After running the Nikon Monarch 2000 for a number of years, I wanted to upgrade my rangefinder. Having heard positive reviews about Sig rangefinders I was interested to try one out. I was initially planning on trying something in the 3000-5000 yard range. However, when the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX went on sale I quickly ordered one to experiment with.
Specifications
The Sig Kilo BDX 2200 is a 6 power 22mm objective laser rangefinder made by Sig Sauer. The rangefinder has a bright LED display and has 3 modes as well as a scan feature that can be activated by holding down the ranging button. Sig Sauer advertises the rangefinder as ranging deer out to 1000 yards and reflective targets out to 2200 yards.
As mentioned earlier, the Sig 2200 has three use modes. First, there is the straight line distance, that simply measures the distance to the target. Next, there is the angle compensated distance, which provides the horizontal component vector of the distance to the target. This is important because a bullet’s drop is dependent on the horizontal component, not the straight line distance.
Thirdly, the rangefinder has a ballistic calculator on board using Applied Ballistics Ultralite. The rangefinder connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and allows the user to input their rifle and bullet information. Then, when the rangefinder takes a range it also displays bullet drop and drift information in the LED display. While this mode caps out at 800 yards, the point and shoot utility is attractive for hunters.
Build Quality
In handling the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX I found the build quality to be very solid. Buttons pushed easily. The aluminium housing felt durable and there was never any worry of damaging the rangefinder in normal use. Optical clarity is adequate and to this point neither the laser nor optical lens have indicated any vulnerability to easy scratching.
Field Use
Specifications and fit and finish are great, but how does the rangefinder perform in the field? After using this rangefinder in the mountains, fog, rain, snow and other conditions, it has performed reasonably well. However, it has failed to meet some Sig Sauer’s advertised specification.
On typical targets such as stumps, rocks, and trees, the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX ranges out consistently to about 600 yards. Using a sandbag, or on more reflective targets such as paper or sheets of plywood, ranges of 600-800 yards can be obtained. Scanning with the rangefinder can help to get a reading on smaller targets in more adverse conditions.
Despite the rangefinder not living up to the advertised distances, field use was not entirely a disappointment. The Sig Sauer BDX app was simple and easy to use. On targets that it was able to get a range, the ballistic calculator spat out accurate drop and drift predictions. This made for a simple and intuitive shooting system where the user simply ranges a target, then rotates their scope turrets to match the output. This effectively eliminates the need for referring to a ballistic chart. For hunters, this is incredibly attractive, as simplicity is key when adrenaline is high and a buck is in your sights.
Finally, the small form factor of the Kilo 2200 was appreciated for carrying it around. It easily fit in the front pouch of my Alaskan Guide Creations bino harness. Conveniently, this meant that I did not need to carry a designated rangefinder case in the field.
Closing Thoughts
So at the end of the day, what is the use case for the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX? To my mind, this is a great rangefinder to hunters who don’t plan on shooting past 600 yards. Personally, I consider myself in this camp. Inside of 600 yards the rangefinder quickly and easily returns readings. The Applied Ballistics Ultralite calculator quickly and simply computes a ballistics solution and displays it in a simple format. This system works well to efficiently make hits on targets out to 600 yards.
For the target shooter or someone who hunts at very long ranges this is a poor choice. It can be difficult to get a range at extended distances, and if you want the ability to range past 800 yards you have to give up the utility of the ballistics solver. Furthermore, target shooters will often shoot out much farther than most hunters ever will. In my opinion, the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX simply lacks the horsepower for shooting beyond 1000 yards.
In summary, the Kilo 2200 is a feature-rich and quality rangefinder for moderate range shooting. It does everything you could want 600 yards and in, and does it well. However, this is not a long range rangefinder and if you use your rangefinder for long range shooting or route-finding, consider stepping up in price bracket. However, for an affordable point-and-shoot solution for moderate ranges, the Sig Kilo 2200 BDX works well. If you’re interested in a Kilo 2200 consider purchasing one at the link below. The affiliate link earns a small percentage for Northern Rifle at no additional cost to you and helps to keep the site running.