can
significantly alter its path. Understanding how wind influences a bullet’s trajectory and
how shooters can mitigate its effects is essential for precision shooting.
Introduction

The study of ballistics, particularly external ballistics, involves understanding how a
projectile behaves once it leaves the firearm and travels through the air. A range of factors
affects the flight of a bullet, including gravity, air resistance, and atmospheric conditions
like wind. While gravity is the most significant factor causing a bullet’s downward drop
over long distances, wind plays a substantial role in deflecting the bullet horizontally. Even
minor wind shifts can lead to significant changes in the bullet’s point of impact.
In this article, we will explore how wind affects the trajectory of a bullet, with a focus on
the physics behind the bullet’s flight, the various wind conditions that influence its path,
and strategies that shooters use to mitigate these effects.
Bullet Trajectory and External Factors

A bullet’s trajectory is the curved path it follows as it travels through the air. The shape of
this path is influenced by several forces, including gravity, air resistance, and
environmental conditions such as wind.

Gravity and Air Resistance
Gravity is the force that pulls a bullet downward as it travels through the air. Without the
influence of gravity, the bullet would follow a straight line. However, the Earth’s
gravitational pull causes the bullet to drop as it moves forward. The faster a bullet travels,
the flatter the trajectory, but the effect of gravity is always present.
Air resistance, or drag, opposes the bullet’s motion, slowing it down and affecting its
trajectory. As the bullet moves through the air, it compresses air in front of it, creating a
shockwave. This results in a loss of kinetic energy and causes the bullet to gradually
decelerate, particularly as it travels over long distances.

The Role of Wind
Wind is another important factor that influences a bullet’s trajectory. Wind can exert a
force on the bullet, causing it to drift from its original path. This effect is most pronounced
when shooting at longer distances, where the wind has more time and opportunity to
influence the bullet’s flight.

Wind can be categorized based on its direction relative to the shooter and the bullet’s
trajectory:

• Headwind: A wind blowing directly opposite to the bullet’s direction of travel. It
reduces the bullet’s velocity, causing it to drop more quickly. The effect is akin to
increasing air resistance, making the bullet slower and resulting in more drop.

• Tailwind: A wind blowing in the same direction as the bullet. This will increase the
bullet’s velocity, causing it to travel further before gravity causes significant drop.
However, the effect on drop is less pronounced compared to a headwind.

• Crosswind: A wind that blows perpendicular to the bullet’s direction of travel. This
type of wind can deflect the bullet sideways, causing it to miss the intended target
laterally. Crosswinds are often the most challenging to account for, especially when
shooting at long distances.

• Variable Wind: Wind that changes speed and direction during the bullet’s flight.
This is particularly difficult to predict and account for, as a changing wind can cause
unpredictable shifts in the bullet’s path.

Each of these wind conditions can affect the bullet in different ways, and understanding
these influences is crucial for accurate shooting.

The Physics of Wind on Bullet Trajectory
To understand the effects of wind on a bullet’s flight, we need to delve into the basic
physics that govern projectile motion. When a bullet is fired, it is subject to several forces
that alter its path.

Wind as a Lateral Force
Wind acts as a lateral force on a bullet. For simplicity, let’s consider a crosswind that blows
at a constant speed perpendicular to the direction of the bullet. The bullet experiences a
force that pushes it sideways, deflecting it from its intended path. The magnitude of this
deflection depends on several factors:

• Bullet Speed: Faster bullets are less affected by wind because they spend less time
in the air, reducing the opportunity for the wind to act on them. Conversely, slower
bullets are more susceptible to wind drift.

• Wind Speed: The stronger the wind, the greater the lateral force it exerts on the
bullet. Even moderate wind speeds can have a significant effect on the bullet’s
trajectory over long distances.

• Distance: The longer the bullet travels, the greater the time it is exposed to the
wind. Therefore, wind has a more substantial effect at longer ranges.

Wind and Bullet Drop

While wind primarily causes lateral drift, it can also impact the bullet’s vertical trajectory
in certain conditions. For example, a strong headwind can increase the bullet’s time in the
air, leading to more pronounced vertical drop due to gravity. A tailwind, on the other hand,
may reduce the bullet’s drop because it increases the bullet’s forward velocity.

