Western Hunting Journal, Premiere Issue whj001_premiere | Page 37

Leupold
RX1200i TBR/W
$454.99
6 x 22mm
WEIGHT: 7.3 OUNCES
MAX REFLECTIVE RANGE: 1,200 YDS
ILLUMINATED DISPLAY: YES
Accuracy VVVVV
Clarity/Brightness VVVV+
Features VVVVV
Construction VVVVV
Overall VVVVV
From rugged construction and comfortably
packable size to accuracy and customizable
configurations, the RX-1200i TBR/W from Le-
upold will meet the needs of everyone from
bowhunters to long distance shooters.
Accuracy was excellent on all ranges and
targets tested, and the TBR (True Ballistic
Range) will produce accurate, shoot-to distanc-
es with angle compensation out to 800 yards.
When set to bow mode, distances will display in
tenths of a yard to 125 yards, and true horizon-
tal distances in yards beyond 125 yards. The unit
is pre-programmed with 25 ballistic profiles, al-
lowing the user to custom match rifle perfor-
mance with displayed outputs, which can be
set to show holdover readings in Mil, MOA, in,
or cm. Another feature practically unheard of
on units at this price point is displayed full value
(10 mph) wind hold corrections. Though wind
speed is not actuall y measured by the unit, dis-
played outputs reference the amount of hold
needed based on the selected ballistic profile,
and with some practice, can easily be adapted
to wind values from 5 to 20 mph.
Clarity was excellent, and low light perfor-
mance was also very good. The illuminated
display was easy to see in all light conditions,
and there are three reticle settings to select
from. A 6x magnification allows easy target
acquisition at closer ranges in heavy cover.
Features such as scan and last target priority
are great for checking multiple targets while
eliminating interference from non-desired
objects. Sturdy aluminum housing and water-
proof construction will withstand the nastiest
of hunting situations. leupold.com
Vortex
Ranger® 1500
$579.99
6 x 22mm
WEIGHT: 7.4 OUNCES
MAX REFLECTIVE RANGE: 1,500 YDS
ILLUMINATED DISPLAY: YES
Accuracy VVVVV
Clarity/Brightness VVVVV
Features VVVV+
Construction VVVVV
Overall VVVVV
Exceptional brightness, especially in low
light, coupled with great clarity and a gener-
ous field of view make the Ranger 1500 from
Vortex well suited for a range of applica-
tions from bow hunting dark timber, to long
shots on the open prairie. The waterproof,
rubberized construction was easy to grip
in rainy test conditions, and the adjustable
brightness of the OLED display was nice on
dark, dreary backgrounds and targets. Ad-
justable diopter allows clear field of view,
and the rim of the eye cup can be rolled
back for use with glasses.
Accuracy was excellent on animals as well
as larger reflective targets under all condi-
tions tested. In fact, a twenty shot group of
readings on a sleeping cow elk returned the
same 204 yard reading all twenty times. The
farthest range achieved on a vehicle sized tar-
get was 1,062 yards under mid-day overcast
conditions.
A slight deduction in score was due to
the range and mode buttons both being on
top of the unit where in the excitement of a
hunting situation, a person may accidentally
press the mode instead of the range button.
Doing so won’t alter the settings of the unit,
but could cause a delay in getting a reading.
There is also a belt clip, though considering
what I’ve lost in the woods over the years I’d
stick to using the Ranger® 1500 with the pro-
vided lanyard. The belt clip is easily removed.
vortexoptics.com
Bushnell
G-Force DX ARC
$399
6 x 21mm
WEIGHT: 8.1 OUNCES
MAX REFLECTIVE RANGE: 1,300 YDS
ILLUMINATED DISPLAY: YES
Accuracy VVVV
Clarity/Brightness VVVV
Features VVVVV
Construction VVVVV
Overall VVVV+
Slim, rugged metal housing with rubberized
exterior is compact and easily packable while
being durable enough to provide years of ser-
vice. The illuminated display is excellent in low
light, and features four-level intensity adjust-
ability. Two target priority modes, BullsEye™
and Brush™ allow for customized target
readings depending on user preference and
application. Scanning is also possible. General
operation can be set to three modes: ‘regular’,
which provides only a line of sight distance;
‘bow’ which displays line of sight as well as an-
gle compensated shoot-to distance out to 99
yards; and ‘rifle’ with a display that shows line
of sight, as well as the shot angle and a ballistic
correction for hold over in inches, centime-
ters, MIL or MOA.
The rifle mode is unique as it relies on se-
lection of one of ten pre-loaded ballistic pro-
files; eight for centerfire, two for muzzleload-
ers. From the Bushnell website, select a profile
(from over 2,000) that best matches your
load then set the unit to that profile. Select
your target zero(100, 200 or 300yd), output
units(in., cm, MOA, MIL), and then range away.
The display will show shoot-to ballistic calcula-
tions with correction for slope.
Overall accuracy was good, as was adjust-
ability and mode selection. The magnification
was a little light for longer distances, but fit
most hunting scenarios well. Range practice
must be done to ensure ballistic profile display
data matches the user’s ballistics.
bushnell.com
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