Well !!! I"ll be dad-gum - GPS vs PLRF 10

[royinidaho]

I am duly amazed!!

I've been using differentially corrected GPS systems since 1996. Sub-meter units were @ $2500. For reliable units the going rate is over $1000. Then the sub-meter subscription annual cost was on top of that.

Then WAAS came along. Then RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) came along with a big price jump but with sub centimeter accuracy.

Google Earth's resolution isn't sufficient for LR tuning. I have no doubt about that.

BUT......I used a bit over $100 bluetooth gps unit tucked under my cap, an iPod with Motion X software to layout my back yard range. I cleared some sage, did some leg work, chopped a few Russian Olive trees and marked waypoints at the shooting spot, 500, 700, 800 900, 1002 and 1167 yards. The distances to the last two target spots were determined by sage brush and backstop locations.

I entered the furthest two distances into the GIS (Geographic Information System) in this case, Mapinfo. Then measured the distances from the shooting spot to the waypoint locations. The results were as stated above, 1002 and 1167 yards.

My thinking was that they were within maybe 20-30 yards of the calcs.

Low and behold we put a PLRF 10. My mind was totally blown!!!

The PLRF 10 was accurate enough (small, crisp beam), using a monopod, to select the intended sage bush, and came back with 1167 and 1003 respectively.

Technology seems to have come a long way in the last 10 years or so. And its gonna get even better.

I sure would like to be BnG's age and know what I know now.

 

[bigngreen]

So the real question is were you using your PLRF10 or was someone trying to push you of TDC on it?
I deal daily with GPS, the worst of which runs about 9in accuracy down to the sub inch RTK like you said or now using cell signal but cheapest receiver runs about 6 grand and we get up to the 32+ grand for a full monty RTK mack daddy unit that will take over operations of other units in the field. The stuff coming down the pike will blow a guys mind!!!
I've been using an app on my droid that puts me nuts on to my Leica as far as it will go, it's kinda handy and I mapped out the range the other day and saved all my targets, next to the ELR range.

Roy, your welcome to come wack elk anytime with us, a guy with a 375 AM and a PLRF would get the red carpet treatment, we would even drag the elk for ya

 

[winmag]

I read this a little while ago, & was wondering when you'd see it b-n-g. Good response too by the way. I'm proud of ya.
Roy, you aughta take him up on that one! He has access to tractors too...

Good post Roy. Always experimenting. I like that.
So have you re-inforced your ballistics media holders (blue barrels if I remember) for testing that nitrous boosted howitzer (375 AM) of yours yet?
I'll bet no one will be able to argue actual range tested bullets, vs reduced speed to simulate range like they did last time.

I'm glad your not in Utah this summer. Last summer sucked without your Red Green show type antics, & experiments. They're always a joy to read. I'm looking forward to more.

 

[royinidaho]

Yur thinkin' where/how did he come up with a PLRF 10?

This story really sux.......

My friend/neighbor/innovation cohort/shooting buddy said his son sent him a range finder. He used it last season and didn't think it was much better than his Bushnell. His description of it led me to believe it was a Leica 1200.

We discussed it several times and he exhibited less than favorable appreciation of it.

Seeing has how I sold my 1200 to a fella a couple of years ago who used it to assist in harvesting two great bulls whatever Jim had was better than what I had.

I wanted to do some stuff so I asked to borrow it. He accumulation of "stuff" is unimaginable and he couldn't immediately find it. He did find his Bushnell which I graciously accepted but had no use for.

The next day he said he found it. I tripped over there and low and behold a PLRF 10!!!!! He had no inkling of what he had. With thou shalt not covet ringing in my head, I began thinking of the several ways I could trade him out of it. I'm thinkin' a Sig 556 fully dressed would do the job. After only a short time of thinking that way, I explained to him what he had.

I didn't borrow it. What if it broke while I was using it? Jim would have no problem with that but I certainly would!

His son is in the army stationed in Washington someplace and purchases pallets of excess equipment then sells the good stuff and junks the rest. I have no idea of how many PLRF 10s he came across but he sent one to his brother and one to his dad. How about that????

The soldier boy now has been alerted that there is a market of those things and is on the lookout for more. When/if he finds some they will be posted here at a more than reasonable price.

These two are "as new", I doubt they had been used except for testing or something. A batter test showed full charge. Plus they are encased in a hard plastic protective cover of sorts.

So if you are a self-centered, selfish old geezer as I am, send a thought along that he will come across some more of those suckers.

I'm about to make a purchase and am oscillating between the Leica 1600 and G 7. While it is the cat's meow, the PLRF 10 is simply out of my price range. Am eagerly awaiting Broz's side by side comparison between the G 7 and PLRF 10.

 

[bigngreen]

I'm thinking there is only 400 bucks difference between a G7 and a Terrapin and a guy in your position would need a firing solution well beyond the 1400 yards where the G7 stops giving you a solution. A man packing a 375 AM and a Terrapin could wup up on a pack of wolves before they knew what kind of righteous terror was raining down upon them gun)

 

[rcdinaz]

Roy, which GPS unit are you using with the iPod? Is it the XGPS150A? I have been kicking around the idea of buying one of these. It would make setting up at 1K yds much easier than getting out of the truck and measuring with a LRF to check the distance. A bunch of other uses as well in the field but I wasn't sure how well they worked. Sounds like the one you have works as good as is necessary for my uses.

 

[royinidaho]

I'm using a 5 year old EMTAC. ALs have Rightway and HOLUX GPSlim236.

All work equally well. RightWay and Holux have much smaller foot print.

GPS is GPS. I would suppose any would serve you well. Getting the WAAS signal is the trick. Foliage reeks havoc with reception.

Yep, simply rapidly getting close to the spot then range finding is more efficient.

Roy

Roy, which GPS unit are you using with the iPod? Is it the XGPS150A? I have been kicking around the idea of buying one of these. It would make setting up at 1K yds much easier than getting out of the truck and measuring with a LRF to check the distance. A bunch of other uses as well in the field but I wasn't sure how well they worked. Sounds like the one you have works as good as is necessary for my uses.

 

[rcdinaz]

I think I may give the one I posted a try since it is already set up to sync with iOS. I checked the specs and it has WAAS and now their is a firmware update to 5Hz.

Thanks for the info and tips!