Litton Mk5 laser range finder
- Thread starter Strykervet
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I have experience with them, there weren't but a couple thousand of them made as far as I can tell. They range to 10,000 meters quite well, though the beam is obviously pretty wide at that point. ( Being a military unit, they only range in meters) Parts for them are non-existant so don't leave the batteries stored in it. They run on three AAA batteries so you won't have to worry about finding weird sized military batteries.
I have never been able to find out exactly what the beam divergence is. They don't come up on the surplus market very often, but the price has been all over the place. In great, working condition, I've seen them go for anywhere from $1000-$2000.
I have never been able to find out exactly what the beam divergence is. They don't come up on the surplus market very often, but the price has been all over the place. In great, working condition, I've seen them go for anywhere from $1000-$2000.
Thanks so much, you got back to me JUST in time, didn't wanna let this one fall through the cracks. Said "fuck it" and just bought it. $400. I don't really have money to spend at the moment but was in the market for an LRF before the divorce. I needed one with a ten mile range like that so I could be assured the 2-3 or so miles I really need to be very accurate. Supposedly it's 99% accurate at 2miles. Has a class4 1064nm ND Yag laser so I knew it had to be more powerful than just 2miles (and also not show up on NODs).
If it doesn't have any problems, I think I'll be satisfied. Says it's in "Very good condition and fully functional" so I'm holding him to that. It's a 1998 model so not archaic, we may have had 'em in early '01 when I was in and I just don't recall 'em. Most milspec rangefinders literally cost $1 per meter today so there'd be no way I could get one like this otherwise. Really wanted a PLRF or other Vectronix model but the divorce ensured that got tanked. I feel fortunate to find this and figure I can treat myself with this after all I've been through.
I can send it back no questions asked for 30 days too, so that's good. And it was $400 shipped and should be here in a few days. Looks like a solid and waterproof unit and comes in a well padded case; I have pelicans that will fit too I'm sure. Wish it had the manual, can't find one and really need it --if anyone has a lead on where to get this, I'd be appreciative.
If it doesn't have any problems, I think I'll be satisfied. Says it's in "Very good condition and fully functional" so I'm holding him to that. It's a 1998 model so not archaic, we may have had 'em in early '01 when I was in and I just don't recall 'em. Most milspec rangefinders literally cost $1 per meter today so there'd be no way I could get one like this otherwise. Really wanted a PLRF or other Vectronix model but the divorce ensured that got tanked. I feel fortunate to find this and figure I can treat myself with this after all I've been through.
I can send it back no questions asked for 30 days too, so that's good. And it was $400 shipped and should be here in a few days. Looks like a solid and waterproof unit and comes in a well padded case; I have pelicans that will fit too I'm sure. Wish it had the manual, can't find one and really need it --if anyone has a lead on where to get this, I'd be appreciative.
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IT IS NOT AN EYE SAFE LASER !!!!! Just wanted to emphasize that. If you bounce that laser off of anything reflective close to you, you are gonna get some high intensity laser right in your eyes. That thing needs to be treated like a loaded gun.
Some other pointers, there is an opaque violet colored lens filter that should come screwed onto the laser port. That has to be removed. It is knurled around the edges and just screws off.
There are three switch positions SAFE, FIRST, LAST. SAFE is obvious, the other two I have never really figured out, except that I can usually get two readings out of the FIRST position before it starts to give an error code. I switch to LAST and it will read. If I move it to SAFE it resets.
Hold the POWER button down until you see 0000 (four 0's) across the bottom, then press FIRE to range. Pay close attention to the display when you press fire, the reading only stays up for a second. Remember that the reading is in meters so you will have to do the math to convert to yards.
The one I was using proved to be within 1 meter to 2,000 meters. That is as far as I have tested it against a known point. But, I did do a half assed test by checking against my GPS at 5.82 miles. I went to a point up on the mountain next to a big water tank and took a GPS reading, then went to a point down in the flats. Long story short, when all the math and conversions were done, the straight line distances were within 10 meters of each other at 5.82 miles.
