Laser Focus: Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Rangefinder Review

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Special Ops Veteran Jason Bennett defines laser focus as “having the ability to give all of your attention to whatever task you have prioritized in the present moment.” Leupold’s RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 rangefinder certainly exemplifies that definition as it is equipped with many features that allow it to perform in many situations we find ourselves in as hunters.

Being that it is summer and most of us are “in-between” seasons, I felt compelled to put it through its paces creatively—and by creatively, I mean doing the things I would normally be doing mid-summer—shooting handloads and scouting for critters.

I take care of my equipment and gear, but never forget that ultimately, they are tools to help me accomplish an objective and as such—I expect certain things out of them. For a rangefinder, my hardline criteria is that it ranges accurately and promptly.

Range at the Range

I had recently built a load for my 280 Ackley Improved and needed to run a ladder test with powder charges. This would be done at 100 yards on paper targets. As expected, the rangefinder was spot on from the edge of the bench with its read—its display clear, bright and uncluttered which makes it easier on the eyes and operator thanks to the TOLED technology.

Now, before you balk at this feat, I’m not saying this is a huge accomplishment, but rather a positive sign of things to come—since I found a great accuracy and speed node that shot a .6 MOA group—I would be returning to verify my d.o.p.e. chart at a 600 yard WW2 tank door reflective target. This would be the next benchmark threshold tested for the Leupold rangefinder.

Challenge Accepted

I returned to the range a week later to shoot at distance with the Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 in tote. It would be remiss not to mention the compact size of the unit. I have good-sized mitts and yet I found the rangefinder’s sleek size to not hinder in-hand clutching—the textured rubber grip seemed to work well.

It was around 3 pm and the hottest part of the day without a cloud in sight. The rangefinder was precise and quick with relaying at all distances, carrying on without a hitch and even lending a hold value for a crosswind that popped up a half hour into shooting. I simply entered one of the 25 featured ballistic profile groups that closely matched mine in the unit and presto! The caveat of summer is that unless there is some uncharacteristic storm—fog or mist is hard to come by. I have had issues in the past getting accurate reads or any at all with other rangefinders in those conditions, but I had to accept that mother nature reigns supreme and I wouldn’t be able to test this Leupold rangefinder amidst those weather variables—which is a bummer knowing that Leupold offers “last target mode” which guarantees that the rangefinder identifies the most distant target along the laser’s trajectory, preventing inaccuracies caused by adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or fog.

Non-Reflective Performance

Summer is a great time to get out, get the pulse, and scout. I decided to explore an area I knew that held good bucks and see what the antler growth was like. After hoofing it a little over a mile, I found a curious buck meandering in the bottoms and found it to be a great opportunity to test the rangefinder TBR or “true ballistic range” on a non-reflective target that was at an angle below me. I hunt steep canyons and extreme angles are commonplace, so TBR/W technology is welcomed and appreciated.

The rangefinder had no struggles with ranging the deer, but I found that some of the substantially taller grass reeds moving back and forth with the breeze, confused the rangefinder for split-second increments before it corrected. I was not worried about the performance because I realized it was a very nuanced situation and the “lag” was over quickly, so it wasn’t cause for concern and wouldn’t have cost me the animal in a hunting scenario.

Final Thoughts

The Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2 Rangefinder is for a hunter who values performance at a competitive price. I fall into this category as I am not swayed by “shiny things” or hefty price tags, but rather well-designed value and something not intimidating or overly complicated to utilize. At an MSRP of $199, it's easy on the ol' pocketbook too. I am really intrigued by the archery angle compensation in bow mode, as well as the flightpath technology, which “uses your bow’s ballistics to display the highest point of your arrow's flight, so you can take tighter shots with more confidence.” This surely would come in handy during archery elk in tight timber quarters where wayward branches ironically always come into play.

Leupold RX-1400i TBR/w Gen 2 Specs

• Archery Angle Compensation: Bow Mode
• Rifle Angle Compensation: TBR/W
• Battery: CR2
• Magnification: 5x
• Length: 4 in.
• Width: 1.4 in.
• Weight: 5.1 oz.
• Objective Diameter: 21 mm
• Eye Relief: 18.3 mm
• MSRP: $199
• Website: Leupold.com

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