Of Kestrels and ballistic apps...

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 2:52 pm

I'm in the process of setting up a long range rifle with the end goal of shooting 1000m and I'm wondering about wind/weather meters and ballistic apps. Is it worth buying a Kestrel? It would only be the model 5000 (90% chance) or perhaps the 5500 (10% chance). Then I've also seen the Weatherflo devices that work with the Strelok and BallisticsARC apps. Anyone have experience with the Weatherflo?

Then on the subject of ballistic apps for your phone, which are the better ones?

Please let me have your honest and personal opinions? Thanks.

Gawie(13mm) · Post by **Gawie(13mm)** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:54 pm

This is a numbers game.
It depends on the numbers in your bank account.

With a Kestrel 2000, a Samsung or I-phone with Strelok Pro and good DOPE, you can very easily reach a 1000 yards.

That would be the most inexpensive way or go bonkers and get the Kestrel 5700 with Applied balistics software for about R 9 000.00.

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:58 pm

Ja, it would either be a 5000 or 5500 as per my original post.

Since posting I've found more and more US guys using the Weatherflow, I'm going to look into that one further before deciding. Was just wondering what the local guys are using.

Pinkes · Post by **Pinkes** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:32 am

Gawie(13mm) wrote:This is a numbers game.
It depends on the numbers in your bank account.

With a Kestrel 2000, a Samsung or I-phone with Strelok Pro and good DOPE, you can very easily reach a 1000 yards.

That would be the most inexpensive way or go bonkers and get the Kestrel 5700 with Applied balistics software for about R 9 000.00.

+1...what he said!

I get hits at 2000m using Kestrel4500 with AB app.

joe rocket · Post by **joe rocket** » Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:13 am

Koop n caldwell windmeter. Spandeer geld op n ordentlike afstand taster soos die Leica 2700B. Dit het alle balistiese funksie asook n sd kaart waar jy een roer se data kan laai. Laai Strelok pro af en begin leer om wind te leer lees.

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:45 am

I have ordered a Weatherflow Weathermeter (http://weatherflow.com/weather-meter-for-shooting/) after reading some promising reports from the US. It will arrive with a friend from the US in early September, I'll post a small review once I've had time to play with it.

Smitstertjies · Post by **Smitstertjies** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:48 am

For me shooting at a 1000m I always need the following info: Correct distance, temperature, Density Altitude, Position and Direction of aim for Coriolis effect, slope angle and wind reading.

Strelok Pro for me is the best app I have used so far. If you calibrate it correctly with your bullet speed and BC, and above mentioned inputs are correct, you will hit more than you miss on a 2moa target and with a decent platform rifle and ammo. The only bully here are wind and mirage, and the feel for that comes with more trigger time.

I personally don't see the need for a Bluetooth connected weather station to your app, because the only variable that changes quickly is the wind, and for that you cant make turret adjustments every 2 seconds.

So for me a basic weather station that will give wind, temp and density alt is more than enough. Inside the Strelok App you can adjust the slope angle with your phone's camera as well as direction with your phone's compass and GPS

And try to record your D.O.P.E with pen and paper. Always comes in handy at a later stage.

Vaalbos · Post by **Vaalbos** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:21 pm

Been using a Weatherflow Weathermate for more than a year now for .177" Air Rifle on pest control to over 1 Mile with larger caliber rifles and it interfaces seamlessly with Strelok Pro.
It connects to handheld via bluetooth and can be located up to 30m (line of sight) away from you in the airflow.
This is a big advantage as you only look at one info provider and if your presets are accurate the input from Weatherflow provides live update to your dope. I made a very cheap tripod mount windvane for it and am totally satisfied for less than R1000-00. Wind direction change is also automatic if compasses are synced between phone and Weathermate.

LDV · Post by **LDV** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 11:15 pm

Vaalbos waar het jy jou weatherfloe gekoop?

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:37 am

Vaalbos wrote:Been using a Weatherflow Weathermate for more than a year now for .177" Air Rifle on pest control to over 1 Mile with larger caliber rifles and it interfaces seamlessly with Strelok Pro.
It connects to handheld via bluetooth and can be located up to 30m (line of sight) away from you in the airflow.
This is a big advantage as you only look at one info provider and if your presets are accurate the input from Weatherflow provides live update to your dope. I made a very cheap tripod mount windvane for it and am totally satisfied for less than R1000-00. Wind direction change is also automatic if compasses are synced between phone and Weathermate.

