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I am a bit of a fan of the Kestrel 4500 and have used one myself for a while so when I heard Kestrel were to release the Kestrel 4500NV Applied Ballistics Meter my ears pricked up as this new version incorporates the Litz ballistic library of G1&G7 BC's.

Given that the Litz G7's are the only BC's I ever work with these days and the superb service my existing Kestrel provides does make me think this is going to be one serious bit of kit for the long distance shooter, so much so that we have become a reseller for the product and will be stocking the Kestrel 4500NV Applied Ballistic version along with the full range of Kestrel meters from the end of this month.

I cannot wait to get my hands on one to test!



RRP for the Applied Ballistics model is GBP552.00 including delivery.

Meanwhile as a taster this is what Kestrel say about the new version:

Kestrel 4500NV Applied Ballistics Meter

The Kestrel applied ballistics meter combines sophisticated environmental sensing features with long-range shooting ballistics information in one hand-held device. The built in Applied Ballistics software provides all of the following:

• The accurate and trusted ‘Litz’ library of G1 and G7 referenced Ballistic Coefficients (BC’s).
• Custom drag curve modelling; helpful in engaging targets beyond the supersonic range of the bullet.
• Ballistic Calibration (truing) feature allows you to ‘train’ the solver based on actual bullet impact.
• PC Loader software; build firearm profiles on your computer and transfer them via wire or Bluetooth

The Kestrel Shooters Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics Technology measures up to 15 environmental parameters and allows users to select from either G1 or G7 ballistic coefficients (BC) when calculating a trajectory at the range. The handy, portable meter also offers the “Litz” measured BC library of over 225 bullets, which is considered to be the most extensive source of measured data for modern small arms bullets. Users can also train the Kestrel Shooters Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics software to match a specific rifle based on observed impacts at long range with the ballistics calibration feature, which offers even more accurate data points for users to rely on. With easy access to more accurate BC data, shooters have everything they need to make a much more precise trajectory calculation in a compact and durable Kestrel meter design.

Kestrel With Applied Ballistics and Bluetooth
Kestrel 4500NV Applied Ballistics Meter with integrated Bluetooth® technology offer the ultimate in portable and accurate environmental data. Now, both real-time and logged data can be transferred wirelessly and automatically to a laptop or PDA, making a Kestrel Shooter's Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics and Bluetooth® technology the perfect tool for virtually any job that requires quick and reliable data.

What's the difference between the Applied Ballistics and the Horus version?
The main differences between the two models is The Applied Ballistics model has a different truing application with drop scale factor, it has bullet length as a standard gun input (used to calculate spin drift) offers +\- angle input and has the ability to use G1,G7 and custom drag profiles. The unit comes Pre loaded with 7 and the Gun loader will have over 100 custom drag profiles to use.

Kestrel 4500NV Applied Ballistics Meter Features
• Calculate accurate fire control solutions for long range rifle shooting.
• Select either G1 or G7 ballistic coefficient when calculating a trajectory.
• Get ballistic coefficient data for more than 225 long range bullets.
• Measure up to 15 environmental parameters at your fingertips.
• "Train" the software to match your specific rifle based on observed impacts at long range
• Wind speed/air velocity
• Temperature
• Wind chill
• Relative humidity
• Heat stress index
• Dewpoint temp
• Wet bulb temp
• Barometric pressure
• Altitude
• Density altitude
• Wind direction
• Crosswind
• Headwind/Tailwind
• Pressure trend

It took me a while to realise what you were saying with that report. The 4500 has been available for a couple of years now with the Horus soft wear included - BUT now it is available with the Applied Ballistic soft wear as well, or at least as an option.

I have much more faith in Litz soft wear being a fully paid up member of his products. Afraid one of these will not be on the shopping list any time soon though, not unless one comes up on eBay at a almighty discounted price.

I am still smarting at Kestrel telling me that they had no interest in incorporating ballistic soft wear in to their products, stating along the lines of, they would stick at what they were good at and let others do the ballistics. I guess enough people asked them the same question, which just goes to show, if you don't ask you don't get.
Shame I shelled out for a 4500NV on their say so at a time when they must have known the Horus version was near ready for sale,

DM