Compact LRF with programmable ballistic solver

[Graywolf.260]

Looking for a light weight compact LRF that is programmable with your bullet's BC value and velocity that will spit out mil holdover. Out to at least 600-800 yards. Barometric/temp/angle would be nice but not entirely necessary. There are a lot of compact inexpensive LRFs with decent rangefinder ability hitting the market but all I have found have retarded ballistics features with a limited set of ballistic curves to select from. Seems like there should be such a beast but I have not found it.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Have you looked at the Leica Rangemaster CRF 2700-B?

• Class 1 Eye-Safe IR Laser
• 11-2700 Yard Measurement Range
• HDC and AquaDura Fully Multi-Coated
• Ballistic Computer with Inclinometer
• microSD Card Slot to Load Custom Curves
• Red LED Display with Auto-Brightness
• Phase-Corrected 7x24 Monocular
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Housing
• IPX7-Rated Waterproof and Submersible

• Measures in yards or meters, selectable by user
• Invisible FDA Class 1 eye-safe IR laser
• Beam divergence of approximately 0.5x1.2 MRAD is an improvement over earlier models
• Simple round center aiming reticle is easy to see without obscuring targets of all sizes
• Metering range from 11-2700 yards reaches further than previous model
• Metering accuracy of ±0.5yd from 11 to 220 yards; ±1 yard to 340 yards; ±2 yards to 875 yards; ±0.5% from 875 to 2700 yards
• Spot and continuous scan mode calculates range in as little as 0.5 seconds
• Integrated inclinometer measures upward or downward angle relative to target
• Internal barometric and temperature sensors measure atmospheric conditions that can affect bullet trajectory and ballistic arc
• Built-in ABC ballistic program compiles data for angle of incline, temperature, barometric pressure, and ammunition type for precise hold-over/under with displayed riflescope MOA adjustment (clicks) for improved shot accuracy
• Twelve pre-programmed ballistic curves to choose from
• Equivalent Horizontal Range (EHR): An algorithm that uses distance and angle to calculate an adjusted range
• ABC is accurate to 1000 yards (914 meters) EHR system accurate to 1200 yards (1100 meters)
• Calculates range, including EHR, in 0.5 seconds
• microSD card slot allows the use of pre-loaded ballistic curves from the Leica on-line ballistic calculator

 

[SmileMaker]

Sig kilo 2400ab is not a bad choice. Programmable from your phone.

 

[Graywolf.260]

Thanks. I have Leica Geovid HD-B binos, and I'm starting to look for an alternate compact RF. The micro SD ballistic data storage looks to be the same on the CRF2700-B and the Geovid. If so that's convenient, but the bluetooth programmability with the Sig looks even easier. The Sig 1400 looks pretty interesting as a barebones RF/solver for $250. If I understand, it is bluetooth programmable and will accept bullet and velocity data and display mil holdover. Limitations compared to the 2400AB is 800 yd max and no advanced AB/environmental function.

 

[scocoabeach]

The Sig Kilo 2400BDX would give solutions out to 800 with the Applied Ballistics Lite engine. From what I have read you can pair it with the Kestrel Elite or Garmin Foretrex 701 and get solutions using the full AB engine for further distances. I believe the BDX models below the 2400 BDX can not pair. That might not matter if 800 is the definite max distance.

 

[mrtoyz]

2400 ABS is fantastic

 

[Night Assassin]

Here is exactly what you are asking for, weapon mountable

 

[sd0311msg]

I have both Bushnell Elite 1 Mile ARC CONX and the SIG 2400 BDX. While testing and in the field, the SIG far out performs the Bushnell. Both models would exceed your max range of 800. Over the past 30 plus years of shooting, I have learned that upgrading calibers, optics, and equipment to push my max distance is never ending. I now try to purchase equipment that will meet my needs now as well as in the future. This may not be the case for you. I do appreciate that the SIG is about 2/3 the size of the Bushnell.