Some other pointers, there is an opaque violet colored lens filter that should come screwed onto the laser port. That has to be removed. It is knurled around the edges and just screws off.
There are three switch positions SAFE, FIRST, LAST. SAFE is obvious, the other two I have never really figured out, except that I can usually get two readings out of the FIRST position before it starts to give an error code. I switch to LAST and it will read. If I move it to SAFE it resets.
Hold the POWER button down until you see 0000 (four 0's) across the bottom, then press FIRE to range. Pay close attention to the display when you press fire, the reading only stays up for a second. Remember that the reading is in meters so you will have to do the math to convert to yards.
The one I was using proved to be within 1 meter to 2,000 meters. That is as far as I have tested it against a known point. But, I did do a half assed test by checking against my GPS at 5.82 miles. I went to a point up on the mountain next to a big water tank and took a GPS reading, then went to a point down in the flats. Long story short, when all the math and conversions were done, the straight line distances were within 10 meters of each other at 5.82 miles.
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Rock on Skookum, big thanks. Yeah, I'm aware it's a Class4 laser and that means it's in excess of 500mW IIRC. Hotter than an Izlid. Speaking of treating 'em like loaded guns, that's EXACTLY how we treated 'em in my unit, and accidentally firing one in the field would get you a field grade as if you'd had AD (talking about various PEQ's and even the PAC4). So it's in good, safe hands.
The newer ones laze as far or farther with a less powerful laser these days, right? Be nice but I can't afford that. It's also ~1064nm so it won't show up NOD's, just burn 'em out. So yeah, being careful goes without saying! I've always been careful with IR lasers though, I have IR glasses and goggles (but don't like wearing 'em unless I have to for obvious reasons). With a laser like that I bet it doesn't even have to be very reflective to still bounce enough back to do damage. I'll make sure to use it in the open --it's what I got it for anyway.
Awesome to hear it'll do that, I've heard they're rated for ten miles but I don't the specs to that --size of target, etc. I'll test it out much like you did at known distances, doing the math. Thanks for the tutorial, that's helpful until I can put my paws on the book, which is looking to be an uphill feat, probably gonna need to find someone with one and offer to pay them to scan it for me. It seems these were rare, probably due to tech changing and less powerful lasers with tighter collimation? Didn't help Litton sold out, so nobody to call. Not on Scribd either.
If anyone has a manual or knows where one is I can get a copy of, I'd appreciate it!
The newer ones laze as far or farther with a less powerful laser these days, right? Be nice but I can't afford that. It's also ~1064nm so it won't show up NOD's, just burn 'em out. So yeah, being careful goes without saying! I've always been careful with IR lasers though, I have IR glasses and goggles (but don't like wearing 'em unless I have to for obvious reasons). With a laser like that I bet it doesn't even have to be very reflective to still bounce enough back to do damage. I'll make sure to use it in the open --it's what I got it for anyway.
Awesome to hear it'll do that, I've heard they're rated for ten miles but I don't the specs to that --size of target, etc. I'll test it out much like you did at known distances, doing the math. Thanks for the tutorial, that's helpful until I can put my paws on the book, which is looking to be an uphill feat, probably gonna need to find someone with one and offer to pay them to scan it for me. It seems these were rare, probably due to tech changing and less powerful lasers with tighter collimation? Didn't help Litton sold out, so nobody to call. Not on Scribd either.
If anyone has a manual or knows where one is I can get a copy of, I'd appreciate it!
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Well, it reads in meters, and it has 4 zero's in the display, so it will only display to 9,999 meters. I am thinking whomever told you 10 miles was confusing 10K meters with 10 miles or they are thinking of another model.
Litton made a few different models. At least one of those was actually a laser designator for dropped munitions. Maybe it was that one they were thinking of.
Litton made a few different models. At least one of those was actually a laser designator for dropped munitions. Maybe it was that one they were thinking of.
