John Whidden | 6 time LR National Champion | #13

John Whidden is a very accomplished LR shooter. He tells us how he won his first LR National match ever and the mental toughness it took to get there. He also discusses wind reading and training.
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[@williamsweet7511]

There are two types of winners, the ones that expect to win and act like it's just another victory. The person who doesn't expect to win or it's the first win and they are super emotional. If you go crazy celebrating, it gives you and the people around you the sense of you didn't expect it or it's your first victory. I can recall my first club win and I was so exited but felt like everyone works hard and everyone has excuses why they didn't win. So I kept it to myself. I feel like older men, who make up most of f-class, life has beat them down and their days of celebrating things have long sense past.

[@wvlongshooter3912]

I have spent tons of hours in my yard looking through a spotter analyzing wind with an anemometer. I have had neighbors drive by so slowly giving me strange looks. Luckily by now in my area everyone knows I’m a long range shooter. Another thing I still practice is, when I’ve shot my ammo up while shooting, I analyze the wind patterns and take notes. The use of smoke bombs to study winds is helpful, especially in these hills and mountains where I shoot. This is most beneficial for shooting ELR. Great content and video, I love this series!!!! Thanks!!!!!

[@jonathanrawls9992]

Reached out to Whidden for some info on custom dies he had made for a friend. Whidden being Genuine and happy to help is a understatement. Thanks again!

[@louisshambarger2230]

When I first started shooting competitively, I got some advice from Johnny Franklin. He said that in this sport you let your scores speak for themselves. I don’t have all that much to brag about but I think he was right. It speaks very well for the sport and the kind people in it.

[@sf2189]

Man he's great. Have a ton of his dies and bushings. Always so helpful too whenever I've had any questions.

[@artbogden4958]

As always Eric, thank you, thank you, thank you, can’t get enough !🇺🇸

[@natinnh1]

Just loved this 'long-winded' interview with John. When are we all going to meet Trudy, Nancy and/or Michelle? Let's get the dope from these pros and get the answers we need. Thanks for these great interviews.

[@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760]

Erik, your discussion on deciding to make bold wind calls at 42:00 is gold. Add that ring. Then get to where you add that .5 MOA that ALWAYS comes out of somewhere. And Whidden’s point about an upwind 8 counting just as much as the downwind 8 is another gold nugget. fantastic insight from both of you.

[@johnplummer1619]

All I can say is more about wind Great interview John was great

[@kitekritter]

Love Whidden’s shop. They are super nice people and they are building me a PRS rifle right now.

[@rosalindstewart7013]

How did the rifle turn out mate cheers Yogi 🤙✌️

[@ctech01]

Man, This was like Icing on the cake. Thank you and John.❤❤❤❤❤😎

[@neonjoe6180]

ERIC, I've reloaded all my like Mr. Whidden,my story pretty is pretty much like his up to a point. I have a lot of respect for you and people like you . I'm retired and can't afford to compete,but thanks to you pros and your advice, I have a rifle I built a .223 /.246 neck I shoot sub 1/4 MOA,have shot 3rd, same hole on a good day, I thank all of you,carry on brothers!!

[@tracyamcneal9597]

My entry level shooting to begin soon appreciates all that can be learned through these conversations with the best in the business. Thanks guys.

[@georgedeedsnotwords2162]

I enjoy each and every one of these talks . So much information to absorb , thank God we can watch more than once . Maby get some of these great wind readers on hear . Or around a bonfire with something to sip on and do a sit and sip discussion . Great talk ! 🍻🍻🍻

[@ericrumpel3105]

....AMEN !! Brother - "shooting ALL your life"....I'm with you !!

[@briant6935]

Another awesome interview , would be great to see an interview with one of the greatest wind coaches you mentioned like Nancy or Trudy. Bet they have some amazing stories.

[@larrymurphy5650]

Erik and John, thank you for sharing this remarkable information and for your many other contributions to the shooting community, excellent exchange, very well done.

[@davidschmidt5810]

I’m gonna be brief. That was a great interview and chocked full of great information on shooting, winning and wind calling strategy. A must for any serious shooter. Thanks guys!!!

[@thomastourville1674]

Great show

[@codyway7424]

Always amazed at Oak Ridge, half the flags can be to the left, half to the right, and still have a headwind that's hitting your face.😢

[@tallyman15]

Great interview. I meet John at his shop decently. Super nice man. His company is clambering my next barrel.

[@Meadsapiary]

Excellent interview

[@tonydevich7937]

Thanks to both of you I'm learning

[@ThePfirefighter2]

Thank you. Enjoying learning from all the different perspectives!

[@lonecrapshooter6197]

The old adage, " It's not the arrow, it' the Indian." comes to mind.

[@leewithey2014]

Fantastic!!!

[@kenthall6584]

Outstanding interview

[@davidschmidt5810]

Those that are the best wind callers like John, Eric, Nancy, Trudy and Michelle have trained their brains like a super computer to know how to adjust for the conditions. Each shot should make fine tuning adjustments to the software for the next shot. When the program is working it’s like magic but it’s a continuous project because it’s always changing and the conditions are never exactly the same but they do rhyme with one another.

[@drakkondarkblood6638]

John's one of those shooters that as an Australian TR shooter I actually know of him. I really got to know about him because he used a Barnard Action in an Anschutz stock. Barnard's are probably one of the most used actions in Aus and I was looking for a V-block to mount my Barnard in my Anschutz stock to make my fullbore rifle as close to my smallbore rifle as possible and John made a v-block designed to fit a Barnard straight into an Anschutz precise stock. I loved his take on wind reading, it's pretty much the same as one of our top shooters said in his coaching clinics. It's one of the things I love about shooting, 95% of the top shooters will go out of their way to help you get better, even if that means you might beat them down the track and not many other sports can say that (not ones I've done anyway).

