Buying Insurance with ..........in Timber ACCURATE RANGE!!

[T3-OleMan]

Well, after doing my home work, I'm “Good To Go” if I have the CORRECT RANGE!!!
OOPS! No way my old Nikon Lazer 800 will do this!!!!! I ain't spending $999.99 for the Swarovski Laser Guide 8x30(the BEST!). It will be the (Cabela's) $799.99 Leica CRF 1600 or the $599.99 Zeiss Victory 8x26 T* PRF. So, I got to spend $600 on the Zeiss or $800 on Leica. Don't care about 1,200 to 1,600yd barns, trees etc.etc. Just < 800yds ELK in timber!

Requirements: (No bells & whistles – only desired-LOS [Line of Sight] accurate distance)
-Across the valley, or in the valley, up or down the Mt.!
-Will range 9 out of 10 time,s !
-at 300 yds to 800 yds.!
-ELK in Dark Timber with occausional 10yd to > 15yd openings! (NOT level ground!)
-First 5 mins.,.....bright Noon,....and till…..last 5 mins. of Legal shooting time!!
-User friendly if possible......scan for other targets W/O a lot of eye strain.-pain on occasion!

What I hope is that the Zeiss 8x26 is a Newer mini Swarovski Laser Guide 8x30(the BEST!)for $600.

Divergence #s (ie. BEAM SIZE)
Swarovski Laser Guide 8x30.............................2.5H x 2.5W millirads

Zeiss Victory 8x26 T* PRF ...............................2.0H X 4.0W. Millirads

Leica CRF 1600 ..............................................0.5H * 2.5W millirads

Here are comments on the CRF 1600 or little Brother CRF 1200 that consern me:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f22/what-best-range-finder-27247/index2.html

1-25-2008....ref 1200 or 1600????

Originally Posted by Bigcat_hunter

Leicas are fine and dandy until the fog rolls in. Even light foggy mist and they wont work.

9-6-2009

Originally Posted by Broz

I have had all 3 one time side by side but, haven't enough data to give you any solid advice. BUT, I own a Leica 1200 CRF and a Swaro laser guide 8x30. I had them side by side a couple days ago ranging speed goats in mid day light, flat ground. Rangefinders were on a solid bench on a rest. Goats were 1031 yards away. The only way I could know, was the Lieca hit them several times. Swaro would not touch them. But the Swaro would range the road bank at 1250 yards behind them. Like mentioned before, watch that beam devergence!! It cost me a trophy deer last year. I think they both have merit, but on flat ground I like the Leica 1200 CRF. If you are ranging trees, rock walls, or into hillsides, the Swaro will range farther. If you are ranging game on flat ground, DON'T over look the Lieca 1200 CRF.

Jeff

I could jump to a conclusion that IF:
A) The Swarovski 8x30 & Zeiss 8x26 are the same basic Technologys, they then MAY have common PROS & CONS, & SO I purchase the $600 Zeiss if they trump the 1600 in MY APPLICATION?
B) Leica CRF 1600 is a TOTAL Different Technoligy and trumps A) then I get the 1600 for $800 and don't look back?

What say YOU with the first hand knowledge on either or all of the THREE in my application!

[Broz]

T3, Like we talked on the phone for your application I would go Leica. The smaller beam would be what I would want for snaking through the trees and to 800 yards you will be good to go in any light conditions.

Good talkin with ya! Good luck on that hunt!

Jeff

[T3-OleMan]

Thanks again Jeff. I'll keep ya posted.

[T3-OleMan]

Got my INSURANCE>>>>Leica CRF 1600 - Review...........
After what I read with so many being crap right out of the box, and one shooter on his 3rd one I was not going to order one, life is too short.
Drove 114 miles to CLT,NC to BassPS this morning to pick up my Leica CRF 1600. They had the one I put on hold at 9am today and the Display unit.
11:30 am Blue bird day and 88 deg we took mine outside to test and it hit a 975 on first pop, Got a winner.......not quite!!!! It never went over 1000- 25 tries at 6 or 7 bldgs and trucks at 1200-1500 or1695 yds to known Bldgs.
We got the Demo out (that never even had the battery put in it in the 30 days they have had these 2) and bingo it hit 1695yds on first pop in BRIGHT SUN! Ding, Ding, Ding We have a WINNER!!!!!!! We shot both side by side for 15 or so test and finally the other one went over 1200 a couple of times, but, the Demo was hitting 1200-1500 and the 1695 on almost every pop!!! Most were close to 90 deg angle to me. Love it when a plan comes together.

It may not crank up tomorrow but at 11:45 hours today I owned the DEMO model and It could have probably gone 2500 yds I think if it had been heavy overcast and a tripod?????? Thank you LORD! I am 70 and ain't got time to jack around with wasting a month of stress and agony with returns........

And thanks again Jeff!

[Broz]

You are more than welcome !

Glad you got it all worked out..... Elk be afraid... be very very afread...

Jeff

[phorwath]

Thanks for posting the information on the comparison of the performance of the two Leica CRF 1600s. I just received and tested one last weekend, and mine isn't measuring up. So it will have to be sent back. Here's the link to the Thread I posted. Mine performed similar to the poorer of the two units that you tested out at the store. By the way - Broz helped me out also. He must be a pretty decent guy...

Rangefinder Field Test: Swarovski 8x30 Laser Guide Vs. Leica CRF 1600 Rangemaster

[T3-OleMan]

Originally Posted by phorwath

Thanks for posting the information on the comparison of the performance of the two Leica CRF 1600s. I just received and tested one last weekend, and mine isn't measuring up. So it will have to be sent back. Here's the link to the Thread I posted. Mine performed similar to the poorer of the two units that you tested out at the store. By the way - Broz helped me out also. He must be a pretty decent guy...

Rangefinder Field Test: Swarovski 8x30 Laser Guide Vs. Leica CRF 1600 Rangemaster

Paul, thanks for that post, I used it in my original research. A BIG 10-4 on "He must be a pretty decent guy... "

ADDITIONAL useless Information from yesterday! Ole Timers kicked in and I forgot to mention that I checked the serial numbers on these two units and they were not sequentially numbered (not even close). Guess I got the one made on a Wednesday.


To quote a famous person.......

Originally Posted by Broz

..... Elk be afraid... be very very afread...

Jeff

….pressure is now on.......Pray I can do my part.