Some side by side testing, hand supported off fixed object:
Atmospherics: 48 F, 1928 feet, 30.18inHg, full cloud cover, windy.

round hay bale
Bushnell-886yd
SIG-885yd

4" wooden fence post, old
Bushnell-no reading on any mode
SIG- 800yd

tin colored, Metal mail box, side view
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG- 815yd

black colored cow, side view
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG- 931yd

green colored, county road sign, reflective
Bushnell- 1043yd
SIG-1044yd

black colored cow, side view
Bushnell- 1173yd
SIG-1172yd

yellow colored, steep incline sign, reflective
Bushnell- 1380yd
SIG-1379yd

large Cottonwood tree, approx 5-6 foot trunk
Bushnell- 1527yd
SIG-1527yd

Cedar tree, approx. 4-5 foot tall
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG- 1653yd

Cedar tree, approx. 20 foot tall
Bushnell- 1667yd
SIG-1668yd

grass covered hillside, approx. 24" tall
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG- 2207yd
Full sized passenger car, front view, reflective
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG- 3068yd

Whitetail Doe
Bushnell- no reading on any mode
SIG-1225yd

 

[catorres1]

I've got a 2400 BDX paired to a Kestrel as well as a Leica 2700b. They are both excellent devices, both with their strong points and weakpoints. I posted a longer review on the 2700b if you want details on that one, should have the one for the 2400 bdx done shortly.

But suffice it to say, if you are shooting only to 800 yards or so, I don't think you can make a wrong choice here, and you could probably get away with a 2200 BDX, which maxes out at 800 and gathers enviro data from a phone connection only, but still is a strong ranger.

If you want to go further, or if you don't want to have to enter and update enviro data via phone, then look to the 2400 or the 2700.

Sounds like you are already familiar with Leica's ballistics system and it's strengths and weaknesses....it maxes out at 1k if you use the chip, the ballistics are workable but need tweaking if you shoot VLD's...overall that system needs updating but I have got mine working out to it's 1k limit, no problem. Following that, and/or for a more accurate solution, you need to run a kestrel. But in the 2700, you get that Leica glass (if that matters to you), as well as Leica performance in various conditions.

If you choose the 2400 BDX, you really want to run a Kestrel, otherwise, might as well get a 2200. With a Kestrel, it has a great connection and it feeds ballistic data back from the full AB Suite very fast and securely. And now you have a solution that goes as far as your RF does and considers all the factors. Glass is not as nice as the Leica's, but that may not matter to you. And for really long shots, you will still have to manually set DOF on the Kestrel, but that's pretty fast and only really matters for very long shots where you have time.

That said, for the cost of a 2400 BDX and a Kestrel Elite, you could buy the 'all in one' 2400 ABS. It too has it's strengths and weaknesses, but offers the ultimate integration if you want to go that way.

HTH, feel free to PM me if you want more details.

 

[Graywolf.260]

Thanks, I will go into a store and try to compare the BDX models. Sig's website is terrible for getting clear information. For $225 on sale, if the 1400 BDX isn't a piece of crap, it will probably do the job for a lite unit going out to 800 with AB lite software.

 

[catorres1]

Graywolf,

One thing I will recommend....look at the optics on the 1400 vs the higher end choices. I have not seen them personally, but I did buy my son a Kilo 850 some years ago without paying too much concern to optical quality. Until we went out to use it. We both find it difficult to use much past sunset, especially if there is a cloudy sky. Way too dim, plus the display is hard to see. The 2400 BDX does not have this problem. While not as bright or clear as the Leica, it works just fine. Not sure how deep into the BDX line this level of optics extends, so I would definitely recommend you check out the lower offerings and see how they stack up, especially if you want to shoot long.

 

[Graywolf.260]

I looked at the 1400 BDX today. In daylight. Compared to Geovid HD-Bs, it's obviously nowhere near in optical and RF quality, but at ~1/10 of the cost for my specific application it wasn't awful. The LCD is not illuminated, so I imagine that could be an issue in dark backgrounds. Ranged 850 easily on buildings and I got an 1100 yd return on a tree in constant ranging mode. Not sure how easy that would be to routinely get. If the AB ultralite software works as advertised, I see this as a pretty useful hunting RF. Program the ballistics of all your rifles/cartridges into your iPhone, bluetooth download your cartridge of choice to the RF that day, range at up to ~800 yds, get a mil holdover returned.

