If you have ever competed in a field shoot, NRL, PRS or other gong shooting or precision rifle shooting match, you should know of the value of having a range card showing DOPE (data of previous engagement) on your rifle or wrist. This allows you to quickly see which targets on a course are at what distances and with what approximate wind calls, so you can set your turrets on your rifle scope accordingly, or aim accordingly if you prefer.
Many veteran snipers will be well acquainted the range card the army uses, our replica of which you can download here, however the more commonly used DOPE range card differs slightly. The easiest method of starting with a range card or rifle data card for a PRS match or other precision rifle match, is just writing your DOPE on a strip of masking tape and sticking that to your jacket or wrist. That is however time-consuming to setups, range and write for each target between each round, so thankfully, with the advent of technology, we now have awesome gadgets that automates that process for us. We offer a Garmin Foretrex 701 review below after using it for the past 5 months as our e-Dope card together with our Bushnell Nitro 1800 as our long range shooting rangefinder combined with weather solutions from the Kestrel 5700 elite as our long range shooting wind meter.
Garmin Foretrex 701 Ballistic Edition
The Garmin Foretrex 701 Ballistic edition has somewhat changed the game when it comes to fast ballistic calculations and range cards, but it is so much more than just that.
Offering full GPS functionality, that you can not only use to track your hunts, but also offering you precise Coriolis effect calculations for your location, this unit makes sure you have no reasons to miss the shot.
With it’s included Applied Ballistics software, it quickly syncs with your enabled Kestrel 5700 weather meter, and your Applied Ballistics enabled rangefinder, to automatically calculate and and adjust your aim settings for each target.
You can use it in the environment more for hunting, of display the full range card with min and max wind adjustments for each target on a precision shooting match. It can store multiple rifle profiles, so each rifle you use, you can just pull up the custom rifle data card for that rifle and load.
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Kestrel 5700 Ballistics Weather Meter
If you have ever wanted to find a wind or weather meter specifically designed for shooting, without a doubt the brand Kestrel has to be the one you have read or heard about.
Leading the pack with shooting specific features, and the built in ballistic features and calculators of their 5700 line, you have all you want in a weather meter to pair with your range finder and make sure you are on target at long distances, no matter the weather.
We personally use the Kestrel 5700 Elite weather meter with Applied Ballistics, the top of their ballistics range, but there are a few other models that offer most of the ballistic capabilities you could want.
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Bushnell Nitro 1800
The Garmin Foretrex 701 supports data sync and connection with a few different rangefinders that have the Applied Ballistics software integrated, including the Sig Sauer Kilo 3000 BDX, Sig Sauer Kilo 2400 BDX, the Vectronix Safran Terrapin-X and the Bushnell Nitro 1800 we have here.
Personally I have the Bushnell Nitro 1800, as it is the most affordable on the list, and I have not been in a situation where it has let me down where one of the more expensive options would not have. To me, it is excellent value for money for the ranges of up to 2000 yards that I shoot, and it is a great piece of equipment.
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Hawk Picatinny Mount
Some shooters and especially when hunting, prefer the Garmin Fortrex 701 Ballistic Edition on their wrist for quick reference, for this the included wrist strap is perfect.
But many precision rifle competitive shooters prefer to have their DOPE cards mounted on their rifles right next to their scope, so that they do not need to change position or lift their head to check the adjustments needed for the next target.
If you prefer to have your range card mounted next to your scope, this Hawk Picatinny Mount is the perfect solution with a bit of hook/loop pad stuck to the back of your Garmin Foretrex 701.
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Other Options
Of course the equipment I use above, are not the only options available as I mentioned, for a rangefinder, the Sig Sauer Kilo 3000BDX Rangefinder Binocular and Sig Sauer Kilo 2400 BDX rangefinder below also can connect and sync with the Garmin Foretrex 701 Ballistic Edition.
Sig Sauer Kilo 3000BDX Binocular Laser RANGEFINDER
If you prefer to do your rangefinder in full vision of both eyes, with the clarity and magnification provided by a binocular, then the Sig Sauer Kilo 3000 BDX rangfinder binoculars is the ultimate solution. Also loaded with built in Applied Ballistics software, it can show you the adjusted settings or point of aim right there inside the binoculars, or sync the settings through to your Garmin Foretrex 701 to use on your range card.
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Sig Sauer Kilo 2400BDX Rangefinder
If you still want all the ballistics calculation features of the Kilo 3000 BDX binoculars, including the Applied Ballistics software and onboard adjustments, but prefer a smaller form-factor rangefinder that you can carry around in your jacket pocket, the Sig Sauer Kilo 2400 BDX is the ultimate.
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Vectronix Safran Terrapin-X Rangefinder
If you still want all the ballistics calculation features of the Kilo 3000 BDX binoculars, including the Applied Ballistics software and onboard adjustments, but prefer a smaller form-factor rangefinder that you can carry around in your jacket pocket, the Sig Sauer Kilo 2400 BDX is the ultimate.
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Kestrel HUD Heads Up Display
Then you could also get the Kestrel Heads Up Display instead of the Garmin Foretrex 701 Ballistic Edition. It does not offer the GPS and location capabilities offering you Coriolis effect compensations, but still is enough from medium long range applications.
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[…] Sportsman as that is a discontinued model, and the new models working with the kestrel meters are reviewed here. We hope you enjoyed this list and it helped you find the right shooting weather meter for […]