New And Improved G7 BR2 Rangefinder Review
I took the opportunity to ask Gunwerks the rationale behind their choice of beam size. As mentioned previously, this is a specification that generally gets major consideration when purchasing a rangefinder. Although the beam size of the improved G7 BR2 at 1.5x3 Mrad, it is still larger than the Leica and Terrapin beam sizes in the .5x2.5 Mrad range. Aaron Davidson, CEO of Gunwerks, explained the rationale of the G7 BR2's beam size. He stated, "The larger beam size yields better ranges in unsteady field use. It also allows additional power output while maintaining Class1 eye safety. The use of the TruTargeting mode eliminates any of the negative potential of the larger beam returning signal from inadvertent targets. We have experimented with smaller beams and beam orientations. This combination seems to give the best balance of ranging performance and ease of use."
TruTargeting Mode in Practice
During the course of writing this evaluation of the improved G7 BR2 it was suggested by Len Backus's son Andy that shooters may be interested in a more detailed explanation of my actual usage of the TruTargeting Mode, understanding interferences and speaking to some actual examples of game taken at long range using the TruTargeting Mode of the G7. First, when using any rangefinder, the shooter should learn to view their target or game in three dimensions. When viewing your target through the rangefinder (or scope, binoculars, spotting scope), you determine whether there are there other objects such as brush, hills, trees or other animals, etc., which are in front of or behind the area of the target that can be captured by the beam of the rangefinder. At this point you note the relative range differences in your mind. If the beam of the rangefinder can reflect off of these non targets, producing an inaccurate range or no range at all, consider these interferences that may need to be dealt with.
Depending on the particular rangefinder, there are ways to get around interferences. One way is to use a beam size small enough to range only the target and miss the interferences. Another way is to rely on software and filtering within the rangefinder to either provide multiple ranges of each of the interferences, as is the case with the Terrapin in 3D mode. Another way is to use software that will signal an interference and allow the user to select filters (modes) to selectively range just the target. This is the case of the G7 BR2's TruTargeting mode. Successful use of the TruTargeting mode requires that you understand how the interferences are affecting your target. Using the modes to filter the interferences allows for a larger beam size, which reduces dependence on a rock solid rest, important with the use of a small beam rangefinder in many hunting situations.
It has been my experience that with mid range use, and unobstructed targets, most of the high end rangefinders will effectively give accurate ranges, and beam size arguments are generally overstated. It's the longer range, obstructed targets that begin to stress the demands of a rangefinder, and whether it's with the use of a small beam or software, or both, ranging becomes more complicated and has to be dealt with to get an accurate range on the target…the foremost goal of the rangefinder.
My early process for ranging with my rangefinders was quite simple. Initially with my Leica then my Terrapin, my approach was to try to find a very solid rest, then to put the aiming point on my target and get a range. With difficult targets that were either too far or obstructed I'd keep taking ranges until two or three matched exactly, and unless it was obvious I was ranging an obstruction, I'd accept that range. If I got no range at all, or the ranges wouldn't match up, I'd have no shot unless I changed location or the animal moved.
When I acquired my original G7 BR2 I was intrigued by the TruTargeting mode. There are four modes: Standard, Continuous, Near and Far. Standard mode emits the most powerful beam strength and is the typical mode for general ranging of unobstructed targets. Continuous mode will take a range every couple of seconds by just holding the fire button. I like this for coyote hunting when they are in constant motion. Near mode ranges the closest object the beam picks up, filtering objects that the beam sees in the background. Far mode does the opposite, ranging the farthest object and eliminating objects the beam picks up in the foreground. If the G7 BR2's beam picks up more than one object, it will give a yardage for the dominant object and show the yardage in brackets, signaling that a mode change is required.
To change the mode you simply press the mode button on the G7 BR2. The mode in use is always indicated on the viewfinder screen. If the interferences are in the background, use Near mode. If the interferences are in the foreground, use Far mode. If the interferences are in both the foreground and background you can use both Near and Far modes to determine the range by observing the common yardage for your target. This will be displayed in either the Near or Far mode when the beam is placed accordingly. I'll explain this a little better in a later example.
My very first deer shot with the original G7 BR2 four seasons ago was a whitetail at roughly 1000 yards. It was standing in front of a stand of saplings at what appeared to be another 100-200 yards distant. My first range on the G7 BR2 was a bracketed 1170 yards. My buddy manning the spotting scope attempted to take a range with my Terrapin as well. He also read 1170 yards. Because I had brackets on my range, I was suspect of the saplings in the background giving a misread. I changed the mode to Near which gave a reading of 998 yards. Being new to this, and just to confirm, I decided to take a range of only the saplings in the background without the whitetail in the beam. This range was 1170 yards, no brackets. I decided to use 998 yards and placed the bullet dead center in the whitetail's chest with my 6.5x284. Two key points: Firstly, my buddy said he could not keep the small aiming circle of the Terrapin on the whitetail, thus missing him with the small beam and ranging only the brush. He did not have a good rest. Secondly, I only ranged one time for each of my three readings, bracing the G7 BR2 against the side of my scope from the prone position. The larger beam size did place less emphasis on having a steady rest.
