Kestrel wind and weather meters are often regarded as the best on the market — for good reason. Here are a series of three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics works. This article reviews the advanced Kestrel 5700 Elite Wind Meter with sophisticated ballistics capabilities. Our review features three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 Elite functions with Applied Ballistics APP software and LiNK connection.
This Part I Video starts with a basic Kestrel Anemometer (blue case, 00:00-00:40) wind meter. Then reviewer F-Class John looks at the “smart” Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics. John explains the many features of the Kestrel 5700 and how it holds a powerful ballistics calculator in the convenient, easy-to-tote Kestrel package. With Elite Ballistics, once you enter data about your bullets, velocity, zero, and rifle, the Kestrel can calculate come-ups and wind corrections. If you don’t yet own a Kestrel, we highly recommend you watch this series of videos that explains advanced Kestrel features in detail.
This Part II Video shows the key features of the advanced software APP used by the Kestrel 5700 unit with Elite Ballistics. The Kestrel 5700 can “talk” to a mobile device that runs the Applied Ballistics software APP that contains bullet databases and allows you to enter key information such as muzzle velocity, bullet BC, zero distance, velocity, wind, and environmental factors (altitude, temperature etc.). There are also gun-specific factors such as scope height over bore and barrel twist rate. The video also explains how “range cards” are created and how to view them with your Elite Ballistics-enabled Kestrel. John notes: “The APP is great because you don’t have to fiddle with the Kestrel’s buttons. It’s much easier to enter data and change settings with the APP.”
This Part III video shows how to determine true wind direction by aligning the SIDE of the unit into the wind. You essentially want to set the unit 90 degrees to the wind direction so the impeller runs as slowly as possible. Then, after you set your target distance (See 3:03), the unit can give you precise come-ups for your intended target (10.28 MOA for 559 yards here). The Kestrel then calculates the cross-wind correction as well (See 3:12).
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, the video author may receive a small commission. This helps support F-Class John’s YouTube channel and allows him to continue to make videos like this.
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Kestrel wind and weather meters are often regarded as the best on the market — for good reason. Here are a series of three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics works. This article reviews the advanced Kestrel 5700 Elite Wind Meter with sophisticated ballistics capabilities. Our review features three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 Elite functions with Applied Ballistics APP software and LiNK connection.
This Part I Video starts with a basic Kestrel Anemometer (blue case, 00:00-00:40) wind meter. Then reviewer F-Class John looks at the “smart” Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics. John explains the many features of the Kestrel 5700 and how it holds a powerful ballistics calculator in the convenient, easy-to-tote Kestrel package. With Elite Ballistics, once you enter data about your bullets, velocity, zero, and rifle, the Kestrel can calculate come-ups and wind corrections. If you don’t yet own a Kestrel, we highly recommend you watch this series of videos that explains advanced Kestrel features in detail.
This Part II Video shows the key features of the advanced software APP used by the Kestrel 5700 unit with Elite Ballistics. The Kestrel 5700 can “talk” to a mobile device that runs the Applied Ballistics software APP that contains bullet databases and allows you to enter key information such as muzzle velocity, bullet BC, zero distance, velocity, wind, and environmental factors (altitude, temperature etc.). There are also gun-specific factors such as scope height over bore and barrel twist rate. The video also explains how “range cards” are created and how to view them with your Elite Ballistics-enabled Kestrel. John notes: “The APP is great because you don’t have to fiddle with the Kestrel’s buttons. It’s much easier to enter data and change settings with the APP.”
This Part III video shows how to determine true wind direction by aligning the SIDE of the unit into the wind. You essentially want to set the unit 90 degrees to the wind direction so the impeller runs as slowly as possible. Then, after you set your target distance (See 3:03), the unit can give you precise come-ups for your intended target (10.28 MOA for 559 yards here). The Kestrel then calculates the cross-wind correction as well (See 3:12).
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, the video author may receive a small commission. This helps support F-Class John’s YouTube channel and allows him to continue to make videos like this.
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The 2021 NRA F-Class National Championships are underway right now at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The Mid-Range Nationals concluded yesterday with the Team Match, and the Long-Range F-Class Nationals commence today, July 27, 2021 and run through Friday, July 30th. For F-Class competitors, making the right wind call is a vital skill. Many shooters and team wind coaches will be using Kestrel Wind Meters, widely regarded as the best on the market.
This article reviews the advanced Kestrel 5700 Elite Wind Meter with sophisticated ballistics capabilities. Our review features three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 Elite works with Applied Ballistics APP software and LiNK connection.
