Anytime you’re shooting in open country, you quickly realize the wind does more to your bullet than most folks expect. A cartridge that feels steady in calm conditions can suddenly start drifting badly when you’re dealing with 10–15 mph crosswinds. That’s where bullet weight, shape, and velocity matter a lot more than people think. Smaller, lighter rounds may group nicely at 100 yards, but stretch them out past 200 and you’ll watch your shots wander. The truth is, some calibers just aren’t built to fight wind, and relying on them for longer shots can leave you frustrated. Here are a handful that fall short when the breeze picks up.
.22 Long Rifle
You probably already know .22 LR struggles in wind, but the extent of it still surprises people. With most bullets in the 36–40 grain range and velocities dropping quickly past 100 yards, a light crosswind will push them several inches off target. That may not matter when you’re plinking at cans in the backyard, but if you’re trying to knock down varmints or punch paper precisely, it becomes a real problem.
Because the round loses steam so fast, it can’t maintain the stability you need once the air starts moving. Even high-velocity loads won’t save it at longer ranges. In calm weather, .22 LR is accurate and cheap fun. Add wind, and you’ll find yourself holding way off target just to connect. It’s proof that not every round is suited for unpredictable outdoor conditions.
.17 HMR
The .17 HMR has plenty of fans because it’s flat-shooting and accurate under good conditions. But with bullets in the 17–20 grain range, it’s especially vulnerable to wind drift. A breeze that wouldn’t bother a .243 or .308 will throw a .17 HMR round several inches off at 150 yards. That’s not something you can ignore if you’re trying to make ethical shots on small game.
While the velocity is impressive for such a tiny round, velocity alone can’t fight wind. Its lightweight bullets simply don’t have the mass to stay stable once crosswinds take over. For ground squirrels on a calm day, it’s a blast. Try it in the wide-open prairie with steady gusts, and you’ll see how unforgiving it really is. This caliber is a prime example of how flat trajectory doesn’t equal wind resistance.
.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR)
The .22 WMR carries a little more weight than .22 LR, but it still gets bullied by the wind once you stretch it out. With bullets typically in the 30–40 grain range, it doesn’t have the sectional density to cut through crosswinds effectively. At 100 yards, a 10 mph wind can push your shot well off small targets, and beyond that, you’re really guessing.
Hunters who love the cartridge for varmints often learn this the hard way when they try to extend their range. It’s reliable in calm conditions and offers more punch than .22 LR, but it simply isn’t built to stay steady in rough weather. If you need rimfire performance with wind in play, .22 WMR isn’t going to give you consistent results. It’s a reminder that bullet weight still rules when air currents get tricky.
.204 Ruger
The .204 Ruger earned a reputation as a flat-shooting varmint round, but its light 32–40 grain bullets make it a poor choice in the wind. Even with muzzle velocities over 4,000 fps, crosswinds can knock it off course quickly. That flat trajectory fools many shooters into thinking it can handle conditions, but past 200 yards, the drift is hard to ignore.
It’s a fun round on a calm day, no doubt about it. Coyotes and prairie dogs fall quickly when the weather cooperates. But if you’re trying to push your shots in steady wind, you’ll start wishing you had something heavier. High velocity only helps so much—when the bullet doesn’t have enough mass, the wind always wins. The .204 Ruger proves that speed isn’t a replacement for stability.
.221 Fireball
The .221 Fireball is often overlooked, but when you do see it, you’ll notice how much it struggles with wind. With bullet weights usually in the 40–50 grain range, it simply lacks the heft needed to stay on track in open conditions. Even at moderate ranges, a steady crosswind can throw shots inches off target.
It was designed as a varmint and small-game cartridge, and in that role, it works fine in good weather. But when the breeze picks up, it quickly shows its limitations. While it has an interesting history and solid accuracy in calm air, it isn’t the cartridge you want when unpredictable gusts are in play. It highlights how design intent doesn’t always align with real-world performance.
.25-20 Winchester
The .25-20 Winchester is an old cartridge that still sees some use with traditional hunters and collectors. With bullet weights around 86 grains, it may sound like it has more mass than smaller rimfires, but its low velocity and blunt bullet shape make it highly wind-sensitive.
At distances beyond 100 yards, even a light breeze can cause noticeable drift. That makes it unreliable for longer shots, especially in open fields where wind rarely stays steady. While it has charm as a piece of history and can be fun for close-range hunting, it doesn’t belong in windy conditions. The cartridge simply wasn’t built for accuracy beyond short ranges. If you’re carrying it today, you’re best off keeping shots tight and controlled.
.30 Carbine
The .30 Carbine earned its place in military history, but it’s never been a strong performer in the wind. With 110-grain bullets moving at modest velocities, it lacks the ballistic efficiency to cut through crosswinds at longer ranges. At 200 yards, a 10 mph wind can push shots far enough off target to make accuracy questionable.
While it was serviceable in its time, it’s not a round you’d want to rely on for precision shooting outdoors today. The round was designed for short to mid-range use, not for stretching across open spaces. It may still be fun to shoot from an M1 Carbine, but you’ll quickly see how much wind affects it. It’s a reminder that historical significance doesn’t always equal ballistic strength.
.35 Remington
The .35 Remington is a classic deer cartridge, but when it comes to wind, it falls short compared to more modern options. With blunt, heavy bullets moving at moderate velocities, it suffers from poor aerodynamics. That translates to significant drift once you push past 150 yards in a crosswind.
Hunters love it in thick woods, where wind doesn’t play much of a role. But in open areas, it can make holding a steady group much harder than with sleeker calibers. The .35 Remington excels at close-range power, but it was never intended to be a flat-shooting, wind-cutting round. Its strength lies in brush and timber hunting, not across gusty fields.
.44 Magnum (from rifles)
When you chamber .44 Magnum in a rifle, you gain velocity, but you don’t solve the wind problem. The big, heavy bullets may hit hard, but they’re shaped poorly for cutting through air efficiently. Even at 150 yards, you’ll notice drift with crosswinds, and by 200 yards, it’s significant enough to miss small targets.
While it remains a popular hunting option in thick woods, it isn’t reliable when wind becomes a factor. It may carry energy, but energy doesn’t equal stability at range. If your hunt takes you into wide-open ground, .44 Magnum rifles can quickly feel limiting. It’s a powerful tool up close, but it’s never going to shine against crosswinds.
.45-70 Government
The .45-70 is legendary for its stopping power, but wind handling isn’t part of its strengths. Those large, heavy bullets move slowly compared to modern high-velocity cartridges, and that sluggish speed makes them vulnerable to drift. Even at 200 yards, a steady crosswind can shift shots by several inches.
In close-range hunting scenarios, it works beautifully, and that’s why it still has a place in thick cover. But if you’re thinking about stretching it across open fields, the wind will punish you. While it remains iconic for its history and raw power, the .45-70 is proof that energy doesn’t guarantee accuracy when the air is moving. It’s a caliber you use within its limits.
.410 Bore Slugs
Though technically a shotgun caliber, .410 bore slugs deserve mention here. Their light weight and relatively slow speed make them highly vulnerable to wind drift. Even at 50–75 yards, crosswinds can pull them off target significantly. That’s a problem when trying to make ethical hunting shots, as consistency is nearly impossible once wind picks up.
The .410 is fun for small game or close-range work, but when you’re dealing with unpredictable conditions, it simply can’t keep its path steady. Hunters who’ve tried stretching it quickly find its limits. While it’s handy for specific uses, calling it wind-resistant would be misleading. It’s one of those tools you only use within tight parameters.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