TruTargeting Mode in Practice
During the course of writing this evaluation of the improved G7 BR2 it was suggested by Len Backus's son Andy that shooters may be interested in a more detailed explanation of my actual usage of the TruTargeting Mode, understanding interferences and speaking to some actual examples of game taken at long range using the TruTargeting Mode of the G7. First, when using any rangefinder, the shooter should learn to view their target or game in three dimensions. When viewing your target through the rangefinder (or scope, binoculars, spotting scope), you determine whether there are there other objects such as brush, hills, trees or other animals, etc., which are in front of or behind the area of the target that can be captured by the beam of the rangefinder. At this point you note the relative range differences in your mind. If the beam of the rangefinder can reflect off of these non targets, producing an inaccurate range or no range at all, consider these interferences that may need to be dealt with.
Depending on the particular rangefinder, there are ways to get around interferences. One way is to use a beam size small enough to range only the target and miss the interferences. Another way is to rely on software and filtering within the rangefinder to either provide multiple ranges of each of the interferences, as is the case with the Terrapin in 3D mode. Another way is to use software that will signal an interference and allow the user to select filters (modes) to selectively range just the target. This is the case of the G7 BR2's TruTargeting mode. Successful use of the TruTargeting mode requires that you understand how the interferences are affecting your target. Using the modes to filter the interferences allows for a larger beam size, which reduces dependence on a rock solid rest, important with the use of a small beam rangefinder in many hunting situations.
It has been my experience that with mid range use, and unobstructed targets, most of the high end rangefinders will effectively give accurate ranges, and beam size arguments are generally overstated. It's the longer range, obstructed targets that begin to stress the demands of a rangefinder, and whether it's with the use of a small beam or software, or both, ranging becomes more complicated and has to be dealt with to get an accurate range on the target…the foremost goal of the rangefinder.
My early process for ranging with my rangefinders was quite simple. Initially with my Leica then my Terrapin, my approach was to try to find a very solid rest, then to put the aiming point on my target and get a range. With difficult targets that were either too far or obstructed I'd keep taking ranges until two or three matched exactly, and unless it was obvious I was ranging an obstruction, I'd accept that range. If I got no range at all, or the ranges wouldn't match up, I'd have no shot unless I changed location or the animal moved.
When I acquired my original G7 BR2 I was intrigued by the TruTargeting mode. There are four modes: Standard, Continuous, Near and Far. Standard mode emits the most powerful beam strength and is the typical mode for general ranging of unobstructed targets. Continuous mode will take a range every couple of seconds by just holding the fire button. I like this for coyote hunting when they are in constant motion. Near mode ranges the closest object the beam picks up, filtering objects that the beam sees in the background. Far mode does the opposite, ranging the farthest object and eliminating objects the beam picks up in the foreground. If the G7 BR2's beam picks up more than one object, it will give a yardage for the dominant object and show the yardage in brackets, signaling that a mode change is required.
To change the mode you simply press the mode button on the G7 BR2. The mode in use is always indicated on the viewfinder screen. If the interferences are in the background, use Near mode. If the interferences are in the foreground, use Far mode. If the interferences are in both the foreground and background you can use both Near and Far modes to determine the range by observing the common yardage for your target. This will be displayed in either the Near or Far mode when the beam is placed accordingly. I'll explain this a little better in a later example.
My very first deer shot with the original G7 BR2 four seasons ago was a whitetail at roughly 1000 yards. It was standing in front of a stand of saplings at what appeared to be another 100-200 yards distant. My first range on the G7 BR2 was a bracketed 1170 yards. My buddy manning the spotting scope attempted to take a range with my Terrapin as well. He also read 1170 yards. Because I had brackets on my range, I was suspect of the saplings in the background giving a misread. I changed the mode to Near which gave a reading of 998 yards. Being new to this, and just to confirm, I decided to take a range of only the saplings in the background without the whitetail in the beam. This range was 1170 yards, no brackets. I decided to use 998 yards and placed the bullet dead center in the whitetail's chest with my 6.5x284. Two key points: Firstly, my buddy said he could not keep the small aiming circle of the Terrapin on the whitetail, thus missing him with the small beam and ranging only the brush. He did not have a good rest. Secondly, I only ranged one time for each of my three readings, bracing the G7 BR2 against the side of my scope from the prone position. The larger beam size did place less emphasis on having a steady rest.
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