Mitigation Techniques for Wind Drift
Given the significant impact wind can have on a bullet’s trajectory, shooters employ various
strategies to mitigate wind drift and improve accuracy. These strategies range from
understanding wind patterns to adjusting the rifle’s sights or even the shooter’s position.

Wind Reading
One of the most important skills for a shooter is the ability to read the wind. Successful
shooters can analyze the wind’s speed, direction, and consistency to predict how it will
affect their shots. There are several methods for reading the wind:

• Observing Wind Indicators: Shooters can use flags, trees, grass, or even dust to
gauge wind speed and direction. By paying attention to how these indicators move,
shooters can get a sense of the wind’s behavior at different distances.

• Mirage: Mirage is the shimmering effect caused by heated air near the ground, often
seen in hot environments. The movement of the mirage can indicate the direction
and strength of the wind. While it’s not as accurate as other methods, mirage can
provide valuable insight into the wind’s behavior at long distances.

• Wind Flags: Many shooting ranges provide wind flags, which are placed at various
points along the shooting line to help shooters gauge wind speed and direction.

Adjusting the Sights
One way to account for wind is to adjust the rifle’s sights. Most modern sniper rifles and
long-range rifles feature windage adjustments on the scope, allowing the shooter to
compensate for wind drift. By making fine adjustments to the scope’s windage dial, the
shooter can shift the point of impact laterally, compensating for the lateral drift caused by
crosswinds.

Holdover and Holdoff
In addition to adjusting the sights, shooters can also use the technique of holdover or
holdoff. Holdover refers to aiming slightly above the target to account for the bullet’s drop
due to gravity, while holdoff involves aiming to the left or right of the target to compensate
for wind drift. This is often used when the shooter does not have time to adjust the sights
or when the wind is unpredictable.

Wind Gauge and Technology
Modern technology has provided shooters with advanced tools to measure wind speed and
direction more accurately. Wind gauges and anemometers are widely used by both military
snipers and competitive shooters to assess the wind’s behavior in real-time. Additionally,
advanced ballistic calculators and apps can help shooters predict the effects of wind on the
bullet’s trajectory, taking into account environmental factors like temperature, humidity,
and altitude.

Practical Considerations in Different Environments

Wind conditions can vary dramatically depending on the environment. Shooters must
adapt their techniques to the specific conditions they encounter.

Open Terrain
In open terrain, wind can be relatively constant, with few obstructions to disrupt its flow.
Shooters in these environments rely heavily on wind flags and other indicators to gauge the
wind’s behavior. However, wind patterns can shift suddenly, so experienced shooters
constantly monitor the wind and adjust their shooting accordingly.

Urban and Forested Environments
In urban or forested environments, wind conditions can be more unpredictable due to
obstacles like buildings, trees, and hills. These structures can cause turbulence and cause
the wind to shift direction rapidly. Shooters in these environments need to be especially
attuned to local wind patterns and adjust their shots accordingly.

Long-Range Precision Shooting
In long-range precision shooting, the effects of wind are often most noticeable. At distances
of 500 meters or more, wind drift can cause significant lateral displacement, making it
difficult to hit small targets. Shooters may need to adjust their sights multiple times during
a single shot, as wind conditions can change rapidly at these distances.

Conclusion
Wind is one of the most significant environmental factors affecting a bullet’s trajectory, and
its influence increases with distance. Understanding how wind interacts with a bullet’s
flight path is crucial for shooters, as even small wind changes can result in significant shifts
in the point of impact. While compensating for wind can be challenging, shooters have
developed a variety of techniques and tools to mitigate its effects, including wind reading,
sight adjustments, and technological aids. By mastering these methods, shooters can
increase their accuracy and precision, even in the most challenging wind conditions.

References
• Hatcher, J. S. (1935). Hatcher’s Notebook: A Manual of Firearms Knowledge. Stackpole
Books.
• McCoy, R. A. (2002). Modern Exterior Ballistics: The Launching of the Bullet. A. S.
Barnes.
• Sigler, R. L., & Giesen, D. S. (2012). Wind Effects on Ballistic Trajectories. National
Defense Industrial Association.
• Frank, G. (2017). Ballistic Trajectory Prediction for Long-Range Shooting. Journal of
Military Ballistics, 19(2), 223-231.



