angle compensation

[bnsafe]

how many of you guys use arc vs a regular rangefinder. is there really that much difference.

[Swede]

I have the new Vortex ARC range finder. The angle compensation is quicker, as I can sight right on the target and instantly have the range. With the others I would range nearby targets such as trees and mentally adjust. It is not a big deal unless you are in a hurry for some reason.

[twinkieman]

Bushnell ARC

[planebow]

Had a lepould but sold it and bought a Vortex from Paul and am liking it better as the Lepould would only range to 60 yards on the angle where the Vortex has full range on the angle.

[ElkNut1]

If I were buying new, no way would I consider a rangefinder without ARC to full range capacity. They are no more expensive than ones of like caliber without it or limiting distances.

ElkNut1

[bnsafe]

thanks guys, I wont buy one without it but I have a regular one, would like the arc but I have spent a ton already this season to get ready. trying to decide if its worth the money now or wait til next year.

[ElkNut1]

Since you already have a rangefinder then use that one & upgrade as funds become available.

ElkNut1

[bnsafe]

thanks a TON paul. I really appreciate the advise. if I wait til next year I can afford a vortex

[Freebird134]

With a relatively fast bow, you almost never need to worry about compensating. It only comes into play at really steep shots (more than 45 degrees) or really long shots (50+). I have a table I put together of yardage and angles using geometry. I'll post it when I get home. It surprises a lot of guys how little angles matter (again, unless you are shooting relatively far and in really steep angles).

[bnsafe]

thanks Brandon, im looking forward to that. and I glad you had to do the geometry and not me

[mtnmutt]

Very, very jealous. 5 yards miss in judgment means my 202 fps shot is a miss or high/low. Maybe someday, my pin gaps will be smaller.

Last year, I bought the optilogic micro II to practice my range estimating. Not fancy but has ARC. I am good at estimating out to 30 yards. After 30, I only get it right 50% of the time. I limit my hunting distance to 25 yards. I can be off 2-3 yards under 25 and be okay.

[fm]

Before I bought one that had arc I used my old one for hunting whitetails in a tree stand. My stands are pretty high most of the time. I would pick out some trees where I thought the deer would be and range the tree at the same level as my stand and that was the yardage I would shot when a deer showed up. It will work in the hills for down hill shots. Up hill no.

[pointysticks]

BN..

i was saving up for a vortex. lunch money..hehe.

anyways, i kept looking at the classifieds at AT. i bought mine used for $200! (maybe $225). being vortex stuff, i got the rangefinder, and sent it back to vortex. they check calibration, cleaned it up some, replaced the missing case (for free!) and sent it back to me. it was very awesome. keep any eye out in the classifieds..lots of guys wanting to step up to Leicas over there. there are deals to be had.


just another option to consider.
edit: just to be clear..i like the angle compensation on rangefinders. i feel like i stack enough issues up to make me miss..i might as well stack some issue up to minimize them. an inch here or there is HUGE if you add them up. good or bad.
ironically, the vortex angle compensation is kinda annoying. IIRC, if you have it switched on. there is a HUGE "HRC" emblazened across the viewfinder. (i need to confirm this, but my rangefinder is buried in a stuffed pack)..i think i remember thinking..wtf is up with the big HRC across the screen? you get used to it, but seriously..they could have used that tiny angle logo we learned in highschool geometry..hahah. not a big enough issue to be a deal breaker. it is a GREAT rf..just something to nickpick, since there are no real blatant shortcomings.

[Freebird134]

Here is the table of base (horizonal) distances, given a hypotenuse distance (eye to animal) and the angle.

The top is the line of sight distance that a regular range finder would give you. The left column is the angle from your eye to the target (up or down, doesn't matter). I shaded in the cells that correspond to distance/angle combinations that would cause me to miss significantly--this is based on my bow setup and my experience (280fps, 470g arrow).

Out to 30 yards I never ever think about angle compensation. My first pin is at 30 and can get me out 33 or 34yds easily. Even if the shot is straight down....which is probably an unethical shot anyway.....my 30 pin will get the job done.

At 40 yards line of sight, for my bow, I don't think about angle compensation until the "shoot distance" is less than 35 (my 40 is about 6" high at 30). So, I only need to consider angle compensation at 40 yards when the shot is more than 45 degree angle. And that is a pretty dang steep hill side. If I'm taking that shot, I hope it's uphill, because I might fall over trying to take it aiming downhill!

Where the ARC technology becomes really helpful is if you are a long range shooter (50+). The table shows that if you start shooting much more than 15 degrees up or down, you probably need to start compensating. Again, this all depends on your bow's speed and consequent arrow trajectory---slower bows will need to compensate at closer ranges and shallower angles, while faster guys will compensate less. Hopefully the table is at least interesting and thought provoking. It was for me.

Personally, I wouldn't spend extra money to upgrade; but then again my rangefinder has ARC

[bnsafe]

thanks freebird, that is eye opening, although I got a headache just reading it, lol. I wont shoot at an animal past 50 so unless I get into a 30 degree angle or more doesn't look like it will make much difference to me. im shooting 290 per the bow shop so shouldn't be to big an issue.

[Freebird134]

I shot a mulie last night and immediately thought of this thread. Stalked a bedded bachelor group and ran out of cover with 73yards (line of sight) to the closest and biggest of the deer. The ARC said 68. When he stood up and was calm as can be---and so was the wind--I dialed my tommy Hogg to 68 and double lunges him. I watched him fall 15 seconds later. If I had shot for 73, I would likely have missed or hit really high.

So, if you are willing and able to take those longer shots in steep country like where I hunt in Idaho, arc is dang useful!!

[WindedBowhunter]

I use the Opti-Logic Micro Rangefinder for bowhunting

It's lightweight, small, soft-touch so easy to hold, easy to read yardage and waterproof

[crazyaboutelk]

Maybe this is not needed for some people, but I thought I would provide a little bit of perspective with 45degree and 30 degree slopes. Forty-five degrees does not sound that steep for some; however you can barely stand up on a 45 degree slope. This is what roadway engineers call a 100% grade. A 30 degree slope is also quite steep. So if you are shooting in this type of terrain you are going to be looking what "feels like" straight down.
Anyways, I like my angle compensator anyway.