Gunwerks G7 BR2 Rangefinder Review

[ADMIN]

I am always looking for the improved mouse trap. In my business I have to stay on top of the latest and greatest of the long range shooting world. A while back I caught wind of development of the Gunwerks G7 laser rangefinder (LRF) and of its capabilities. Given these rumored capabilities I thought a call to Aaron and Mike Davidson at Gunwerks would be in order. After a lengthy conversation with the owners (great guys to talk to) I had a Gunwerks G7 laser rangefinder on the way to my shop to test and evaluate.
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This is a thread for discussion of the article, Gunwerks G7 BR2 Rangefinder Review, By Shawn Carlock. Here you can ask questions or make comments about the article.

 

[Broz]

Good article Shawn, very good anologies. But I will admit I was surprised that you didn't set up to do some testing where the larger beam of the G7 could get you in trouble. Although these instance are not often, they do arise like when ranging just past an obsticle to the actual target. I really like the idea of the G7 but with some issues I have had in my past I siply could no longer rely on a RF with a beam even larger than the Swaro again.

Thanks for the good read and report.

Jeff

 

[SBruce]

That sounds like a pretty good review. I am sure alot of people will be satisfied with that unit.
Seems that Broz and I were typing at the same time and we both have the same concerns.

Now for my question: How well does it perform on flat ground?

The beam divergence seems to be a question that needs to be addressed IMO. Just from watching all of the DE/Shawns' dvds, It seems that he hunts and shoots in pretty steep country with good solid backdrops directly behind his targets most of the time.? It's fairly easy to get a rangefinder to read accurately when the landscape is only a couple of yards behind the target.

But how about out here in the flat land, where you can see 3 miles and there may only be 100' of elevation change over that entire stretch (some places there is virtually no elevation change over a 3 mile stretch of land). Out here where I live and hunt, the landscape (or a piece of brush, or small cutbank) can easily be 50 yds beyond the target and easily within the beams pattern. IME the rangefinders tend to bounce back off these reflective things better than the antelope or coyote or prarie dog that we're actually trying to get the range of.

Someone stated that the algorithems (maybe not spelled right) used in the G7 kinda eliminate the problems associated with large beam divergence, but frankly that is talking over my head. I'd like to see it in action.

Shawn, did you get to test the unit on flat ground? I would be more than willing to test this unit out on the praries and write a "flat land review" if Gunwerks would be willing to send me one. Hell, if it performs like Shawn experienced out on the praries too, I'd even buy the unit. I am sure this would be interesting to the readers of LRH.

 

[pressman]

+ 1 for Bruce,

 

[ultraedge]

Shawn, Thanks for the unbiased review.I talked to both you and Len before I decided to purchase a G7 rangefinder. At the time I was torn between the PLRF10 and the G7. After weighing all the issues, I went with the G7 and have been plenty satisfied.People try to pick apart many new or innovative products without having any first hand knowledge of them. I used the G7 for over 80 days of whitetail hunting here in Georgia and it did everything I needed. The ballistic program "only" works out to 1400 yds, but in reality, how many people shoot at game that far? I might need to rephrase that and ask "how many people can make a killing shot that far?" As far as beam divergence,if the "far" and "near" functions on the G7 are understood,I think the problem will be eliminated. I ranged a whitetail buck across flat ground 864yds at 1pm in bright sunlight.One afternoon about sundown I ranged an oak tree ten times.Results were 2537 nine times and 2536 one time. I am not assossiated with Gunwerks or the Davidsons in any way, but the G7BR2 rangefinder is a good product. Gary Campbell

 

[Broz]

Thats interesting Gary, I thought I had read pretty extensivly about the G7 and I don't remember hearing about this "near" "far" function. Or did I miss that? Anyway I was not aware of it when I used the unit either. Which I will admit was a short test. So what does this function actually do? Does it somehow controll the beam size. Or does it just remove or eliminate the unit from ranging close items out to a certain distance. This could make a difference in my opinion for sure depending on what it actually does.

Did you kill that buck at 864 yards and was the shooting correction the unit gave on?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[yobuck]

interesting article.
my main interest in the lazers is finding one that actually works every day out to the advertised distance.
as for mountainous terrain being easier i can assure bruce thats not the case.
my swarovski will range a mile one day and not even 1000 the next with a mountain backdrop. and yes its been back to the factory.
the honest guys i know with other make units claim the same problems.
i dont understand all the beam width talk and frankly dont even care to.
some guys say class 1 is class 1 and those are the realities of it.
i dont care much about weather information. i just want a unit that will work every day i can see the target.
thank god i still own a barr&stroud and a wild i can rely on.
i have recently been reading good things about the vectronix.
ive been asking broz questions about them also.
it appears they could be my answer.
but im now hearing talk about them being registered with big brother.
is that true? and if so is this one registered also?

 

[Autorotate]

Mr. Aaron Davidson-

What is the beam width divergence of the Gunwerks G7 BR2?

Lots of discerning customers won't spend $1600 without knowing this specification.

Thank you.

 

[ultraedge]

Broz, Len is going to try to get a copy of the owner's manual up on the site.If not then I will print off a copy and mail it to you. The information about the nearest and farthest mode is on page 14 under target acquisition. gary

 

[SBruce]

interesting article.
my main interest in the lazers is finding one that actually works every day out to the advertised distance.
as for mountainous terrain being easier i can assure bruce thats not the case.
my swarovski will range a mile one day and not even 1000 the next with a mountain backdrop. and yes its been back to the factory.
the honest guys i know with other make units claim the same problems.
i dont understand all the beam width talk and frankly dont even care to.

I mean far more than just getting a reading. I was speaking of getting a true and accurate reading. That is what is important for Long Range shooting. If you don't understand beam divergence (it's height and width and how it gets bigger as the distance increases, and how if the beam is bigger than the target it will sometimes read what's beyond or even to the sides of the target) then what I am saying probably doesn't make alot of sense. But I assure you it is a valid concern and has cost quite a few people long range animals.

Of course lighting conditions and other factors affect the rangefinders ability to give a reading, we've all seen that with all of them. But their ability to give us a number is not what I was referring to at all. Their ability to give an accurate number on flat ground when the landscape or vegetation is more reflective than the target is what this is about.

 

[Broz]

Broz, Len is going to try to get a copy of the owner's manual up on the site.If not then I will print off a copy and mail it to you. The information about the nearest and farthest mode is on page 14 under target acquisition. gary

OK thanks, I like to keep up on this stuff if I can. I get asked advice sometimes, especially at some of the LR shoots I put on.

Jeff

 

[Broz]

But their ability to give us a number is not what I was referring to at all. Their ability to give an accurate number on flat ground when the landscape or vegetation is more reflective than the target is what this is about.

Bingo!! Well stated.

Jeff

 

[paphil]

I got to try one out this fall and I agree with Shawn 100% . It is a well thought out tool for most hunters. The main problem that I see is getting the correct BC , velocity, and other actual data uploaded into the range finder. If you have a real good drop chart to start with, all will be well. If you input data is off even a small amount, it gets magnified when you go to different temps and altitudes and especially longer distances. That is the case with any ballistic program so I don't think that is a fault. I'm sure that Aaron and Mike will help get the right data with your drop chart. My next range finder will probably be a G7.

 

[HARPERC]

A new term for me "Drop cam"? Any help appreciated.