X - Vectronix Shooting Solutions
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Played with the Vectors a little more and was wondering what kind of ranging performance others are getting. In an urban-ish setting from high elevation, out to 1200-1500, the vectors had zero issues and could consistently get readings on most objects. Past that though became a little iffy. 2000-3000 I could get readings about 50% of the time on larger targets including large buildings or vehicles. 3500 was about a 10% success rate on a light colored building with windows. Furthest confirmed distance I was able to get was around 6500 yards on a random house for some reason, but couldn’t replicate that with any other houses or buildings at the same range. Conditions weren't favorable, sunny with no cloud cover, and probably a lot of feedback/noise from where I was at.
Obviously it’s still consistently ranging well beyond what most people shoot at, but frankly I kinda expected a bit better performance given Vectronix’s rep. Wish I had a pair of Kilos to compare side by side in the same conditions.
Edit:
Played with them again on an overcast day in a more rural area and was consistently getting 3-4000 yard readings on buildings, which was about as far as I could see. 2000+ for trees easy. Going to chalk up my earlier ranging performance to conditions. I’m a happy camper.
Obviously it’s still consistently ranging well beyond what most people shoot at, but frankly I kinda expected a bit better performance given Vectronix’s rep. Wish I had a pair of Kilos to compare side by side in the same conditions.
Edit:
Played with them again on an overcast day in a more rural area and was consistently getting 3-4000 yard readings on buildings, which was about as far as I could see. 2000+ for trees easy. Going to chalk up my earlier ranging performance to conditions. I’m a happy camper.
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On mine it seems to be related to pressing the center button. If I press right arrow as in the instructions its fine. A single short press of the center button will change the check box, if Im not careful and fully hold down the center button to exit the menu it will change the selection. Instead of trying to hold down the center button to exit ive started using the direction buttons to select the exit menu tab in the hud menu.
Also ive confirmed that on mine it is displaying mrad instead of moa when connected to the kestrel. If the gun profile in the vector x and on the kestrel are both in moa then the vector x will display the output in mrad for some reason. If i select any profile in the vector x that is set to mrad, the output in the hud from the kestrel is correct and in moa.
I hope this is a simple software fix, for now ive made a separate gun profile that is labeled mrad that i select when using the vector x with an moa proflie in the kestrel.
I have a Marsupial Gear no-mag medium and a Stone Glacier Sentinel large. Fits in both.
I have both. Personally I like the Vector X. Elevation hold and dual wind readily visible. I can change gun profiles right from the unit. Change environmental quickly from the unit. I do believe the Leica's are a touch brighter but that's just my eyes. Pretty subjective, I'm keeping both but if I could only buy one it would 100% be the vector x.
The only thing I don't like is that the wind direction is always relative to the direction the binos are oriented. Not North. It would be nice to be able to set say a south wind relative to mag north then get the correct hold whether you are facing east or west.
Edit: I think it has been mentioned but to select a profile in the binos, it's def a right arrow push.
Just my 2 cents
Hello everyone! I’m looking to buy a Vector X, I’ve got solid experience with the original Vectronix Terrapin PLRF 05 and would appreciate it if you could run a side-by-side comparison of the Vector X and the original PLRF 05 Terrapin. Same day, same targets, to really see where the Vector X stands.
What I’m most interested in is small target performance—say, 10" steel plates or even birds at 500+ meters. A friend has the Terrapin X, and we found the PLRF 05 outperforms it on small targets at those ranges. A head-to-head on this would be really useful.
I’d be very grateful if you could provide such a comparison!
What I’m most interested in is small target performance—say, 10" steel plates or even birds at 500+ meters. A friend has the Terrapin X, and we found the PLRF 05 outperforms it on small targets at those ranges. A head-to-head on this would be really useful.
I’d be very grateful if you could provide such a comparison!
Hello thank you so much for the detailed review. I’m looking to buy a Vector X, I’ve got solid experience with the original Vectronix Terrapin PLRF 05 and would appreciate it if you could run a side-by-side comparison of the Vector X and the original PLRF 05 Terrapin. Same day, same targets, to really see where the Vector X stands.
What I’m most interested in is small target performance—say, 10" steel plates, birds, telephone poles at 500+ meters. A friend has the Terrapin X, and we found the PLRF 05 outperforms it on small targets at those ranges. A head-to-head on this would be really useful.
I’d be very grateful if you could provide such a comparison!
