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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
Sig BDX System Review: 2400 BDX, Part 1a
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<blockquote data-quote="catorres1" data-source="post: 1558081" data-attributes="member: 80699"><p><strong>Sig BDX System Review: 2400 BDX Part 1d</strong></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><a href="https://s448.photobucket.com/user/catorres1/media/DSC01721.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/catorres1/DSC01721.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></span></strong></div> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">High center, you can see the plate 24"x48" yellow and red plate at 1390</span></div> <div style="text-align: center"></div><p>Subsequently, while in Northern Indiana and under more favorable conditions (heavily overcast skies, but no rain or mist), I tested on 12" and 18" white square targets made of cardboard that were set up skylined in a rolling corn field. By using scan mode, I was able to read the 12" plate out to 1135 yards. On the 18" target, I reached 1281 before the wind ripped it off the target frame. At 1281, I was able to hit the target the first time using the standard mode (not scan). As I have found that the 2400 is able to reach "so far" using standard mode, and then additional distance can be measured by utilizing scan mode, and since the 2400 hit the 18" plate at 1281 on the first ranging attempt in standard mode, I am confident that it would reach a bit farther under those conditions. Unfortunately, the weather would not cooperate for the rest of my visit, so I was not able to push it to the max range I had available, but my guess is that 1600-1700 yards would be achievable under ideal conditions using scan mode. Unfortunately, I don't currently have access to a range with those kinds of distances with appropriate space for testing on targets. If I find the right place, I hope to try the 2400 a little further out and will update this review if that occurs.</p><p></p><p>Game</p><p></p><p>Sadly, as much as I would have liked to, I did not get the opportunity to really test the 2400's ability on game at long range. Black cows at 900 yards is about the longest I was able to come across unfortunately. Based on the 2400's performance vs Sig's claims, I would believe large deer or elk at 1400 is entirely reasonable, but I cannot say for sure. I have been planning to make my own 'deer' using an old pelt and a 3d target so I can be more consistent in testing RF's on game. When (if) I do, I'll try and update this review with that result.</p><p></p><p>Precipitation</p><p></p><p>Precipitation performance is a bit tricky to test because the conditions can change literally second to second, so it is harder to get a baseline and a fair comparison, and consequently, hard to express the capabilities of the RF. But overall, in several hours of testing in the rain, I found that by at least one measure, the 2400 was particularly strong in its rain performance. RF's generally respond in three ways to precipitation: they will either read as normal; they will fail to give a range just as if you were pointing at the sky; or they will give what I call a malfunction reading, usually a reading of 40-50 yards even though the target is much more distant. This last reading appears only when rain, snow or fog is particularly heavy, so heavy that I believe that the beam is being diffracted so as to fool all the RF's I have tested into believing the target is in that 40-50 yard range. In terms of the first two, the 2400 did about as well as other RF's I have tested, give or take. However, on the occasions where the rain was really pouring down, the 2400 was the last to display the 'malfunction reading'. While I cannot give exact percentages, I can say that I tested the 2400, cumulatively, for several hours in the rain and found it's advantage in these conditions to be consistent. Why this is so, I cannot say for sure, but my guess is that Sig's utilization of a class 3 laser, as opposed to the class 1 laser used by competitors, is probably the reason for its strong performance in the rain. The 2400's laser has roughly twice the raw power of some of its competitors, and while raw laser power is only one component of an RF's ranging performance, I suspect in this case, and in the case of the 2400's reflective target performance, the extra power is making the difference.