 

[catorres1]

Graywolf,

I have not looked through the 1400's so I cannot comment. The optics on the 2200 and 2400 are supposed to be an upgrade, obviously they have a little more power, but I suspect the coatings might be improved as well if it is setup like the Kilo line, but I can't say for sure. I can say that the 2400 works well enough, I just came in from Coyote hunting and while not top drawer, the optics are definitely sufficient to get the job done, unlike my Kilo 850.

As to the software and how it works, yes, Sig has done their homework here, at least in our experience. I handed it to my 15 year old son. He had it loaded and setup with his ballistics and the local conditions in mere minutes. I actually gave it to him, pointed him to Sig's site and said figure it out...wanted to see how easy it would be for someone to do it cold. Easy. We then took it out a few days later, he ranged an elk, dialed the displayed solution and nailed it. No problem.

So I don't think you are going to have a problem with the software. But if you can find a deal (and I think there are a bunch out there right now), I would try and get into the 2200 if I were you. The possibility of improved optics aside, the bigger reason is that conditions really cut into ranging performance. Rain, mist, fog, snow, dust in the air, bright sun etc, or sun low in the sky...lots of things and all of a sudden, your range is 50% of what you expected. So when it comes to RF's, more horsepower. That extra horsepower also lets you range more surely to when doing it handheld. That is, as you approach the limits of what an RF can do under a particular set of conditions, how steady you are becomes much more critical. So an RF that can range to 2500 yards will more easily handle a shaky 1000 than one that can range to 1500. That RF will require much more steadyness to pull off that 1k range in my experience.

All that is to say, if you can, the extra power comes in more handy than one would think in real world use, so I would recommend buying as much as you can afford.

 

[nexusfire]

Sig kilo 2400ab is not a bad choice. Programmable from your phone.

This

 

[Mr Flannel]

^^^^ what he said

 

[nexusfire]

^^^^ what he said

It would be perfect with a more powerful laser and more gun profiles. ARE YOU LISTENING SIG?

 

[Mr Flannel]

Would be even better if the 2400AB was firmware upgradable.

 

[5RWill]

Just got our 2200bdx and am using it hunting now. Love this thing. If someone can confirm the 3000bdx has decent glass like pst-razor binoc quality. I’m all over it with liberty’s promotional price.

If they can get a 3000abs I’d pay big money for that. No need for a kestrel in most situations

 

[catorres1]

I was told 3000 BDX will have Zulu 5 level glass. So if you want to know what they will look like, have a look at those.

 

[5RWill]

I was told 3000 BDX will have Zulu 5 level glass. So if you want to know what they will look like, have a look at those.

Where would i find a pair? Currently at home and there are no stores here. I was hoping Zulu 7 because the reviews for those are pretty good.

 

[catorres1]

Zulu 5's? Not sure where they might be carried locally to you. I don't think Cabelas carries them, but I could be wrong. Going to check some out next month at DSC but, can't say at the moment where locally you might find some.

 

[5RWill]

Zulu 5's? Not sure where they might be carried locally to you. I don't think Cabelas carries them, but I could be wrong. Going to check some out next month at DSC but, can't say at the moment where locally you might find some.

Let me know what you think of the zulu5 that's my only reservation.

 

[catorres1]

Will do, also, there is a review on them by Robby Denning (IIRC) from Rokslide. His video review is on Youtube. Might check that out also, it's only one source, but it's a good start.

 

[5RWill]

Had solid success with the sig 2200bdx yesterday as far as the ABU system is concerned. Took a nice 10pt at my range on the farm at 636yds it was spot on. I was getting extremely frustrated though it took forever to get a range on him. I could get my targets at 600 and some trees in between them but i finally got the back drop. It would not range him. Also have yet to get my 10” 700yd target or my 30x18 800yd plate. I would chalk it up to being unsteady but i was on a rear bag steady as hell. I need to put my brothers kilo 2000 side by side with it and see if it suffers the same issue. If not I’m going to let sig look at it.