Thanks that's great news. Please share details of your wind vane idea if you wouldn't mind?

Vaalbos · Post by **Vaalbos** » Sun Jul 22, 2018 9:46 pm

LDV, a pel het hom in sy tas v my gegooi toe hy in VSA was.

Ranger, I will post a pic of the wind vane later in the week. This laptop has lost the ability to reduce the size of the images and I don't know how to fix that, so I first have to mail them to another pc and then send back.

Capt. Yoda · Post by **Capt. Yoda** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 7:42 am

Buy it on ebay

DamDuiker · Post by **DamDuiker** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 12:24 pm

joe rocket wrote:Koop n caldwell windmeter. Spandeer geld op n ordentlike afstand taster soos die Leica 2700B. Dit het alle balistiese funksie asook n sd kaart waar jy een roer se data kan laai. Laai Strelok pro af en begin leer om wind te leer lees.

just as mentioned above, I have the Leica 2700, Strelok Pro, weatherflow combo.

picture below is a swartwildebees I took with the combo.

Springkudu · Post by **Springkudu** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:15 pm

Damduiker, net vir my info, watter afstand/wind/kaliber/punt?

DamDuiker · Post by **DamDuiker** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:24 pm

Springkudu,

Tikka T3 .300wsm
Hornady 178gr ELDX
Afstand 747m
wind was so 3.5MOA se verstelling gewees

Springkudu · Post by **Springkudu** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:27 pm

Ma se tjops, mooi man, geluk!!

DamDuiker · Post by **DamDuiker** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:30 pm

Baie dankie

LDV · Post by **LDV** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:50 pm

Baie mooi
Teen watter spoed hardloop daai Eldx?

DamDuiker · Post by **DamDuiker** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:56 pm

so teen 2900ft/s

Vaalbos · Post by **Vaalbos** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:51 pm

Pics of the Wind Vane as below.
Probably R75-00 all in.
Includes a small bearing 2 x 1/4" bolts and some nuts.
6x30mm aluminium bar and some epoxy.

jjmare · Post by **jjmare** » Tue Oct 30, 2018 6:09 pm

i would for sure go the Kestrel way - i use only device driven ballistic calculators (i have something against cell phone based apps) and the Kestrel Elite works for me (and a lot of other shooters also) , its a full weather station, with the full Ab ballistic engine it works in coriolis related to DOF, spindrift, wind (elevation and windage factors), the solution is immediately visible and the trsajectory can be precisly trued at just before transonic as well as thereafter. It is not battery heavy (a single AA lasts weeks) you can download AB Custom curves per bullet which is more accurate than G7 values and it is robust. The only negative thing i can say about it is that "scope adjustment correction factor" cannot be taken into account with the current version (1.21) Updating the software is a breeze and if you are using LiNK and the Kestrel Ballistic App most connection problems are sorted

Gerhardu · Post by **Gerhardu** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:49 am

Vaalbos wrote:Been using a Weatherflow Weathermate for more than a year now for .177" Air Rifle on pest control to over 1 Mile with larger caliber rifles and it interfaces seamlessly with Strelok Pro.
It connects to handheld via bluetooth and can be located up to 30m (line of sight) away from you in the airflow.
This is a big advantage as you only look at one info provider and if your presets are accurate the input from Weatherflow provides live update to your dope. I made a very cheap tripod mount windvane for it and am totally satisfied for less than R1000-00. Wind direction change is also automatic if compasses are synced between phone and Weathermate.

Jy sal nie verkeerd gaan met n weatherflow nie. Hy werk uitstekend en jy kry meer as wat jy betaal vir hom. ruil myne vir niks nie!!!

JDEls · Post by **JDEls** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:55 pm

Het julle al die density altitude syfers op die weatherflow getoets en bevestig?
Ek het 'n weatherflow maar die altitude kom vir my dodgy voor, tog is dit 'n belangrike deel van jou input data tot 'n ballistic solver...
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