I didn't spend time side by side with both the terrapin PLRF 05 and the new Vector X during the review. I did spend a good bit of time doing that with the Terrapin PLRF 05 and the first gen Sig 10ks and Leica Geovid Pro 32s when I did those reviews though. I have also spend a good deal of time with both the first and second gen Sig 10ks side by side with the new Vector X binos. Based on this matrix of comparisons, I didn't spend any time doing comparisons with the old PLRF 05 Terrapin. It's just not close, with any target type.
I'm quite confident in saying there is no target that the original PLRF 05 Terrapins will range that the Vector X binos will not. With most target types, you will be capable of hitting the same target well over twice as far with the Vector X binos. As for precison, you might also be interested to know that the Vector X beam divergence is 1.5 x .1 mrad wheras the PLRF 05 Terrapin beam divergence is .4 x 2.4 mrad. I have heard from a number of folks that the orignial PLRF 05 Terrapins were generally a little better at rangefinding than the Terrapin X units were. Neither of these are in a class with the Vector X and Sig 10k binoculers though.
The beam divergence of rangefinders is not an indicator of their quality at all. If you compare the beam divergence of the Terrapin X 1.2 mil x 0.5 mil and the PLRF05 0.4 x 2.4 mil, then the Terrapin X has a better one, but the PLRF 05 leaves the Terrapin X far behind in the ability to determine the distance of small targets. The PLRF25 has an even worse beam divergence of 0.7 x 1.70 mil, but there is no better rangefinder.
Here is another example from Vectronix, PLRF25, Vector 23's efficiency in measuring the distance to the same target on a bright day is reduced by almost three times. Therefore, for an accurate comparison, measurements must be taken in the same conditions. Because due to lighting conditions, the same rangefinder can measure the distance to an object on one day, but not on another day.
Certainly beam divergence is not the only factor, but it does matter a good deal when ranging the small targets you seemed most interested in especially if they are against a backdrop that is located at a different distance. In such a scenario a wider beam is going to tend to get you the backdrop instead of the target because more of it is hitting the backdrop than the target.
In the case of the comparison between the PLRF 05 and the Vector X though, beam divergence is hardly the last word. The Vector X also takes many more measurements than the PLRF 05 spaced out over a much longer time duration and collected with a significantly larger receiving lens. It then uses a better algorithm to analyze this much larger volume of data. They just aren't close in performance. In almost all scenarios, including all small target scenarios, the PLRF 05 lagged the Leica Geovid pro 32 which, in all scenarios lagged the Sig 10k that is pretty on par to the Vector X. It was actually the small targets I found the PLRF 05 to have the most difficulty relative to any of the newer, tighter beamed units though the Sig 10k and Vector X range bigger things further as well.
Anybody know if they’re mainly just shipping 10x units? I ordered the 12x at the beginning of April and know plenty of people who ordered the 10x after me who have them. Just curious if there’s a method to the madness.
Did you order with extenders? Kinda curious if they’re holding orders with extenders or just shipping those separately once they arrive in early 25.
Just received my 10s this afternoon. Nice unit, solid and good build quality. At first glance reticle appears thicker than I was expecting. Still need to get it out to make a comment about glass/picture.
I do have one complaint and, frankly, is rather annoying considering the price point, and that is the focus knob. It has, what feels like in use and what I see looking through, about 1/4 turn of play before the focus adjustment kicks in. Start turning it, has a lite feel, then after 1/4 turn stiffens and you can feel the adjustment moving. Goes both ways. Maybe a better way to describe it is backlash or slop but it feels cheap. I’m playing with it looking at my Geovids on the bench thinking this is not right.
I do have one complaint and, frankly, is rather annoying considering the price point, and that is the focus knob. It has, what feels like in use and what I see looking through, about 1/4 turn of play before the focus adjustment kicks in. Start turning it, has a lite feel, then after 1/4 turn stiffens and you can feel the adjustment moving. Goes both ways. Maybe a better way to describe it is backlash or slop but it feels cheap. I’m playing with it looking at my Geovids on the bench thinking this is not right.
Ya, it’s dramatically different than my Leicas and Swaros I’ve used. What’s disappointing to me, short of the image, the focus knob is probably one’s biggest connection with a set of binos (your constantly adjusting it when glassing) and its flat out poor on these. If I had a chance to fondle these prior to buying, I probably would have paused buying on this one item alone.
I saw the same issue at the PRS Finale when using 10x42 with extenders. Too much play on the focus wheel.
I noticed it right off the bat with mine, but it doesn't bother me one bit. You can almost think of it like taking up the slack on a 2 stage trigger. For long range, you'll rarely hit the focus knob since the DOF is so forgiving on these unless you're pulling focus to see mirage. I've also been using mine all bow season. It's one of those things you notice at first, but get used to pretty quick.
