Being a gun enthusiast, I take great interest in firearms as a whole. But if you know me, my heart is absolutely smitten with precision/long range rifle shooting. With that being the case, Garmin is a brand that has not only become a regular point of discussion in the long-range rifle shooting space, but also a trusted name.
Rarely do such large global companies make such an impact in the shooting space, let alone the niche of precision-rifle shooting. Garmin’s relevant products include the Tactix watches, Foretrex wrist worn ballistic solvers, the incredibly successful Xero chronograph and the Instinct Tactical watch line. Truthfully Garmin has carved out a niche within a niche and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Enter The New Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Edition
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The Instinct 3 Tactical Edition is the latest offering in the Garmin-do-all watch lineup and as you might expect, it’s full of useful features that make it a near must-wear for those of us who operate within the shooting and outdoors adventure community.
At its core, the Garmin Instinct 3 has what you’d expect in a smartwatch. It includes tons of useful applications along with the ability to monitor physical activity, sleep habits and overall health status. It’s the type of stuff that most people use these watches for. Once the Instinct 3 is connected to your smart device [phone] you can receive emails and text messages thanks to its Smart Notifications feature. And now with Garmins’ latest messenger app, you also get two-way texting capability.
The Instinct 3 goes beyond other watches with a couple of specific features. Take the Garmin Torch, for example. It consists of a built-in LED light at the 12 o’clock position outside of the watch. It’s honestly the feature I use the most. I can’t tell you how many frustrating moments I’ve had when I discovered I had opted to wear a different watch—instinctively (pun intended) reaching to activate the light, only to realize I am wearing something of lesser usefulness. And I’m not exaggerating. The Torch made its way into the Instinct 2, my most worn watch of any type, and I’m glad it’s continuing its presence in the Instinct 3 Tactical.
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The Instinct 3 & Rifle Shooters
The Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical also includes Applied Ballistic’s famous ballistics software. Applied Ballistics has an important presence in the precision-shooting world, and its software is featured in other brands’ solvers and devices, like Nielsen-Kellerman’s famous Kestrels.
As a serious precision shooter, I like the idea of having a powerful ballistics solver that’s with me at all times–assuming I’m wearing my watch. It also means I’m not completely dependent on a smartphone either. If I were shooting in some location far from cellular coverage, the Instinct 3 with the AB software would help me deliver accurate shots at distance with confidence.
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And now with AB’s powerful Quantum platform, all AB-enaabled devices sync up effortlessly and rifle profiles can be managed across several devices. I’ve only had a short time using the system but it immediately blew me away with its connectivity integration. This new platform even has WEZ (Weapon Employment Zone Analysis) which gives you hit probability based on your input internal and external data. It also features Custom Drag Factor Calibration which allows you to dial in your bullet’s drag curve.
Other Garmin Instinct 3 Features
The Instinct 3 Tactical Edition is a tough, well-built smart watch with a metal reinforced bezel with a polymer exterior. I like this because when I inevitably bang the watch into something it doesn’t make me cringe. The Instinct 3 Tactical is designed to take a serious beating without remorse, though I don’t condone intentional abuse.
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While my other Garmin smartwatches have solar charging features, I opted for the 50 mm version with its 33 AMLOED display. I think it has unbeatable brightness and clarity. Even though the screen measures 1.3 inches, it’s still small for my ever so slightly aging eyes. I’ll take all the help I can get. Even without solar charging the Instinct 3 gets up to 24 days of battery life. And make that 30 days in battery saver mode. Its overall battery life rarely presents as an inconvenience, especially when my other brand might get two days’ worth if I’m lucky.
The Instinct 3 doesn’t hurt the wallet as much, with its retail price of $599.99 (50 mm) and $499.99 for the slightly smaller 45 mm version.
Winding It Down
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Garmin is without a doubt king of the mountain in this world and their continued useful features innovation has me hooked and continually looking forward to their next offering.
I have all but one of the Tactix watches, also laden with the Applied Ballistics software. The vast majority of the time my wrist is adorned with some type of Garmin smartwatch. In the recent past, I opted for the Instinct 2 more than the other models. That was mainly due to its lightweight and ease of use. And now my trend of wearing a Garmin Instinct continues with the new Instinct 3.
Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Edition Specifications
- Size: 50MM
- Weight: 59 g
- Display: 1.3 in AMOLED w/always on option 416×416 pixel resolution
- Lens Material: Chemically Strengthened Glass
- Bezel Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer/Aluminum
- Battery Life: Up to 24 days (9 days always on)
- Water Rating: 10 ATM
- Memory: 4:GB
- Price: $599.99
