LRB 367: Learn windcalls

Longrange shooting with my K95 and R8 to show you how to combine windcalls with both second focal plane scopes (common hunting scopes) and first focal plane scopes (common longrange scopes).
Rather information dense...
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[@ChrisWhite.fishing]

When I started as a newb, Thomas was posting mute videos. I’ve gone thru my learning phase with help of his video, served, did my sniper comps, and finally retired. Thomas is still shooting videos and bullseyes at the same location.

[@UnknownReloader]

Years ago his mute videos helped me go from hillbilly with a cheap .308 to a competent precision shooter. Love this channel.

[@josephmandragoran4262]

Same brother. I've been watching these videos for years. So well done. The mute ones were better than almost all talking ones. Just giving us the exact data we need instead of killing us with information.

[@THLR]

Makes me contemplate how old I am🥲

[@louislegrange7986]

Yes, excellent channel with very good advice. Furthermore he’s always there to answer a question that helped me out a lot. No matter how busy, he’s always found the time to answer a email.

[@jcbushveld849]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the issue with your second focal plane scope is not that it's second focal plane. It's that the retical has no hash marks for windage. You can get a second focal plane scope with marks for elevation and windage however they will only be accurate at a certain magnification (most likely max magnification). But if you are shooting at a range like 600m you will probably be at max magnification anyway and the retical will be in the correct scale.

[@THLR]

Correct. I agree with your words but not the idea of outting hashmarks in 2nd focal. Second focalplane scopes and hashmarks are a terrible idea as they require special care in magnification setting to hold their value. Simply too high risk of importing errors with a catastrophic result, very daft to import that risk to your setup.

[@MMBRM]

​@@THLR If you have a reliable second focal plane scope you can just dial the changes instead of holding off. Center is still center. So use your same mental math and then use the turrets cancel out the wind and elevation and hold center. If you practice this it can be done very quickly without looking or changing position on the gun. Although I do agree that a first focal plane scope still has a noticeable edge in ease of use.

[@THLR]

Like at time 10:20? Yes. Problem is the general in-availability of side turrets and the (normally) very high cost to have one fitted.

[@MMBRM]

@@THLR I'm confused. Are you suggesting that most scopes don't have a windage turret? Unless you're talking about very old or very cheap scopes most have windage turrets standard.

[@THLR]

@@MMBRM no I am saying most scopes have capped windage turrets (too slow) and a fair few have turrets not suitable for repeated dialling. Those manufacturers that offer retrofit of a target type turret usually charge €$£ 250-350. Time 10:20 shows capped turret

[@dinoc.5537]

Very good session for helping folks learn about real world field shooting. But, OMG when you tossed your rifle toward the end I jumped in my seat! Well done and thanks for your efforts!

[@THLR]

A proper jumpscare then! 😱 Thanks for your comment, new films are already in the making. Spoiler: Nothing changed with the thrown rifle.

[@walterrie3075]

Heeeee is back! A lot of us are happy now. Great video, again. Thank you.

[@THLR]

Thanks. Have another episode filmed/not edited and hopefulle part 3 will be filmed next week.

[@ruanpretorius4231]

Pleasant surprise! Thank you!

[@THLR]

Glad you liked it! 😊

[@jagdpassionnet7158]

Hello Thomas, as always a very well-founded video and very pleasantly edited. For hunting at distances over 250m I only use FFP rifle scopes with MIL reticles. The error rate is significantly lower. In over 15 years of mountain hunting and over 100 kills at over 250m, there have been 2 missed shots. 1 miss was with an SFP scope and 1 miss with an FFP scope where the zeroing was incorrect. You can also use the FFP with 30x magnification as a spotting scope replacement, saving you the need for a heavy spotting scope. I can share your love for a break-barreled weapon. My Merkel K5 extreme (308WIN) is my constant companion for almost all types of hunting. For long-range sport shooting, however, I use a Tikka T3 (6.5CM) or a Keppeler KV (308WIN). I look forward to more videos from you. Stay healthy! Greetings Andreas

[@THLR]

Thanks Andreas, hope the upcoming season is looking good in Germany! Had three showers of snow today, my targets simply disappeared behind a white curtain. Agree with everything you say about FFP scopes, it is the way to go!

[@MrGrewax]

Har sett videoene dine fra første stund, men du stopper aldri å imponere meg! Stødig,informativ og en laser bak rifla 👌😄

[@THLR]

Mange takk! Blir flere filmer med samme tema utover sommeren. Tok litt tid å pønske ut hvordan dette temaet skulle presenteres, litt vanskelig å formidle en abstrakt greie.

