How the Leupold Rangefinder (TBR) Works - by Randy Newberg

How a rangefinder works and why Randy Newberg uses the Leupold True Ballistic Range (TBR) rangefinder. Joined by Tim Lesser, VP of Product Development, Randy and Tim explain the physics and trigonometry that goes into the algorithm needed to simplify very complex shooting calculations.
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[@tetleyT]

Thank God the Leupold guy was there to explain things ...

[@BackwardTravisty]

Let's have a few beers before we make a string triangle.

[@robrobinette]

Here's how to determine your rifle & load's RX2800 TBR/W "Group Number" to make the RX2800's ballistic solution as accurate as possible. You can also figure out a correction when using a 100 yard zero versus a 200 or 300 yard zero from the RX2800 group charts. The Leupold RX2800 uses "Group Numbers" to categorize rifle ballistics. Use your favorite ballistic calculator to work up three range tables: 1. Use a 200 or 300 yard zero, zero wind and 600 yards as max range. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches. 2. Add a 10mph crosswind from 3 o'clock or 90 degrees and write down the 600 yard wind drift in inches. We do a separate chart to keep vertical wind jump out of our elevation number. 3. If you don't zero your rifle at 200 or 300 yards then do another range table using your actual zero range (I use 100 yards) and no crosswind. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches. Since the RX2800 Load Group Selection Table uses 200 or 300 yard zeros we'll use this number to calculate an elevation correction to make the RX2800's ballistic solution more accurate. These numbers must be in inches to use the RX2800 Group Selection Table. I use the free online Hornady 4DOF calculator. Be sure and select the units as inches, not MOA or Mils. With value #1 and #2 go into the RX2800 TBR/W LOAD GROUP SELECTION TABLE: FOR BEST FIT UP TO 600 YARDS (page 25 of the owner's manual) and find where your numbers fit in. You have to match the zero range (200 or 300 yards), value #1 and value #2 in the chart. When you match all that you get the "Group Number" you will enter into the RX2800's setup menu. Turn the RX2800 on then hold the Mode button for more than 2 seconds to enter the setup menu. Press the Mode button to move between fields and press the Power button to select values. "Function 2" is where you set your Group Number. If you don't use a 200 or 300 yard zero that the Group Selection chart uses we can calculate a correction to compensate. For example, I zero my rifle at 100 yards so I subtract value #3 from value #1 to get my correction. For my Tikka T3x TAC A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor with Hornady 147 ELDM factory ammo gives me a 2665fps muzzle velocity and I zero my rifle at 100 yards. This load puts me into Group 10 with a zero elevation correction of 0.4mil. I add 0.4 to the RX2800's elevation mil display. The wind solution does not need to be corrected. The elevation correction is the same at all ranges.

[@inalaska1709]

Thank you for the explanation, but why couldn’t they just put the zero range at 100 yards? Only an few people I know zero at 200 and none at 300. Even all the long range shooter I know zero at 100

[@robrobinette]

@@inalaska1709 I have no idea why they chose 200 and 300. Leupold seems they are out of touch with modern practices.

[@larryclark9380]

Excellent video. Filling up the coffee can to get one of these for next hunting season.

[@SC-dw3jz]

the LED's dim out and leupold won't replace if it's out of the 2 year warranty...

[@ghoumaanis5292]

Great rangefinder, only one issue

[@kmattar]

How does it know your elevation to calculate that hypotenuse?

[@Dailywatcher12]

The line of sight distance. It ranges the target based on line of sight with that and the angle of the shot, it can calculate both of the missing sides of the triangle.

[@grantdavies4282]

Good evening. Looking for some info please on the Leupold 1600 TBR/W ranger finder, is it blue tooth compatible with a Kestril and if so does it assist with allowing to program amo details into it which will assist in the accuracy of your shots? Thanks again for your channel and the info I’ve requested.

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

awesome video randy

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for watching. Glad you liked it.

[@Putuj_Igumane]

THANK you so much for thinking about ARCHERY!!! Great, I'll buy one!

[@Fresh_Tracks]

You will find it very useful.

[@mikevega9863]

The gentleman stated in the archery mode that there is 3 different settings depending on your arrow speed, I cannot find any information on these settings or how to program it into the range finder. Any help would be appreciated.

[@zingo_man]

Except it doesn't have ballistic profiles for 100-yard zero... you can only choose 200 or 300 yard zero profiles.

[@skipper9400]

no Randy, your Grandad woulda said "Slicker than catshit on a marble floor" if he was from Montana anyhow......also, I use and LOVE a sig k2000 and it has "Angle Modified Range", and it works very well......OnWard......

