Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 22, 2012, 11:52:12 AM
What say you?
Post by: gadwall on March 22, 2012, 08:18:00 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 22, 2012, 08:26:37 PM
seems like i am seeing better reviews for the kestrel. but wanted to see if anyone here uses either.
thanks
Post by: G.R.K on March 22, 2012, 08:37:11 PM
Post by: rbros on March 23, 2012, 07:45:57 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 23, 2012, 08:14:04 AM
Stick with the Kestrel. The Bruntons had some issues now and then. You can also setup the kestrel to read "station" pressure....which is a true pressure of where you are. Unless they changed the Bruntons, you aren't able to do that with them.
Thanks. Now if I set the kestrel to read station pressure will that cancel the need for an elevation input into my calculator? I am using strelok btw.
Post by: rbros on March 23, 2012, 09:29:01 AM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 23, 2012, 10:39:24 AM
Post by: alwinearcher on March 23, 2012, 10:59:59 AM
I believe (at least with Exbal) that is you put in the pressure you don't need elevation :dunno:
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 23, 2012, 11:19:22 AM
I want to keep the calculator on my phone because I will always have it with me.
Post by: yorketransport on March 24, 2012, 08:07:48 AM
The Kestral seemed a little easier to use for me, but I've heard that they're both good units.
Andrew
Post by: jaymark6655 on March 25, 2012, 10:54:30 AM
I just did.some playing around with strelok and elevation. Leaving temp and pressure the same 0 elevation got me 16.9 moa for 800 yards 1 foot elevation got 16.3 moa and 8000 feet got 17.5 moa. Seems like there is something added to the calculation if elevation is set to 0. I think I will play with that and only change absolute pressure and temp. Half moa is acceptable I would think for shooting as far as I would want.
I want to keep the calculator on my phone because I will always have it with me.
I think most programs are adjusting the pressure for elevation. Sea level with 59 degree is 29.92 inches of mecury. So with every 1000 foot increase from sea level that pressure decrease about an inch. This has a huge affect on ballistics, but if you put in the current pressure off and left the altitude at zero, the program should still calculate the correct ballistics. When I sight in my rifle I usually record the pressure, temp and humidity. Then when I go to hunt I adjust to the current pressure (usually lower pressure for higher altitude) temp (usually colder), and humidity.
Post by: landcbeitner on March 28, 2012, 10:30:14 PM
Post by: jaymark6655 on March 28, 2012, 10:49:01 PM
The Brunton works perfectly fine... I've had both, but I'd go for the Kestrel 4000 as it's supposed to give you Density Altitude (not the same as "station pressure" or "pressure altitude". I can send you a PM on how to use Density Altitude if you like. You can get density altitude from the Brunton and lower Kestrel models but you have to use a chart that converts your pressure altitude and temperature to density altitude...Been looking the the Kestrel 4500NV Horus ATrag Ballistics. If you can afford it $589, that is almost the best thing out there. You can even punch in your latitude to have it calculate the earth's spin into you ballistics (probably not needed unless your shooting over 1000 yards, but still cool).
I have always heard just add about 1 MOA for 1000 yards to compenstate for earths rotation, but really the wind is going to be more important.
Post by: landcbeitner on March 28, 2012, 11:10:28 PM
Here's an informative link http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/index_files/SpinandCoriolisDrift.htm
Post by: jaymark6655 on March 29, 2012, 08:30:17 AM
You're looking at more like 2 to 3" of "coriolis effect at 1K... the (horizontal factor other than wind itself) factor that you do have to compensate for is spin drift which is something entirely different....Always thought that 1moa sounded like it was over compensating. What I hate is that my calculator doesn't consider spin drift, so I kind of have to shoot a lot and try to figure out what it is for each type of round I want to shoot.
Here's an informative link http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/index_files/SpinandCoriolisDrift.htm
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 29, 2012, 09:58:11 AM
The Brunton works perfectly fine... I've had both, but I'd go for the Kestrel 4000 as it's supposed to give you Density Altitude (not the same as "station pressure" or "pressure altitude". I can send you a PM on how to use Density Altitude if you like. You can get density altitude from the Brunton and lower Kestrel models but you have to use a chart that converts your pressure altitude and temperature to density altitude...please do send a PM as I'm not understanding. I can't read the temp and pressure and altitude from the kestrel and enter that into my calculator? Thanks
Post by: landcbeitner on March 29, 2012, 07:02:48 PM
Yes you can use the weather station to plug all the variables into your ballistic calculator and get your drops. Another way is to use Density Altitude and have drop charts already printed for different density altitudes. There are numerous variations of conditions that could give the same "density altitude"... you could check your DA throughout the day and simply refer to the correct drop chart. That way you are only relying on the batteries in your rangefinder and weather station.... You're only eliminating one item (the ballistic calculator) but the less electronics the better IMO... Some guys print a drop chart that includes several DA's on a single chart.