Kestrel Ballistics

Kestrel, measure to hit

At long range, wind, air pressure and air density decide where your bullet lands. Kestrel builds the instruments that turn those conditions into a concrete correction, so you can make your first shot count. Where many shooters once worked with loose tables and guesswork, a Kestrel gives you the measured reality of that moment, in that spot, behind that rifle.

American craftsmanship since 1978

Kestrel is the brand of Nielsen-Kellerman, founded in 1978 by Richard Kellerman and Paul Nielsen. The first handheld weather meters arrived in 1996 and were quickly adopted by wildland firefighters, among others, who needed data they could trust. That same ruggedness and measurement accuracy form the basis of the shooting line today. The meters are designed and built in the United States, at the facility in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, and are made to last for years under hard field conditions.

Applied Ballistics built in

The ballistic Kestrels run on Applied Ballistics, the solver work of Bryan Litz. You work with the measured Litz library of G1 and G7 ballistic coefficients for hundreds of long range bullets, backed by custom drag curves. The solver corrects for aerodynamic jump, spin drift, the Coriolis effect and drop scale factoring, and you can true the system to your actual impacts so your solution keeps getting sharper. That way you are not calculating on an assumption, but with a model that matches your rifle and your load.

The Kestrel range at hop.nl

Within the 5000 series the range runs from the entry models to the 5700 Elite, the flagship with storage for up to 30 gun profiles, drop scale factoring and the largest calculation range. Almost every modern meter has LiNK, the Bluetooth connection that lets you load your profiles wirelessly from your phone and run firmware updates. On top of that there are accessories such as carry cases, holsters and HUD solutions that round out your meter. If you are choosing between colors, many models come in Tan and Black.

For every long range discipline

Whether you shoot ELR at extreme distance, run a PRS stage, lie on the F-Class line or hunt at long range in the field, a Kestrel gives you the decisive edge in changing wind and climate. And because it is a full weather meter at heart, you use the same device to read the weather at your spot as well.

Choosing the right Kestrel

Think about how many rifles you want to store, whether you shoot at extreme range and whether you want to use custom drag curves. If you want the maximum calculation range and the most profiles, the 5700 Elite is the logical choice. If you are unsure, get in touch with us, we are happy to help you find the model that fits the way you shoot.