This Part I Video starts with a basic Kestrel Anemometer (blue case, 00:00-00:40) wind meter. Then reviewer F-Class John looks at the “smart” Kestrel 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics functionality and LiNK Bluetooth connectivity. John explains the many features of the Kestrel 5700 and how it holds a powerful ballistics calculator in the convenient, easy-to-tote Kestrel package. With the Kestrel 5700 Elite, once you enter data about your bullets, velocity, zero, and rifle, the Kestrel can calculate come-ups and wind corrections. If you don’t yet own a Kestrel, we highly recommend you watch this series of videos that explains advanced Kestrel features in detail.
This Part II Video shows the key features of the advanced software APP used by the Kestrel 5700 Elite unit with Applied Ballistics. The Kestrel 5700 can “talk” to a mobile device that runs the Applied Ballistics software APP that contains bullet databases and allows you to enter key information such as muzzle velocity, bullet BC, zero distance, velocity, wind, and environmental factors (altitude, temperature etc.). There are also gun-specific factors such as scope height over bore and barrel twist rate. The video also explains how “range cards” are created and how to view them with your Elite Ballistics-enabled Kestrel. John notes: “The APP is great because you don’t have to fiddle with the Kestrel’s buttons. It’s much easier to enter data and change settings with the APP.”
This Part III video shows how to determine true wind direction by aligning the SIDE of the unit into the wind. You essentially want to set the unit 90 degrees to the wind direction so the impeller runs as slowly as possible. Then, after you set your target distance (See 3:03), the unit can give you precise come-ups for your intended target (10.28 MOA for 559 yards here). The Kestrel then calculates the cross-wind correction as well (See 3:12).
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, the video author may receive a small commission. This helps support F-Class John’s YouTube channel and allows him to continue to make videos like this.
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Kestrel wind and weather meters are often regarded as the best on the market — for good reason. Here are a series of three videos by F-Class John that show how the Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics works with Applied Ballistics APP software and Link connection.
This Part I Video starts with a basic Kestrel Anemometer (blue case, 00:00-00:40) wind meter. Then reviewer F-Class John looks at the “smart” Kestrel 5700 with Elite Ballistics. John explains the many features of the Kestrel 5700 and how it holds a powerful ballistics calculator in the convenient, easy-to-tote Kestrel package. With Elite Ballistics, once you enter data about your bullets, velocity, zero, and rifle, the Kestrel can calculate come-ups and wind corrections. If you don’t yet own a Kestrel, we highly recommend you watch this series of videos that explains advanced Kestrel features in detail.
This Part II Video shows the key features of the advanced software APP used by the Kestrel 5700 unit with Elite Ballistics. The Kestrel 5700 can “talk” to a mobile device that runs the Applied Ballistics software APP that contains bullet databases and allows you to enter key information such as muzzle velocity, bullet BC, zero distance, velocity, wind, and environmental factors (altitude, temperature etc.). There are also gun-specific factors such as scope height over bore and barrel twist rate. The video also explains how “range cards” are created and how to view them with your Elite Ballistics-enabled Kestrel. John notes: “The APP is great because you don’t have to fiddle with the Kestrel’s buttons. It’s much easier to enter data and change settings with the APP.”
This Part III video shows how to determine true wind direction by aligning the SIDE of the unit into the wind. You essentially want to set the unit 90 degrees to the wind direction so the impeller runs as slowly as possible. Then, after you set your target distance (See 3:03), the unit can give you precise come-ups for your intended target (10.28 MOA for 559 yards here). The Kestrel then calculates the cross-wind correction as well (See 3:12).
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, the video author may receive a small commission. This helps support F-Class John’s YouTube channel and allows him to continue to make videos like this.
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Every serious, long-range shooter needs a modern, accurate wind meter. And the higher-level Kestrel Wind Meters include a sophisticated ballistics engine that can calculate drops and wind-holds at any distance. These “smart” Kestrels can communicate (via Bluetooth) with a powerful App on your mobile device(s). For this exclusive review, our Editor F-Class John field tests the Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics, and explains its many impressive features. This unit offers great functionality for a $699.00 MSRP. Shop at KestrelBallistics.com or Amazon.com. For this article, F-Class John has created THREE (3) videos which are well worth watching.
Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics Review, Video Part 1
Kestrel 5700 Elite — Field Test and Evaluation
by F-Class John
In order to make accurate shots at long range, whether in the desert knocking down steel at a mile or shooting paper at 1000 yards, you need to know and understand the effects of your environment (wind, temperature etc.), along with your bullet’s ballistics. Traditionally, shooters gauge wind speed/angle with a wind meter and then input the data into a ballistic program on a mobile device. That program then produces a firing solution after calculating bullet drop and wind drift. While this method works, it can be time-consuming and cumbersome, and there’s always the potential for error when transposing the information from wind meter to mobile device.
Enter the Kestrel 5700 Elite Applied Ballistics with Kestrel LiNK. This all-in-one unit allows for incredibly accurate firing solutions by using a variety of measurements such as average, head, and cross winds as well as other atmospheric conditions which are then analyzed by built-in Applied Ballistics software. This yields ultra-accurate results from a handheld unit that easily fits in your pocket. Describing the 5700 Elite can be a little difficult. Yes, it is an anemometer at its core, but it is also a complete weather station, a ballistic calculator, and a target card creator.
The Kestrel 5700 Elite’s own menu has three Mode options: Weather, Easy, and Ballistics. The Weather Mode option (great on its own) features the ability to measure altitude, barometric pressure, crosswind, density altitude, dew point temperature, headwind/tailwind, heat stress index, relative humidity, station pressure, temperature, wet bulb temperature, wind chill, wind direction and wind speed/air speed. These readings are available both on the screen by themselves or grouped three at a time. Access is quick and easy with readings updating constantly so you always have the most accurate information at hand.
In addition to Weather Mode, the Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics boasts two other Modes, EASY and BALLISTICS. NOTE — before using Easy Mode or Ballistic Mode I recommend creating gun profiles and bullet profiles in the Kestrel directly or through the Kestrel App. This is easy, as the Kestrel Ballistics App connects directly to any LiNK-enabled Kestrel unit. After the initial startup you’ll want to begin with Gun Profile Management tab. This tab allows you to enter both your gun information as well as your loads. The Elite allows up to 30 gun profiles to be created. Notably, the Elite’s included Applied Ballistics software constantly updates bullet profiles. In fact, during my testing, new bullet profiles were added twice. So I was assured I had the most up-to-date bullet choices when creating load profiles.
Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballitics Review, Video Part 2
Along with gun profiles, the Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics allows you to create 10 separate Target Profiles. This can be done a couple different ways. The first is Easy Mode — a great option for those want to get a firing solution but don’t need or want to enter a lot of information. It allows you to set up your target range (distance), target data (wind, direction, etc), and choose your rifle profile. Other variables are muzzle velocity, compass, and latitude. Easy Mode allows you to enter the most vital information without feeling overwhelmed, yet Easy Mode still provides for a very accurate solution.
Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics Review, Video Part 3
Switching from Easy Mode to Ballistics Mode provides even more options. These include setting up your target (target angle, target speed, wind direction, and more), wind input, gun profile, environment (temp, barometric pressure, altimeter humidity, etc.), target cards, and range cards (with fixed distances). You also get full access to the Applied Ballistics calculator as well as your ability to manage gun profiles. The target card is a really great feature for multi-target disciplines such as PRS where you may be able to range targets ahead of time. The target card allows you to enter any 10 exact distances and the Applied Ballistics software will calculate solutions for all of them in an easy-to-access chart. This is a great feature that can save you time and improve scores.
The Kestrel 5700 Elite’s associated Applied Ballistics software offers additional advanced functionality. For example you can calculate the actual BC of your bullet and adjust for transonic bullet flight. Once you get the hang of how to use these additional features, they really make you realize how powerful this tiny unit is. The App is configured for easy data entry and it even has the classic Snake game as a fun hidden feature in the “About” section of the menu.
SUMMARY — Outstanding Handheld Device with Full Ballistics Functionality
The Kestrel 5700 Elite with Applied Ballistics demonstrated that it is truly the most feature-packed handheld weather meter/ballistic calculator available on the market today. In fact, after several weeks of testing I feel there were still more minor features that I could have used to get even more information about my ammo, firing solutions, and environment. If you’re a technology-driven shooter looking for the ultimate Weather/Ballistics tool at the range, the Kestrel 5700 Elite is for you. This is an outstanding product.
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GunsAmerica just released a detailed review of the recently-upgraded Kestrel 5700 Elite with LiNK, a software-enabled weather meter. If you compete in practical/tactical events (with targets at multiple distances), or campaign a wide selection of rifles, or shoot at Extreme Long Range, you may want to get this device. It offers unrivaled capabilities in a small package. This impressive handheld device combines weather-monitoring capabilities with a full-featured, very sophisticated ballistics solver that now calculates out to 5,500 yards. Using Bluetooth and LiNK technology it communicates with your mobile device as well as LiNK-enabled laser rangefinders.
