Tips From Emil Praslick On How To Determine Wind Direction

by
posted on July 31, 2018
praslickwind2.jpg

Windcalling. Essential for long range shooting, yet almost mythical in application. Without the aid of windage flags, or some other such illustrative implement, most have very little idea how to actually call wind with any requisite degree of accuracy. Luckily for us, Berger Bullets’ Emil Praslick, formerly a rifle coach of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, an 18-time National and two-time World Champion coach, and a King of Two Miles Champion coach, has taken it upon himself to reveal a quick and easy way to determine wind direction. The video is featured on the Applied Ballistics Facebook page.

It can be done with a telescope, a riflescope, binoculars, or pretty much any form of magnified optical enhancement. On a hot day, it is easy to see what is commonly termed as “mirage” effect, where heatwaves are visible rising up into the air (particularly off a hot surface like asphalt, for example). When wind is blowing either right at you, or from right behind you, it turns out that it will cause the same effect. Thus in order to tell wind direction, simply pan around with your optic until the “boiling” effect appears. That will be the “no value” point of the wind, and you know it will either be blowing directly at you, or directly away from you at that exact angle.

So next time you’re making a long shot in breezy conditions, take a page from Praslick. You might just call it a little better than you did before. Windy conditions, after all, are Emil Praslick’s specialty.

Latest

Savage Stancexr 3
Savage Stancexr 3

Savage’s New Stance XR Offers Increased Capacity, Quick-Release Optics Plate

The Stance XR adds another everyday carry pistol option to the Savage Arms lineup.

Hillsdale College ‘Citizenship And Shooting’ Event Celebrates USA Shooting Olympians, Importance Of Second Amendment In The Constitution

Sponsored by Hillsdale College and USA Shooting, this special event in October included skeet instruction and remarks from four-time Olympic skeet gold medalist Vincent Hancock, plus speeches from USA Shooting CEO Kelly Reisdorf and Hillsdale President Larry P. Arnn.

Tandemkross Unveils New 10/22 Barrel Concept

A box girder rifle barrel? The Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifle gets a new barrel concept from Tandemkross.

Silencer Central, Guns.com Join Forces For Suppressor Fulfillment

Online suppressor giant Silencer Central is partnering with Guns.com to fulfill all Guns.com online suppressor purchases.

2024 NSCA National Championship: Team Winchester’s Matarese Secures Third Place In Main Event

Team Winchester and White Flyer shooters claim top finishes at 2024 NSCA National Championship, including Anthony Matarese, Jr., taking third in the Main Event and Joe Fanizzi in third for juniors.

Magpul’s New PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 Magazine Has Round Count Verification Window

Magpul adds windowed PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 variant to its 7.62x51 mm NATO/.308 Win. magazine lineup.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.