Missed Silencerco Radius deal, alternative?
- Thread starter derek1ee
- Start date
Wilcox Raptar? http://www.wilcoxind.com/RAPTARtrade-P163.aspx
I think they usually go for something like $6,000.
I think they usually go for something like $6,000.
There are 4 flavors of RAPTAR
01 - LITE - which has no range finder but has low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
02 - ES - which has a range finder with low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
03 - S/ES - ballistics module, range finder, low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
04 - S - ballistics module, range finder, high power aiming laser and laser illuminator (MIL/LE only)
All have the 1550nm ranging laser
So the 03 are around $6,500
The 02 are around $4,000
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There is also the IR&D VSO that I've been using for 3 months, it has ballistics module and range finder. 950nm ranging laser
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If you just want a range finder, the 02 version of the raptar works fine. I had one of those for a year. But I upgraded to the VSO to add the ballistics at a lower cost that the 03 RAPTAR.
Own the Night (Larry) has the 03 version of the RAPTAR. And I've seen both 02 and 03 versions on ebay. And EuroOptic has the VSO for $4,500.
You should be able to find plenty of pics of the RAPTAR out there. Here is the display of the VSO
It shows the distance, the elevation hold, the temp, the wind, the heading, the pitch and roll. Has lots of config screens for setup.
Here's the zeroing setup.
I put all the crap on there to carry outside. Then setup on the tripod. Then remove the thermal clipon to zero the LRF. Power on the PVS-14 on the rear, mounted with the Night Optics D/N adapter. Aim the center of the reticle (I am zeroed at 100yds and zero stopped to 100yds and set on 100yds at all times, using "no dial" shooting) at a mineral feeder at 415yds away. I then co-witness the aiming laser of the VSO to the center of the reticle. Then power off the aiming laser on the VSO, then power off the pvs-14 and swing it to the side. Then remount the thermal clipon and test various known distances.
There is a wireless remote with the VSO and it can connect via blue tooth to the Kestrel 5700 which I've done and it has a phone app where you can download software updates and key in your ballistics data to transfer to the VSO. Done both of those. You can also key in your ballistics data directly to the VSO.
IR&D is a Belgium company, but they've been very accessible and have helped answer my questions about the setup. I find their support top notch.
==
If you are persistent, you can keep looking for a radius. I use the radius also and for a non-ballistic rifle mounted LRF is it fine. On a clear night I've ranged out to 3,000yds with the radius and 5,000yds with the VSO. During the day, it is tougher, 1500 with the VSO and 600 with the RADIUS, but others have had better results. I shoot mostly at night, so I don't need these to range much in the day.
It is ironic, that when the radius first came out people didn't like them. But now 2 years later the tide has turned and I see more WTB than I do WTS and the price is going back up. I'd say I'm always in the market for a radius, but the VSO adds in the ballistics module which is useful when shooting up/down hills as it adds in the adjustment which otherwise I have to estimate. Oh, and I heard a rumor that after the initial "flop" of the Radius, silencerco let go the people that were working on the "version 2" ... which is also ironic (if true) as I think there is still a market out there. Hopefully somebody else will do a version 2 equivalent of the radius one day.
==
Other than that, depending on what you're trying to do, there are some thermal scopes, like the Pulsars, which have integrated LRFs. They are nice and easy to use, but have low magnification and thus hard to range small objects at long distances accurately.
01 - LITE - which has no range finder but has low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
02 - ES - which has a range finder with low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
03 - S/ES - ballistics module, range finder, low power aiming laser and laser illuminator
04 - S - ballistics module, range finder, high power aiming laser and laser illuminator (MIL/LE only)
All have the 1550nm ranging laser
So the 03 are around $6,500
The 02 are around $4,000
==
There is also the IR&D VSO that I've been using for 3 months, it has ballistics module and range finder. 950nm ranging laser
==
If you just want a range finder, the 02 version of the raptar works fine. I had one of those for a year. But I upgraded to the VSO to add the ballistics at a lower cost that the 03 RAPTAR.
Own the Night (Larry) has the 03 version of the RAPTAR. And I've seen both 02 and 03 versions on ebay. And EuroOptic has the VSO for $4,500.
You should be able to find plenty of pics of the RAPTAR out there. Here is the display of the VSO
Here's the zeroing setup.
I put all the crap on there to carry outside. Then setup on the tripod. Then remove the thermal clipon to zero the LRF. Power on the PVS-14 on the rear, mounted with the Night Optics D/N adapter. Aim the center of the reticle (I am zeroed at 100yds and zero stopped to 100yds and set on 100yds at all times, using "no dial" shooting) at a mineral feeder at 415yds away. I then co-witness the aiming laser of the VSO to the center of the reticle. Then power off the aiming laser on the VSO, then power off the pvs-14 and swing it to the side. Then remount the thermal clipon and test various known distances.
There is a wireless remote with the VSO and it can connect via blue tooth to the Kestrel 5700 which I've done and it has a phone app where you can download software updates and key in your ballistics data to transfer to the VSO. Done both of those. You can also key in your ballistics data directly to the VSO.
IR&D is a Belgium company, but they've been very accessible and have helped answer my questions about the setup. I find their support top notch.
==
If you are persistent, you can keep looking for a radius. I use the radius also and for a non-ballistic rifle mounted LRF is it fine. On a clear night I've ranged out to 3,000yds with the radius and 5,000yds with the VSO. During the day, it is tougher, 1500 with the VSO and 600 with the RADIUS, but others have had better results. I shoot mostly at night, so I don't need these to range much in the day.
It is ironic, that when the radius first came out people didn't like them. But now 2 years later the tide has turned and I see more WTB than I do WTS and the price is going back up. I'd say I'm always in the market for a radius, but the VSO adds in the ballistics module which is useful when shooting up/down hills as it adds in the adjustment which otherwise I have to estimate. Oh, and I heard a rumor that after the initial "flop" of the Radius, silencerco let go the people that were working on the "version 2" ... which is also ironic (if true) as I think there is still a market out there. Hopefully somebody else will do a version 2 equivalent of the radius one day.
==
Other than that, depending on what you're trying to do, there are some thermal scopes, like the Pulsars, which have integrated LRFs. They are nice and easy to use, but have low magnification and thus hard to range small objects at long distances accurately.
I’ve got a barely used Radius sitting on my shelf. PM me if you are interested.
To the OP , the explanation by Wig above is spot on as always! I just wanted to chime in with a good word for the S/ES version. I’ve been running one for the last two weeks and I’m very impressed. I’ve been able to range a cell phone tower at a little over 2000 yards in bright sunshine. I’ve used it at night but didn’t reach past 1000.
LOL thats a cement manufacturing facility that i have access to, we were up there playing with the RC cars on the sand dunes. I don't leave home with out my rifle so i was scouting and ranging things. they have about 1500 acres of fields, corn , soybeans, wheat, and lots of Coyotes !What the heque are you building in your backyard there NightAssassin !!
I snapped it up ... but there are deals coming and going all the time for radiae ... just keep watching in the optics and/or equipment px threads ... I would say they average about one per week.
Do you still have access to a SWR Radius LFR...For Sale?
If so I’m interested in buying one?
Thanks