[@devinleenhouts6562]

Can it be used for different calibers

[@reypen1638]

Great Video as always! I'm in Canada and looks like bass pro shops has the 1300 for a decent price. Would you recommend that one?

[@Fresh_Tracks]

I would. I have a couple 1200 and the new 1600. Love them all.

[@340wbymag]

My friends and I shoot at targets ranging from 100 yards to well beyond 1,200 yards, so we depend upon our rangefinders. I am still using a crappy old rangefinder about the size of astronomical binoculars, but my buddies are using the new Leupold 2800 rangefinders. They are light years superior to my old clunker rangefinder. Needless to say I am quite envious! I'll be upgrading as soon as my budget allows.

[@timmoore6055]

Had a shot at a big buck downhill from me. Hunting partner with the fancy Swarovski binos w/ range finder calls out "435 yards" and i (miss)dial in 470 on my custom dial Leupold scope. The shot does just above the muley's back. My Leupold rangefinder with TBR? In my pocket. My brains? Only keeping my ears apart. (sigh).

[@jackdundon2261]

How the hell do you missed a huge mule buck with a 35-yard range discrepancy. Hate to say this but but you pulled! the kill window on that buck was at least a 12 inch window if not 18 by 18 in you should not have missed him even with a 35-yard oops.

[@timmoore6055]

@@jackdundon2261 there is a bit more to it, perhaps than that. I have a Leopold rangefinde with true ballistic range. That deer was 435 yards point to point. The effective range was less than that and rather than adjusting my scope for the I I, I extended it, so I compounded matters. The buck was stock still perpendicular to me facing to my right and I was prone for close to a minute before I shot. Had I dialed in 435, I don't have any question that I would have harvested it. The next year I filled my doe antelope tag on a 400 yard shot in an open field as she was walking away shotme at a bit less than 45 degrees. I have pulled shots before and am aware when I do. I didn't pull either shot; I just entered the wrong way when I dialed in my scope. My error in correcting for a downhill shot - and my error not ranging the shot myself.

[@jackdundon2261]

@@timmoore6055 that explains A LOT, the "doe I killed the next year".... Piss poor shot, and a doe killer. Okay if your 12 or 13.... but if your using leupold gear, you should be old enough to have your ethics dialed in. I suppose your first elk you shot when a guy was calling it to him with a bugle.

[@timmoore6055]

@@jackdundon2261 I originally posted because I had the humility to admit I made a mistake. The deer was not harmed by my error. As to my ethics, you have neither the knowledge, let alone the wisdom, to question what I have done. I have no clue as to what you think ethical hunting amounts to, but I would hazard a guess that it involves only shooting trophy animals. I am a meat hunter, and I eat what I shoot. And as to ethics, both the State of Montana, which provides doe antelope tags, and the farmer upon whose ranch/farm I had permission to hunt both hold that harvesting a doe antelope is an ethical hunt. The farm/ranch owner has several thousand acres and at least one herd of 150 to 200 or more antelope and was more than happy to have us harvest some does. I also was born in Beaverton, Oregon, the home of Leupold, which is why I hunt with their gear - I support local businesses. Oh - and as to the first and only elk I have shot, it ws hunt and stalk - no one was calling anything. A nice five point that was very tasty - as was the antelope and deer I have harvested.

[@jackdundon2261]

@@timmoore6055 I must have hit the truth pretty close to get you worked up so bad! I live in western Oregon as well. I have hunted oregon (mostly western) my entire life, I ONLY harvest 1 buck a year, and I TRY to make sure it's large buck, not all large body bucks are trophies, though, I suppose you would consider any 4 pt a trophy? After all if a doe is good enough, guys like you shoot the first forked horn they see. And are in awe when somebody like me a MEAT HUNTER takes a decent 4 pt. A decent mule buck has 200 pounds of meat on it. Try that with your doe. ( she has 35 pounds of meat on her-- some meat hunter you are). Unless your killing several! Again, unethical "legal" doe hunters. MOST hunters I call friends buy doe tags NOT to harvest a doe, but to save a doe. (The tag intentionally doesn't get filled). I guess you call us trophy hunters not killing the baby makers. We also don't wound and let animals run off and die without being harvested.... know your gun, know your ability and DONT MISS. I still say something is wrong with YOU, NOT YOUR GEAR, when your gear is 35 yards off. Your bullet point of impact is less that 1" from where you think it would hit. Yes you screwed up, and you tried to blame your equipment like any sorry loser does. By my antagonistic texts, I am trying to let you to realize that YOU, NOT YOUR GEAR IS WRONG, Wake up and fix it! Practice! But, I fear your a closit liberal without the integrity to realize your at fault. You saw a big buck, and got buck fevor and pulled! (YOUR gun might be too powerful, and your pulling without realizing it). No shame in it, you might need to hang that ultra mag up and get a 243, or the latest greatest fad 6.5 ....

