Re: I need a good 1200 yard range finder
i've used several in this category and i liked the swaro unit a friend lent me for a few weeks. i still however use my leica 1200 lrf routinely. i like it and it is consistently a performer.
pros:
-small to average overall size
-light
-batteries last forever
-meters or yards
-seems to take a bit of routine use and abuse with no problem
-accurate
-works pretty well on objects of fair reflectivity - IE, grasses, trees, etc. when better objects like tin roofs, water, etc. aren't available...
cons:
-sometimes a tad sensitive in that if you're doing work on a rainy day and you range through what you believe to be an opening in the trees you can get fooled. i've had this set bounce back a reading on some little half ass 1/2" limb at 200 yards i hadn't even noticed when trying to range through a hole to find the distance to the clearing 500 yards away... this can be the case with many units, but keep it in mind.
-the button depression necessary to actuate the laser is rather stiff. thus, you need to be relatively well braced to range on something small at great distance. otherwise, the natural 'push' you put into the finder will force you off target and you'll not range your intended spot properly.
-i have ranged grain bins at 1206 yards with it, but that is the furthest. bean stubble, crappy ol' fields, etc. won't cut it at the 1200 yard mark with this unit... frankly, it'll be tough for most units. my experience has been pretty ho hum with nearly all range finders when trying to use them at their peak performance rated indicator... plan on getting 2/3s to 3/4s of their rated distance routinely, and the rest will be tougher, depend on outside circumstances, and certainly be reflective (pun intended) of the object in which you use for ranging...
hope this helps.
-michael
