Re: Best Anti-Cant Device
I never got to post a review of the Deros Level Grouse I wrote a while back. Here goes:
Pro's
- Easy to use. If you shoot with both eyes open, you can very easily monitor your cant while focusing on the target.
- Very easily learned. After a couple of sessions, I instinctively knew what to do to right the rifle without thinking about right or left.
- Very accurate. You can order versions that vary from .2 degrees of cant to .5 degrees of cant. Supposedly this is more accurate than the bubble levels available, but I couldn't figure out a way to test.
Issues
- Because it is electronic, there is always the potential for failure. There is a space for a spare set of batteries, so they thought about that.
- Battery casing design. I managed to overtorque the battery compartment which bent the batteries, which caused the device to stop functioning. By swapping battery positions, I was able to get it to work again, but it took some jiggering. It seems like it would be easy enough to stop the compartment from torqueing down by stopping the threads at the right distance. This might have also been my fault as I did not store the spare batteries in the compartment like I was supposed to.
- Toggle Switch appears flimsy. It is a tiny metal toggle. I would think a plastic toggle would be better.
- There is no demarcation for the type of level grouse it is. It comes in 2X2 (for .2 degrees on either side), 3X3, 4X4, and 5X5. I have a 2X2 for target shooting and a 3X3 for field shooting / hunting. I just need to remember which is which and I don't like doing things by memory.
- I leave it on all the time. I have a similar problem with illuminated reticles, but it is even more difficult to tell when the switch is in the right position.
- Because the lights turn off when there is no cant, when the device is not working properly, you might think that you are level when you are not. This has happened to me on a number of occasion.
- Because the device lights up, it might give away your position. This is a complaint that I have seen a lot, so I included it, but I don't think it makes sense. First of all, there is a "stealth" mode that makes the light very dim. Secondly, if it is dark enough that the light from the device could give away your position, you won't be able to see a bubble level anyway. Solution: turn the device off.
I know that based on the long list of con's, it sounds like I am not a fan. But that is because it is a unique device that could be improved. I think it is an improvement on the bubble level mainly because you can maintain focus on the target while keeping an eye on your cant. For me, that is worth all of the potential issues. Further, since you can still operate with a failed anti-cant device, field failure just isn't that big of a deal, so those risks are all minor. That is my thinking, yours may different and that is fine.
I recommend this device.
