Kestrel for PRS / long range shooting

T

Tikka223

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New Brunswick
So ... I enjoy PRS style shooting and long range shooting. I have never owned a Kestrel, or used one. I’ve always relied on the Weather Channel app to get humidty, barometric pressure, temperature, etc. to plug data into ISnipe to get firing solutions. For the most part this works well enough, plus or minus .5 mil usually.

I’ve done a bit of reading Kestrels and I understand that Density Altitude is the most important thing to measure for. Having said that, here is my question:

What makes the most sense? The newest Kestrel 5700AB (700$ish) or any Kestrel that does DA and then download Applied Balistics on my iPhone (not 700$)?

Thoughts?
 
I'm thinking, go all the way. That's what I will be doing at some point. If i can get it all in one package, that works for me. It's already crazy expensive, but so is everything else in the game.
Expensive rifle, expensive scope, expensive spotter, might as well...
 
I've done it both ways and they both work well. Personally I prefer the form factor of having everything on the Kestrel and not having to use my phone at all. It's also faster, you can do multiple targets, etc.That being said it is way cheaper and no less accurate to use a Kestrel that does DA (I had a Kestrel 4000NV) and a good ballistics app (I used Ballistic AE). Like everything, it's all about where you want to apply your budget, haha.
 
I recently upgraded to the 5700 elite but started out using a 4000 Bluetooth and my Samsung. Worked just fine. I like having it all in one but was way cheaper to get into. Will now probably sell the old unit.
 
That’s a good point. How’s the battery life on them? My phone dies in the cold real quick. Being able to use gloves would be a big bonus as well.
 
Tikka223 said:
That’s a good point. How’s the battery life on them? My phone dies in the cold real quick. Being able to use gloves would be a big bonus as well.
Click to expand...

I run a Samsung 6 Edge with a battery jacket, in a water proof pack, strapped to a hand warmer when it is chilly! (You really have to be careful with condensation, my water proof pack has 4 desiccated silicon packs in too.)
Cell phone batteries are really weak in the cold weather, but with the above treatment my Samsung works well. The Kestrel + lithium batteries beats everything through.

Candocad.
 
Tikka223 said:
That’s a good point. How’s the battery life on them? My phone dies in the cold real quick. Being able to use gloves would be a big bonus as well.
Click to expand...

I just checked mine and it says 100%. I've been using it since November. I've shot 3 or 4 matches since I've had it, mostly 2-day matches and use it generally 2-3 times a week when I go shooting. It also gave me accurate enough dope to hit at 1500 yards this weekend in a match, with my .308.
 
rugbydave said:
I just checked mine and it says 100%. I've been using it since November. I've shot 3 or 4 matches since I've had it, mostly 2-day matches and use it generally 2-3 times a week when I go shooting. It also gave me accurate enough dope to hit at 1500 yards this weekend in a match, with my .308.
Click to expand...

Are you running the 5700AB?
 
I like my Kestrel 4500 AB but I sold it off and upgrade to Kestrel 5700 elite AB instead.

Be able to input the gun profile and bullets on the phone then export them to Kestrel is a big plus for me. That's the only reason that I switched to 5700.
 
Just recently discovered a Garmin fortrex 701 ballistic edition, might make a switch again. Handy wearable on the wrist is awesome.
 
KND said:
Just recently discovered a Garmin fortrex 701 ballistic edition, might make a switch again. Handy wearable on the wrist is awesome.
Click to expand...
I had to look this up, how handy is this! Ive wanted the foretrex 401 for a while now, but the 701 is $600US! If it did DA it would be the one to get for sure. Would have to get the Kestrel Drop for DA i guess.

Any feedback on the Kestrel Drop d3?
 
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