Litehiker
Well-Known Member
About two years ago I saw a Kestrel/Horus 4500 in action and was very impressed. I then started a thread on that device at Sniper's Hide, saying that all one had to do was input the distance to get a very accurate firing solution. Today we have an even more accurate solution because Kestrel now offers its device with the Applied Ballistics data, which many feel is a bit more refined than the Horus ATRAG ballistics.
Immediately SH I was attacked by an instructor from a shooting school saying that his ballistic calculator was "better" than the Kestrel unit but offering no facts. Others chimed in saying they thought that if the Kestrel/Horus unit was accurate why not use it to greatly speed things up.
WELL... that set off the instructor who said (ranted) that his real-world experience and great ballistics calculator trumped any weather station/calculator.
Obviously the test of time has shown the instructor to be a bit behind the times. Yes, one can use a smart phone ballistics chart to good effect or even a ballistics calculator but they will not have the weather sensors to give a complete solution and on a very long shot that is essential.
Hopefully this year we'll see Kestrel bring out their K/AB 4500 unit with the Smart Bluetooth version that will work out to 2,000 yards/meters (presently it works to "only" 800 yards) when coupled with a high quality laser rangefinder that also has the same new Bluetooth frequency.
ANYHOO - I bring this SH experience up to say that while there are many ways to skin a cat some are better than others in most situations and technology marches on. And I also bring it up to say that I have found this forum to be much more civil and gentlemanly than the SH forum. Not that we here do not hold some firm but differing opinions on shooting, just that we are more uniformly civil in our replies. I appreciate that.
Immediately SH I was attacked by an instructor from a shooting school saying that his ballistic calculator was "better" than the Kestrel unit but offering no facts. Others chimed in saying they thought that if the Kestrel/Horus unit was accurate why not use it to greatly speed things up.
WELL... that set off the instructor who said (ranted) that his real-world experience and great ballistics calculator trumped any weather station/calculator.
Obviously the test of time has shown the instructor to be a bit behind the times. Yes, one can use a smart phone ballistics chart to good effect or even a ballistics calculator but they will not have the weather sensors to give a complete solution and on a very long shot that is essential.
Hopefully this year we'll see Kestrel bring out their K/AB 4500 unit with the Smart Bluetooth version that will work out to 2,000 yards/meters (presently it works to "only" 800 yards) when coupled with a high quality laser rangefinder that also has the same new Bluetooth frequency.
ANYHOO - I bring this SH experience up to say that while there are many ways to skin a cat some are better than others in most situations and technology marches on. And I also bring it up to say that I have found this forum to be much more civil and gentlemanly than the SH forum. Not that we here do not hold some firm but differing opinions on shooting, just that we are more uniformly civil in our replies. I appreciate that.