[@rgcrowman3188]

I also have a problem with it picking up a 24" white steel target at 1000 yards, I know it wont make it to 1200 on a good day

[@murraysanders7779]

Just bought one , a lot of money for something made in China , I thought I was buying a genuine Leupold seeing that I bought it from one of Australia's biggest gun dealers Cleaver firearms

[@MarkLinno81]

murraysanders7779 is it still a good thing though? How's the clarity of the glass mate?

[@murraysanders7779]

@Willy Wisper None of my rifles are made in China , I am happy with the Chinese range finder though

[@kmattar]

Lol for $200 what did you expect😂

[@murraysanders7779]

$600 AUS and I sent it back for repair after it shit itself used it maybe 6 times , they sent it back can't be repaired , not buying Leupold EVER AGAIN

[@CplSkiUSMC]

I've wondered if ballistic compensating range finder calculations took into consideration that although the bullet is affected by gravity only over the horizontal distance, it is affected by drag over the entire line of sight (plus trajectory) distance. Now I know that Leupold TBR rangefinders do... that being said, does the unit compensate for elevation? Obviously a shot at 10,000 feet will differ considerably from a shot at 2,000 feet elevation.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

It does not have a built in altimeter, so it would not take into account that change. For me, I have that built into my CDS dials, plus a cheat sheet that tells me how much adjustment is needed based on altitude.

[@CplSkiUSMC]

I can easily imagine a rangefinder with a built in GPS for elevation (and possibly coriolis for very long range shots), and a temperature probe for even better calculations.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

CplSki USMC - I'm sure it could be done. Probably just a function of cost keeping it competitive in the market.

[@robertscoville7588]

Si Sauer Kilo 2400 has it all. I'm sure Leupold will soon.

[@TheRaider120164]

Not that great of a product. 1. It's calibrated for 200 yrd zeros. No way to set it for a 100 yd zero if that's what you prefer on your gun. 2. No setting to adjust for scope height. Ranging seems to work well, but MOA modes are useless if you can't factor in the above.

[@MrGuitars8]

I would like to have one it is a good tool to have .

[@satheshsoundarrajan496]

Too bad we can't input our custom load data ,air density and air temperature details to get an accurate shot. You have to go with certain pre entered data.

[@jasonadams8537]

G7 from Gunwerks

[@satheshsoundarrajan496]

I use a Leica crf 1600 R in combination with kestrel 5700 Elite with applied ballistics.

[@robertscoville7588]

Si Sauer Kilo 2400 does it all

[@rgcrowman3188]

Why is your chart sight in at 200 yards when everybody sights in at 100 yards

[@702MULEHUNTER]

How do you like that 1200 tbr

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Love it. Been using one for three years now.

[@702MULEHUNTER]

Good to hear ,i just ordered the 1200 for this seasons hunts ,thanks Randy!

[@jebfishing3426]

What kind of warranty does it have? just got rid of my Halo because it broke with in the year and only had a year warranty didnt trust it looking for quality rangers with a good warranty.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Hmmm. Not sure. I know it will be for life on the unit, but the firmware/software changes so much, the warranty on that part is usually a 2-5 year warranty. I been using mine 100+ days per year for four years and it is flawless.

[@joshuasantelises7407]

2 years

[@dmo7815]

Mine lost the center cross/ hair ???

[@FahdFahd-ou9rw]

Hi .. can you help me please .... i have gun ok the bullet is 7,62 *39 ok which group is suits with my gun . I didnt find that in schedule of groups

[@ducsauce85]

Great video, Randy! I'm needing a new rangefinder because my old Nikon 440 is practically useless in low light. I guess it's lost it's lens multi-coating? Anyhow, I mostly bow hunt but sometimes rifle hunt (shots are not over 100 yards) so I'm wondering if this is overkill for my application? One thing I've learned from my last RF is that I'd like to have a red reticle. Also, I may make it out west to rifle hunt one day (still enjoying chasing elk with the bow at the moment). Perhaps I just answered my own question. :)

[@Fresh_Tracks]

These have a red display. As for what ranging you need, that's a personal application.

[@Lucky13Twice]

Yeah, a two year warranty just doesn't get it for me.

[@tegarpentil6541]

Kakean ngomong brooo