[@cohenmccormick4360]

Great to see the K95 back and looking great!

[@THLR]

Yes it's gorgeous! Just hope it lasts this time, not something I can afford to replace 😅

[@infantilepillock1687]

Finally, the online shooting lesson I have been waiting for! - Your K95 stock is beautiful, looking forward to you having plenty hunting success with it! - Your shooting skills are more than good enough for orc sized targets! Hopefully nothing, you will ever need to exercise... - What do you mean no pride in owning an R8, do you know how crazy expensive they have become? I treasure mine more than you do yours... ;-) - Sadly I had to swap my K95 in for another gun. But now I have got a DT11, and I love it deeply, what a cool shotgun.

[@THLR]

Yes I believe the price is 4x almost 5x compared to when I bought my first Blaser. Well observed, every shot in this film would have been a torso hit. Yes the wood is lovely, hopefully I will not break it. The holenin the stock is for better securing it to the backpack and keeping it above the butt of the backpack and thus hopefully shielding it from impact when I slide/fall.

[@rutenisp]

thanks for original content.

[@THLR]

No problem, glad it was worth your time!

[@Plamia2]

Thanks for the smart and enjoyable video! Well-aimed shots and good luck in everything)).

[@THLR]

Thank you, best wishes for the upcoming season!

[@robertmagnstrom6088]

Good that you mention the ergonomics, Thomas. I think that is the area where the rifles has evolved during the last years. The precision has, in my opinion, been there for quite awhile but the accuracy has been lacking. With that I aim on the hunting rifles. As a pretty keen "toppjägare" this is where, the ergonomics, my rifles & hence accuracy has improved the most. I think that would make a good episode- ergonomics of the rifle. Anyway...thanks for another good episode 🙂.

[@THLR]

Thanks for that Robert. Yes, I believe many hunters don't really realize what level of accuracy birdhunting (be that ptarmigan or capercaille) require if you shoot the bird well and maximize your dinner. You really benefit from building a good position and having good ergonomy in the rifle, perhaps more than with any other hunting I do. Almost every skilled birdhunter I have met has displayed excellent marksmanship; a much higher level than the average rifle hunter. I am not above mistakes and have ruined a few birds (typically from hitting the breastbone) and it feels like such a waste every time - so much work, a beautiful bird killed and no dinner to show for it. Good luck with your upcoming season!

[@robertmagnstrom6088]

Totally agree😊! Skitjakt!

[@claytonpaul7670]

Hey Thomas...you did an excellent job on the replacement stock.. IME, very good wind calls are THE most difficult skill to master, is it ever mastered?, and as I`ve watched you over the years, require time shooting in different conditions, with the expenditure of much ammo. Unlike many, I have an area near me where I can practice to over 1K, a big help. As a hunter tho, one must know when not to shoot. Excellent video, per usual..

[@THLR]

Thank you very much. Short answer: No 😂. Next episode will illustrate 😅

[@THLR]

And yes: The stock is gooooorgeous! 🥰

[@vicpeder]

Thank you!

[@THLR]

No problem, glad you liked it.

[@gold_3]

As always great job! Thank you Sir👍

[@THLR]

Thanks for taking the time. Have already filmed the next episode.

[@firnung]

Hi Thomas, I see you finished the rifle sling👍

[@THLR]

Almost! I will probably re-do the sling with a thicker bungee. I went from ø 8-10mm to ø5-6mm. Looked more elegant, but does not have same function (not enough resistance). Also have to finalize the knots, want it to have a quickrelease function against the backpack.

[@LastCaress7]

Thomas, not sure if you remember. But i commented a few years back that you inspired me with my Grendel build. Update…i continue to shoot Grendel, now more so in a custom PRS type build. Its my fun gun, when i want to just have a good time. The guys always react when they find out im running Grendel in a match like that. Anyway, thanks for all the content over the years. Glad youre still posting. Greetings from California.

[@THLR]

Of course I remember, your nick reads like one of the questionable pulp novels my mother used to devour. Glad you're enjoying your Grendel, it was one of THE most interesting rifle projects I've had. If not for the legal issues (copper bullets for deer and not legal for the ptarmigan) I most likely would have stayed with the Grendel. Everything I do in this film I could have illustrated equally well with a Grendel, and most likely with much better barrel life. I guess the new Hornady bullets have popped up on your radar? 100'ish grains and significantly higher Bc, should add to the Grendel versatility. Good luck with your season, hope you're not losing too much brass in the competitions!

