Wind and the Assassination Attempt on President Trump

AmmoLand ^ | August 5, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

There has been speculation about the effect of wind on the trajectory of the bullets fired at Presidential Candidate, former President Donald Trump. According to media reports, the would-be assassin fired from a position North of Donald Trump, about 130 meters away.

Measurement on Google Maps puts the distance at about 441 feet, 147 yards, or 134 meters. This is close to the BBC estimate of 130 meters for the shot. The direction of the shot was from North to South, at about 20 degrees East of North toward 20 degrees West of South. Meridian Rd, on the right side of the image, runs North/South.

Fortunately, there is a weather station in Butler, less than five miles away, almost due East. Station KPABUTLE38 recorded wind direction and speed on July 13, 2024. The assassination attempt happened about 6:12 P.M. Here are the wind speeds and directions recorded five miles away during that period:

Meteorological measurements were taken about five miles East of Butler Farm Show on July 13, 2024.

The winds were mostly light and variable. Consider the directions shown for the winds from 5:59 P.M. to 6:29 P.M. The varied considerably from SE, WSW, South, North, SSW, SW, and WSW.  WNW or ESE would be the closest cardinal directions to be direct crosswinds to the line of fire. Because the wind was so variable, it is possible there was a direct cross wind, but the odds favor a wind about 45 degrees or less to the line of fire. Gusts were recorded of up to 8.9 mph.

A direct crosswind of 5 mph would result in a standard 5.56 round

[marktwain]

It seems unlikely wind had a major effect on the bullet trajectory.

An unusual gust, which was possible that day, could have moved the bullet two inches.

[DoodleBob]

Dean Weingarten has done more analysis on the assassination attempt than the Secret Service. SMH

Good article. Thank you.

[impactplayer]

Wind - - our perhaps in the case, the breath of God (wind = Holy Spirit in scripture).

[protoconservative]

I saw a 6-10 mph crosswind component at most considering the movement of the flags. I dont think it matters, focus should be on government cannot protect anyone.

And I hear ISIS is back.

[Lockbox]

Yep, God effect.

[TalBlack]

“There has been speculation about the effect of wind on the trajectory of the bullets fired at “

It was a kill when taken; the target moved.

[NFHale]

Well done…

What a difference a turn of the head made… a SLIGHT turn at that.

[Tom Tetroxide]

If you watch the video you will see the flag above him being lifted by a steady breeze between five and 10 miles per hour from the west. The podium faces west, Trump was looking north the moment the bullet went by, the wind is from the west or to Trump’s right when he was looking north, and the shooter is firing to the south.

It was obvious to me the day after it happened and seeing the flag flying in the breeze that it was the wind that moved the bullet to the left (from the shooter’s perspective). I’m surprised no one noticed this until now.

[Jan_Sobieski]

government cannot protect anyone

Protect? How about, kill those who are in the way?

[bray]

Our Lord God was protecting him.

[butterdezillion]

That’s for the regular shots. There were also subsonic shots fired from a sniper in a tree. There are 3 stills from a video showing a bullet going at the proper speed for a subsonic shot passing right in front of Trump’s torso before Crooks’s alleged first shot. Subsonic would be affected more by the wind. That shot was apparently supposed to kill Trump, with the shot allegedly from Crooks providing cover. It truly is an act of God that Yrump is alive. One bullet failed because Trump turned his head and at least one other bullet failed because of the wind.

[silent majority rising]

A little ‘puff’ from God moved it?

[Guenevere]

Breath of Heaven

[hardspunned]

If the shooter knew what he was doing, the flag above Trump’s head would have been of benefit.

[Swirl]

Rally site was within a relatively open area. The weather station, located at Butler Catholic school, is within an urban area, so expect slightly weaker and more variable winds at the weather station.

The flag over the podium was extended out indicating an estimated 8-12 mph.
https://www.weather.gov/media/pqr/wind/wind.pdf.

My favorite photographs were of the flag before Trump began to speak. It had twisted into a shape of an angel with two wings. See 22min into video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PdI64OOYsE

[Delta 21]

Shoulda used a .308 or -06. But they kick really hard and make liberals cry loudly. Wind deflection would have been minimal at his shooting range and it would have been “mission accomplished”

That was an extremely close shot he got off at our President. Praise the Lord he missed! Secret Service needs a hard stand down. Coverage teams need shuffled around. You need to find the traitor(S) in all this right(!???!)

[null and void]

Right!

Stages of the investigation:

Enthusiasm
Disillusionment
Panic
Search for the guilty
Punishment of the innocent
Praise and honors for the non-participants

[Salvavida]

Wind doesn’t have a meaningful effect on the trajectory of a 5.56 at 200 yards or less. That is why in the Marine Corps, there is no dope change for wind at that distance— because any change would be less than 1/4 Minutes of Angle that the rifle’s sights are mechanically designed to move the strike of the round.

He either had a poorly sighted rifle, or he anticipated the shot by pushing his shoulder forward into the stock, or both.

Either way, a 150 yard shot from a prone position is ridiculously easy, even without a scope.

[cpdiii]

We are very lucky the shooter was not knowledgeable of what rifle to use nor a skilled shooter. That was an incredible easy shot to make with a good off the shelf deer rifle chambered for a 30:06, .270 or .308.

[PROCON]

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