Rain Bird vs Hunter Spray Pattern Comparison

Rain Bird vs Hunter. I had so much fun testing my last new sprinkler, the Rain Bird 6504 Falcon, that I decided to buy and test its chief competitor the Hunter I40. I’ve read that their spray patterns are a little bit different and that’s what I’m most interested in today. I bought the Rain Bird Falcon's main competitor—the Hunter I-40—to see which large rotor sprinkler truly delivers the best performance. Both are used on athletic fields and massive lawns, but my test revealed a huge difference in their water distribution pattern! Using catch cups, a soil moisture sensor, and controlled conditions, I break down exactly how these two powerful sprinklers apply water. If you're designing an irrigation system or just looking for the best portable sprinkler for a large area, this test is essential viewing. In This Head-to-Head Test You'll See: The Setup: How I installed matching nozzles and spaced my DIY catch cups to measure output. The Hunter Surprise: The I-40 delivered a huge water bulge near the sprinkler, causing my moisture sensor to react 15 minutes faster than the Rain Bird. The Distribution Curve: Why the Rain Bird's smoother pattern makes it far superior for portable watering with half-way overlap. The Dry Spot Danger: Why the Hunter I-40's pattern is problematic for above-ground use. Final Verdict: Which sprinkler is the winner for a portable setup and which is better overall. If you've ever compared Ford vs. Chevy, you know the loyalty runs deep—but the data doesn't lie! 00:00 🎯 Introduction: Hunter I-40 vs. Rain Bird 6504 00:27 📊 Why Compare? Flow Rate & Spray Pattern 00:43 💨 Weather & Test Setup Conditions 00:54 🧪 How to Measure Water (DIY Catch Cups) 01:20 💧 Moisture Sensor Test: I-40 Wins on Time? 02:01 🧐 Catch Cup Results: Hunter I-40 Pattern 03:34 🛑 The Hunter Surprise: Big Water Bulge 03:56 📈 Rain Bird Pattern: Smoother & Better Overlap 04:10 🗺️ I-40 Drawback: Portable vs. In-Ground Use 04:34 🏆 Verdict for Portable Use: The Winner Is... 04:45 🛠️ Adjustability, Pressure & Repairability 05:13 💡 Final Thoughts: Which Sprinkler to Choose?