[@rosalindstewart7013]

Gday mate, I’m just starting out in this sport and was wondering if there is anywhere that you know of in Victoria that does long range schooling or coaching of some form, any help would be very much appreciated, thanks mate cheers Yogi 🤙✌️🇦🇺

[@drakkondarkblood6638]

@@rosalindstewart7013 Hey, I'm not sure if there is any official LR coaching, but most ranges that have the long ranges would generally have no problem coaching a newer shooter. Sorry I couldn't be much more help. But you just missed the perfect place to ask questions like this.. We just had our Victorian Kings event. The next step I would take would be to contact the Victorian Rifle Association (VRA), as any official event etc needs to go through them.

[@rosalindstewart7013]

@@drakkondarkblood6638 thanks for the reply mate much appreciated cheers Yogi 🤙✌️

[@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760]

Whidden’s example of using sighters to bracket wind calls at 1:00:00 was a real lightbulb moment for me

[@tonystewart7287]

Very interesting 😎

[@russellmiller212]

I didn't mention your tip on the faults associated with neck sizing were considered. I measured casings previously sized and detected variances in neck to shoulder measurements

[@ralphproudfoot620]

Super interview

[@USAACbrat]

I f you can take a glider flight, or a lesson. You will get a better belief in the power of wind and the effects it can exhibit there by you will have better confidence in your calls.

[@mikebell611]

at 8:38 you mention a wind reading book...... As a new shooter, what books do you recommend? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@russellmiller212]

They are very good wind readers (mirage readers) because they have assigned values to wind which, over time, have been honed to a level of precision. Under specific conditions (all other variables considered) that coach may assign a higher or lower value (tweek the call) based on location, temperature, humidity and an emphasis on how the flag closest to the target is responding in correlation to mirage values. Centering of a larger group was a well thought answer BUT..speed from one shot to the next while that correction is valid (before a change in the value of the wind) and / or bold 'favoring' in any direction that call is made. For instance, R4, shoot, shoot..'favor right, pushing the 8 - ring..just shaving the bull..OR hold 1/4 - 1/2 mil right if using an optic. Most shooters who come off the line with high scores and a deep X count in significant wind conditions shoot quickly after an initial correction has been applied to the site. After 3, 5 or 8 rounds, (hypothetical) pause to dial another correction, or continue to shoot with the existing windage and elevation adjustments favoring for any subtle shifts in wind speed for the duration of the string.

[@treece1]

I heard, John's got the same nightforce scope he's had for 20 years. Any truth to that

[@Guitarjourney4life]

Erik, go win another one and we will all be waiting for your Happy Gilmore celebration.

[@donaldkerr3080]

Need someone like Ike to come on the scene. Pro fishing was the same way really till Ike.

[@Strutingeagle]

Erik Cortinas does plethoras of software updates, no?

[@theunforgivenpuritan4102]

I feel like there is a LOT more we could learn from these guests if they talked 85 or 90% of the interview. Eric PLEASE when you ask john about wind and he gives an answer instead of telling us what YOU do after he makes his point maybe ask him "tell me more about that" I have to be honest after everyone of your interviews I feel like I just listened to you interview yourself. I am having trouble making through these...I want MORE from the guests!!!!

[@BelieveTheTarget]

LOL, never happy.

[@theunforgivenpuritan4102]

@@BelieveTheTarget that is not the case at all. When you were a new shooter (as you are new to interviewing) and you were doing something wrong in the shooting process and someone with experience told you what you were doing wrong...you would listen to them right? This is what I am saying...you are snuffing out the guests. Let them expand!! Look I appreciate what you are doing..and I watch them all..but they could be soooo much better...LET THE GUEST DO 85% of the talking...let them expand on their points with out your reposts. Trust me you product will be much better!! If I didn't "care" i would not post any of this...I eould just "move on" but I would like you to get better. Now, your response, leads me to believe you won't take the advice.. If you want to spend 60%(or more) of the time talking about you...have one of the guests you like interview YOU on your podcast (this type of thing IS done) as a special episode. Put a poll out and see if I am right: "Should I talk less and let the guest talk more"? Let's see if I am right or you are right

[@myronstutzman1344]

You are 100% right, I like Eric and appreciate his advice but he is a poor interveiwer

[@bwr3rd]

Will dry-firing damage your center-fire, bolt-action firing pen?

[@ynotjf]

26:40 “I haven’t put in the work..”

[@bee17167]

LoL My bad shot is shooting the wrong target which i seem to do if i rush to keep in a wind window need to set up a consist ant routine were i set up with target identification then natural point of aim wind reading check targets still correct number then take the shot would like to know other thought's on there process.

[@mikegreen8032]

38.35 who's knocking on the door???

[@fish4food449]

Is this another Erik Cortina KZbin channel? Or someone else copying his interview’s?

[@BelieveTheTarget]

It’s mine. I decided to put all the interviews here instead of on my other channel to keep things cleaner.

[@fish4food449]

Awesome!!! Now to like all thee videos and subscribe! Keep up the great content Sir!

[@rosalindstewart7013]

What are the other channels Eric has, I will need to sub to them so I don’t miss anything 😂😂cheers Yogi 🤙✌️I’m new to the sport so looking for all the advice i can get, thanks people 🤙✌️🇦🇺

[@bradheath2592]

Happy Gilmore that stuff !!🤣🤣

[@Jaygorski]

John sounds just like Speedy. Texas boys?

[@kenthall6584]

Georgia southern accent and Texas

[@davidhoward4609]

Lives in Nashville Ga

[@360joseph360]

Erik needs to talk less.

[@barryhorton]

Please! Say something interesting!!!