Taking the Vortex Fury® HD 5000 for a Test Drive

I have upcoming hunts for whitetail deer as well as a Tactical Course at the Government Training Institute (a.k.a. GTI). For each of these outings I will need to know the range of targets. For the whitetail hunts I will be using two different Doug Turnbull rifles. These rifles are not only spectacularly beautiful, they are also very accurate. However, they are only equipped with iron sights. This means that, before taking any shots, I really must know the distance from my blind to my next series of venison meals.

For the GTI training, I will be required to hit targets out to 900 yards. Of course, I will NOT be using the Turnbull Restoration firearms for the Tactical Training. Instead, I have been provided a pair of Kerry and Carol O'Day's MG Arms' incredibly-accurate rifles designed for longrange work; the two rifles are chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum and 7mm 08. Once again, I will need to possess the tools to measure yardage. In this case, the yardage will be extreme. I will thus need to know exact distances in order to make the necessary adjustments to the Swarovski riflescopes that Kerry and Carol are mounting on their two rifles.

With my upcoming hunts and GTI training in mind, and being as uninformed as possible concerning rangefinders, I started my research into various products. That research led me to Vortex Optics. Included in the Vortex lineup are riflescopes, Red Dots, spotting scopes, binoculars and, most importantly for my current needs, some of the highest-rated rangefinders available on today's market.

I am always amazed at the generosity shown when a random freelancer calls and asks for a product to use for a review. Such generosity was forthcoming from Mark Boardman (Director of Marketing) and Sawyer Briel (Marketing Communications Manager) at Vortex. Through discussions with Mark and Sawyer, it was decided that I should be sent the Vortex Fury® HD 5000 model - a combination binocular-rangefinder with the capability to range deer-sized targets at distances of 5-1600 yards.

So, I am now well-equipped with the excellent Vortex Optics to head into the Northeast Georgia whitetail woods, and then on to GTI and targets out to 900 yards!

Keep checking back, because I'll be providing links to a number of reviews and hunting articles that highlight the Vortex Fury® HD 5000.