Hardware: Leupold RX-FullDraw 5 Rangefinder
When it comes to glass, I’m a Leupold guy. I’ve come to trust the clarity and dependability of their optics, from scopes to binos to spotters, and they always perform brilliantly. Of course, rangefinders fall into the optic arena and are arguably one of the most crucial tools for firearm and archery hunters.
Over the years, the rangefinder pocket on my bino harness has held multiple Leupold models like the RX-1600i TBR/W, RX-FullDraw 3 and RX-FullDraw 4. All performed as advertised, and I killed lots of critters using them.
Leupold’s latest incarnation for archers, the RX-FullDraw 5, is the spitting image of the RX-4: compact, lightweight, durable, ergonomic and 6x magnification. The big difference, and one I was ready to dive headfirst into, is the new rangefinder’s Ballistic Mode.
Before taking full advantage of the technology that makes this rangefinder one of the market’s most advanced and accurate bowhunting rangefinders, Leupold asks that you complete the following three tasks. First, use a chronograph to measure your arrow’s speed. Leupold’s instruction manual will tell you to record the velocity of your arrow at 36 inches of draw length. Don’t let this become a roadblock—simply shoot your standard draw length and record your arrow’s velocity. Second, use a digital arrow scale to measure your arrow’s total weight. Be sure to weigh the arrow with the broadhead you plan to use while hunting. Lastly, have your wife, kid, friend or whoever use a ruler or tape measure to record the vertical distance between your arrow shaft at full draw and the center of your peep sight. That’s it. Now it’s just a matter of punching in the numbers.
Don’t let the setup process intimidate you. You don’t have to work at MIT to be able to use the RX-FullDraw 5. Press the Power button on top of the rangefinder’s body and then hold the Mode button on the rangefinder’s left side toward the front until you see “CALC” on the screen. Now press the power button again, which will scroll you through the various CALC settings until you reach the “BALL” (ballistic) setting. Select BALL by punching the Mode button again. You’ll see “VEL” (velocity) in the screen’s upper right corner. Use the Power button to set your arrow’s speed, and then press the Mode button to continue. You’ll now see “WGHT” (weight) on the screen’s upper right corner. Again, use the Power button to enter your arrow’s weight. Hit the Mode button, and then plug in your peep height. It’s that simple. The most tech-challenged person in the world can set up this rangefinder.
Of course, Leupold thought of everything, and you can adjust display brightness, unit of measurement, crosshair display, etc. The rangefinder walks you through each process.
Leupold dubs the next important choice as Flightpath technology. You have two options. The default 20-yard mode shows an illuminated mark, or tick, as Leupold dubs it, indicating the max height of your arrow flight at a 20-yard target. I like this mode; it tells me that if I see any obstructions below the tick mark, I will have arrow interference. The second mode is Mid Mode. When using this mode, the illuminated tick mark represents the highest point of flight along the arrow’s entire path, usually halfway between you and your target. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I tell you without hesitation that the default mode simplifies things.
