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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3 |
Sorry to hear that JG....
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,309 Likes: 21
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,309 Likes: 21 |
Sorry to hear that JG....
Seems we had a similar discussion a few days ago. Did you whack an axis?
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3 |
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 15,652 Likes: 3 |
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....
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 803
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 803 |
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....
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,954 Likes: 21
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,954 Likes: 21 |
if'n it's 'wayout there' it'll be farther than the 260 is dialed in for... just sayin'
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,880
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,880 |
Farthest I could read on any target (I realize in these conditions the "non-relfectivity issues) has been a shade over 300 yards. That's OK most of the time, but I like gear that Works! 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
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,880
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,880 |
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.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 803
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 803 |
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.....
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,117
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,117 |
I'm not sure if if I've ever used my Zeiss PRF in below zero temps(where the device was below zero...) but I do know that it would give much faster and farther readings in fog/snow compared to an old Leica that I used to have. But this is dated info, the Zeiss must be almost 8 years old.
Supposed to be -3F tonight so I could test it in the morning.
I do know that those lithium ion batteries work a helluva lot better in cold temps compared to the standard batteries. 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.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 666
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 666 |
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
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,405 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,405 Likes: 2 |
Interesting read, my geovid HD-R's are still going strong.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,998 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,998 Likes: 8 |
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.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,337 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,337 Likes: 12 |
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. 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........
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383 |
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. 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.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 44,022 Likes: 28
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 44,022 Likes: 28 |
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.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
I’ve owned several Leicas as well as the Zeiss and the Sig Kilo 2000 I’m using right now is as fast and as reliable as anything I’ve tried. I did learn that if it gets down below 10 deg I shove in my coat or it won’t read the longer distances. But other than that it’s a rockstar out well past any range I’d shoot. 1200 + easily. Glad to hear this, in the process of converting a few rifles over to that system. Thanks, Jeff
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,494 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,494 Likes: 2 |
...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.
Last edited by ChrisF; 12/09/18.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,337 Likes: 12
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,337 Likes: 12 |
Maybe quality control is the issue........
I think it is atmospheric conditions more then anything. That's a good point.
Casey
Not being married to any particular political party sure makes it a lot easier to look at the world more objectively... Having said that, MAGA.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,488 |
Thanks for the feedback and experiences guys. I'm pretty sure it's not the temperature, as it was 35-40* actually, but the wind bit hard, and I had the unit in my coat pocket. I feel that it was the unit's inability to read targets in poor, dull light. It wouldn't read yellow grass sandhills, mesquites, deer, nada, nothing past about 300, but most of the time all I got was - - - -, no reading at all whether the unit was perched on my sticks, the truck, fence post, or whatever. I also know the laser receiver window wasn't blocked as I've done that before too. I'd rather not spend much more than $1k if I don't have to, therefore no newer Geovids, Vectronix, etc. The laser doesn’t care if it’s light out. Only whether the target will reflect the laser energy, or if the atmosphere disperses the laser energy. Are you using the same brand of battery for all these range finders having issues. Not all batteries are alike. 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.
Don't be the darkness.
America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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