</p><p></p><p>Ranging Summary</p><p></p><p>I am working on a multiple model direct comparison for later this spring, but at this time I will say the 2400's ranging capabilities are competitive. The only difficulties I found revolve around the size of the aiming circle and the uncertainty of just exactly where the censor is within that circle, which can cause some difficulty in precisely ranging very small targets at distance. While this can be overcome to a great degree with some personal testing about where the placement and boundary of the ranging sensor lies within the aiming circle, nonetheless, I'd love to see the circle size decreased and the sensor placed in the center for easier precision ranging. However, once I got the hang of how my RF was setup, I found ranging to be very good, strong and very fast. And that last is something to note. When you range with a Sig, if you miss or you get no reading, you can range again immediately. The unit is blazing fast, so when your hand shakes and you miss or you hit a tree in front of you instead of the deer behind it, there is no wait time, the 2400 is immediately ready.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center"><a href="https://s448.photobucket.com/user/catorres1/media/DSC01443.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/catorres1/DSC01443.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Conclusion</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Strengths</strong></p><p></p><p>Robust build</p><p>Powerful ranging</p><p>Immediate re-ranging capability, the unit is super fast, allowing for quick followups</p><p>Strong performance in heavy precipitation</p><p>Outstanding integration with external devices, more of which will be discussed in part II.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Could be improved</strong></p><p></p><p>Optics coatings, particularly in terms of flare suppression</p><p>Reticle size/sensor placement for easier precision ranging</p><p>Ranging button can be hard to actuate with gloved hands</p><p>An internal compass would make integration with a Kestrel more complete</p><p></p><p>Overall, I have to say I am very impressed with the 2400. Truth is, I thought it was pretty cool when I got it, but the more I have used it, the more I am impressed, especially once I figured out where the ranging sensor lay within the reticle, and additionally, once we got to use it pretty extensively while hunting. While it is nothing new in terms of ranging power or optics (the 2400 ABS, which shares the same ranging engine and optics, has been out for quite some time), its ability to connect and execute bi-directional data sharing with external devices is particularly noteworthy. Being able to connect with the phone and, more importantly, the Kestrel or Foretrex, and to have that data feed back in with wind holds included, is very nice. The option to use the RF without a Kestrel, relying on the phone for environmentals, gives the BDX added flexibility. But the optional connection to the BDX line of scopes takes the system to the next level for those that want to go there. That integration and how it well it works, as well as how the BDX theoretically stacks up against the ABS, is what I'll explore in more depth in part 2.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="catorres1, post: 1558081, member: 80699"] [B]Sig BDX System Review: 2400 BDX Part 1d[/B] [CENTER][B][SIZE=3][URL='https://s448.photobucket.com/user/catorres1/media/DSC01721.jpg.html'][IMG]https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/catorres1/DSC01721.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=3]High center, you can see the plate 24”x48” yellow and red plate at 1390[/SIZE] [/CENTER] Subsequently, while in Northern Indiana and under more favorable conditions (heavily overcast skies, but no rain or mist), I tested on 12" and 18” white square targets made of cardboard that were set up skylined in a rolling corn field. By using scan mode, I was able to read the 12" plate out to 1135 yards. On the 18" target, I reached 1281 before the wind ripped it off the target frame. At 1281, I was able to hit the target the first time using the standard mode (not scan). As I have found that the 2400 is able to reach “so far” using standard mode, and then additional distance can be measured by utilizing scan mode, and since the 2400 hit the 18" plate at 1281 on the first ranging attempt in standard mode, I am confident that it would reach a bit farther under those conditions. Unfortunately, the weather would not cooperate for the rest of my visit, so I was not able to push it to the max range I had available, but my guess is that 1600-1700 yards would be achievable under ideal conditions using scan mode. Unfortunately, I don’t currently have access to a range with those kinds of distances with appropriate space for testing on targets. If I find the right place, I hope to try the 2400 a little further out and will update this review if that occurs. Game Sadly, as much as I would have liked to, I did not get the opportunity to really test the 2400’s ability on game at long range. Black cows at 900 yards is about the longest I was able to come across unfortunately. Based on the 2400’s performance vs Sig’s claims, I would believe large deer or elk at 1400 is entirely reasonable, but I cannot say for sure. I have been planning to make my own ‘deer’ using an old pelt and a 3d target so I can be more consistent in testing RF’s on game. When (if) I do, I’ll try and update this