Leupold's RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2: A Top-Tier Crossover Rangefinder

I am a rangefinder connoisseur. Since their inception in 1996, I have yet to send lead or carbon downrange without knowing the exact distance to my target. Of course, rangefinders have come a long way since those first bulky builds. Not only have they changed in design—slimmer, lighter and more ergonomic—but they are also more technology-rich than ever.

Most modern-day ranging devices provide easy target acquisition, rapid yardage readout, true ballistic range and other features that boost shooting accuracy. There are monocular-style rangefinders and rangefinding binoculars—the options available to archery and rifle shooters are nothing short of spectacular.

Enter Leupold's RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2. This small, slim, lightweight handheld is a top-tier crossover rangefinder for hunters and shooters who love arching carbon arrows downrange and settling the crosshairs before going boom.

Spoiler Alert

I recently tested Leupold's latest handheld rangefinder for more than a week. I've taken full advantage of its easy-to-use menu and plethora of accuracy-enhancing options. I've set Flightpath Technology and let the rangefinder tell me if the flight of my arrow will clear overhanging branches and other obstacles. I've created different ballistic groups and tinkered with MIL and MOA adjustments.

Branded with a $200 price tag, this 5-power magnification, 4-inch long, 1.4-inch wide and 5.1-ounce rangefinder is worth every penny. It will ping reflective targets out to 1,400 yards, tree-sized targets to 1,200 yards and deer-sized targets out to 900 yards.

Leupold gives the unit a .5-yard accuracy rating up to 125 yards and a 2-yard (+/-) accuracy rating at 1,000 yards. I tested the rangefinder head-to-head against pricier models loaded with even more features, and the rangefinder's accuracy greatly impressed me.

For The Rifle Hunter

While I feel a person can get steadier with a pair of rangefinding binos, I had zero trouble acquiring targets and getting ranges to the tested shooting distance of 650 yards.

Whether prone on a backpack, using my BOG DeathGrip - Carbon Infinite tripod or using the rangefinder off-hand, yardage readout was easy to obtain, and the red LED readout was instant.

The focusing ring enhances clarity, and I love the three brightness settings.

Using this rangefinder is elementary. You don't need an MIT degree, and while I recommend reading the instructions, you'll learn a lot about it by getting it outside and playing with it. Whenever you want to enter the rangefinder's menu, press the Power button and then hold the Mode button. The Power button lets you toggle between different features and settings, and the Mode button enables you to select the settings you want.

In addition to brightness settings, you have three reticles to choose from, and you can set distance measurements to yards or meters. Those reticles include Plus Point, Horizon Reticle with Plus Point and Horizon Reticle Without Plus Point. When put in TBR mode, which most rifle hunters will want, I prefer the Horizon Reticle Without Plus Point. This reticle option works wonderfully for small and large targets and reduces housing clutter.

Another feature I appreciate and use often when rifle hunting is Last Target Mode. This mode displays the distance to the furthest object when more than one object may be read, ensuring you get an accurate range on the farthest object.

Advanced Rifle Features

The rangefinder offers three working modes: TBR (True Ballistic Range), BOW (more to come), and LOS (Line of Sight). Most rifle shooters demand a true ballistic range, so the rangefinder comes pre-set in TBR mode.

True ballistic range means if you're shooting from atop a canyon down to the bottom on a bull elk, TBR automatically calculates the decline angle (incline if uphill) and gives you the distance you need to hold to make a killing shot.

This exact shot scenario presented itself last year while hunting elk in a Colorado plains unit. My Leupold rangefinder told me the TBR was 467 yard. Later, after the bull was down, I switched the rangefinder to LOS mode, and the range was over 500 yards. I would've missed this public land bull if the rangefinder was set to or only featured LOS mode.

This rangefinder improves accuracy even further than the previous model I was using. TBR includes ballistic settings for 25 cartridge groups, displayed on pages 23-25 of the instruction manual. If you load your ammo or need help finding your caliber/ammo choice, the instructions will walk you through selecting the appropriate TBR performance group. My .300 Win Mag, 180-grain AccuBond CT was in group 20. With this group selected, the range reading accounted for the shot angle and the proper holdover. While it's not exact, testing to 650 yards proved the technology worked well.

To further improve pinpoint accuracy, scope adjustment or holdover information is available in BAS, HOLD, MIL, MOA, and TRIG settings. The instruction manual with your rangefinder provides a complete description of each setting.

I played with each of them extensively, and one of my go-to settings include HOLD, which indicates the appropriate number of inches/centimeters of holdover. This holdover is based on the angle of the shot and your selected ballistics group. Based on your shot's angle and chosen ballistics group, I also liked MOA. When in this setting, you get LOS and MOA distances simultaneously.

Wait, There's More

The W after the TBR/ stands for Wind. The rangefinder automatically assumes a fixed 10 mph total wind value, assuming the wind is 90 degrees to the muzzle. Always keep this in mind. This unit is not a Kestrel and should not be expected to perform like one. However, understanding how the 1400i calculates wind and the included wind diagram will help significantly for proper wind holds. 

From distances between 100 and 650 yards, I punched paper and clanged steel, and the functionality and accuracy of this economical rangefinder are impressive. I will tote the unit to the Dark Continent soon and trust it with my long-range shooting.

A Crossover Beauty

I'm a hunter, and the thought of only taking one style of hunting weapon into the field terrifies me. I love to hunt with my compound bow and a smattering of various-caliber rifles. In seconds, I can swap from TBR to BOW mode. BOW mode is for bowhunters and works with TBR mode to provide the equivalent horizontal distance to the target if the target is less than 175 yards.

BOW mode is essential for all bowhunters—from those who only hunt from an elevated perch for whitetails to those who roam the backcountry in search of big-game nirvana. Another excellent feature for bowhunters is Flightpath. If you take your time and follow the instructions strictly, the unit will tell you if your arrow will clear obstacles between you and your target.

Flightpath requires a quick calibration process, which includes cutting out the included calibration pin paper and placing that paper on a sizeable target.

Next, add a piece of tape to the vertical adjustment arm of your sight and use a Sharpie to mark your 20- and 60-yard marks. Now, transfer the tape to the front of your housing, load an arrow, draw your bow, and move forward and back until the marks on the tape align with the 20- and 60-yard marks on the calibration sheet. Only move from this spot once you grab your rangefinder, line up the reticle with the 60-yard pin on the calibration sheet, and use the Power button to align the tick mark with the 20-yard pin.

Regardless of what weapon you're practicing or hunting, this rangefinder will fill you with a lot of confidence and serve your rangefinding needs exceptionally well.

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