Hunting Field Test of the Leupold RX-III Rangefinder

Archieved Hunting Product Field Test
note: this product may no longer be on the market
check with the manufacturer

Leupold RX-III Rangefinder field test - a must read!

I really enjoy applying precision shooting to all my hunts. And there are a number of factors that go into repeatable precision shooting, but luck isn't one of them even though a lot of hunters rely on luck to help their bullet or arrow hit the target.

In the case of rifle hunting, assuming you have an accurate rifle that is properly sighted in, and you are shooting an accurate bullet, the next most important thing to know is how far away is the target you are shooting at.

The average hunter, myself included, is not very good when it comes to judging distances. So we turn to a rangefinder to give us a yardage to the target. But what we haven't known all these years was that except when used on perfectly flat terrain our range finders have not been giving us accurate ranges — at least as far as our bullet flight is concerned which after all is the only thing that matters.

Don't believe me? All laser rangefinders send out a beam of light which is not affected by gravity, at least not that we can notice. It goes straight to the target and reflects straight back. It doesn't matter if we are pointing it down, up, horizontal or at any angle. It always goes straight out and straight back.

For our bullet (or arrow) this is not the case. The moment our bullet leaves the barrel of our rifle (or pistol or shotgun) gravity tries to pull it to the center of the earth. And of course resistance through the air slows it down which causes it to fall at a more rapid rate the further out we shoot.

Now add to this a shot that is at some angle either below or above horizontal and you have another factor that changes the bullet's trajectory.

I don't know about you but it seems that I am always shooting at an animal that is either above or below me. And it seems to me that if I am shooting up hill the bullet will fall faster to the earth which means I should hold higher and if I'm shooting downhill the bullet will be less affected by gravity (over the same distance) so I should aim lower then normal. Right? Makes sense to me.

Of course this is wrong. You actually aim lower in both circumstances. Guess I should have paid attention in physics class — thank goodness someone at Leupold did!

But how much lower? And does it really make a difference?

I have no idea how much lower, obviously it changes the steeper the angle and greater the distance, but I'd need to have a mathematician with me on my hunt to do the calculations. So I just take my best guess, close my eyes and hope (not really).

But while we've been out there doing our "hail mary" shots someone at Leupold decided to put a mathematician inside a rangefinder — and the RX series of rangefinders was born. The most awesome, advanced rangefinders that any amount of money can buy. And the good news is you don't have to mortgage your house to have one — afterall this is Leupold.

When I heard about this I was very excited, no more trying to guess the difference between the line of sight range and the actual ballistic range to a target. And I was about to leave for hunts in Alaska, Serbia and Macedonia. I figured there would not be much change in Alaska as I was hunting at sea level for Coastal Black Bear, and not much change in Serbia as I was hunting for European Roe Deer in flat, farm country — but Macedonia would be another story as I was going to be hunting in the mountains possibly for a Chamois or a Mouflon.

The RX-III was Leupold's latest model. It has 8x magnification, ranging out to 1,200 yards for a reflective target; 700 yards for trees; and 600 yards for game. A few days later I had an RX-III in hand. I entered the ballistic information for my rifle and the bullet I would be shooting and off to Alaska I went.

In Alaska the RX-III's Rain Mode was extremely valuable as it rains some 220 inches a year — which meant it rained on my hunt — the entire time — except of course the day I arrived and the day I departed.

In Serbia the RX-III worked flawlessly of course and it was nice to have the extended range capability as the country is wide open and long shots are the norm.

Then came Macedonia and I got to put the mathematician inside the RX-III to work. I was amazed. On my first day in Macedonia we decided to try and find a Balkan Chamois that I would like. This took us to the top of the Macedonian Alps — and I do mean the very top of the knife edge peaks.

And guess where the Chamois were? 500 to 900 yards below us just at the top edge of timberline playing in the snow. And here is where the RX-III's mathematician earned his keep. I ranged a Chamois at 525 yards line of site, but because of the steep downward angle the true ballistic range was only 380 yards.

The difference between a 52 yard and a 38 yard shot on the aim point of my rifle is not detectable, but even with my hopped up .300 Weatherby the difference between the aim point at 525 yards and 380 yards is enough to shoot over the backs of some animals — like a chamois.

I ended up not taking a Chamois in Macedonia but instead took a great Mouflon. And my PH so liked Leupold's RX-III that I left it with him as part of his tip.

Which of course meant that I needed a new rangefinder and now that Leupold's RX-IV is out that's what I have. And of course it's been a few months since my last hunt so I planning another one. Which will give me a chance to tell you about the RX-IV when I get back, so stay tuned.

One last thought, the RX Rangefinder model line has many more features that I didn't talk about here, so be sure and take the time to visit Leupold's web site to learn more.

Visit Leupold's Web Site for more information.

Return to Hunting Field Tests

Note: If you'd like your product(s) reviewed: