After completing my research project on Cape buffalo in South Africa this June, I left to go on safari. Traversing the Limpopo River along the Botswana border, I hunted the Limpopo Province, in habitat catering to bushbuck and warthog. I sought these and other species using a Winchester bolt-action .375H&H calibre fitted with a Leupold 1x4 Vari-X II scope. I also brought my Leupold WindRiver® KatmaiTM binocular.
Because my stipulation was an honest African walk-and-stalk hunt, it was necessary that I include in my equipment a rangefinder to judge distances of shots I would take across the veld. I selected the Leupold RXTM-II Compact True Ballistic RangeTM Digital Laser Rangefinder to accompany me on this safari.
Louis, my Professional Hunter (PH), had a Bushnell Laser Pro from the first days of his career, but its performance could not even compare with that of my Leupold RXTM-II Compact TBRTM Digital. It wasn’t long until this PH, my long time friend and an avid bowhunter, “discovered” the True Ballistic Range feature on my rangefinder. In fact, soon the temperature “mysteriously” switched to the Centigrade scale, convenient for most African hunters. Our campfire discussions concerning the merits of this compact rangefinder were honest and illuminating, and we finally resolved just how helpful a tool a quality rangefinder by Leupold can be in the hands of a knowledgeable hunter.
My hunt was scheduled secondary to Cape buffalo research I was conducting in KwaZulu-Natal, and thus we were quite short on time. Nonetheless, I took what green measures as a Safari Club International (SCI) Gold Medal impala ram, as well as two mature boar warthogs.
My PH and I happened upon the first warthog rooting in thick bush under the shade of a low-spread acacia when we were stalking a herd of impala.
“Look, do you check that warthog?” my PH asked when we paused our stalk to listen. I had been focused on the form of the vlakvark behind the bush for what felt like ages, but had just not gotten the words out as quickly as he had. He was so close!
“Yes, I do. Is it a boar?” I asked urgently. Louis stared through his binocular and soon reported that it was indeed a boar. The warthog winded us and went 76 yards before he stopped broadside between two full bushes to reassess the situation. Louis planted my improvised shooting sticks and I readied myself to touch off the shot. When I lowered the rifle onto the sticks, they loosened and collapsed. Louis and I scrambled to resituate the sticks, and my bullet from the .375 travelled through the boar’s vitals, dropping him to the ground. The most thrilled PH in Africa took off sprinting to the downed warthog, his client right behind him. I gasped when I saw my first African harvest lying beautifully atop the red earth. His ivory-coloured tusks curled far above his lips; my PH and I were delighted.
We were soon off in pursuit of a rooibok, or impala, the South African ungulate most commonly compared to the North American deer. My impala offered an especially challenging target, facing me directly at 178 yards. I chambered a round into my .375, compensated for the distance and angle, and the ram fell with one shot.
This, however, I could not see. When I fired, I didn’t hear the bullet find its target, so I scanned the departing herd while asking my PH if my impala was down. Louis didn’t answer me, yet I was certain he had been looking through his binocular at the herd when I took the impala. When I turned to look at my PH, he was grinning and shaking his head.
“Did you see what happened?” he asked.
Confused and impatient, I indicated I hadn’t.
“Relax, sweetie, you got your ram. Ludwig [the farm manager] saw him drop. It’s just that when you shot, the recoil from the .375 sent your shoulder right into my face and flipped my binocular straight over my head. All I saw was blue sky.”
We were laughing softly as we went to where the impala had stood minutes before, finding him without much difficulty. I ran my hand along the spiral contour of the ram’s horns; he was a trophy both by my standards and those of the record books. Ludwig shook my hand and congratulated me on a superb shot. When you know the correct distance to your animal and understand the physics behind shot placement, you are then equipped to decide on whether a shot is promising, and to make adjustments accordingly. My hunting companions and I were quite pleased that this Leupold rangefinder was exhibiting remarkable performance and the events of my safari were playing out so well.
Alas the hunting turned quite difficult; the game wasn’t moving and we definitely weren’t finding zebra or gemsbok. Then a very nice warthog showed himself. My rangefinder gave the distance as just less than 200 yards. I prepared for the shot as my PH whispered, “Take him when you’re ready.” I hesitated for a tenth of a second, remembering I had already harvested one boar, but then decided that an African hunter can never have too many of these unique creatures. The opportunity was before me, so I took the warthog. Another very nice boar.
Each harvest was admittedly quite emotional for me; the entire safari was a soul-stirring journey. I was fortunate that this rangefinder enabled me to place my shots exactly where they needed to go.
The Leupold RX-II model is perfectly suited not only for archery and rifle hunting, but also for handgun/shotgun hunting, marine navigation, golfing, surveying, 3D archery, and wildlife agency use. I was even able to successfully employ the RX-II to range distances to individual buffalo in diseased herds I was researching!
With solid dimensions of 4x2.75x1.5 inches, the 6.8 oz (193g) RX-II is one of the lightest, most compact rangefinders on the market. This particular model has 6x magnification and a ranging accuracy of plus/minus 1 metre. The maximum range to a medium sized antelope is 500 yards, 750 yards to a reflective target. The Leupold RX-II digital laser rangefinder is protected by the Leupold Green RingTM Electronics Warranty.
Impressively, this rangefinder has an inclinometer that will allow for the precise distance measurement of the path of your chosen projectile—bullet or arrow—with a confidence level of plus/minus one meter. Significant error is thus eliminated with the TBR feature. The Quick-Set Rotary menu is remarkably easy to operate and fully multicoated lenses resist scratches from bush thorns and everyday wear.
Several useful modes are featured. For long-range shots exceeding 150 yards, one can opt for the Long Range mode to augment accuracy. If the Rowland Ward hartebeest bull closest to you has several herd members behind him, selecting the First Target Mode will allow you to range the hartebeest if several unwanted animals, bushes, or other objects might also be in the path of the laser beam. Should the situation reverse and your sitatunga becomes obscured by a branch closer to you or your client, the complementary Last Target Mode (which, if selected, will simultaneously disable the First Target Mode) will allow for a more accurate reading of the range to that sitatunga further away. The operator is able to toggle among various measurement units with the Yards/Feet/Metres Output feature as well.
Numerous factors must be analyzed in order to provide the hunter with the most accurate aiming information possible. The RX-II uses advanced ballistic algorithms patterned by those developed by engineers for modern space vehicles. These state-of-the-art algorithms are coupled with readings of the incline, straight Line of Sight (LOS) distance to the target, and specific performance matching groups.
Both bow and rifle hunters are given the precise horizontal range even when they are above or below their target. This is the level fire range whereby the correct aim can be determined. TBR is programmed with settings designated for seven genres of manufactured cartridges and three different settings to determine accurate ranges for arrows using individual arrow drop data (from the 20-yard pin at 40 yards). Both comprehensive and abbreviated instructions for archers as well as gun hunters that will allow for maximum utilization of the Leupold RX-II TBR are included! Should you be partial to hand loading or the use of unique cartridges, there are suggestions of how to analyse bullet path data (mid and long range) to determine in which group your cartridge would be classified.
The RX-II takes TBR into account and allows rifle hunters to access the minute of the angle (MOA) for which they must adjust to hit their mark. Based on the sight-in zero and ballistic group chosen, the HOLD function provides the number of inches or centimetres that one must holdover the point of aim. Additionally, the equivalent range at which you should shoot when implementing Leupold’s Ballistic Aiming System (BAS) reticles is given. Leupold takes the physics of projectiles seriously; extensive ballistics data organised into performance tables are included for reference.
Please note that getting the most out of the TBR concept requires the operator to devote a good deal of time to familiarizing him or herself with the TBR feature. I spent several sessions with my PH practicing before our hunt. The operating instructions are absolutely essential for the optimal utilisation of this piece of equipment. And always remember that you must have an intimate familiarity with your firearm and are ultimately responsible for the path of your bullet.
Surrounding air temperature can be measured by the internal thermometer on either the Fahrenheit or Centigrade scale. Hunters know that the weather will not always be as warm, dry, and clear as it was on this safari. Leupold’s weatherproof RX-II compensates for unpredictable conditions with a Rain Mode that filters out false returns from raindrops and other atmospheric obstructions.
There are also 13 preloaded reticles available to select as the principal aiming point for the rangefinder. My preferred reticle was the contrasting Duplex®. I found the Bracket squareTM reticle to be most useful when bracketing larger bodied animals like zebra and kudu. It is also worth noting that many hunters from Africa and Europe prefer the German #4 Open Point reticle that does not cover the top half and exact centre of the target in the field of view.
The RX-IV model has a digital compass, which would have been lovely added to the RX-II as well, but the advantages of such a lightweight and portable rangefinder would be sacrificed in the trade-off. One has only to devote enough time to learning the sometimes complex features of the RX-II for this tool to augment marksmanship precision in almost any situation. The overall quality and performance of the Leupold RX-II make this rangefinder the ideal choice for the professional and serious amateur hunter.
My confidence not just in this particular rangefinder but in Leupold products in general is constantly challenged by international hunters loyal to brands like Bushnell, Swarovski, and Nikon, but the results are always crystal clear: the majority of people exposed to this company’s products inevitably adopt Leupold as their personal optics choice.
While Leupold is inarguably America’s Optics authority, I see the African hunting industry, which has long looked to the European company Swarovski, now acknowledging Leupold’s superior experience in the field. This is not surprising: Africa is serious about hunting, and Leupold products are light years ahead of the competition.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
PO Box 688
Beaverton, OR 97075-0688 USA
503.526.1400
www.leupold.com
Note: All photographs by author.
