So just a quick update..............
I've been using a Bushnell Elite 1 mile for the last 2 - 3 years. It has worked very well. It will range large objects (trees, rocks, hills, houses, etc) to about 1300 pretty consistently. Steel plates it has trouble ranging past about 800 yds. I try to always place the plates close to something large to get an accurate range. There is a large concrete airport control tower that is 1574 yds from my parking spot at work. It will range that without too much trouble 80% of the time. That is it's max. I haven't ranged any animals with it, so can't really comment on it's ability there, but since it has a hard time with white painted steel plates past 800, I would imagine it would have a hard time with an animal at that range.
I tried a Sig Kilo 2000 a year or so ago, and it was a dud. Absolutely horrible. The Bushnell blew it away, especially in bright daylight. Sent it back, got a replacement and sold it. I had a Terrapin, which was absolutely AWESOME, but sold it because I was just afraid of having a $2000 paperweight in the near future.
On to the Leica 2000B. The glass is very good. Picture is crystal clear and it ranges very quickly. It would range the 1574 yd control tower every time. I ranged some houses at about 1600 yds. It would not pick up hills, rocks, or trees at that range. The ballistics function in it is absolutely worthless for anything over about 400 yds, so definitely don't buy it thinking you can use the ballistics feature for long range shooting of any type. I would say it was slightly better overall than the Bushnell, but not a lot.
I returned it and got a Sig Kilo 2400. After my first experience with a Sig rangefinder, I was very apprehensive about dropping that much money on another Sig, but I've heard nothing but good reviews of this model, and I am familiar with the AB ballistics engine, having a Kestrel. I decided to give it a try, and all I can say is WOW. Night and day better than anything I have used, other than the Terrapin, as far as pure ranging ability. The picture through the rangefinder is very bright and clear. It's very easy to program and use. Ranging is extremely fast. Anything I point it at up to around 1700 yds gets a fast reading. That's about as far as it would read on dirt, rock, and shrubby trees during mid day here in the desert. Houses or large things that are a bit more reflective, I could easily range up to about 2000 yds. All the accessories that come with it are top notch. The ballistics app is very easy to use and sync from your smart phone to the Kilo. It's almost dummy-proof.
I'm headed up to elk country this weekend for a scouting trip, and I'll try to test it out a little more and provide a more thorough review on steel plates and hopefully some animals. Overall, I'm very impressed with the unit. It doesn't range quite as far as a Terrapin, but I think it's far enough for most practical purposes, and the onboard ballistics will be great. I might also compare the ballistics output the my Kestrel, just to see if the atmospheric readings in the Kilo2400 and Kestrel match.
I was also looking at the new Gunwerks BR2500, but there just aren't any real world reviews out there right now. I also like using an app to upload gun profiles, which you don't do with the Gunwerks. It could also be a real winner, there just isn't any info on it right now.