Erik WenzelMay 18, 20203min112182
Legendary firearms instructor and subject matter expert, Dr. Wes Doss is now the victim of a series of medical incidents, including Malpractice and Negligence, that is almost too ridiculous to believe. The worst part is that this incident continues to Spiral out of control and now Wes’ health, future and the continuation of his life is complete unknown at this point.
This is a Call To Action for anyone who can Spread the Word about this Injustice.
Dr. Wes Doss is an internationally recognized firearm, tactics and use of force instructor with over 30 years of military & civilian criminal justice experience, as well as significant operational time with both military & law enforcement tactical operations & protective service organizations.
Wes holds specialized instructor certifications from the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, Arizona POST, the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Sig Sauer Academy, NRA LEAD, FEMA and the Department of State.  Wes holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and an upper level Doctorate in Psychology, with an emphasis on sports and performance.

#army #veteran #help #helping #hospital #medical #doctor #emergency #stroke #wesdoss #calltoaction #clicklinkinbio #linkinbio #link #gofundme #charity #police #policeofficer #cops #cop #statetrooper #statepolice #trooper #deputy #deputysheriff #sheriff #law

Audio and Video by Caleb Lash and Mike Kovacs



Erik WenzelOctober 25, 20198min132200

When I was a child, my grandfather was a pro at passing along words of wisdom. He was full of one off tidbits that were usually off color and good for a laugh. Of all of the wonderful euphemisms and sage advice that he passed along, his favorite by far was, “Son, you get what you pay for.” I have found this to be true in many occasions, but every once in a rare while, I have found exceptions to this rule. The exception that I am going to reveal comes in the form of a new scope manufacturer, Acme Machine.

The world of optics is, much like all technology advancing at a rapid pace. Not 10 years ago, a decent piece of glass for your rifle would set you back a pretty penny. First focal plane? How about you sell a kidney? Illuminated reticle? That liver will suffice in trade! Locking turrets would, for the average guy on a state budget, take a boat load of overtime to attain. Ladies and gentlemen,  those days are long gone. You can have all of those phenomenal perks for the ridiculous price of $339 as of this posting.

Usually when things seem too good to be true, they are. However,  I am proud to say that when it comes to the Acme Machine line of scopes, this was not the case. I had the chance to test a few different variations of the Acme Machine scopes, and honestly they were very good. The glass clarity was quite good, I would put it in the same quality tier as offerings from Vortex, Bushnell and entry level Burris. I was able to put quite a few rounds through it in different lighting conditions, and the scope handled everything from bright daylight to dusk in exemplary form.

 

The first scope that I will cover is the offering in 1-8x. Several things stood out for me as exceptional. The turrets were delightfully tactile, and i was pleasantly surprised with the audible response I received when turning the dials. The most apparent place that companies cut corners usually comes by way of the turrets, and these were crisp. Another pricy feature this scope brings to the table is the ability to lock the illumination turret. In addition, this scope also tracked very well. While performing a box drill at 50 yards this scope was right on the money, with a complete return to zero from whence I started. This was no easy task, as I chose a rifle that has put some optics to the test. My Bren 805 has a very large bolt carrier group, which equates to a very large reciprocating mass. This has, in my experience, changed zero on lesser scopes with ease. The Acme Machine 1-8x however handled it like a boss.

The reticle on the 1-8x was useful. At 1x, being in the first focal plane, I was able to use it in the fashion of a red dot. This made target transitions a breeze, while still providing for the capability to easily take the shots out to 300+ yards. When it’s time to crank up the magnification, the power ring was stiff, but not unusable. The reticle at 8x was a smidge busy, but as was mentioned earlier, it was usable. In the world of Christmas tree reticles and ballistic drop calculators built in, I wish the horse shoe segments were smaller, and the cross hair stadia slimmer. This is one of the very few things about this scope that I would change if given the chance or opportunity.

Alright, so the scope has very good glass, tracks well, is first focal plane, is illuminated, has nice audible and tactile turrets, and has a modest price. Whats the catch you ask? There is a very small list of things that I would change, and they are as follows. At 1X magnification, it is almost as if the scope is showing you a sight picture at .75X instead of true 1X. I found the sight picture to be closer to true 1x at around the 1.5x mark. Not a big deal to me, but when I was practicing both eyes open shooting, I made sure that the power ring was at 1.5X. The second and to me most glaring insufficiency when it came to the scope came by way of the anti reflective coating, or lack there of on the glass. This manifested itself in a few interesting ways. When turning the illumination on, it was almost as if the scope was reflecting light from the diode, and the resulting effect was a large halo around the exterior of the sight picture. The scope also reflected light off of the ocular lens at the back of the scope. Anytime I got a direct light source from about 4 o clock to 7 o clock, I would inevitably catch the light directly in my eye. This was, to me, mildly annoying at worst.

