Incredibly expensive inconsistence - Leupold RX-5000 TBR/W Rangefinders

It took me a long time to rationalize the purchase of a $700 range finder. But this one, with it's integration with mapping tools and the idea of using TBR with my rifle and load data, something I do with an app on my phone currently, won out. It cost $100 less than retail from Optics Planet, and using PayPay I could pay over 6 months interest free. So I bought it.

I had watched a couple of youtube videos, saw where you had to calibrate the compass in the device for accurate readings, I understood that, I deal with that with some of my other items, no problem. So I calibrate, and start ranging targets. The pinning was way off. like 50 to 150 yds off. I recalibrated, it seemed to work, then I tried another target.... way off. I did two sessions of ranging and pinning, I think out of 15 or so ranging attempts, I might've had 2 or 3 that pinned close to what I was aiming at. I made sure I wasn't near any metal, I had clear view of sky (not sure why, that's GPS, but who knows). It was terrible, it was so inconsistent with the pinning, and this was the big feature I bought this thing for.

So I called Leupold support. The guy said any metallic type interference could throw the device off. A wedding band. A watch. Magnets in bino holders or metal on equipment you might be holding/wearing (a rifle?). Metallic structures (shooting houses? Ladder stands? Lock ons?), he even said there could be interference from metal in the earth around me. Pretty much anything could cause problems, I just had to keep trying. Not helpful at all.

At this point, I was done. For a device that costs this much, to be as sensitive as Leupold makes it out to be, and with all the gotchas around the conditions for it to work properly, there's no way its worth as much as they want for it.

I don't recommend this product at all. I've returned it. Or am in the process of returning it. Depends on when you read this :)