Praslick Teaches Wind-Reading Skills
To succeed in long-range shooting matches, given the high level of competition these days, you’ll need solid wind-reading abilities. We’ve found an article by SFC Emil Praslick III, USAMU Service Rifle coach, that can help you make better wind calls in competition.
SFC Praslick is considered one of the best wind gurus in the United States, if not the world. He has authored an excellent two-part article on wind reading that is available on the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) website. Both articles contain helpful illustrations, and are “must-read” resources for any long-range shooter–not just Service Rifle and Highpower competitors.
Click to Read Articles:
Reading the Wind (Part One) | Reading the Wind (Part Two)
Part One covers basic principles, tactics, and strategies, with a focus on the 200-yard stages. Emil writes: “There are as many dimensions to ‘wind reading’ as there are stages to High Power competition. Your tactical mindset, or philosophy, must be different for the 200 and 300 yard rapid-fire stages than it would be for the 600 yard slow-fire. In the slow-fire stages you have the ability to adjust windage from shot to shot, utilizing the location of the previous shot as an indicator. Additionally, a change to the existing conditions can be identified and adjusted for prior to shooting the next shot.”
In Part Two, Praslick provides more detailed explanations of the key principles of wind zeros, wind reading, and the “Clock System” for determining wind values: “The Value of the wind is as important as its speed when deciding the proper windage to place on the rifle. A 10 MPH wind from ’12 o-clock’ has No Value, hence it will not effect the flight of the bullet. A 10 MPH wind from ‘3 o’clock’, however, would be classified as Full Value. Failure to correct for a Full Value wind will surely result in a less than desirable result.”
Praslick also explains how to identify and evaluate mirage:
Determine the accuracy of the mirage. Mirage is the reflection of light through layers of air that have different temperatures than the ground. These layers are blown by the wind and can be monitored to detect wind direction and speed.
Focus your scope midway between yourself and the target, this will make mirage appear more prominent. I must emphasize the importance of experience when using mirage as a wind-reading tool. The best way to become proficient in the use of mirage is to correlate its appearance to a known condition. Using this as a baseline, changes in mirage can be equated to changes in the value of the wind. Above all, you must practice this skill!
Click HERE for more excellent instructional articles by Emil Praslick and other USAMU Coaches and shooters.
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Tags: Emil Praslick, Long-Range, Nationals, Perry, USAMU, Wind, Wind Reading
I’m curious as to why they claim “No Value” for a 12 or 6 o’clock wind. I’ve seen vertical induced by one or the other, particularly at long ranges.
Using the JBM ballistics calculator on the Berger 80.5 fired at 2750 or 2764 fps, the difference in the drop at 1000 yards was less than 4 inches, which is approx 0.4 MOA. The difference in the Berger 155 fired at 3000 fps or 3014 fps is 3.4 inches at 1000 yards. Are you good enough to see this difference?
Obviously, the impact shift would be greater as the distance increases and/or the wind speed increases. It might be worth noting Praslick’s intended audience, who are primarily service rifle high power shooters who are trying to hit a 2 MOA ten ring at 600 yards. In this case, the Berger 80.5’s have a difference in impact of 1.1″ due to a 14fps tailwind. All things considered, the tailwind can be ignored.
Who taught Conrad Powers to read wind? That guy is a wind-reading machine.
Emil and his Dad have been a inspiration to me and the shooting sports for yeas. Thanks Emil GG