PDA, Program, Weather Meter- Help

[kkammenzind]

I have been shooting my 7STW pretty comfortably out to 700yds. I want to stretch it out to 1000yds now. I have been using a very basic ballistic program and I would like advise on the equipment needed. I am thinking of the Kestrel 3500, NF xbal and I have no clue on a PDA. It needs to be basic. My current cell phone is just that, a phone. I have limited computer skills.
In addition, I have signed up for one of Shawn Carlocks basic classes and I would like to be proficient with it by June when I take the class.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[kkammenzind]

Is this posted in the wrong place?
With all the long range hunters here I thought that I would get some good advise.
Please let me know if I should post somewhere else.

Thank you.

 

[BillR]

Someone will come on and give you some advise. I have been looking myself for better equipment also and asking the same question so have been watching this post myself. Biggest problem I have is the cost of some of the things needed. Some kind of reasonably priced PDA and Exbal is what I am needing. This year I have gotten by with a Caldwell Windmeter Crony Cronagraph and a print out from Sierra 6 program and a Leica 1600 which had me pretty close when shooting out to 1200 yds all summer but when I went to the field and tried to use the info I was low on every first shot by a lot. I ended up getting a 6X7 Mule deer at roughly 825-850 if I figure what I added onto the scope to hit the buck but I feel that I should of been on with the first shot rather than 4.5 MOA low. So better equipment and programs are also in the works to overcome this problem.

 

[tackdriver10]

I have a Dell Axim X30 PDA. You can find them pretty cheap on Ebay, and I think I paid about $40 for mine. Also, their is X50 which is a little nicer unit. You should have no problem loading exbal onto either one, but whatever PDA you purchase, you will need to make sure it has a Windows Mobile operating system. As far as the Kestrels go, I have a 2500 that has served me just fine.

Now I use my Iphone with the Ballistic FTE app.. It works well and the battery life is much better than on my PDA.

 

[SBruce]

Shawn sells a Dell Axim (I forget the model) with the Nightforce/Exbal program installed on it. It comes with a waterproof pelican case too.

If you intend on attending his class, perhaps that would be the way to go. Pretty much gauranteed he will be familiar with the equipment and program and it's use.

Hope that helps.

 

[kkammenzind]

SBruce,

That is exactly what I will do. Shawn apparently offers quite a bit more stuff than the website shows.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Scot E]

For a PDA I really think the apple products are the way to go if for no other reason than the better battery life. There are some very easy and accurate ballistic programs for iDevices that will serve all of your needs. Shooter, Ballistic FTE, iSnipe, and Bulletflight are the ones I can think of now. I have been messing with Shooter the last few days and like what I see so far. It has all the basic functions plus spin drift, Coriolis, zero vs current atmospheric shooting conditions, click value adjustments, and trajectory validation (or a form thereof) is coming in the next upgrade which is supposed to be this week.

For a weather meter I use a Kestrel 3500 and it is everything you need. If you want to go more go all the way to a blue tooth meter that will interface with your ballistic program.

Shawn uses Exbal so if you want to be synced up with him then you will need to go a different route. But exbal is pricey and it only runs on a windows platform I believe.

 

[woolecox]

I'm wondering the same thing. There doesn't seem to be too many computer savvy long range shooters here. Hmmm... makes you wonder about all those 1000 yard shots....

I am considering this one:
gseven - LRBCf Handheld Calculator

I have posted on it here but have gotten no response. I have questions about interface with a desk top and included software for desk top, etc.

 

[Scot E]

For desktop application with internet access the G7 program is available online at their site and here on LRH. It is free and works very well. Not sure if they offer a program that doesn't have to interface with their site.

 

[Len Backus]

I like the G7 software a lot. Another route is the SHOOTER program installed on an Android phone.

I use that as a backup to my G7 rangefinder which has the software built right in. And it also senses air density so you don't need a separate instrument to check temp and BP.

If you bought the G7 rangefinder you'd save quite a bit on the windmeter and PDA. And you'd get one of the very best rangefinders out there.

 

[woolecox]

I like the G7 software a lot. Another route is the SHOOTER program installed on an Android phone.

I use that as a backup to my G7 rangefinder which has the software built right in. And it also senses air density so you don't need a separate instrument to check temp and BP.

If you bought the G7 rangefinder you'd save quite a bit on the windmeter and PDA. And you'd get one of the very best rangefinders out there.

Yeah I know all of that Len and also got an email reply from Arron. He's good about that and he says the same thing. "I need a G7 BR2".

I'm just having a hard time justifying the $1600 cost since I already have a quality range finder. If I had no range finder, it would be a no brainer. But like you said, by the time I buy PDA, software, and a Kestrel, I haven't really saved that much over the BR2 and it's much more efficient to use. I'm going to get a Kestrel anyway because I think it helps one to dope the wind by testing your assumptions as you walk around.

Sounds like the G7 software is as good or better than Loadbase, Xball, etc.

Thanks,
Woolly

 

[4xforfun]

All I know is that I had a Dell Axim and it did not like the cold.....If it was out for more than a couple of min it would just up and die. Pretty usles up here in ND.

I would love to use a new phone of some type, but we get ZERO reception where I hunt, and my understanding is that you need cell service for the apps to work.

 

[woolecox]

All I know is that I had a Dell Axim and it did not like the cold.....If it was out for more than a couple of min it would just up and die. Pretty usles up here in ND.

I would love to use a new phone of some type, but we get ZERO reception where I hunt, and my understanding is that you need cell service for the apps to work.

Nah.... You just need cell service if you want to access a weather station to input local atmospheric conditions into your firing solution automatically.

You can still do it manually with the phone off. I will be testing the FTE program on my iPhone next week for accuracy at the range.

 

[Len Backus]

my understanding is that you need cell service for the apps to work.

Not true for the SHOOTER app.