Kestrel question

[Jo_Smith]

I am looking at getting a Kestrel 5700. Now I have been using the Hornady 4DOF on my phone for everything so far and judging wind on my own. With the way I am doing it now I am not doing to bad but I want to take that next step.

Kestrel just release the 5700 elite with Applied Ballistics calculator for around $1000. Now I am not against buying good gear but I am hoping it will last awhile and not be "outclassed" in a few months by something cheaper.

At the matches I have gone to I have seen about 30-50% of the shooters with a Kestrel but I have not had them on my squad to talk to them about it. So I am coming to the best place I can think of.

Please help. What do yall recommend?

 

[hoz53]

I am looking at getting a Kestrel 5700. Now I have been using the Hornady 4DOF on my phone for everything so far and judging wind on my own. With the way I am doing it now I am not doing to bad but I want to take that next step.

Kestrel just release the 5700 elite with Applied Ballistics calculator for around $1000. Now I am not against buying good gear but I am hoping it will last awhile and not be "outclassed" in a few months by something cheaper.

At the matches I have gone to I have seen about 30-50% of the shooters with a Kestrel but I have not had them on my squad to talk to them about it. So I am coming to the best place I can think of.

Please help. What do yall recommend?

i dont have a kestrel and i dont compete but i do shoot 1K br quite a bit so ive thought about one and looked into them a little
First thing is there is a whole lot of info online about them you could checkout
Next and some wont admit this- if you use the kestrel with the solver to generate comeups those are only good for the location the kestrel is at. the kestrel doesnt know what the wind is doing 200 yards downrange ect.
you can generate the data you need with weather information from the area and a ballistic solver you can get free or cheap. Kestrel makes it handier and easier. Pick your poison
Id like to Play with a kestrel to see just what it would do but its not worth 1000 to me just to do that. You just have to decide how you wanna do it.

 

[Sheldon N]

A Kestrel is a great piece of kit for PRS/NRL or other field matches where you are shooting targets at constantly different distances. Nothing wrong with using your phone but the Kestrel helps out with being able to measure wind speed and temp/pressure as conditions change and is a more rugged device.

The 5700 Elite is what a lot of shooters use, but there is nothing wrong with using one of the cheaper Kestrel models like the non-elite 5700 or the Hornady 4DOF Kestrel. The only things that the expensive "Elite" version gives you is access to a larger bullet library of custom drag curves, the ability to do a multi-target card instead of getting data for targets one at a time, and that it's able to hold more than 3 gun profiles in the device at once.

For what it's worth, I've used the non-Elite 5700 Kestrel for years in PRS and it's not held me back at all.

 

[ToddKS]

The Kestrel 5700 Elite can be had for $749 online. The 5700X is the $1000 unit. The supposed difference is processor speed I believe. I have two 5700 Elite that I use for PRS and would highly recommend it if you are serious about making progress as a PRS shooter.

Having everything integrated into a single package is a big advantage. The 5700 Elite offers Target Card which will allow you to load the entire match into your Kestrel prior to the match. Properly used this is a significant advantage as once you are at the stage you simply capture the direction of each target then the Kestrel can solve wind for all targets at the same time. While other shooters are hand jamming solutions one target at a time, I am able to spend my time evaluating conditions and fine tuning my solution.

I started shooting PRS in 2019. There are only 2 items from my first year that are still in use today. One is my original Impact 737R action, and the other is my original 5700 Elite. I later purchased a second one as a backup.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I used to use phone apps but got a good deal on a 5700 and upgraded to elite.
Really happy with it and it’s pretty easy to true up.
The dsf feature is nice for ELR.

 

[Gil P.]

The Kestrel 5700 Elite can be had for $749 online. The 5700X is the $1000 unit. The supposed difference is processor speed I believe. I have two 5700 Elite that I use for PRS and would highly recommend it if you are serious about making progress as a PRS shooter.

Having everything integrated into a single package is a big advantage. The 5700 Elite offers Target Card which will allow you to load the entire match into your Kestrel prior to the match. Properly used this is a significant advantage as once you are at the stage you simply capture the direction of each target then the Kestrel can solve wind for all targets at the same time. While other shooters are hand jamming solutions one target at a time, I am able to spend my time evaluating conditions and fine tuning my solution.

I started shooting PRS in 2019. There are only 2 items from my first year that are still in use today. One is my original Impact 737R action, and the other is my original 5700 Elite. I later purchased a second one as a backup.

Can you get direction of fire and distance with lrf binos and make a target card without touching your kestrel?

 

[ToddKS]

Can you get direction of fire and distance with lrf binos and make a target card without touching your kestrel?

I have never tried that. It may be possible now as software updates have advanced things. The one time I tried to use a range finder connected to the Kestrel it was a nightmare due to issues with the Bluetooth handshake. I don't know if the Kestrel or the range finder was the issue as I never tried it again after that. It was my one and only foray into hunter style matches. 0/10 did not like.

 

[Greg Y]

I can pair my leica 3200.com to my kestrel and it will spit solutions based on the dof and conditions.

Once the kestrel has the data for the location, it will generate a drop chart. If you want a specific target list, you can shoot those or input the range and it'll provide solutions.

 

[Gil P.]

I can pair my leica 3200.com to my kestrel and it will spit solutions based on the dof and conditions.

Once the kestrel has the data for the location, it will generate a drop chart. If you want a specific target list, you can shoot those or input the range and it'll provide solutions.

Thank you, so you need to input the ranges manually into the Kestrel? Or by "shoot those" do you mean range them with lrf binos?

 

[Greg Y]

It'll generate increments of your choice.

 

[DHuffman]

Might want to check out the Kestrel w/Hornady 4 DOF

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Buy the 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics with confidence. Rather than coming out with new units for you to buy, they just keep updating the software, and the updates are free. I have had mine for 5-6 years now and it’s got the latest updates and I’ve never spent another penny on it. The custom drag curves work great and chances are very high the bullet you want us already in the library. Be sure to use a Lithium battery to avoid issues with battery leaks or corrosion.

 

[jrb06]

As others have said the main difference between the 54700 and the 5700 Elite is ability to have a whole match worth of targets already inputted, and the AB custom drag curve for bullets. You can start with buying the 5700 and then upgrade it to the Elite if you find you need the extra features. There is really no difference in price from 5700 and upgraded to Elite to buying the Elite right away.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Buy the 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics with confidence. Rather than coming out with new units for you to buy, they just keep updating the software, and the updates are free. I have had mine for 5-6 years now and it’s got the latest updates and I’ve never spent another penny on it. The custom drag curves work great and chances are very high the bullet you want us already in the library. Be sure to use a Lithium battery to avoid issues with battery leaks or corrosion.

I kick myself for not getting a kestrel earlier.

 

[gero]

.....the Kestrel Elite coupled with the Leica 2800.com has made my shooting turn the corner. Buy the new one with WEZ and never look back. This is not something to go cheap on, not a WANT but a NEED....but only if you want to make first round impacts at distance.

 

[Gil P.]

I've been using the AB app and a cheaper weather meter kestrel for years..
But it's slow and cumbersome.

Has anyone tried the Garmin?

 

[SKWERLZ]

I've been using the AB app and a cheaper weather meter kestrel for years..
But it's slow and cumbersome.

Has anyone tried the Garmin?

A friend has a garmin with AB on it and he likes it.
Easier to read than a kestrel.