[@LastCaress7]

123gr Scenars at 2580-2600fps makes for a real good time. Take care sir.

[@polunekable]

Perfect as always 🤠👌

[@THLR]

Thank you!

[@EEST-Militia]

Norwegians are amazing sharpshooters!

[@josephmandragoran4262]

Must be in the blood.

[@mikkosaarnivala]

Second only to the Finns 😉

[@THLR]

No money for an army; teach the citizens. True story, that's how it started 😅. Still no moneynfor an army though 😂

[@MrBm1968]

Som alltid veldig godt levert kunnskap og mye jeg kan ta med meg;)

[@THLR]

Mange takk, hyggelig at du tok deg tida!

[@karelbrusten7591]

One of the best KZbin channel for shooting skills. Thanks…what is your max.range when you want to shoot a deer with the different scopes or you hunt only with K 95? The ballistic apps are they accurate? Or is there a difference between them?Do you use a rangefinder or your reticle?

[@THLR]

All apps seems to give the same results, allthough some are more user-friendly than others. It's mostly about which one you get used to so you don't make any input errors. But my opinion is that a good app should have the "ballistic calibration" feature so you can iron out the mistakes and get a perfect trajectory calculation. I think the longest shot I have taken at game with my K95 has been 200 meters, most of them have been well under 100 as I enjoy the actual stalk to do otherwise. The exception is the stag in my office, that was 100-150 (did not dare the raise the binoculars) but that was very open terrain and there was hinds very close to me. I always use a rangefinder.

[@KSM22LR]

Добрый вечер спасибо за видео 🤝👍

[@THLR]

Thank you!

[@alihopley]

Super video Thomas. Nice one 😉

[@THLR]

Thanks Ali, hope all is well. Had nice weather, but forecast is 10cm snow friday 🥶

[@alihopley]

@@THLR All great Thomas , thanks. Back down in the Basque country again with work. I guess the skis will be back out at the weekend with you. Warming up nicely down here. Back in the saddle (Hunt fit) . Sika are starting to shift from winter coats now. Won`t be long until Im back on them.

[@THLR]

@@alihopley lovely, good luck!

[@Ivan-xq7xh]

Zanimljivo...poučno!!!pozdrav iz Hrvatske 🇭🇷

[@THLR]

Thank you! I will be back in Croatia soon enough. Absolutely love your mountains

[@mohammadtajudeen2465]

Hi Thomas, should you open both eyes shooting or do you open only the scope eye? Please advise or make a video to demonstrate it. Thanks Your fan

[@THLR]

Both eyes open. Your brain will perfectly shift attention and merge the two different images with priority on the riflescope. You only introduce strain and fatigue by closing one eye.

[@mohammadtajudeen2465]

@@THLR Thanks for advice, I will try do it. You should be going for PRS competitions. You should try Eric cortina’s Black jack challenge and make a video with out any edits. It would be nice to see you do it.

[@ВасилевсИм]

Я заметил, что ветер не только сносит пулю в право или в лево, но может прижимать пулю вниз или поднимать вверх. От части баллистический калькулятор помогает это спрогназировать, но рельеф местности с ветром часто преподносят большие сюрпризы, в виде отрывов пули 10 моа и более на 600 м. Спасибо за ваши исследования. (С ломаным переводом нейросетью, с первого просмотра не понял всего смысла).

[@THLR]

Yes, windage jump. Sorry, google translate has not done a very good job so short reply.

[@jk1748]

Hello Thomas, Brilliant video as always, learned a lot again! Just a quick question: Will we get to see a film about the red stag hunt (minute 3:40)? I really enjoy your hunting films!

[@THLR]

Sorry, no. That stalk was private

[@jk1748]

Aww, too bad​@@THLR

[@gold_3]

Welcome back 👍🔥

[@THLR]

Thanks!😊

[@michaelvarga4518]

Nice new Stock 😉

[@THLR]

It is goooooorgeous!😍

[@MikeGuadango]

Have you tried the newly released Kahles 328i scope? I have a Minox ZP5 but the field of view of the 328 is not mpressive

[@THLR]

No. I've seen and held it; a big lump of a scope like every scope in that class. It is not a scope I will spend time behind, simply because I have the ZP5 and Helia C, each to their niche.

[@MikeGuadango]

@@THLR I bought my ZP5s for less than held the price of the 328i. It has a difficult to justify a new purchase.There is no way the 328 is twice the scope.

[@THLR]

I'd have to agree. Got my ZP5 when it was a 1000 less than the PMII for the same job done. Can't really see myself spending money on another scope in that class.