You're right, didn't think about that, and yeah, either the Mk4, 6 or 7 is a Melios I think. I bet whoever said ten miles meant ten kilometers. Still, it's longer than most of the civilian stuff out today and has the power and accuracy I was looking for. For the range I need, I was down to Vectronix or Newcon Optik's military stuff and I couldn't afford it before the divorce, sure as shit couldn't now.
The ranges and accuracy I've actually heard first hand are what you say and the previous owner who says it's 99% accurate to 2km or 2miles --either is acceptable. I'll be doing my own evaluations anyway and I'll figure out what it can and can't do soon enough.
Big thanks again for the tutorial, I'd have been in the dark without that. Still want a manual though! I bet pushing those buttons in sequence or holding them down or something will make it do other things but without the book I won't know that.
That it operates in meters is actually fine with me, I prefer metric over standard anyway --shorter miles and longer yards! Just stoked I FINALLY got the damn LRF checked off and it didn't cost thousands. Due to the divorce and fallout, I wouldn't have been able to get one if it hadn't been for this one popping up. Excited to get it and try it out!
I have one of these and was thinking about listing it on the hide, like you, i dont know a ton about it, but do know that it kicks the ass of anything available to the civilian market (that's reasonably priced). It rivals the big name rangefinders that cost thousands and thousands. and it is absolutely not eye safe lol. i have seen the going price for them when they do pop up at about $1800-$3500 depending on condition. You got a hell of a deal, ive not seen a price even close to that unless it was just for parts, broken or just the housing. Sounds like someone didnt know what they had. I am hesitant to sell it because i may never find one again but would like to fund another project and i don't have to range things at extreme distances that often. If you come across a manual, give me a shout because i don't have one either.
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Suppose that is possible, I keep an eye on gsa auctions sometimes and haven’t seen any there.
I haven't seen any either and I get all the emails for gov liquidation. FWIW, govliquidation is supposed to be merging with GoIdustryBid or some shit --I signed up for it but I'm still getting the regular govliquidation emails.
My guess is they could have been sold like that a while back though because everyone that has one says they've had it for a while. Equally plausible is they are a contract overrun (it was originally an AF contract from fall 2000) or sold off when Litton sold out to Northrop Grumman a few years after making them. Then factor in the mfg. of the Mk7 3 years later plus long range eye safe LRF's around the same time and you can see how this one sort of fell by the wayside. Nothing wrong with it, it's just if you have bottomless pockets, why not go for eyesafe lasers if you can? And for other than just ranging purposes, the Mk7 is far superior for fire support and came out the same time that PLGR's became the norm in infantry units (2003 was also the first year EIB was done purely with PLGR's and compass and map as backup only).
They're a great deal though at any price given what they can do, the quality and the fact they are like new. I've yet to see one that looked used. Mine has minor scuffs on the paint where the raised parts touched a surface, likely during inspection. There is NO dust at all anywhere including inside the eyepiece assy., which I disassembled to inspect. Like new. Even has the "new electronic smell" when you fire it up.
My guess is they could have been sold like that a while back though because everyone that has one says they've had it for a while. Equally plausible is they are a contract overrun (it was originally an AF contract from fall 2000) or sold off when Litton sold out to Northrop Grumman a few years after making them. Then factor in the mfg. of the Mk7 3 years later plus long range eye safe LRF's around the same time and you can see how this one sort of fell by the wayside. Nothing wrong with it, it's just if you have bottomless pockets, why not go for eyesafe lasers if you can? And for other than just ranging purposes, the Mk7 is far superior for fire support and came out the same time that PLGR's became the norm in infantry units (2003 was also the first year EIB was done purely with PLGR's and compass and map as backup only).
They're a great deal though at any price given what they can do, the quality and the fact they are like new. I've yet to see one that looked used. Mine has minor scuffs on the paint where the raised parts touched a surface, likely during inspection. There is NO dust at all anywhere including inside the eyepiece assy., which I disassembled to inspect. Like new. Even has the "new electronic smell" when you fire it up.
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