I got an education with range finders????????

[joseph]

Finally got to a place that had many different laser range finders. I and the owner of the store compared them outside the store not inside looking through the windows.

Leopold, Nikon, Leica, Swor, Bushnell=no battery and Zeiss.

We ranged many different things from signs to trees to buildings from 100 yards out to close to 600 yards???????????????????

They were all over the place. They were 50 yards or more different!!!! Except the Leica 1200 and the Nikon 1200 were consistently only 5 yards different at all ranges. I still do not know how close to being accurate these two are.

I would have liked to compare the Bushnell 1500 pin seeker, but no battery.

Now I would like to know how to buy one and know that it is accurate???

I am very discouraged.

joseph

PS: I am tempted to get the Nikon Monark 1200 because it was very close to the Leica, but 100$ cheeper.

 

[royinidaho]

Before you get too discouraged and or go for more inexpensive check out the size of the beam on each. It makes a big difference.

My Leicl 1200 LRF is spot on calibrated with tape measurement (lots of work for down range setup) The beam size is quite definite and rectangular. From a bipod to remove jitters I can select a smaller than deer size object from other adjacent objects at 800 yds.

Also multiply the advertised range by around 0.8 to get a consistent range capability without a rest. With a rest multiply by a bit higher number.

 

[J E Custom]

Before you get too discouraged and or go for more inexpensive check out the size of the beam on each. It makes a big difference.

My Leicl 1200 LRF is spot on calibrated with tape measurement (lots of work for down range setup) The beam size is quite definite and rectangular. From a bipod to remove jitters I can select a smaller than deer size object from other adjacent objects at 800 yds.

Also multiply the advertised range by around 0.8 to get a consistent range capability without a rest. With a rest multiply by a bit higher number.

+1

I check mine @ the range because I want the Range finder to match the distances at the
range because that's where all the data is Obtained.

J E CUSTOM

 

[joseph]

Before you get too discouraged and or go for more inexpensive check out the size of the beam on each. It makes a big difference.

My Leicl 1200 LRF is spot on calibrated with tape measurement (lots of work for down range setup) The beam size is quite definite and rectangular. From a bipod to remove jitters I can select a smaller than deer size object from other adjacent objects at 800 yds.

Also multiply the advertised range by around 0.8 to get a consistent range capability without a rest. With a rest multiply by a bit higher number.

How do I know what size of beam is a good one? Where do I get this info from? Does the manual tell you?

joseph

 

[Russ Hatch]

Check this article out on range finders. Lot of good info.
Laser RangeFinders
Russ

 

[joseph]

Check this article out on range finders. Lot of good info.
Laser RangeFinders
Russ

Thanks Russ. Very informative reading.

joseph

 

[joseph]

What do you do if you shell out a lot of money for lets say a 600$ Leica 1200 and it doesn't match the known ranges at our club which goes from 100 yards to 600 yards?
Will stores take them back and give you your money back if they do not carry one you want?

Out of all the ones I tested I almost bought the Leica which is a couple of 100 above my budget. It was the only one that doesn't have a screw hole for a tripod. WHY?????

joseph

 

[Chas1]

Also multiply the advertised range by around 0.8 to get a consistent range capability without a rest. With a rest multiply by a bit higher number.

I know little to nothing about rangefinders but, will soon be starting my quest to be better informed. With that in mind it sounds like the more steady the rangefinder is kept the more consistency in it's ability to read ranges at greater distances...am I on the right track? If not could you elaborate. Thanks.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

What do you do if you shell out a lot of money for lets say a 600$ Leica 1200 and it doesn't match the known ranges at our club which goes from 100 yards to 600 yards?
Will stores take them back and give you your money back if they do not carry one you want?

Out of all the ones I tested I almost bought the Leica which is a couple of 100 above my budget. It was the only one that doesn't have a screw hole for a tripod. WHY?????

joseph

I can pretty much guarantee you that if your 600 yd range backboard reads 610 by the Leica, then it's 610 yds give or take a couple of feet. If ypu really want to measure the accuracy, get a 100' steel tape and measure the distances of your range backboards. My CRF is spot on and it consistantly gives me the same reading on targets on different days.

Cheers,

Mark

 

[Yippeekiay]

I'll confess to a rather simple mistake that almost resulted in returning my Bushnell Elite.... While checking it out against my brothers older yardage pro (400yrs max) I kept getting bad readings. His would read 300yrds, mine 270... His 400 yrds, mine 360. ***!?! Long story somewhat short. Make sure it's reading in yards or meters (depending on you're preference). Not all have the capability to read both but some do. Converting yrds/mtrs results in appoximately 10% difference.