I used a set of 10x SMR for several weeks while guiding in Wyoming, all handheld. I will echo that the depth of field was so forgiving I didn’t adjust focus much. And yes, edge clarity could be better, but I had to look to see it. The lase button is a little recessed and I had to search for it a couple times. Those would be the nits I had to pick.
Image quality otherwise was as good or better (to my eyes) from co-workers Leica and Swarovski’s. The screens and interface are excellent and quickly learned. Lots of great and useful features to them.
I am 100% glad I bought them and find the overall package probably best on the market for what I’m my uses (western hunting & shooting and maybe an NRL match here or there).
Image quality otherwise was as good or better (to my eyes) from co-workers Leica and Swarovski’s. The screens and interface are excellent and quickly learned. Lots of great and useful features to them.
I am 100% glad I bought them and find the overall package probably best on the market for what I’m my uses (western hunting & shooting and maybe an NRL match here or there).
The hunting aspect and back focusing to see mirage direction and speed more clearly. Being forward focused on mirage will for some reason will flip the mirages direction in the optic.
Zero experience on these binos as of yet, but has anyone asked Vectronix about this issue incase it has a fix on their end? A lot like the "mushy" Gen 3 Razor elevation turret issue Vortex fixed soon after launch.
I agree with you that on the ground it is very difficult to understand whether it is the distance to the ground or to the bird. The best way to understand the rangefinder's capabilities is to measure a bird sitting on wires at a distance of 500-1000 m.
I'm looking to buy to laze birds that's why I'm asking. I've been hunting birds for 10 years at distanses 300 +
I'm very sorry that you think this way about me.
I've never tried lazing birds on a wire. Most of the time what people are trying to laze is really amounts to either the ground or some large soft target like a bush or tree. Essentially, something big and soft in the vicinity of what they are looking to shoot. The bird on a wire thing is interesting though. I've never tried it and it certainly would offer some insight into pinpoint capabilities. I'll keep an eye out for opportunities to try this out and certainly post about it if I discover anything interesting.
I hunt mainly black grouse in the spring and fall. So it is critical for me to have a quality rangefinder that can measure small targets at long distances. It will be very interesting to hear your experience with birds on wires at distances of 500 +
In one photo the black grouse are sitting at a distance of 730 m. In the other photo we are taking measurements using Vectronix Terrapin X and PLRF 05. These 2 black grouse were shoot at a distance of 441 m.
That's why I'm asking you guys to take measurement small targets at long distanses.
That's why I'm asking you guys to take measurement small targets at long distanses.
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Did anyone figure out how to input negative zero offset values? I typically try to zero L of center by a smidgen at 100y. Haven't figured out how to put a left zero offset in.
264 win mag? Wow.
Perhaps you’ve addressed this, but I assume you’re shootings these birds while they are upon the ground? And not in the trees? Some of your pics are of birds in trees.
Why are you shooting at such a distance? For the challenge? I’m not being critical, just curious. It sounds like fun.
Where do your shoot? I’m guessing UK or somewhere in Europe.
I’ve twice tried hunting crows with a 17 Hornet and those buggers are smart. Didn’t even have one opportunity even though we had a blind, decoys, and an electronic caller. They just laughed at us while remaining ensconced in the trees.
Those of you that got a pair of these that already had a good setup, are you happy with your decision? Would you recommend replacing a SLC + TerrapinX + Kestrel 5700 Elite kit with a set of these? All-in-one sounds interesting, but I worry about giving up something by doing so.
I've got zeiss victory rf, kilo 10k gen1, and the vectorX. This is the best combo of laser/glass. The zeiss still has better glass, but it's only really noticeable at the edges. Laser sucks in the zeiss, and the ballistics engine is nil but workable once you true it to a kestrel.
no. 6.5 mm .264" is 6.5 Creedmor
reasons:
1. To pracrice for small targets at long distances
2. To cook them later.
Crows are not a problem at disnances 300+
US, Europe.
Cool, thanks for the info. I should really commit to trying to shoot longer distance birds as it looks like a good challenge. I’ve see quite a few vids on crow rifle shooting in the UK.
You didn’t mention if you shoot them on the ground or also in the trees, however. If the latter, I’d be quite worried about bullets flying long distances past the targets if I missed.
I don't worry about it since there is a large uninhabited area behind the target.
Hunting animals on the ground is one thing but shooting a bird on a wire compounds things greatly, if this is your private property then please disregard. If this is not private property how do you know there are not a few guys out shooting animals/birds just like you are doing?
