Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Sick of Battling LRF's

Sorry to hear that JG....

Seems we had a similar discussion a few days ago. Did you whack an axis?

Two axis down.....

What would have been my biggest coues buck got away a few years back as my Leica 1600 wouldn't range in the light fog in 60 degree weather....

This is the same hunt that my second set of Swaro 15 HDs internally fogged and were worthless for long periods waiting for the sun to dry them out....

I was hot....

Had a Nikon 600 for years. It would read a coyote to 400 yards max. Finally replaced it with a SigKilo 1250, which would read a coyote to not much further than the old Nikon. Sent it back for a refund and bought a Leica 2000B, and I am happy now. It’ll read deer easily to 500 and I have ranged them to 670. Ranged a cow at 1290 yards. You can probably spend more money on Leica units, but this is all I needed, plus some.

Got my 260 dialed in to 500 yards. Dear Lord, send me a coyote that’s wayout there....

if'n it's 'wayout there' it'll be farther than the 260 is dialed in for... just sayin'

For short to medium range, use your reticle. A mil-based reticle makes it easy, but you can still use a holdover reticle for range estimation. Doesn't cost you anything, and you can try it tomorrow.

Jason

In terms of rangefinders, they generally have more problems in bright sun, as Burns stated. Overcast is actually better lighting conditions for a LRF. Fog obviously creates problems for laser rangefinders.

In my experience, any of the popular LRF units can have alignment or source-receiver issues. I had a Swaro that would range to 1800+ with ease, one handed. If you listen to some, they say that Swaro sucks. This is just ignorance to the actual root cause of the issue with their LRF. However, people are quick to state their assumptions based on limited knowledge, and limited samples.

I also had a Leica 1600 that wouldn't range across a small meadow. The replacement Leica easily beats two Sig Kilos on difficult targets. One Kilo was replaced by Sig, as it wouldn't range well.

If you have a LRF with poor performance, but solid reputation, then I'd see if you can get it inspected and replaced under warranty.

Huntsman, the limit of my hay field is 500 yards, so “way out there” for me is 500 yards. Looking the other way along this ROW, I can range deer to about 700 yards, but it isn’t my land.

It was really frustrating to me to see coyotes and hogs out in the hay field, knowing that they were more than 400 out, but less than 500. That frustration finally got me to the Leica 2000B. Now I can’t find a hog or coyote on the hay field. Dang it. But when I do.....

I run the same PRF as Sam and have seen the same thing. I haven’t had enough issues to swap it yet, but I’m sure it’ll happen eventually.

My Zeiss Victory 10 x 45 rangefinder binos gave me readings off trees at over 300 yards through my raindrop covered, curved, pickup windshield yesterday. They have been flawless during the several years (can't remember how many) that I have owned them, and they were pre-owned when I bought them. Two of my best bucks and countless coyotes have died, that definitely would not have otherwise, because I didn't have to switch from binos to rangefinder, and I have played the game both ways. Try switching from binos to rangefinder on a rutting buck at the outer limits of your firearm while lying prone using bipod and turning turrets. Once you've had both in one unit there's no going back, unless you want less taxidermy costs. LOL

M7

Interesting read, my geovid HD-R's are still going strong.

The last couple days have been dark, overcast and rain, on my deer stand I can range to 473 yards in this ot any other condition. That’s as far as I can go at this location.

There must be a lot of units from a lot of manufacturers with those issues. Based on my experience, observation of other folks LRF's, and what has been reported on the internet, it's a crapshoot regardless of which unit one buys.

Maybe quality control is the issue........

I think it is atmospheric conditions more then anything.

I tried my old Zeiss the other day in the cold fog.

6F, you could see maybe 150-200 yards. Maybe.

The Z wouldn't range much over 100 yards.

Next day, slightly warmer(10-15F), crystal clear, and easy readings over 1000 yards.

Glad to hear this, in the process of converting a few rifles over to that system.

Thanks, Jeff

...I have a Ranging 1000 for you. Or if you're okay with packing a bit more weight, a Barr and Stroud.

If you're really serious about stretching it out in poor conditions, take a look at a Newcon, like the LRM 3500.

That's a good point.

I'm no expert with LRFs, but this makes the most sense. The LRF is an active device, like RADAR. It does not care about ambient light.

I'd be investigating batteries. Someone mentioned Lithium-Ion batteries. If you're not using them you should try them. It DOES matter.