Rangefinder recommendation with pairing?

[adill84]

I need to upgrade from my Sig Kilo 850 to something that can get accurate ranges on game in poor weather conditions out to probably 1000 yards. At some point I plan on getting some type of weather meter to pair with AB on my phone. Is there a range finder with just Bluetooth to phone or Kestrel if I decide to go that route or do they all come with a solver? Also if I start with AB and a tempest and switch to a Kestrel will all my data transfer? I’m not sold in the lrf bino route because I still plan on swapping in the current rangefinder for archery seasons.

Thanks for any info

 

[Rodney65]

Sorry I don't have anything too helpful to tell you but I will say at the last few field matches I was at I heard more than a few people with a variety of rangefinders say that they were having issues keeping their Kestrels and rangefinders synced. When everything was actively Bluetoothed it was fine but it was difficult to keep it that way.

I personally had the same experience with my Sig Kilo 6k. I can load a ballistic profile into it with the app and while the app was open it would give excellent ballistic data. But when I closed my phone it defaults to something off by close to 10% even with the onboard sensors.

It's a bit frustrating because I would like to be able to just pull out my rangefinder and get a quick firing solution but first I have to make sure the app is open. For some reason it doesn't do this with my .22LR profiles which makes it great for gopher hunting with subsonics.

Again I'm sorry this probably wasn't very helpful at all.

 

[adill84]

Very valid points actually, thank you. So perhaps a basic rangefinder and a Kestrel with the range card feature would be best to eliminate any technological issues afield?

 

[owtlaw]

My recommendation is for the Fury AB.

 

[nickw]

I would not rely on a blue tooth connection while hunting. Murphy will rear his ugly head when you need that connection. For a long time I ran a range finder (no bluetooth), and a Kestrel 5700 AB Link, with paper backup. Kestrel 5700 AB is an awesome piece of equipment. Once your load’s ballistic curve is confirmed / trued it is incredibly reliable. My workflow is laser my target and punch the distance into Kestrel, capture target direction and wind direction and speed at my location and either write down dope if multiple targets or dial / hold and engage if a single target like an animal. Now 3 years ago I went on an elk hunt with a buddy. My elk was at 480 and his 523. We had plenty of time with his Elk as he was making his way across the side of a mountain. My elk was at the top of a ridge and the guide was fearful he’d go over the top if I didn’t shoot. In this situation I felt like my LRF / Kestrel combo was slow and I felt rushed. If I had to rely on a Bluetooth connection and it failed, it would have been worse. All that to say I think a Bino LRF w/ ballistic solver is the way to go. It’s faster, and if you still want to connect to your kestrel (kestrel will give you better atmospherics than the Bino), but connection fails you still have a solution in your binos. If you don’t want to spring for $2500+ Bino / LRF / Solver (Sig Kilo10K, Revic BLR10b, Vectronix, Leica, Swaro etc.) look at the Vortex Fury 5000AB. It has AB elite on board, will Bluetooth to a Kestrel and can be had for $1000-$1200. Hope this helps.

 

[ggmanning]

I have been using a Terrapin X the last few months. Decent glass. Zero issues staying paired in all conditions, ranges very well (though not quite as good as my long time original Terrapin). I prefer Kestrel and RF separate vs onboard ballistics. Its a very good unit if that is your goal. Been out a while and not the new new so good prices can be found. It is a fast way to shoot once your wind is recorded in the Kestrel and it is set to solve mutiple targets with windage for each read from the RF. Populates compass direction, angle and range in an instant. RF binoculars and solver in one would be very fast but I don't like all my eggs in one basket. Either way I am so used to ranging and using the Kestrel that works for me. At hunting ranges say inside 600 yards though it's all really back up for me. I need a good range value and then the rough wind call and usual elevation range is memorized from a lot of shooting with the same caliber/gun. The Kestrel allows me to nail it down specifically if I have time.

 

[Emerson0311]

I would not rely on a blue tooth connection while hunting. Murphy will rear his ugly head when you need that connection. For a long time I ran a range finder (no bluetooth), and a Kestrel 5700 AB Link, with paper backup. Kestrel 5700 AB is an awesome piece of equipment. Once your load’s ballistic curve is confirmed / trued it is incredibly reliable. My workflow is laser my target and punch the distance into Kestrel, capture target direction and wind direction and speed at my location and either write down dope if multiple targets or dial / hold and engage if a single target like an animal. Now 3 years ago I went on an elk hunt with a buddy. My elk was at 480 and his 523. We had plenty of time with his Elk as he was making his way across the side of a mountain. My elk was at the top of a ridge and the guide was fearful he’d go over the top if I didn’t shoot. In this situation I felt like my LRF / Kestrel combo was slow and I felt rushed. If I had to rely on a Bluetooth connection and it failed, it would have been worse. All that to say I think a Bino LRF w/ ballistic solver is the way to go. It’s faster, and if you still want to connect to your kestrel (kestrel will give you better atmospherics than the Bino), but connection fails you still have a solution in your binos. If you don’t want to spring for $2500+ Bino / LRF / Solver (Sig Kilo10K, Revic BLR10b, Vectronix, Leica, Swaro etc.) look at the Vortex Fury 5000AB. It has AB elite on board, will Bluetooth to a Kestrel and can be had for $1000-$1200. Hope this helps.

This here. I’ve gone from paper dope on the stock, to a phone app solver and generic LRF, added a cheapwind meter, to a Kestrel 5700 and LRF binos, to the Fury 5000 AB in the mix. My next step is learning to use Frank’s wind mph gun number stuff in order to be able to cut out the Kestrel when time is hunting tight and the ranges are maxing out at 6-8 with a centerfire. Most matches, even hunter style, have enough time to use the kestrel for the precise wind/enviro stuff.

 

[adill84]

I will most likely end up getting a Kestrel 5700x of Elite AB for all environmentals and date because I do not want to have to rely on my IPhone and service, so I’m trying to make the pain a little bit less by finding something a little easier on the wallet. I do like the idea of solver in the rangefinder are any of the less expensive monocular version adequate. I can get Leica through expertvoice

 

[Rodney65]

This thread made me give the onboard ballistics on the Sig 6K another. After downloading a new app and rangefinder update the issue I was having seems to have been resolved. Earlier updates hadn't fixed it. I can now get ballistic solutions out to 800 meters without needing to have my phone going.

In my initial post I didn't mean to imply that synced/paired devices never work or are a terrible option just that they can be finicky.