[@seeunseen303]

Spent last weekend with K328 at the shooting range. After my K525 it has incredible field of view, like cinema screen to compare with TV. And for seeing multiple targets at ones it was perfect. Clear view and repeatable mechanics it is already a standard statement for Kahles scopes.

[@THLR]

@@seeunseen303 good to hear that the user experience matches the tech specs. On paper it looks like a top contender for the competition shooters.

[@essiddik1184]

Few years later and minox zp5 is still at your main rifle. How would you rate its glass in compare to kahles K series? Btw thank you on once again great educational video. Greetings

[@THLR]

No idea, never used the K series and unlikely that I ever will - I see cost but no added value compared to what I already have, so why spend the money and achieve nothing? The ZP5 was on par with my PMII's; found both to be equally reliable and saw the same things through both. Not sure what pricepoint the ZP5 is at today, but at the time it was significantly less than the PMII. The ZP5 simply works, anything I can glass up in my Swaro binoculars, I can also see and shoot with the ZP5.

[@essiddik1184]

@@THLR appreciate the answer. Sharp and clear just as your videos👍

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Frankly I think a lot of the advantages of the R8 simply lie in its weight. For the price it's an awfully heavy rifle. Pretty stable. And that makes a huge difference in accuracy. Lightweight rifles are much harder to shoot for that reason, esp once go into more than 6.5mm cal.

[@infantilepillock1687]

Yes, the R8 is heavy, but not heavier than other rifles (I got an R8 in almost the same configuration as Thomas - only lefthanded and it's naked about 3.570g). The superb trigger and very comfortable grip angle help a lot. Also the extreme accuracy. Yes, Sako/Tikka and others also make very accurate rifles, but regarding the take down and barrel swap option, Blaser is still at the top.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

@@infantilepillock1687 yeah, but most people don't swap calibers, plus it's also at the top of the price range (for a factory rifle).

[@THLR]

I'll agree that weight certainly pulls towards better accuracy as the rifle WILL be more steady once in place. Weightwise it's right around what a Winchester 70 has always been.

[@308reloader5]

nice thanks for the info

[@THLR]

Thanks, glad you liked it. Part 2 is already filmed, just need to find timenfor editing.

[@Jarlerønning]

Where can i get this windbook you are using? The one with different pictures of wind you should be looking for?

[@THLR]

I am told you can order anywhere you can buy Kahles, Catalogue number is 30171. It appears to be rite-in-rain paper or similar, so I'd expect a high price.

[@Jarlerønning]

Thanks

[@seeunseen303]

Hunting SFP scope can be with more informative reticle and at some (usually max) magnification perfectly do it’s job… isn’t it? 😉

[@THLR]

Yes but too much risk of catastrophic error. Just another thing you must keep track of in order to succeed. Much easier to stay with the strong points or switch to FFP if you want to use reticle subtensions.

[@seeunseen303]

@@THLR I've successfully used the scope with SFP reticle when the true subtensions had the true value at max magnification. But it is not always comfortable or even possible to be on max. ;)

[@THLR]

@@seeunseen303 exactly! and that is the systematic training error with SFP. You integrate a procedure to your shooting and you suddenly find yourself taking a shot where that procedure is not available. That takes away much mental processing capacity and chance are it reduces your situational awareness/ assessment of variables.

[@MegaGouch]

Do you know how much your R8 + Minox combo weighs?

[@THLR]

IIRC 5,5 kg

[@MegaGouch]

​@THLR not too heavy for hunting? Do I recall you using a biathlon sling?

[@THLR]

@@MegaGouch I have a rifleman sling (the one in the film), I don't carry it in a biathlon sling. It is the silly mount solution (450gr) which pulls the weight up. It's OK to hunt with, but I much prefer the K95. I carry too much w cameras and all, so shaving weight where I can.

[@marcoveneri687]

What video device do you mount on the lens? thanks from Italy

[@MikeGuadango]

I think it’s a trigger cam

[@THLR]

www.triggercam.com/product-page/triggercam-2-1 it is to my knowledge the best product available in this category, but it is not waterproof! Best wishes for the season!

[@marcoveneri687]

Thank you, you are very professional

[@THLR]

Thank you very much for a generous comment

[@PassionforRifles]

🇫🇮🤝🏻🇫🇮🤝🏻🇫🇮

[@THLR]

🤝🍻 but I will stay out of the sauna 🥵

[@PassionforRifles]

@@THLR i buy you few cold beer, i have very good sauna, with a wood kiuas😁