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Reviewed here
Leupold RX-FullDraw 5
Built specifically around arrow flight: it takes your arrow weight and speed and returns the pin-matched distance rather than a raw number.
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How we earn
The question this review has to answer is whether $490 is justified when a $236 unit also does angle compensation. The answer turns on two functions that are genuinely different in kind rather than degree.
Function one: arrow-matched distance
A generic angle-compensating rangefinder returns the horizontal distance. That is the right number for gravity, but it is not quite the right number for your sight, because your pins are set at discrete distances for your specific arrow's trajectory - which depends on arrow weight and bow speed, both of which vary enormously between setups.
The FullDraw 5 takes those two inputs and returns the distance your pins are actually calibrated for. The practical effect is that you stop being between pins: instead of "28 yards, so a bit under my 30", you get the number your sight tape or your pin gap is built around.
Function two: Flightpath
This is the one nothing cheaper does, and it solves a failure mode every stand hunter recognizes. An arrow does not travel in a straight line - it arcs, and at 40 yards the apex of that arc can be a foot or more above the line of sight.
From an elevated stand shooting through hardwoods, the branch you can see under is not necessarily the branch your arrow clears. Flightpath indicates whether the arrow's arc, for your arrow at that distance, clears the obstruction. That is a genuinely different piece of information from a distance, and it prevents a specific and expensive kind of mistake.
What it does not do
- It is overkill for rifle hunting. If you only shoot a rifle, the RX-1400i does the job for less than half.
- It needs setting up before the season, not in the stand. Arrow weight and speed have to be entered, which means knowing them - chronograph your bow or get the figures from a shop.
- Its stated maximum range is reflective, like every unit. Archery distances are well inside any limit, so this matters less here than elsewhere.
- Leupold's page was not machine-readable for complete specifications, so we do not quote optical figures for it.
Who should buy it
A dedicated bowhunter, especially one who hunts timber from elevated stands where branch clearance is a live problem. If you hunt open ground with clear shooting lanes, the Flightpath function has less to do and the Broadhead at half the price becomes the rational choice. If you shoot a rifle as well, the RX-1400i covering both is probably the better buy. Our full bowhunting picks.
This unit and two alternatives
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How we earn
Leupold RX-FullDraw 5
Built specifically around arrow flight: it takes your arrow weight and speed and returns the pin-matched distance rather than a raw number.
Magnification and objective are the manufacturer's own model designation; exit pupil and twilight factor are computed from them. We could not machine-read Leupold's spec page, so the remaining published figures are not listed rather than guessed.
What it does well
- Archery-specific ballistics using your arrow weight and speed
- Flightpath shows whether your arrow clears a branch
- Fast ranging in Scan mode from a stand
Where it gives ground
- Overkill and over-priced if you only shoot a rifle
- Needs setup before the season, not in the stand
Skip it if
You hunt with a rifle. The RX-1400i does the job for less than half.
How this score breaks down
- Ranging accuracy and range on game (weight 5)9.0
- Angle compensation implementation (weight 5)9.5
- Display legibility in low light (weight 3)9.0
- Speed and scan mode (weight 3)8.5
- One-handed ergonomics (weight 2)8.5
Weights and definitions are published on how we review. These are editorial judgments from published specs and documented consensus, not test results.
Both of its headline functions are archery-specific rather than general features applied to archery.
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How we earn
Bushnell Broadhead
Angle-compensated ranging aimed at archery distances, with ActivSync display that flips between dark and light to stay readable.
Magnification and objective are the manufacturer's own model designation; exit pupil and twilight factor are computed from them. We could not machine-read Bushnell's spec page, so the remaining published figures are not listed rather than guessed.
What it does well
- ActivSync display adapts to background brightness
- Angle compensation at an archery-focused price
- Compact and one-hand operable
Where it gives ground
- Less precise than the FullDraw 5 on true arrow ballistics
- Stated maximum range is optimistic for game
Skip it if
You want arrow-specific holdover rather than corrected distance.
How this score breaks down
- Ranging accuracy and range on game (weight 5)8.0
- Angle compensation implementation (weight 5)9.0
- Display legibility in low light (weight 3)8.5
- Speed and scan mode (weight 3)8.0
- One-handed ergonomics (weight 2)8.5
Weights and definitions are published on how we review. These are editorial judgments from published specs and documented consensus, not test results.
Half the price, most of the practical function, minus arrow-matching and branch clearance.
Price as of October 5, 2026. #ad How we earn
Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen 2
TBR/W gives you the true horizontal distance and a holdover value in the same readout, which is the single most useful feature on a hunting rangefinder.
Magnification and objective are the manufacturer's own model designation; exit pupil and twilight factor are computed from them. We could not machine-read Leupold's spec page, so the remaining published figures are not listed rather than guessed.
What it does well
- TBR/W reports true ballistic range, not line of sight
- Fast, legible red OLED display in low light
- Compact enough for a harness pouch
Where it gives ground
- Stated ranges assume reflective targets, not deer hide
- No bluetooth or ballistic app integration
Skip it if
You need ranges past 1,000 yards on game - this is not that unit.
How this score breaks down
- Ranging accuracy and range on game (weight 5)8.5
- Angle compensation implementation (weight 5)9.5
- Display legibility in low light (weight 3)9.0
- Speed and scan mode (weight 3)8.5
- One-handed ergonomics (weight 2)9.0
Weights and definitions are published on how we review. These are editorial judgments from published specs and documented consensus, not test results.
One unit for both weapons beats two specialized ones for most people who hunt with each.
Questions people actually ask
Is the Leupold RX-FullDraw 5 worth it for bowhunting?
What is Flightpath on the FullDraw 5?
What do I need to set up the FullDraw 5?
Can I use the FullDraw 5 for rifle hunting?
Sources
- Leupold RX-FullDraw 5 product page - read 2026-10-05