August 08, 2022
By Dale Evans
The new RX-FullDraw 5 from Leupold is built specifically with the bowhunter in mind. Whether you are chasing high-country mule deer in August, rutting bulls in dark timber during September, or cruising whitetails in November, Leupold’s newest iteration of the FullDraw series delivers fast, accurate yardage that is customizable for your bow’s ballistics.
The FullDraw 5 combines the fast accuracy of Leupold’s Digitally Enhanced Accuracy (DNA) engine with their Archer’s Advantage software to make what they are calling their most ballistically advanced archery rangefinder. With the capability to input your bow’s velocity, your arrow weight, the peep height—along with accounting for shot angle—it will calculate pinpoint yardages based on your specific gear setup.
(Photo courtesy of Leupold) A quick look at the upgraded features from its predecessor tells you Leupold wants this rangefinder to cover all archers. Most notably, it is now accepting an even broader range of velocity inputs. The FullDraw 5 covers everything from trad-bow purists shooting speeds down to 170 feet per second all the way up to a crossbow hunter pushing bolts at 550 feet per second.
Archery hunting is often done in densely forested areas where obstructions can cause an arrow to fly off course. With the updated Flightpath technology, knowing your arrow’s flight path before you release it is easy. Two different modes—the default 20-yard mode and a Mid-mode—help take the guesswork out of the shot process. With the 20-yard mode activated, an illuminated tick mark of the arrow’s flight at 20 yards appears on the display. With Mid-mode activated, the illuminated tick mark shows the peak of the arrows arc, which helps the hunters note any potential obstructions out to 85 yards. Although these modes only show one spot along the arrow’s path, they make it much easier for the user to determine whether a shot is clear and ethical or not.
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How often do you miss an opportunity at a shot because the fog layer dropped, and you could not get an accurate range? It happens to anyone who has spent any extended time in the field. Leupold’s Last Target mode helps when you are hunting in conditions with heavy moisture in the air. This mode allows the laser to punch through rain, fog, or snow to ensure you get the accurate reading needed to give you the advantage you have been looking for during that moment of truth.
As with most Leupold products, it is tested tough, with lab temperatures ranging from -40 degrees up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure reliable durability in the field. The RX rangefinders are weather sealed to perform in the harshest of conditions. What is more, it comes with Leupold’s electronics limited two-year guarantee against any defect in materials and workmanship.
Leupold’s FullDraw 5 is so new, I have not been able to take it on a hunt yet. But I was able to get it out in the field for some basic testing and found its fit and function to be very user friendly. The controls are intuitive and inputting specs for a specific setup was quick and easy. I shoot a Bowtech Revolt X at 72 pounds, with a 483-grain arrow flying right at 280fps. After going through the initial setup process that took less than 3 minutes, I was dialed. The Flightpath technology let me see the height of my arrow as I ranged and shot targets out to 76 yards, giving me a good understanding of what could be a potential obstruction.
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(Photo courtesy of Leupold) Even though it is designed for bowhunters, the FullDraw 5 has a max reflective range of 1,200 yards and 900 yards on deer—a bonus for any hunter who hunts multiple seasons with bow and rifle. When afield, knowing ranges of distant points can also help with stalking and keeping tabs on your quarry. I have not had a chance to stretch out the range capabilities of the laser, but from my experience with other Leupold RX rangefinders, I am confident that this one will perform as advertised.
For the past 15 years, I’ve carried a rangefinder on all of my big-game hunts, but never an archery-specific one. I’m excited for the opportunity to run the FullDraw 5 this coming season and really put it through the paces.
Quick Specs Magnification - 6xWeight - 7.5 ozLength - 3.8"Light Transmission - 85%Battery Life (Actuations) - 3000Max. Range on Deer - 900ydsMax. Reflective Range - 1200ydsMin. Range - 6yds
