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Rifle Scopes Range finder advice...

Helidonna

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 31, 2009
110
0
59
Montucky
I need to get a quality range finder that will range past 1000' and have been looking at the Leica CRF 1600 and the Swaro laser guide 8 X 30. I know that the Leica is not out yet but am interested in your opinions on which to buy. I'll mainly be using them to range steel and elk on flat terrain and in the mountains. Thanks for your support...
 
Re: Range finder advice...

My swaro will reach out to 1700 yards if the conditions are right. Fairly consistant to 1300 yards. Always dependable to 1000. It all depends on the weather conditions.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

Very happy with my Swaro, had two bushnell LRFs before this one (yardage pro and 1500 ARC elite). I broke one and upgraded twice... Do it right the first time.

My biggest gripe is the reticle size in the Laser Guide, enormous red ring. If there was a more central aiming point that would help out at long range but eh, can't have everything.

The holster is pretty slick, good for protecting your optics when in the pack.
Like said above, alot of the time your current weather conditions will play a large role in long distance ranging, then theres the target reflectivity / size issues to contend with.

You'll find using a tripod, the top of your scope, a rock etc when lasing you'll get a much more consistant and accurate result.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

Have stacked the common civvy rangefinders against each other - the Swaro is full of win here.

It will range stuff to 1k pretty much every time. All the others think about ranging 1k....they think really hard....

The other one I like is the PLRF-10....but it = $$$$$$$$$$. $. The PLRF won the reticle war - I wish others manufacturers would do this. Why is it so hard to understand that you should have mil lines in your LRF in case the batteries are dead?
 
Re: Range finder advice...

That'd make too much sense... Therefore is almost impossible!
I've always like the Leupold TMR binoculars because of that. Too bad they couldn't merge the two.

How hard is it men?
 
Re: Range finder advice...

The best? The Vector. I like mine well enough, but it seems to chew through battery life. I also noticed at very close range it was a little inconsistent. Like at 21 metres it would range 21 sometimes, 22 others. Maybe the target (the missus) was right on 21.5, and the vector was having an each way bet.
 
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LOL

Rob, whatever has the best quality receiver unit is whats the best LRF... no idea which unit has the better receiver but its a matter of quality vs features.

Im staying clear or redfield/leupold products
 
Re: Range finder advice...

Had a Leica 1200 scan. Worked ok but had times I couldn't range to 600 yards. I have the Swarovski now and love it. Much better range finder in that it actually ranges at 1000+. I have ranges to around 1700 yards with mine. I would recommend the Swarovski over the Leica.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

Hey guys, funny this topic came up, as I have been considering getting on. I have a lead on a smoking deal on a new Swaro LRF, I just don't know that I have a need for it. All of the shooting I do at the range is at known distances, and if I were to get to the point where I was doing tactical comp's, than LRF's are usually not allowed.

That being said, Lowlight still advocated the use of one, especially when learning how to mil a target. You mil it first, than confirm with the LRF.

What do you guys use it for? Long range hunting? I could see it being useful if I gained access to a large plot of land that I could put targets out at various distances without measuring them, then use the LRF.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

bm11, I do have a Swaro LRF and I use it for what you said. I shoot a Pawnee Grasslands here in CO. We put out steel at various distances (up and over 1000 yards) and then range the steel. Also I shoot a match where the steel is at unknown distance and you have to range it. The Swaro LRF is great.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

Yes some very good info indeed. Sounds as though the Swaro wins hands down. I will still make my decision after the new Leica comes out and folks have had a good look at it. Might as well although Mike from CSTactical almost had me bite on the display model. I would rather hear some more info on both but that being said it looks as though the Swaro will likely be the winner. Not to much longer now and we will have a winner, thanks to all for your opinions they are much appreciated...
 
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Does anyone with the Swaro find the reading is hard to see when it's bright? I used it inside a store with fluorescent lights, which wasn't as a bright as a sunny day, and I had a hard time making out the reticle and the reading. Could be that it had a crappy battery in it though.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

I had a Newcom 4000CI. I could only get it to range around 2200 yards. I tried different lighting and days. Nothing would work. They cost around $4800. Not worth the money.
The PLRF-10 are a one time buy but still pricey. I think the Lecias would be where I would look first. The new 1600 yard Lecias. I think I would take over the Swaros. The Swaros have a huge reticle for ranging. If the Lecias are built right, I would choose them before Swaros. I sold my Swaros due to that reticle.
 
Re: Range finder advice...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone with the Swaro find the reading is hard to see when it's bright? I used it inside a store with fluorescent lights, which wasn't as a bright as a sunny day, and I had a hard time making out the reticle and the reading. Could be that it had a crappy battery in it though. </div></div>

It could be the battery or the head alignment. I have found with most LRF other then Binocular LRFs you head alignment is a little more critical. The Swaro’s I use I have no problem see the readout.

Mike @ CST
 
Re: Range finder advice...

love my new swaro,on the same hill could range from 1600 to 1989
swaro.jpg
 
Re: Range finder advice...

I tried three models next to each other yesterday.
Zeiss Victory, Swarovski Laser Guide, and the new Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC.

Conditions were overcast with misty rain floating around.
The optics on the Zeiss were fantastic as was the Swarovski's.

The Bushnell optics was not as sharp like the other two but still reasonable.

Neither of the two more expensive rangefinders could hit targets out to 1600 yards. The Bushnell consistantly pinged a target at 1640 yrds every time.

I was extremeley surprised by it as too was the dealer.

If I was after something with perfect optics that could range to a 1000 consistantly I would have bought the Zeiss however I wanted a rangefinder that could go out to 1500 and the Bushnell for me did this flawlessly. At half the price of the Victory the decision was pretty simple.

The Fusions reticle in my opinion was the best of all three. Perfect size for small targets at long range unlike the swarovski which I found just too big.

Granted I did not use any in dusk/dawn conditions where the other two apparently shine, again though I will not generally be shooting in very low light at long range. So this was not a concern for me.

I will be hitting the hills this weekend putting the RF through all tests but at its price I now have a solid range finder wich doubles as a more than competant pair of Binos. (The Vortex Razor binos have been hung in the cupboard)
 
Re: Range finder advice...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Santo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone using the Nikon 1200? A friend has one and it seemed accurate to me. Wondering about it's durability. </div></div>

I had a similar question. I was wondering how the mid range Nikon's (such as the 1000 or 1200 models) worked for their price range? I had used a friends cheapy Bushnell in the past and wasn't real impressed, but I think it was a pretty low end model.