So the question remains, would I pitch the Acme Machine 1-8x to my grandfather as a viable option in the low power variable scope realm? I absolutely would. For me, the few cons are drastically outweighed by the pros. I think that this is an excellent example of technology finally being applied to the firearms market, and I would offer it as a competitive option for a midrange carbine. Long gone are the days of exorbitant prices for decent rifle glass, and I am happy to say good riddance to them and welcome to the era of new exciting options. Acme Machine scopes definitely get a solid nod of approval from me.

-Malone



Erik WenzelMay 20, 20198min130640


In this wonderful day and age where technology is rapidly advancing, sometimes things get left behind. I have found this especially true in regards to the firearms industry. You want parts for a glock or an AR 15? Buckle your seat-belts because you would be absolutely blown away by the countless hours of scrolling you could do to modify your precious pieces. There are, however, some platforms that are somewhat behind the times. For me it was the AK platform that was the “child left behind”. Extremely short lengths of pull, difficulty mounting modern lights and optics, strange charging operation that requires nothing short of a degree in contortion-ism to accomplish, and that wretched spike grip suitable only to the hands of leprechauns and small children. I found myself wondering if there was a way to bring the AK into the current decade, and I decided that I was going to see if I had the testicular fortitude to take on the task of creating my “perfect” AK.
All projects have to start somewhere, and the base of my project was a bare bones Arsenal 107FR. I acquired the rifle after consulting the inter-webs and several friends who fancy themselves AK connoisseurs. The Arsenal SLR107 is a standard stamped receiver that I was assured would offer great ability to accept customization. After a trip to my local shop I was off to the races. In the attempt to insure that I made the right choice in my base rifle, I began to learn the AK platform. I spent several days on the range, and about 1000 rounds later, I had decided that there were things that I wanted to address.
I found that I was less than impressed with the length of pull and the lack of adjustment therein. I found the stock to be very short and it made me feel extremely cramped behind the rifle. While I had decided that I was going to replace it, I also looked into the option of a folding stock. Being that the AK does not require the use of a buffer tube, it would be nice to be able to have the rifle be utilized while folded, in addition to taking up less room in my gun case or underneath the seat in my truck. While shopping for an item that would fit the bill, I ran across an option that satisfied both my desire to adjust the length of pull and the folding capability. I chose to go with the Magpul Zhukov stock in OD Green. When I purchased the Zhukov, I found it to be an exceptionally easy install and a vast improvement to the original offering.
The next item that I chose really handled two issues with one piece. The main issue was that I had no way to solidly mount an optic. AK iron sights don’t really do it for me. They impede the sight picture with a severely closed-in front sight post, and to me this hampered the rifles capability in a major fashion. With the litany of extremely exceptional optic systems available to us today, I found it unacceptable that the mount on the AK platform was sub-par. What I settled on was a Zenitco B30 and B31 combo. I decided to pair this with a Holosun 403C in a low mount. To be fair, I got this in a trade which involved my old arsenal furniture, but it solved more than a few problems for me. I liked it because this rail is an absolute tank, and I found it to be extremely stable when installed on the rifle. I also liked that it was easy to service the rifle just by undoing two screws and lifting the top rail. If you can find one, I would definitely recommend the B30 rail system, as it greatly increases the capability of the rifle by allowing not only the ability to mount an optic, but a vertical grip as well.
The next thing that I set out to tackle was the grip. The grip is one of the pivotal connections between your body and the rifle. I found the factory offering to be extremely lacking. In my mind’s eye, the standard AK grip closely resembled a tent stake. I admittedly have large hands and the factory grip had to go. I settled on yet another Magpul offering in the MOE AK+ grip. This is totally an AR knockoff grip that I really like. The rubberized coating gives great grip, and I find it to be very comfortable for people of the man-sized hands persuasion.
The last area that I found needing improvement was on the very front end of the rifle. As an AR shooter primarily, I found the recoil impulse of the AK unpleasant. The rifle was equipped with a slant muzzle brake originally, and I found that it did too good of a job. I say this meaning that when I was shooting the rifle it was actually driving the muzzle end of the rifle down. This is usually a good thing, but in this case too much of a good thing was actually uncomfortable. It created a fulcrum effect which in essence drove the stock into my cheek bone. I swapped it out for a Strike Industries J Comp. This addition made the recoil more linear in nature, and while it is absolutely obnoxious for the people around you, who needs fillings right?
The end result is a rifle that I find to be an absolute joy to shoot. It is surprisingly accurate at formidable distance, and honestly it surpassed my expectations. For those of you that are of the opinion that the AK platform isn’t capable of accuracy, think again. I can confirm wholeheartedly that technology can be successfully applied to the AK platform, and if you’re thinking of trying it yourself, I would strongly encourage you to try.

