weather center for long range

[BULLBLASTER]

Most likely going to buy a weather center for long range shooting and hunting and was wondering what the masses of huntwa use or like. I have been looking at either the kestrel 2500 or.the brunton one. Am hoping to stay around 150-200 dollars or so.

What say you?

[gadwall]

They are probably both good products.  I have used other products from both manufacturers and been satisfied with the results.  How are you going to use the weather center?  If regularly shooting 600-1500+, there are so many variables across long distances that you can't cover it all with equipment.  Practice is my best bet.

[BULLBLASTER]

planning to use the weather center to read the current conditions for calculating bullet drop and come up clicks. just looking to be able to shoot to 900 or so because that is as far as my rangefinder will read to. i agree that practice is the best way to read wind, but i just need a way to gather atmspheric conditions for input into my ballistic calculator for drops.
seems like i am seeing better reviews for the kestrel. but wanted to see if anyone here uses either.

thanks

[G.R.K]

I have no bad things to say about my Kestrel 3500,I have been using it for the last 4 yrs. 

[rbros]

Stick with the Kestrel.  The Bruntons had some issues now and then.  You can also setup the kestrel to read "station" pressure....which is a true pressure of where you are.  Unless they changed the Bruntons, you aren't able to do that with them.

[BULLBLASTER]

Stick with the Kestrel.  The Bruntons had some issues now and then.  You can also setup the kestrel to read "station" pressure....which is a true pressure of where you are.  Unless they changed the Bruntons, you aren't able to do that with them.

Thanks. Now if I set the kestrel to read station pressure will that cancel the need for an elevation input into my calculator? I am using strelok btw.

[rbros]

Not familiar with that program.  Get a copy of Exbal....it works the best from what I have found.  You don't have to be exact on the elevation if you use station pressure, I put both in just to be dead on though. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Thanks again. Ill keep that in mind. Right now I have an app on my phone that uses GPS to look up data at the neareast weather station. It works fairly well but not so well without cell service.

[alwinearcher]

We use a Kestrel, id have to check which model.
I believe (at least with Exbal) that is you put in the pressure you don't need elevation

[BULLBLASTER]

I just did.some playing around with strelok and elevation. Leaving temp and pressure the same 0 elevation got me 16.9 moa for 800 yards 1 foot elevation got 16.3 moa and 8000 feet got 17.5 moa. Seems like there is something added to the calculation if elevation is set to 0. I think I will play with that and only change absolute pressure and temp. Half moa is acceptable I would think for shooting as far as I would want.
I want to keep the calculator on my phone because I will always have it with me.

[yorketransport]

I've had pretty good luck with my Iphone . 

The Kestral seemed a little easier to use for me, but I've heard that they're both good units.

Andrew

[jaymark6655]

I just did.some playing around with strelok and elevation. Leaving temp and pressure the same 0 elevation got me 16.9 moa for 800 yards 1 foot elevation got 16.3 moa and 8000 feet got 17.5 moa. Seems like there is something added to the calculation if elevation is set to 0. I think I will play with that and only change absolute pressure and temp. Half moa is acceptable I would think for shooting as far as I would want.
I want to keep the calculator on my phone because I will always have it with me.

I think most programs are adjusting the pressure for elevation.  Sea level with 59 degree is 29.92 inches of mecury.  So with every 1000 foot increase from sea level that pressure decrease about an inch.  This has a huge affect on ballistics, but if you put in the current pressure off and left the altitude at zero, the program should still calculate the correct ballistics.  When I sight in my rifle I usually record the pressure, temp and humidity.  Then when I go to hunt I adjust to the current pressure (usually lower pressure for higher altitude) temp (usually colder), and humidity.

[landcbeitner]

The Brunton works perfectly fine... I've had both, but I'd go for the Kestrel 4000 as it's supposed to give you Density Altitude (not the same as "station pressure" or "pressure altitude". I can send you a PM on how to use Density Altitude if you like. You can get density altitude from the Brunton and lower Kestrel models but you have to use a chart that converts your pressure altitude and temperature to density altitude...

[jaymark6655]

The Brunton works perfectly fine... I've had both, but I'd go for the Kestrel 4000 as it's supposed to give you Density Altitude (not the same as "station pressure" or "pressure altitude". I can send you a PM on how to use Density Altitude if you like. You can get density altitude from the Brunton and lower Kestrel models but you have to use a chart that converts your pressure altitude and temperature to density altitude...

Been looking the the Kestrel 4500NV Horus ATrag Ballistics.  If you can afford it $589, that is almost the best thing out there.  You can even punch in your latitude to have it calculate the earth's spin into you ballistics (probably not needed unless your shooting over 1000 yards, but still cool).

I have always heard just add about 1 MOA for 1000 yards to compenstate for earths rotation, but really the wind is going to be more important.

[landcbeitner]

You're looking at more like 2 to 3" of "coriolis effect at 1K... the (horizontal factor other than wind itself) factor that you do have to compensate for is spin drift which is something entirely different....
Here's an informative link http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/index_files/SpinandCoriolisDrift.htm