Bushnell Team Primos The Truth ARC Laser Rangefinder Review

Bushnell is a trusted brand in the rangefinder industry and as the name suggests, this model will be of particular interest to hunters that favor a bow. It features Team Primos branding which will be familiar to fans of their “Truth About Hunting” television show.

The big “The Truth” logo on the side of the rangefinder feels a little gimmicky, but the Bushnell brand guarantees that this isn’t just a cheap cash-in. With all that said, read on to find out if you can handle the truth!

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Design

Right off the bat I like the compact design of the Truth. It is pocket sized and light enough to carry around all day without even noticing that you have it on you. It has a rugged case with an anti-slip, sure grip finish for comfortable handling with one hand even when your palms are sweaty or the weather turns bad. While not completely waterproof the case is rainproof, so it can handle a few drops of water or getting splashed without giving up the ghost.

Bushnell claims that the Truth was designed with Team Primos, but I don’t know how much input these famous hunters had in the overall product. They definitely know their stuff when it comes to hunting and this rangefinder is lightweight without feeling flimsy or cheap. The Truth uses a 3-volt battery to operate and it is tucked away safely behind a posi-thread battery door. The battery life for this rangefinder is quite impressive and should last you quite a while even with frequent use.

Features

The top feature of the Truth is probably its angle range compensation or “ARC.” This feature is not often seen on lower priced rangefinders and can really help bow hunters to improve their success rate. The rangefinder is able to calculate the angle of your shot in order to determine the compensated distance. The result is that you will never be in any doubt about what pin you need to use from a distance of seven to 199 yards. Being able to adjust for elevation is a vital skill for bow hunters and with the Truth you can ensure that your shots are true and you don’t overshoot or end up wounding the animal.

When it comes to line of sight readings the Truth is fast and fairly accurate. While it claims a rangefinder range of between seven and 850 yards, the latter is obviously only going to happen if you use large, reflective targets. Actual distance is going to depend on your targets, but I found that 600 yards is about the maximum accurate distance you’ll get for large objects such as trees. When it comes to animals that are about the size of a deer you are looking at a distance of about 200 yards, which is about on par with other rangefinders in this price range.

The display of the Truth is a bit hard to read in lower light conditions, but to be honest you need good light conditions to shoot accurately with a bow in any case. To switch between meters and yards the rangefinder must be off which is a bit of a nuisance. You must hold down the “Power” button while the rangefinder is turning on and then check out the lower right portion of the LCD to see the unit of measurement switching back and forth. Releasing the power button selects the currently displayed unit of measurement.

Pros & Cons

Seeing as this rangefinder is endorsed by such a well-known and respected hunting team there’s not a whole lot to complain about. I would say that unless you make regular use of a bow to hunt you probably won’t get the full benefit of the Truth, but have a look at the pros and cons below to see for yourself.

Bushnell Team Primos The Truth ARC 4 x 20mm Bow Mode Laser Rangefinder Pros

• The Truth features a compact design what is also light enough for comfortable use
• Features an anti-slip, sure grip finish which allows it to be operated one-handed with ease
• The case is rainproof so it can withstand moisture without getting damaged
• The rangefinder is durable and does not feel flimsy
• Great battery life
• Affordably priced
• Has built-in angle range compensation making it a boon for bow hunters
• Features 4 X magnification
• Operated using only one button
• Very quick
• Includes a decent case
• Change switch between meters and yards
• Built-in inclinometer

Bushnell Team Primos The Truth ARC 4 x 20mm Bow Mode Laser Rangefinder Cons

• Has some difficulty ranging in lower light conditions
• The display can be hard to read when there isn’t sufficient ambient light as it is not illuminate
• The reticule is not illuminated either
• The rangefinder must be switched off to change between meters and yards
• Uses the harder to find and more expensive CR-2 3 volt lithium battery

Conclusion

Bushnell has done a good job keeping this rangefinder affordable while still packing all the necessary features. Bow hunters have the most to gain from this rangefinder, but it will still be useful to anyone looking for accurate distance measuring on a tight budget. The angel range compensation features is what really makes this rangefinder stand out as it is something often omitted from low priced rangefinders. This rangefinder still falls within the budget range, so if you have extra cash or don’t really favor bow hunting you can definitely get something with more features by paying more.