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Best Kestral For Shooters?

Armored Transport

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 16, 2012
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My needs are simple. D.A. and wind speed. I have a PDA full of ATRAG and was wondering what might be the best Kestral to keep it simple. I have read on another site a while back that the 2500 may be the way to go. From what I think I understood is that you set your elevation to zero and the DA will be spot on. Am I way out of shape on this.....I REALLY don't know squat about it and have alot to learn. I don't need extra bells and whistles. Please set me straight so I don't waste my $.......Thank's
 
The 2500 doesn't do DA, only windspeed and temp I think. The 3500 will provide all of the pertinent environmetnal data like temp, humidity, barometric pressure, etc...that you can plug into ATRAG. That way you'll have dope for the conditions that you're in. I personally would say the Kestrel 4000 is the baseline model for a serious long range shooter and they can step up to the 4500 if they want some more features.

Check out this article:

Weather Meters For Long Range Shooting
 
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Thank's All....For the input and the links...Very informative...It looks like I have to invoke the " Buy Once Cry Once " at a purchase to get it right...it's not the first time, and surely not the last....Rick
 
I use a 2500. Which gives me all the info I need less dew point (which I pull from a local met tower). I then use a DA calculator on my iPhone.

Setting the ref altitude to 0 does work, and is within 10-20m DA when I know the actual altitude and pressure.
 
I believe that the kestrals are coming with the lithium batteries now , if not just get some , they last longer and don't leak like the regular aaa's
 
Looking at the features chart, if you can do DA calculations, you can go as low as the 2500.

If you can't find a dedicated DA calculator, virtually all flying type calculation apps will do DA from pressure altitude and temp. Used a good bit in flying.
 
I use autodens for my DA calc. I pull the data from the local met station and then put in all inputs from my 2500 (less dew point, which doesn't fluctuate much from the station to your location). Have had accurate outputs when compared with actual results.
 
You don't need anything more then the 4500. The 4500 will do everything and shooter will ever need. If you want to dump a pda and you want ballistics then you can upgrade to one of the HORUS or Applied ballistic models.

We offer Kestrels in our store at the lowest allowed prices If anyone needs one.

Tools - Impact Data Books