New Wind Station for Prone Shooters
Gary Eliseo of Competition Shooting Stuff, has come up with a cool new product for prone and F-Class shooters–a complete wind station (with digital display), that mounts on a spotting scope stand. It provides a constant, real-time output of wind velocity with an indicator of wind direction. At the top of the stand, a spinner measures velocity and sends its readings via wire to a remote display. A balanced plastic wind vane shows the wind angle. This is clamp-mounted so you can adjust the vane’s height–low for easy viewing, or high to avoid “ground effect” variations.
A small digital display clips on to the front bell of your spotting scope so you can see wind velocity without changing your shooting position. The display also has a stopwatch function. Gary tells us his Vortex 1200 anemometer is great for prone or smallbore competitors or team coaches. The unit offers 0.5 mph resultion and the battery should last up to one year according to Gary. A tripod mounted version of the shooter’s wind station is also available for benchrest shooters. This mounts to any camera tripod.
Note: Shooters should check competition rules for their discipline to see if this wind station can be used during actual matches. See comments. If match rules prohibit such devices, the wind station is still a valuable tool for practice days between matches.
I could be way out in left field on this one but anyone using such a devise in an NRA sanctioned match would earn an automatic DQ. You cannot even use a Kestrel after prep time is over. By strict interpretation of the rules,even a streamer tied ti your scope stand is a personal flag and not allowed.
Alan
This is true in Canada as well, no electronic equipment is allowed on the line while you are firing, not your PC nor a PDA for plotting, nor a electronic wind flag, in fact, no flags are allowed other than the range flags provided. You can look at the grass and trees if you want…
Gentelmen,
I most respectfully submit to you from NRA International Fullbore Rules Jan.2007
Rule 3.22 personal wind indicators
“self contained wind gauges may be used as long as they do not present a hazard or impediment to other competitiors or range operations and are not placed forward of the firing line”
Rule 3.23 electronic equipment
“Electronic equipment such as radios, tape recorders or any other type of sound production or communication systems are prohibited forward of the ready line, including the pits
All the reasearch I’ve done on this device has not shown that it violates the rules as currently written, rule 3.23 seems to pertain more to sound equipment or cell phones more than anything else
As per the DCRA rules…
12.15 Meteorological Devices (NB: also applicable to ‘F’ Class competitors)
(1) Personal flags, streamers, wind indicators and the like are forbidden on the firing point.
(2) The use of wind-speed manometers, thermometers and barometers is likewise forbidden on the firing point.
(3) Wind charts and calculators are permitted in deliberate fire competitions.
12.17 Personal Communication Devices (NB: also applicable to ‘F’ Class competitors)
(1) Cellular telephones, hand-held computers and similar devices may not be brought onto the firing point.
(2) During non-coached events, no competitor shall bring any device onto the firing point which permits him to communicate personally with the butts or with a wind coach.
(3 During shoulder-to-shoulder team competitions, team radios and wired telephone sets shall ot be used to contact anyone who is:
(a) not a member of the team; or
(b) not in the immediate vicinity of the firing point.
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Gary, I really like the looks of this device and I think it would be great for practice sessions, but us Cdn shooters are SOL regarding them “on the line”.
Good info regarding DCRA rules, thanks Keith!