So I ask, based on the high number of reports that the Swaro's are the best LRF under the price of the Victoronix, is there anything other than the size and dimension of the beam divergence that will regularly affect it's ability to get consistent readings, especially in that 800-1200 yard range?
First, let me say I am a Swaro fan. I have a pair of their bino's I use daily. Plus I invested in a ATS 80 HD spotter with 20x60 eye pc. I think I have owned a total of 5 of the Swaro 8x30 laserguides. I had to return a few for repair. Some units had a glich that would cause the unit to freeze up. Then the battery had to be removed and replaced to get it going again. As you could imagine this would not be good if you wre ready to take a trophy.
The other things that I didn't like about the swaro's were.
Huge reticle circle. Hard to pinpoint a deer at 1000 as it it to large,
Also the reticle is hard to see at times. It is orange and if your eye relief is not perfect it can mysteriously disappear until you reposition.
Sloooow, when you push the button the reticle does this circlle , circle, circle thing and then it gives a reading.
I am not saying this is a terrible unit, it is just not "ALL" that you read after you use it in the field for a while.
The big problem with the taller reticle is like this. OK , think of a flashlight on the wall. Back up and it gets bigger...... Beam divergence. Now lay that flashlight level on a flat surface............. The larger the beam the more surface it picks up. My 200" WT deer in a cornfield was impossible to range. I kept getting corn stocks or the trees behind. This was at 875 to 950 yards or so. I didn't take the shot because I could never get a repeated distance and soon it was to dark. I will never forget this.
I also want to add. The Leica 1200 CRF's were very good and owning 3 or 4 of them I have not had a problem. They are fast. Have a small squae red reticle and if steadied on bags will range deer at 900 to 1000 in mid day and well past 1200 in morning or evening light. The 1200 CRF I kept for back up just ranged a dead elk on snow at 1341 the other night. Then I took out my Vectronix PLRF10 and confirmed that was corect. (while waiting for a wolf to show up)
As some have reported the Leica 1600 CRF's have had some issues. Simply some don't range as far as they should. So if you can buy from a reputable dealer that will replae if not happy. Or better yet take out side and try before you buy. The 1600's I have tested have ranged deer and elk at 1000 ~ 1200 easy on the flats. Pine trees at 1700 in the evening.
No matter what you get, remember the smaller beam units due to the precise beam need to be held steady. Would you shoot a deer at 800 yds plus off hand or across your knee? Take the RF and place it on a sand bag and hold it solid. I sometimes place a bag on top the scope while prone and steady the RF on that. Works good.
The larger beam units like the Swaro will definatly return reading easier. This is where the users get fooled. You take it out and it reads everything to 1400 or 1500 yards and I have ranged rock bluffs in the evening at 1999 yds. I believe it on the bluff, but if it is on a flat surface or rolling foothills, I have doubts. I have caught it lying to me many times.
The Vectronis units start at around $1900. That is the new Terripin.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f18/vectronics-terripin-very-goodacious-82354/
The Vectronix I have is the PLRF10 and they sell now for about $3700.
If you want to accuratly range deer sized game to 800 or 1000 yds. I would grab a Leica 1200 CRF-Y for about $550, or a used one for $450 and be happy. If you have the budget and want a little better unit get a Leica 1600 CRF.
WheeeeW!!! Sorry for the long post, but I have done my homework as I was on a mission to know what really works after my Swaro cost me that WT Buck. PS, two days later I took a doe to fill my tag. She was on a hillside at 1137 yards and the Swaro worked fine that time.
Jeff gun)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------