Review of Sig KILO5K – List of 5 Known Problems

Problem #1: Confusing & Deceptive Features – The Built-in Ballistics Calculator is Limited to 800 Yards.

This is called the Sig KILO5K, and it has an Applied Ballistics calculator built-in, so many shooters assume they get firing solutions out to 5000 yards. Well, that’s wrong. The built-in ballistic calculator is limited to 800 yards. If you want it to work at further distances, you need to spend another $700 to buy a Kestrel or Garmin device with a built-in AB Elite module, or you need to buy the next more expensive model, the Sig KILO8K-ABS. Very important that people aren’t confused by that, and Sig makes zero effort to make that clear to consumers. In fact, they are courting deception with their Amazon description:

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY; The new KILO5K 7×25 mm laser rangefinder monocular has a maximum reflective range of 5,000 yards and includes Applied Ballistics Ultralite onboard along with environmental sensors and supports BDX External (BDX-X) for connecting to external devices such as Kestrel and Garmin devices.

Notice there’s no mention of the 800 yard limit or the need for expensive external devices. Not good Sig.

Problem #2: Firmware updates can brick the KILO5K and Sig disables the unit if you don’t update the firmware.

You’re heading out for a day of shooting, you connect to the App, and suddenly you’re forced to either update the firmware, or Sig disables the rangefinder. It’s mandatory update time, or your rangefinder stops working. Many Sig users are upset with this issue. And the forced updates have been known to brick rangefinders, which often can put an end to a planned day of shooting or hunting trip. We strongly object to Sig disabling the devices until the firmware update is complete. This policy is especially bad when you consider that rangefinders are mission critical tools. Someone’s life could depend on their Sig rangefinder or riflescope working properly, but Sig feels at that exact moment, a firmware update is more important. And the user cannot simply decline the update or defer it to a later date. And it’s also disturbing and concerning that Sig can remotely disable their rangefinders and scopes. All it takes is for the device to be connected to the BDX app on your mobile device via the built-in Bluetooth interface. We have spoken repeatedly to Sig about this problem, but they are adamant that the forced updates are a “benefit” for the user.

Problem #3: Actual range is up to 2500 yards, half the claimed 5000 yards
While the KILO5K boasts a range of up to 5,000 yards, real-world performance is often less impressive. Users report effective ranges around 2,500 yards under ideal conditions. This range is usually adequate for practical use, but expectations should be managed regarding advertised capabilities.

Problem #4: Total Dependency on Smart Phone to Update the Ballistics Engine
Under normal circumstances, where you have well-charged modern smart phone with a recent operating system, a functional internet connection, and you’ve installed all the firmware updates that Sig wants to ram down your throat, usually everything works as it should. However, these technological pieces must be kept modern, updated, and charged. For example, what if the battery dies in your phone? Well then you’re stuck. You have no way of updating the ballistics profile in the rangefinder. Or what if your phone OS is a couple years old? Well, then the latest BDX app can fail to install or become incompatible with your phone, or worse, the firmware update can brick your rangefinder. And again, if the rangefinder connects to the BDX app and Sig discovers you’re not using the latest firmware, they will disable it until you manage to successfully update the firmware. There’s a lot of potential pitfalls when you rely on mobile electronics to manage a device that your life may depend on. In a SHTF scenario, things don’t always work out beautifully. Excessive reliance on technology can pose a risk in our opinion. If you can cope with the limitations, then you’ll likely find the KILO5K to be fine.

Problem #5: Easy to “lose” critical ballistic profiles, and there’s no way to back them up

Say you update or re-install the BDX app in your phone. In either case, you lose all your ballistic profiles in your phone. Then, when you sync again with your rangefinder, the rangefinder will “lose” all your ballistic profiles. What if you spent 15 hours out in the field truing your ballistic coeffient? Well, need to go do it again, because the KILO5K lost your info. This can be a major problem, obviously, since the user isn’t expecting that they will need a backup of this information. If you use this unit, be sure to get a notebook and write down any ballistic profile information you need so that it cannot be lost by this unit in a glitch.

Overview of the Sig KILO5K Rangefinder

Now, to cover more general information about the Sig KILO5K Rangefinder, this is the 2nd most expensive Sig rangefinder, after the Sig KILO8K-ABS.

What’s Included in the Package

When you buy the Sig KILO5K, you get:

– The rangefinder
– A carrying case

Main Features and Advantages

All-in-One Solution

For those into long-range shooting, the KILO5K includes the Applied Ballistics Ultralite module which is good for firing solutions out to 800 yards, and enables the storing of custom ballistic profiles. Users can download the Sig app to add specific details about their guns, allowing the rangefinder to give accurate holdover and ballistic solutions customized for them.

Easy to Use

Once the ballistic data is entered, users only need to fire the rangefinder at the target, and it will give them the shooting solution immediately.

The Sig KILO5K is compatible with the Sightlok RF-1. This mount allows the Sig KILO5K to function as a weapon-mounted laser rangefinder (WMLRF), which brings a whole range of benefits.

Keywords: Kilo 5K