Rangefinder Binoculars with *real* Ballistics Calculator

[Rootshot]

A friend of mine just purchased a new Leica Geovid HD-B 42 with built-in rangefinder and ballistics calculator. On the surface, it looks pretty cool, but on reading some of the docs, the ballistics program appears pretty weak (e.g. no G7 BC). Does anyone know of a set of binoculars that includes the following features:

- Decent glass!
- Laser rangefinder with 1000+ yard range
- Integrated ballistics app with support for:
- Angle corrections
- Real time atmospherics (temperature, air density, etc.)
- Support for multiple rifle profiles - each with multiple load profiles
- Full-featured ballistics calculator (e.g. like JBM ballistics) that includes G7 BC support
- Some kind of interface to enable programming via computer
- A relatively intuitive interface using buttons on the binoculars

For some reason it seems that manufacturers appear to want to (over) simplify ballistics. My current Bushnell (~5 years old) has pre-computed "Ballistic Settings" for common loads - which I find completely inadequate for longer distances and when my 6.5 SAUM doesn't match any existing curves.

Any help here?

Thanks

--Rootshot

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

What your looking for doesn't exist today on the market. The best available currently that I know of is the Leica's. However companies like Leica are all working to make things better, and I expect you will see them release improved version with real ballistics in the future. The real question is how long do we have to wait.

You could use the Vector's from Vectronix - I believe they have some level of integration or ballistics (I don't own them so don't know for sure), but I suspect another requirement not listed (but would be for me) would be a pricepoint below $5000. That would price the Vector's out for you, and there just aren't really strong laser rangefinders available with good glass, good lasers and ballistics currently.

 

[PDXGS]

2018 SHOT will have something closer to what you're looking for.

 

[CoryT]

Or you could just buy a Vector/PLRF and couple it to a PDA with Field Firing Solutions. The you have everything in a package with multiple redundancy. I fear I don't really understand the urge to force things into a single package, most often at the expense of at least one of the combined features. It's like the Kestrel with ballistics, it's just a horrible user interface, and while it provides a solution, it loses a ton of functionality to a reduction in form factor. If you are hunting alone in the mountains, I suppose that's attractive, but if that's the case do you really need even that? Would not a simple dope card suffice?

There is simply no good way to package everything into a binocular, there is precious little screen real estate, since the display interferes with the primary function of scanning and identifying targets it must be limited. The user interface will have to be deep menus, there is no number/letter entry except scrolling, so it's going to be a PITA to use in any event. This is why the request for programming off the desktop computer.

If you really sit down and think about what you are trying to do, you'll find separate devices dedicated to a function will deliver far better service and performance.

 

[PDXGS]

The sig 2400ABS core in a bino would fit this bill nicely...you can decide to use the 2400 with a phone as a HUD or without.
It is significantly faster to search, range and solve with one unit than to convert to wristband charts or look at a separate device for your info.

 

[Rootshot]

Thanks for the responses. Part of my intent in combining these functions is to simplify what I am carrying into a hunt and to speed up the process from spotting game to taking a shot.

PDXGS I'll take your advice and wait till shot 2018 to see what comes out.

fred @ Bison Tactical: Thanks for the Vektronix lead. At $25k, these are just a wee bit out of my budget

@CoryT: I don't think added screen real estate is required. All anyone needs is the final output to correct for drop and windage (at a set wind value). You could "blink" bank and forth to the range. Everything else are just variables that are factored into the output and I don't really care about seeing. The sensors themselves should be super-miniaturized and cheap nowadays since they already appear in watches and smartphones. The only trick is wind and yes, you would need a separate device for that.

I take dope cards as a backup, but like to get the calculations based on real conditions. Except for really long shots, variation in elevation, temperature, etc. result in admittedly small deltas from the cards (except for extreme shots), but psychologically I feel more confident when things are based on real time conditions.

I do own a Kestrel (with the horrible interface) and would rather see it go away except for wind measurements. The only time I really needed it was for a 400 yard shot at an elk with winds gusting between 20-30mph. I trusted the math and hit precisely where I wanted

 

[NoLegs24]

2018 SHOT will have something closer to what you're looking for.

Come on now. Cough if up lol.

 

[Rootshot]

I wanted to resurrect this thread now that my range finding binos crapped out.

@PDXGS - What did come out of SHOT 2018 that you were referring to in your prior post?

 

[PDXGS]

Unfortunately, nothing great from Sig. Their new binos are a joke.
I'd like to have the bino equivalent of the Kilo2400 ABS.
I ended up with a pair of Nikon LRF binos and like them.