Which Kestrel?

[Swifty Morgan]

I learned how to use a Kestrel this weekend, and now I need to buy one, but I'm not sure which model to get.

Kestrel has a $500 model that looks good, but it only lets you store three guns. I can already think of 4 I want to store. I could get by with 3 and keep switching them, I guess. The $600 Elite model stores more guns, but Kestrel makes you pay another $100 for the connectivity that comes with lower-priced models.

What do most people do?

 

[Varminterror]

The Sportsman was replaced by the “Ballistics” model serving as the “almost best” model, while the Elite and the Hornady 4DoF model are the flagships. The Sportsman/Ballistics model is less expensive, and stores less rifles. The Elite stores more, and the Elite/4DoF offer a variable BC Custom Curve type solver, which is better for ELR. The Sportsman/Ballistic can be upgraded with a simple software update.

The Sportsman model can be bought right now for about $250 street price. An exceptional value.

Personally, I use a Sportsman for most of my shooting. I had intended to upgrade when I bought mine to allow me to store additional loads, but with the Link option, I simply move rifles/loads/profiles in and out with my phone over Bluetooth. The custom curves are great, but I’ve had no issues getting my trajectory trued to deliver out to a mile even without that option.

If money weren’t prohibitive, I’d consider myself conservative enough to still buy the Sportsman over the Elite, but I do generally have just enough frivolous side to might have bought the Elite instead on a whim.

Any of the 3 models I have mentioned will work great for long range shooting, but TODAY, I would buy the 4DoF model rather than either of the Applied Ballistics models. The interface is a little more straightforward, and for the bullets included (4DoF setting, not just a BC entry), it’s basically like getting a LOT of custom curves for free.

 

[Walkalong]

I recently acquired the Sportsman model in a scope/Kestrel combo deal and used it in a PRS match in Georgia a couple of weeks ago. I am a real rookie as far as PRS is concerned, but it had me on target all day long. The longest shot that day was a bit over 1200 yards. I got my velocity before the match, entered all the rifle info, played around with it some to get familiar with it, and it was pretty easy to use during the match. I had been using Strelok Pro on my phone, which died, and work replaced, but the program is gone.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

I didn't think anyone would reply, so I decided to try the 5700 Elite because it was what I used for my course. Thanks for the answers.

 

[Varminterror]

I didn't think anyone would reply, so I decided to try the 5700 Elite because it was what I used for my course. Thanks for the answers.

Haha - man, patience is a virtue! I responded within a half hour of the OP.

You won’t be disappointed with the Elite. The Hornady version is the new hotness, and it seems the bullet profiles - similar to the AB Custom Curves - are effectively free, so it’s simply the better deal. But there certainly isn’t anything wrong with the AB Elite or Sportsman. From 100-1800, I can be sure any of my misses have nothing to do with the brand/engine programmer of my calculator regardless of whether I’m using my Kestrel Sportsman, Hornady 4DoF, StrelokPro, or ABMobile.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

Haha - man, patience is a virtue! I responded within a half hour of the OP.

That was after I waited a long time for a response to a post I made somewhere else. It had low expectations after that.

I can still return the Elite. I didn't know whether the Hornady stuff was of any use, and I liked the idea of multiple targets and guns. Maybe I picked the wrong thing.

 

[taliv]

i'm still using an old 4000NV because it was the cheapest one that supported density altitude. i didn't like the old interface so i didn't want to get my data from my kestrel. but the newer interfaces might be better. i'd still rather run 4dof on my iphone.