Why You May Want to Buy the Kestrel 5700 Elite with LiNK:
— The Device can hold up to 30 different rifle/cartridge profiles, each with its own BC and muzzle velocity for ballistic calculations.
— The Device registers current windspeed, wind direction, air temp and pressure, and other variables, and then sends that info via Bluetooth to your smart-phone, updating the ballistic solution. It essentially updates your drop chart in real time.
— The Device “talks” to your smart-phone, providing a large, convenient display that can show both elevation clicks and wind corrections. The display essentially replaces your data card. The Smartphone integration also makes it easy to modify your different rifle/ammo profiles.
— The Device gives you come-ups and wind corrections for multiple targets (at various ranges). These can be displayed in a list, ordered by distance. This is a great feature, check it out:
Quick and Accurate Solutions for all Cartridge Types — Big and Small
The Kestrel 5700 Elite can work for everything from a .22 LR to a .50 BMG. In fact, GunsAmerica’s tester used the Kestrel 5700 for a 6.5 Creedmoor shooting out to 1070 yards, and then used the solver for a .22 LR match out to 300 yards. The data for the 6.5 CM was spot on, but even more remarkably, the holdover for the .22 LR was precise to 0.2 mils at 300 yards. The GunsAmerica Reviewer, Ian Kenney, was impressed:
“I think the best testament to the capabilities of the Kestrel 5700 Elite were on display at a recent range trip where I was getting my modified Ruger 10/22 ready for an upcoming precision rimfire match. I started out with a sort of hodgepodge of information, using an unconfirmed BC [for Eley Force ammo] that I’d heard from a friend along with a muzzle velocity that another friend had gotten with the same ammo. I created a new profile using this assortment of data and entered in target distances for 200 and 300 yards. Imagine the smile on my face then when I got hits at both distances with the elevation setting only being 0.2 mils off at the farthest target.
It’s impressive that the technology allowed me to only be 0.2 mils off with .22 LR ammunition at 300 yards, which is only about two inches, all the while starting out with imperfect data. If that’s not an exquisite demonstration of the versatility of this technology, to be able to toggle between such diverse calibers and get accurate data to long distances, I don’t know what is.”
Kestrel 5700 Elite Special Capabilities
The LiNK Ballistics App lets you set up multiple targets for single-screen viewing. The Kestrel 5700 Elite can also be wirelessly paired with LiNK-compatible laser rangefinders. Being able to instantly accees exact target range data allows a more rapid and and more precise ballistic solution.
In addition to the ballistics solver capabilities, the Kestrel 5700 Elite is a comprehensive weather meter that monitors all key variables including: wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, heat index, pressure, and altitude. Your data log can be transferred to a iOS/Android device wirelessly with the LiNK wireless communication option and Kestrel LiNK app. The 5700 Elite now uses a single AA Battery housed separately from the circuit board.
More Features of the Kestrel 5700 Elite
The Kestrel 5700 elite has almost too many features to list. One notable capability allows you to quickly “tune” a profile by entering field-confirmed data. Kenney explains: “You can go into the gun profile and calibrate the muzzle velocity by telling it how much elevation you used to get a hit, effectively truing your dope in short order. This is ten times faster than logging it in your data book, going back to an online solver, and making adjustments[.]”
Ian Kenney’s Kestrel 5700 Elite Review is very thorough, and contains many more details and insights than we can cover here. For anyone considering purchase of a high-end Kestrel, we strongly recommend you read Kenney’s review. Ian concludes: “I’m not going to lie… with an MSRP of $699, I recognize [the Kestrel 5700 Elite] may not be for everyone. Considering how often I shoot long range and the number of rifles that I have, it makes sense for me[.] The Applied Ballistics solver also gives me the confidence that my dope is going to be accurate no matter what conditions I might find myself in. So for me… this Kestrel delivers the goods.”
Kestrel 5700 Elite Advanced Features (Partial List)
Kestrel LiNK Apps for iOS and Android
Wireless Bluetooth for Mobile Devices
Connects with LiNK Compatible Range Finders
Temperature Sensor (Patented External Isolated)
Integrated Applied Ballistics Calculator
Applied Ballistics G1/G7 Drag Model Profiles
Applied Ballistics Custom Drag Models
Average and Peak Wind Correction
Muzzle Velocity Calibration
Supports Mil, MOA Click Values
Create and store up to 30 Gun/Bullet Profiles
Create and store up to 10 Targets
Moving Target Lead Correction
Aerodynamic Jump Correction
High Angle Shot Correction
Target Range Estimator
Spin Drift Correction
MV-Temp Table
Digital Compass
Range Card
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