Review of Sig KILO5K – Problems, Pros, and Cons

Problem #1: Sig Forcing Users to Update Firmware and Disabling BDX Scopes and Rangefinders if the User Declines, and these Firmware Updates Are Known to Brick Rangefinders.

When you connect your BDX to the BDX app, Sig checks the version of your rangefinder firmware. If Sig has decided your firmware needs updating, the BDX app forces you to update your firmware and disables your BDX rangefinder (and occasionally your BDX scope as well) until you comply.

What?!

That’s right. The Sig BDX app remotely disables your rangefinder and your scope when it detects old firmware on your devices. Just plain unacceptable.

We’re an official Sig Sauer dealer, and we’re still coming out and saying point blank this is a stupid, idiotic, Orwellian, obnoxious, and dangerous policy. And it makes us angry. Fuck whoever came up with this nonsense. Is Sig going to cancel our dealership for making these statements? Maybe. Frankly we don’t care, we represent the interests of shooters and nobody else. Stupid is stupid, period.

It goes without saying that the decision to update firmware needs to be left in the hands of the user. (And if your device is already working perfectly, leave it alone, because these firmware updates can brick your device).

Sig should not be remotely disabling user devices under any circumstances. Rangefinders are mission critical tools. We have spoken to both Sig Sauer Electro-Optics and Applied Ballistics management about this problem. We’ve even argued about the problem with the CEO of Applied Ballistics, Nick Vitalbo. They are adamant that forcing updates on unwilling users somehow makes the world a better place. What’s worse, many BDX rangefinder users are finding these firmware updates can brick their rangefinder. Here’s a user, for example, that’s had to send his BDX rangefinders back to Sig 3 years in a row to address this problem. To the best of our knowledge, this problem has not been resolved.

Problem #2: 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 #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, tough luck Charlie. Ya 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.

Bottom Line

Do we use the Sig Sauer KILO5K rangefinder ourselves? Yes.
Do we recommend this rangefinder? Ultimately Yes.
Is it flawless? No.

Considering a Sig Sauer rangefinder? Here’s 5 legit reasons to buy it from us:

1. We actually use the Sig Sauer BDX system on our rifles and know the tech inside-out
2. We publish 100% honest and unbiased reviews of Sig Sauer optics
3. We offer timely, expert support to all our customers
4. We’ll match or beat whatever price you see on Amazon or elsewhere, just call us or text us at +1 503 433 2300 for an instant price match.
5. Products come directly from Sig warehouses which eliminates the chance you’ll receive a counterfeit. (Online retailers like Amazon are struggling with fake brand name riflescopes and other optics).

Click here to buy your Sig Sauer KILO5K rangefinder.
Click here to buy your Sig Sauer KILO8K-ABS rangefinder.
Click here to pre-order the new Sig Sauer KILO WARP rangefinder.

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