Which Kestrel?

[Walkstoomuch]

I'm looking to add a kestrel to my bag of tools. I think the 1000 is all I need as I will use other systems for ballistics solving. I'll be using it to shoot out to 1000 yards at the range and probably start carrying it in the field. Is there a reason to step up to the more expensive units for my use?

 

[JF_Idaho]

Honestly, the 1000 only gives you wind.

I think the 3500 is the lowest model that has everything *I* would want, wind, pressure, altitude, humidity. All the models below 3500 lack one or the other.

 

[Dmoua]

Elite 5700 with link or the newest one. Having one unit that does everything is better then fiddling with multiple systems.

 

[hereinaz]

Honestly, the 1000 only gives you wind.

I think the 3500 is the lowest model that has everything *I* would want, wind, pressure, altitude, humidity. All the models below 3500 lack one or the other.

I agree with this, I want to know DA also and only one with those features can do it. At the very least, I can use the DA and cards for redundancy.

Elite 5700 with link or the newest one. Having one unit that does everything is better then fiddling with multiple systems.

I agree with this, but for redundancy, which is important for electronics that can go down. Link is nice to have. If you can find one with ballistics but not elite, you can save, that’s what I have.

I have a Garmin 701, Sig BDX binos, and Kestrel that go with me most hunts. And cards.

 

[JF_Idaho]

I agree with this, but for redundancy, which is important for electronics that can go down. Link is nice to have. If you can find one with ballistics but not elite, you can save, that’s what I have.

I have a Garmin 701, Sig BDX binos, and Kestrel that go with me most hunts. And cards.

Same, I have a 5700 ballistics. $300 less than the Elite and iirc the only real world differences are being able to have more active profiles, and a few niche features like target cards.

Down the line if you need those extra features you can upgrade software to Elite for the $300 and it's the same overall price as buying Elite.

Link for sure.

 

[hereinaz]

Same, I have a 5700 ballistics. $300 less than the Elite and iirc the only real world differences are being able to have more active profiles, and a few niche features like target cards.

Down the line if you need those extra features you can upgrade software to Elite for the $300 and it's the same overall price as buying Elite.

Link for sure.

Correct.

 

[flyfisher117]

Same, I have a 5700 ballistics. $300 less than the Elite and iirc the only real world differences are being able to have more active profiles, and a few niche features like target cards.

Down the line if you need those extra features you can upgrade software to Elite for the $300 and it's the same overall price as buying Elite.

Link for sure.

The elite used to have a more robust ballistic solver, is that not the case anymore?

 

[JF_Idaho]

The elite used to have a more robust ballistic solver, is that not the case anymore?

There is a few things. Custom BC Curves on the Elite, 4000 vs 5500 yards, zero offset, 3 guns vs 30 guns, 1 target vs 30 stages of 10 targets, range card, target card, zero offset and "faster processing for ELR".

 

[hereinaz]

The elite used to have a more robust ballistic solver, is that not the case anymore?

The 5700 has ballistics, still an AB engine I think. You can update it to AB elite. But, the Hornady 4 DOF you can’t upgrade to AB elite.

For hunting you won’t lack anything if you run the solution with the basic 5700.

Elite has more bells and whistles, including custom drag curve library. I think it has availability for more guns too.

 

[flyfisher117]

There is a few things. Custom BC Curves on the Elite, 4000 vs 5500 yards, zero offset, 3 guns vs 30 guns, 1 target vs 30 stages of 10 targets, range card, target card, zero offset and "faster processing for ELR".

The 5700 has ballistics, still an AB engine I think. You can update it to AB elite. But, the Hornady 4 DOF you can’t upgrade to AB elite.

For hunting you won’t lack anything if you run the solution with the basic 5700.

Elite has more bells and whistles, including custom drag curve library. I think it has availability for more guns too.

I had the 5700 Sportsman, where ever that fell inside the line up. I upgraded it to elite because the sportsmans watered down AB software really struggled past 800 yards. It was close enough to ring steel but no ammount of truing would ever get it where I was happy.

 

[hereinaz]

I had the 5700 Sportsman, where ever that fell inside the line up. I upgraded it to elite because the sportsmans watered down AB software really struggled past 800 yards. It was close enough to ring steel but no ammount of truing would ever get it where I was happy.

Yes, the precision of the solution isn’t as fine for extended ranges, past the 600 which is a real limit for an inexperienced shooter, it’s worth upgrading beyond that.

I agree with you. OP didn’t mention much, but I assumed he was a beginner and shortcut my answer to recommend the 5700 because of the possibility to upgrade.

The 5700 Elite or 4DOF is in the bags of a lot of regular long range shooters, even if they don’t use it as a primary tool. It’s a training tool and backup or primary depending on the shooter preference.

 

[Walkstoomuch]

I knew there would be a wealth of info from you all. I'll share some more info and maybe that will help nail down the best option for me

I'm new to shooting beyond 600 yards and am taking a class this spring to help accelerate my learning curve and fix whatever poor habits I may have. I picked up a pair of Swaro EL Range TA in November. I don't have any plans to shoot competitively. I would like to be proficient shooting at the range out to 1000 yards and eventually past 400 yards (my imposed limit) at game. Up until this point I have used the Hornady app a chronograph and the weather station at my range to provide solutions. Between my wife and I we will have 4 different rifles we may need solutions for.

Is the 5700 Elite still the best option for me?

 

[JF_Idaho]

If you only need wind data and will get the enviromentals elsewhere any will work.

If you just want all enviromentals needed for a solution such as the hornady app the 3500 will work.

If you want solutions on the unit the 5700 ballistics link will work for 3 rifles at a time. Using the app you can remove and add rifles that you have saved for as many as you need, but only 3 on the unit simultaneously. You will be able to upgrade to elite if needed in the future. This is what I would recommend.

The 5700 elite if you want to just buy once, cry once.

 

[Athens]

I shoot all over the west with my Kestrel 5700 at matches from 1k to 2k and mine is spot-on. In real wind at that range, you cant just capture a reading and expect to hit center though. You need to take the reading, consider ground wind vs winds aloft, read the topography and consider its effects, and consider wind angle vectors. But as far as getting accurate data to start from, I have found mine to be perfect.

 

[TradLife406]

Hornady version is slick


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[Walkstoomuch]

Thank you for your help everyone