Importance of on board ballistics

[Bowhunter46]

I find myself going back and forth with getting range finding binos with or without on board ballistics. How important or helpful is it really out to 700 yards?

 

[Jordan Smith]

Is it critical? No. Is it helpful? Yes, especially when time is of the essence while hunting or competing.

 

[HuntHarder]

Time saver is what it really provides. Also having everything in 1 package is a convenience. 100 necessary, it is not. More of a luxury imo.

 

[MuleyFever]

How important or helpful is it really out to 700 yards?

Important, no. Helpful, yes.

 

[Bowhunter46]

Time saver is what it really provides. Also having everything in 1 package is a convenience. 100 necessary, it is not. More of a luxury imo.

How accurate/reliable are they? I know this is subjective but I’m looking at the fury hd 5000 ab

 

[MuleyFever]

How accurate/reliable are they? I know this is subjective but I’m looking at the fury hd 5000 ab

They are as accurate as the data you put into them as as reliable as any other rangefinder I suppose.

 

[Bowhunter46]

They are as accurate as the data you put into them as as reliable as any other rangefinder I suppose.

I have an sig rangefinder but wasn’t sure id id be better suited putting $1000 into regular binos or Rangefinding binos. I have only 8x binos now and would like atleast 10’s for Wyoming.

 

[Skerhunter]

It’s very convenient and fast! Just be sure to have a back up plan if they go down and to double check it in the field. We had one go down this year and gave wild solutions. Thankfully it didn’t affect the hunt.

 

[MuleyFever]

Its really a personal choice thing. RF binos make the process faster but you may be giving up a regular bino that suits you better in fit, weight, size, or performance.

 

[HuntHarder]

I haven't used the sig version, but so far the Leica's I have have matched up perfect to my AB app. Again, they are only as accurate as your inputs.

 

[Hunter26]

I have a set of Zeiss RF and when you are hunting and trying to be as efficient at possible they are so nice. Glass, click and you have a range/adjustment. That said I wouldn't trust them out to 700 yards unless you have gone out and verified they will give you the correct adjustment in various conditions. I would be sad if I didn't have them hunting. For long shots in general I have bought a 5700 AB kestrel and it seems to be more accurate and consistent the further out you go.

 

[wind gypsy]

How accurate/reliable are they? I know this is subjective but I’m looking at the fury hd 5000 ab

They only place where they have issues with dope accuracy is the density altitude input from the onboard sensors can be swayed by the binos being tight against your warm chest making the air seem warmer (thinner) than it actually is.

I have an sig rangefinder but wasn’t sure id id be better suited putting $1000 into regular binos or Rangefinding binos. I have only 8x binos now and would like atleast 10’s for Wyoming.

I'd rather have 1000$ binos than $1000 rangefinding binos unless you can increase that value a smidge and get Leicas without onboard ballistics.

I prefer my $800 10x Nikon Monarch HG binos to my $2k+ sig RF binos by a fair margin for finding/observing game.

RF binos are very nice when you're active and could be on game at any second for quick identification, range/dope, and getting on a gun quick. I still prefer standard binos if spending hours on glass.

 

[Shortschaf]

Rf binos with onboard ballistics are awesome time and space savers.
Don't know if I'd ever go to a standalone bino anymore, for sure not a rf without the onboard ballistics

But I would not give up quality glass in binos either just to have rf. Leica 3200.coms are the best value out there IMO. Have seen several sell for ~$1300

 

[Bowhunter46]

They only place where they have issues with dope accuracy is the density altitude input from the onboard sensors can be swayed by the binos being tight against your warm chest making the air seem warmer (thinner) than it actually is.

I'd rather have 1000$ binos than $1000 rangefinding binos unless you can increase that value a smidge and get Leicas without onboard ballistics.

I prefer my $800 10x Nikon Monarch HG binos to my $2k+ sig RF binos by a fair margin for finding/observing game.

RF binos are very nice when you're active and could be on game at any second for quick identification, range/dope, and getting on a gun quick. I still prefer standard binos if spending hours on glass.

This will be for hunting antelope in Wyoming and mule deer In colorado

 

[mlevimadden]

I have an sig rangefinder but wasn’t sure id id be better suited putting $1000 into regular binos or Rangefinding binos. I have only 8x binos now and would like atleast 10’s for Wyoming.

You’re way better off with RF binos compared to traditional binos as long as you aren’t mainly archery hunting. It’s a huge advantage having Rangefinding capability in your binos instead of a monocular.

I compared a bunch of different RF binos this year and bought the Leica geovid R 10x42. They don’t have onboard ballistics so I just wear an arm board with hard dope card until the shooting is done.

They don’t give up any laser power or glass quality to the $4k Leicas, swaros, zeiss, etc. only onboard ballistics. I’m probably 2-4 seconds slower than someone getting instant ballistic readout from the revics, but that wasn’t worth $2k to me and I’m still way faster than I was with separate binos and a RF monocular.

 

[bojangles808]

I compared a bunch of different RF binos this year and bought the Leica geovid R 10x42. They don’t have onboard ballistics so I just wear an arm board with hard dope card until the shooting is done.

They don’t give up any laser power or glass quality to the $4k Leicas, swaros, zeiss, etc. only onboard ballistics. I’m probably 2-4 seconds slower than someone getting instant ballistic readout from the revics, but that wasn’t worth $2k to me and I’m still way faster than I was with separate binos and a RF monocular.

I am adjusting some things currently in my optics stable but this is what I found as well when I settled on Geovid Rs. I think the Geovid pro AB+ was as close as it got to being perfect , but all the ballistic RF binos seemed to give something up and it wasn't worth the extra 1500-2k imo. Can just get the Geovid Rs that give you the glass good enough to sit behind all day plus a solid laser RF capabilities, and then Id just have a hard data chart saved on my phones locked screen for that days hunt.

used 3200.coms aren't a bad idea if you need ballistics my buddy is very happy with his and I am excited to see where the price point is on the next gen of vortex fury's come in at with geoballistics. Supposdely they are coming out next quarter

 

[mlevimadden]

They only place where they have issues with dope accuracy is the density altitude input from the onboard sensors can be swayed by the binos being tight against your warm chest making the air seem warmer (thinner) than it actually is.

This was another concern of mine with on-board ballistics RF binos. At least with a hard dope card I know exactly what inputs are giving me the solution and I can adjust my dial value by a tenth if my card isn’t a perfect match with the current environmentals. Granted I’m usually shooting sub 500 yards.

 

[HuntHarder]

This was another concern of mine with on-board ballistics RF binos. At least with a hard dope card I know exactly what inputs are giving me the solution and I can adjust my dial value by a tenth if my card isn’t a perfect match with the current environmentals. Granted I’m usually shooting sub 500 yards.

You can and should still carry a dope card when using RF binos. Technology can and does fail. I am not sure I will ever carry my LR gun without a dope card attached to the offside of my stock. It's extra insurance.