Has someone tried the Leica LRF 800?

[Darryl Cassel]

Hello

I am having a new 1200 Leica sent to me and it should be here today.
I'm positive NOTHING will outperform the Russian laser but, I have to try the 1200 to see for myself what it will do as far as a commercial rangfinder is concerned.

I have been very disappointed with about any of the commercial units in the past but, the Leica is probably on the top of the scale for ranging shorter distances. To me anything under 1000 yards is a short distance. It too has it's faults (800) as far as repeatability. I'm hoping the 1200 will do better. We tried the 800 at the Williamsport 1000 yard range and at different distances and the light changes caused the unit to give false readings at the upper limits of 800 yards.

The Russian military unit ruins you when trying or comparing "anything" else. Of course the price difference is much more for the Russian also.
I guess you get what you pay for even in lasers from what I have seen.

If the 1200 works out, the importer here in PA that I'm working with, will sell the 800 for $300.00 plus shipping and $400.00 plus shipping for the new 1200. The shipping would be from his place in PA to yours, not from Germany.

I'll let you know how they do probably today or tomorrow at the latest.

I'll check them in sun and shade.

He told me to try them and see how the do. If I'm not satisfied, send them back to him.

Later
Darryl Cassel

[ 04-30-2002: Message edited by: Darryl Cassel ]

[sport22]

Sounds great!
Please keep us informed!
Thanks
OneShot [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Darryl Cassel]

Well, here goes on the Leica 1200 testing this afternoon.

I have been use to military rangefinders either optical (Barr and Stroud, Wild, Zeiss and others) or military lasers (USA Litton or the Russian), for many years now and I won't pull any punches about what I have found about the Leica 1200 commercial Level #1 laser. I promise I will be critical concerning the testing of this laser unit or any rangefinder for that matter.

Here in Driftwood PA we are surrounded by large mountains. From my front or back porch I can range a very long way if I have a rangefinder that will do the job, today I didn't have that luxury.

Today I had both sun and overcast skies to range in.
At NO time would the Leica range over 835 yards. The only real target it would pick up "in the mountains" were Birch trees (white target) and NO further then 835 yards. Under 600 yards I could pick up a patch of pines.

When the sun came out the repeatability at 500 to 600 yards was terrible, unless I shot the side of a neighbors house.

Being a longrange hunter, we have to be able to range the animals, rocks, tree trunks and so on in "ALL" weather conditions.
From what I found today, you would have to hunt the same area and have ranged it in advance (On a perfect day) if you had a day like I had today. Even then, I doubt if it would pick up a smaller target that wasen't white or shiney.

The optics are sharp & clear on this very small and compact unit. It comes with a pouch for the laser that can be carried on your belt. It operates on one 9 volt battery and an extra backup is recommended. It has one button to use and the unit will automatically shut off shortly after you range an object. This feature to save battery power.

I will test it more tomorrow to make this as fair as possible.

My thoughts after using this laser today are,
If I was new to medium longrange hunting where the yardages were 700 or 800 yards or less and if I hunted on perfect days that the Laser will work reasonably well, I MIGHT buy one.

Just as an add on here, the instructions echoed exactly what I found today concerning the terrain, colors and weather conditions I was rangeing in and to.
If it won't range darker colors well, it could be useless very early in the morning when the game is moving on the far mountains.

With the Military lasers, there is never a problem or weather condition that it won't repeat time and again, EVERY time.

So far, for my type of hunting, this unit will be sent back after tomorrows test. It certainly is not reliable day in day out at the advertised ranges.

Sorry if I have stepped on toes here, I am being honest. Tommorrows another day. Maybe I'll take it turkey hunting with me and range right after daylight?

Thats, what I found today concerning the New 1200 Lieca Laser. I found the same thing however, in other commercial units too. They don't have enough power to do the job day in day out in all conditions.

Darryl Cassel

[Ian M]

Darryl,
Thank you for an excellent assessment. I have always hoped to get 50% of the rated range of the small commercial laser units and it looks like the 1200 is pretty much that way.
You are fortunate to have powerful lasers that will do the job for your type of hunting - fact is that the Leica or Bushnell 1000 will more than do the job for an awful lot of hunters who consider shots over 250-300 yards as LONG SHOTS.
Personally, I would be saticefied with the performance that you obtained since I have had far poorer results with other (older) models. With my equipment and ability I am interested at optimum condition shots out to 6 or 700 yards - the challenge is there and I am trying to maintain that ability and confidence.
Look forward to any more info you can provide on the Leica.
Thanks

[longrangehunter]

Who do we contact to get a Leica 1200 for $400?

[Darryl Cassel]

Call Alex at 570-220-3159 and he will send you one.

Darryl Cassel

[Brent]

I looked at the 1200 at a shop today also, it was reading consistantly 540yds along with the 800yd model while ranging through a pretty good rainfall. That was the farthest point I could check without taking them out of the doorway into the rain. I could tell no difference at that range between the two, both worked every time, but again it was only 540yds.

Figured your test results would be real good or fall pretty short with the Lieca there Darryl. Looks pretty unpromising so far, but OK all things considered for the average shooter.

If I bought a Russian laser from you right now, my wife would probably shoot me with the last rifle I just bought, so the Bushy 1000 will half to do this year I'm afraid.

I'm told the laser finders do indeed recieve better under darker conditions, but as you said unless you hunt the same area.........