Rangefinders have come a long way in the past few years. After enduring the pathetic performance of early optical rangefinders for decades, there was plenty of reason for shooters to be happy once laser rangefinders began to be widely used on the market. It's no exaggeration to say that few gear advances have had as much of an impact on long-range shooting performance as laser rangefinders. Since its introduction, laser rangefinders have consistently delivered more features, better performance and greater durability. What is often lost in the gorgeous ballistic descent compensators and wind calculators is one of the most beneficial of these new technologies: angle compensation.
Any good long-range shooter should know that gravity doesn't care about angles. When it acts on a projectile, gravity pulls straight down, "caring" only for the horizontal distance to the target. Most people can easily grasp this concept. However, when you take on the task of shooting at high angles, understanding the theory and correctly calculating shooting solutions are two very different requirements. Guessing distance with the naked eye can be a chore. Determining the angle of shooting and applying the appropriate correction factors to consider it may turn this chore into a real mathematical challenge. Once the pressure to set your sights on a trophy bull increases after months of planning and days of rough work in a rugged country, all of a sudden, a small device that can handle difficult math and save time seems like a very convenient prospect. Enter the angle compensated laser rangefinder.
By quickly and accurately sorting out the shooting angle and perceived distance, these clever tools can easily complete high-angle shooting and spit out the actual horizontal distance. From here, the shooter only needs to adjust his gaze to match. If the device is equipped with a BDC, it will usually even present a complete injection solution in the form of a turret click or hold-up.
Rangefinders with angle compensation are not only suitable for heroic rifle shooting in elk or sheep hunting. Even for bow and arrow hunters, angle compensating rangefinders make sense. While a simple trellis may not offer many chances to shine for the angle compensation feature, looking for goats or other small animals in steep terrain will prove its worth. The higher the angle, the greater the advantage. Most high-quality laser rangefinders are very fast to use.
Just like the sight of a sight rifle, it is also important to keep the laser rangefinder stable when aiming at the target. Most rangefinders will be equipped with a tripod for ultimate stability. A tripod may add a few ounces to your gear, but at the end of a tough hunt, it's easy to be worth its gold weight. This can slow down the final ranging time by a second or so, but can provide a lot of benefits when looking for targets that are difficult to see due to heavy coverage or insufficient light.
It's clear that angle-compensated laser rangefinders fill a very necessary niche. The options currently available are relatively affordable, very accurate, and very simple to use. In summary, it is still important to consider the math and concepts behind all these technologies. Even the best tools are limited by the expertise and capabilities of the operator. Learning and understanding the basics of high-angle shooting will allow for the more efficient use of these precision instruments. Once you've received a science education, look for the features you think will be most beneficial to your next hunt. From there, you can hunt confidently because you know you're doing hunting and shooting, but with the help of some really cool techniques. This is the angle you should really be looking for.