review with that result. Precipitation Precipitation performance is a bit tricky to test because the conditions can change literally second to second, so it is harder to get a baseline and a fair comparison, and consequently, hard to express the capabilities of the RF. But overall, in several hours of testing in the rain, I found that by at least one measure, the 2400 was particularly strong in its rain performance. RF’s generally respond in three ways to precipitation: they will either read as normal; they will fail to give a range just as if you were pointing at the sky; or they will give what I call a malfunction reading, usually a reading of 40-50 yards even though the target is much more distant. This last reading appears only when rain, snow or fog is particularly heavy, so heavy that I believe that the beam is being diffracted so as to fool all the RF’s I have tested into believing the target is in that 40-50 yard range. In terms of the first two, the 2400 did about as well as other RF’s I have tested, give or take. However, on the occasions where the rain was really pouring down, the 2400 was the last to display the ‘malfunction reading’. While I cannot give exact percentages, I can say that I tested the 2400, cumulatively, for several hours in the rain and found it's advantage in these conditions to be consistent. Why this is so, I cannot say for sure, but my guess is that Sig's utilization of a class 3 laser, as opposed to the class 1 laser used by competitors, is probably the reason for its strong performance in the rain. The 2400's laser has roughly twice the raw power of some of its competitors, and while raw laser power is only one component of an RF's ranging performance, I suspect in this case, and in the case of the 2400's reflective target performance, the extra power is making the difference. Ranging Summary I am working on a multiple model direct comparison for later this spring, but at this time I will say the 2400’s ranging capabilities are competitive. The only difficulties I found revolve around the size of the aiming circle and the uncertainty of just exactly where the censor is within that circle, which can cause some difficulty in precisely ranging very small targets at distance. While this can be overcome to a great degree with some personal testing about where the placement and boundary of the ranging sensor lies within the aiming circle, nonetheless, I’d love to see the circle size decreased and the sensor placed in the center for easier precision ranging. However, once I got the hang of how my RF was setup, I found ranging to be very good, strong and very fast. And that last is something to note. When you range with a Sig, if you miss or you get no reading, you can range again immediately. The unit is blazing fast, so when your hand shakes and you miss or you hit a tree in front of you instead of the deer behind it, there is no wait time, the 2400 is immediately ready. [CENTER][URL='https://s448.photobucket.com/user/catorres1/media/DSC01443.jpg.html'][IMG]https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq209/catorres1/DSC01443.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER] Conclusion [B]Strengths[/B] Robust build Powerful ranging Immediate re-ranging capability, the unit is super fast, allowing for quick followups Strong performance in heavy precipitation Outstanding integration with external devices, more of which will be discussed in part II. [B]Could be improved[/B] Optics coatings, particularly in terms of flare suppression Reticle size/sensor placement for easier precision ranging Ranging button can be hard to actuate with gloved hands An internal compass would make integration with a Kestrel more complete Overall, I have to say I am very impressed with the 2400. Truth is, I thought it was pretty cool when I got it, but the more I have used it, the more I am impressed, especially once I figured out where the ranging sensor lay within the reticle, and additionally, once we got to use it pretty extensively while hunting. While it is nothing new in terms of ranging power or optics (the 2400 ABS, which shares the same ranging engine and optics, has been out for quite some time), its ability to connect and execute bi-directional data sharing with external devices is particularly noteworthy. Being able to connect with the phone and, more importantly, the Kestrel or Foretrex, and to have that data feed back in with wind holds included, is very nice. The option to use the RF without a Kestrel, relying on the phone for environmentals, gives the BDX added flexibility. But the optional connection to the BDX line of scopes takes the system to the next level for those that want to go there. That integration and how it well it works, as well as how the BDX theoretically stacks up against the ABS, is what I’ll explore in more depth in part 2. [/QUOTE]
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Sig BDX System Review: 2400 BDX, Part 1a
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