Leupold provided Remote Pursuits with a Vendetta 2 to get our thoughts on it. Due to a variety of schedule mishaps it has taken us a while to get this review out. In order to get this accomplished I reached out to a buddy for assistance.  Below is his take on the Leupold Vendetta 2.

Check out Leupold’s Press Release on the Vendetta 2 here:  https://www.leupold.com/life/news/leupold-introduces-vendetta-2-bow-mounted-laser-rangefinder

Leupold Vendetta 2 Review by Guest Contributor Desi (DJ) Curtis

For me this device was love at first sight.  I had no idea that anyone made a bow mounted range finder!!  I was pretty pumped up when Matt told me about the Leupold Vendetta 2.  First impression was that I appreciated how it was packaged. It was easy to open and the packaging seemed to secure the Vendetta 2 well.  Inside this package was everything needed to operate this device with the exception of some way to attach the trigger button pad needed to activate the range finder.  It was an easy work around and I will explain what I did later in the article.

The Vendetta 2 was installed on a 2016 PSE Full Throttle I purchased at Full Curl Archery here in Anchorage. Full Curl Archery is a premier bow shop and located only a few moments from my house. If you need archery help here in Anchorage, Dave & Laura (Full Curl’s Owners) are the obvious choice!  My PSE Full Throttle is set at 70 pounds and I have a 29 inch draw.

The Vendetta 2 instructions are straight forward, follow them and you will have this up and running in no time.  The normal position for this device is above the main sight, and this is where I recommend setting up at the Vendetta 2; above the bow sight.  Most archers will not have an issue with this.  I could not do this because I have a large head.  As a result my bow and peep sights sit pretty high.  Since my sight sits higher than normal, the Vendetta 2 would not sit above the main sight.  Thanks to the flexibility of the mount I was able to mount it next to the main sight (see image below).  Assembly and mounting took about 10-15 minutes. Tools needed are an Allen wrench set, and some tape to mount the button pad.  I used some Velcro tape.

I was excited to give this thing a whirl and went to an indoor archery range that had targets from 10 yards out to 50 yards.  After lining up the Vendetta 2 with the built-in laser at 20 yards and then checking it at 40 yards, it was good to go.  To so how it all worked out I started testing in more detail.  First, I went to 15 yards.  I then drew the bow and at full draw I activated the Vendetta 2 with the power pad trigger, it read 15 yards.  I then went to 30 yards and did the same thing.  It gave me 30 yards.  Since I was the only person at the range that afternoon I started testing ranges like 22 yards, 37 yards and 42 yards.  Very easy to use and very accurate.  I could also hold up the bow, look through the main sight, and activate the button pad thus getting a range without drawing the bow. I could verify my range using the established markings already in place.

I have used the Vendetta 2 in a variety of conditions and am impressed with how easy it is to use.  Based on my experiences I highly recommend this range finder.  However, you need to make sure you are up to date on your local hunting laws as some places could exclude the use of this device for hunting purposes (See the below image from Leupold).

Pros:
Easy to use.
Easy install.
Easy set up.
Very reliable.
Very easy to read numbers.

Cons:
I wish it would ranger further than 75 yards.
It would have been nice to have it adjustable on the “Y” axis.
Currently not legal for hunting in Alaska
Weight, 11ozs is a lot to put on a bow (But, it balances well)

Editor’s Thoughts:
This seems like a great tool for tree stands, 3D shooting, target shooting, and many other uses. However, we have yet to test this in mountain conditions or brush busting terrain. Our concern is this terrain is weight and durability.  The Vendetta 2 weighs in at 11ozs.  This is a lot of weight for an ounce counting back pack hunter.  While the mounts seem tough, what would a mountain backpacking trip do to the Vendetta 2?  As much as we like the ease of use and wow factor, we can not at this time recommend this device for backpack hunting.  For those hunts something like Leupold’s RX Rangefinders might be a better option. We are also currently reviewing the Sig Sauer Kilo 2000 rangefinder and are looking forward to testing that for 2017’s hunts.