Wind Value

Wind value describes how much of a given wind speed actually deflects the bullet, expressed as a fraction tied to the direction of the wind relative to the line of fire. A wind blowing straight across at three or nine o’clock is full value and produces maximum deflection, while a wind angling in at four-thirty or seven-thirty is roughly half value and moves the bullet about half as much. A wind coming straight from twelve or six o’clock has near-zero value for sideways drift, though it can still change the trajectory in subtler ways.

Applying value correctly is a core part of wind reading, because a strong wind at a shallow angle can deflect less than a moderate full-value wind. Shooters multiply the estimated speed by the value fraction before computing their windage correction and deciding on a hold or a dial. Angling and switching winds, such as a fishtail wind near the six o’clock line, complicate the math because the value itself keeps shifting.