-Malone



Architekt JessApril 17, 20191min119230

The XTech Tactical MAG47 is made in the USA, And offers Stainless Steel lugs, Feed-lips and Spring.

Talking Guns was asked to test these new mags out in a few different AK47 platforms to get an idea of their Fit, Form and Function.

In every instance there was not one notable issue, the positive feel when the MAG47 locks into the gun far exceeds the feeling of standard metal magazines.

The feeding was perfect no matter what the speed of shooting. Next time we will run full auto weapons to really stress these mags to the max.

Overall we were very pleased with the XTech MAG47 line, they are tough, durable, and lightweight magazines.

Check us out for more torture testing that we are going to do on this new line of magazines from XTech Tactical.

www.talkingguns.net
www.xtechtactical.com

 

Video and Editing by Jason Mcdonald



Pete FrancisJanuary 17, 20194min39740

By Pete Francis

The great thing about the South West is the public land, if you go east you find its mostly private lands and this makes hunting for a beginner like I was pretty hard, as most people don’t want you out in their hunting lands either. The down side is, where you might think an area is not hunted, it most likely has been.

You don’t have to drive far to find a coyote, heck they most likely are living around your area no mater where you live now days in America. All it takes is a good Rifle; AR-15’s are superb for Coyotes, with the .223 you can reach out, or with the modular design you can adapt a host of calibers to suit your needs. I personally like the 6.5 Grendel using the Hornady 123gr Black, it’s a ELD projectile in match grade, so accuracy is great. Sub MOA at 100, and groups no larger than 2” at 200 yards.

I didn’t grow up hunting at all, I ended up meeting a guy on social media, Dan Macdonald and we became really good friends over hunting, fishing and 4wd toys. He showed me the basics, got me lined up with the proper gear and really made it fun to go out and hunt. On our first trip, we went up north from Phoenix, AZ in April, only to find out it had snowed 4” in spring time, and we were defiantly dressed for spring time.

So, come forward 5 years, I have the pleasure to say I went from 3 or 4 coyotes that first year, to 106 coyotes in 2018 season. Hunting year around, although the summers out here a brutal as night time temperatures can stay in the 100+ degree range. Coyote hunting is better suited to Fall, Winter and Spring out this way in my opinion.

Traveling for work in the Pipeline industry, I get to see great expanses of the south west and really helps with finding new areas to hunt, whether it be Arizona, Nevada, or California, its not hard to find a Coyote. Using Lucky Duck Electronic callers with custom sounds from Rick Paillet, and Tony Tebbe, to using Hand Calls from Jason Mccameron at Rowdy Dog Custom Calls, as well as hand calls from Verminator Predator Calls, and Predator University. I have found great success in calling these smart coyotes in.

Some places in the South West allow for night hunting, When I moved up to Henderson, NV , I ended up meeting a gentleman by the name of Rick Arnold, he introduced me to night hunting and night vision. So being able to use some high tech digital night vision like the Accufire Noctis V1, paired with Sniper Hog Lights 66XLR for IR light and red lights really bring the coyote calling to a whole new level. Not only is the guy a phenomenal predator hunter, he is an excellent source of information and really goes out of his way to help people in the sport.

I get asked a lot, “Why do you hunt coyotes?”. Its not just for sport, but more importantly its for conservation. Most Fawns of Deer, Elk, and Antelope fall victim to coyotes. Leading to low population of these animals that is very hard to recover from. As well, we have ranchers who supply beef, and make their hard earned dollar only to take huge losses during calfing season to these predators that are vastly abundant and extremely sharp at what they do.