Range Finders ****

HighCountryCo

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Washington State
In the market for new range finder to partner up with my 338 edge, I Know the swarovski is highly recommended for getting to those long ranges and accurately, hoping to get the meat of some other peoples searches and experiences.... Thank you.gun)
 
In the market for new range finder to partner up with my 338 edge, I Know the swarovski is highly recommended for getting to those long ranges and accurately, hoping to get the meat of some other peoples searches and experiences.... Thank you.gun)

I know a few long rangers that like the Swaro,,,I personally had to try literally 7 new Swaros to get one that ranged past 1500...I bought it, it worked great for a few weeks then wouldnt range worth a crap. I waited till aft x-mas, and tried another 3 or 4 from cabellas and they wouldnt range.

I love to shoot long range more recently to 2,000 yards. Im waiting for the new Leica 1600 this summer. Until then, Im using my GPS for long shots past 1200. My Leica gets me to 1200 and 1300 on good days. Past that, your GPS will get you pretty close.

If you have to have a Swaro, just make sure of two things. First,, dont buy one unless you range it to non reflective targets. Second, make darn sure you use it a ton the first 30 days, so when it craps out on you, you can get your money back

KZ
 
No problems with my Swarovski so far, after 3 years. It ranges to 1650 - 1700 yds pretty consistently.

In spite of that, when the new Leica 1600 comes out, I'll probably have one, due to the barometer, temperature, and inclination features it reportedly comes with.

I've had the Leica 1200 Scan LRF before and the Swarovski glass is definitely better. Good enough that I will often leave the binoculars at the house for one day hunts and simply use the Swaro as a monocular. I wouldn't do that with the Leica 1200 Scan because the glass wasn't quite sufficient for my liking. But I'll be willing to downgrade on glass quality to obtain 1600 yd ranging, pressure, temperature, and inclination/declination data with the Leica 1600. IF it will range to at least 1500 yds. My Leica 1200 wouldn't reach 700 yds on some mountainsides. Never a miss out to 1200 yds with the Swaro. And generally 1600 plus yds.

Buy a Swaro now, or wait for the Leica 1600 to be field tested if atmospheric pressure, temperature, and inclination data are valued. The new model Leica is supposed to be available ~ August 2010 - based on the best rumors I've read.
 
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From Leica's website:

What further sets the Rangemaster CRF 1600 apart from the competition: its integrated ballistics computer with a range of different ballistics curves plus an integrated gradient sensor.

Sounds like its usefulness will be limited. The ballistics data will only apply to telling you corrected distance if your load fits on one of several pre-determined ballistic curves (loads). Not much chance of that working for many of us, given the precision at extended ranges that we require.

Now, what if someone would come out with a 2,000 yard rangefinder that would allow you to input your "true BC" and spit out a corrected range after sampling pressure, temp, etc.

Well, I'll be offering Huskemaw's unit that does all this. Should be available by mid to late summer.
 
Now, what if someone would come out with a 2,000 yard rangefinder that would allow you to input your "true BC" and spit out a corrected range after sampling pressure, temp, etc.

Well, I'll be offering Huskemaw's unit that does all this. Should be available by mid to late summer.

Let us hope they allow G7s and that it will range to 2K.
 
No problems with my Swarovski so far, after 3 years. It ranges to 1650 - 1700 yds pretty consistently.

In spite of that, when the new Leica 1600 comes out, I'll probably have one, due to the barometer, temperature, and inclination features it reportedly comes with.

I've had the Leica 1200 Scan LRF before and the Swarovski glass is definitely better. Good enough that I will often leave the binoculars at the house for one day hunts and simply use the Swaro as a monocular. I wouldn't do that with the Leica 1200 Scan because the glass wasn't quite sufficient for my liking. But I'll be willing to downgrade on glass quality to obtain 1600 yd ranging, pressure, temperature, and inclination/declination data with the Leica 1600. IF it will range to at least 1500 yds. My Leica 1200 wouldn't reach 700 yds on some mountainsides. Never a miss out to 1200 yds with the Swaro. And generally 1600 plus yds.

Buy a Swaro now, or wait for the Leica 1600 to be field tested if atmospheric pressure, temperature, and inclination data are valued. The new model Leica is supposed to be available around the first of May - based on the best rumors I've read.

Timing on the Leica?? One of the guys from Leica posted an August release date for the Leica on this forum......We shall see!!

kz
 
I have had the old Leica 1200 LRF that gets compared to the NEW Swaro too much in my opinion. Please dont confuse it with the new Leica 1200 CRF that should be compared to the new Swaro Laser guide. I own both of their new units. I had 4 Swaros replaced before I got one that would not quit me and have to R&R the battery to get it to go again. I have never sent any of my Leicas in. My Leica 1200 CRF's will range rocks and hill sides to close to 1500. I think 1485 to be exact. The Swaro will definatly record farther distances, but that I feel this is due to it's larger beam which can bite you. Especially when you are on flat or near flat terrain and accompanied by the huge hard to see swaro reticle. I have both and have owned a few of each. My advice, Leica 1200 CRF-Y for $599 or the Swaro 8x30 Laser Guide for $899 plus. Go Leica! It will accurately range for you, and the more you learn to use it the better you will like it.

JMO

Jeff
 
Sounds like its usefulness will be limited. The ballistics data will only apply to telling you corrected distance if your load fits on one of several pre-determined ballistic curves (loads). Not much chance of that working for many of us, given the precision at extended ranges that we require.

Now, what if someone would come out with a 2,000 yard rangefinder that would allow you to input your "true BC" and spit out a corrected range after sampling pressure, temp, etc.

Well, I'll be offering Huskemaw's unit that does all this. Should be available by mid to late summer.

Len, i have asked this question a couple of times and haven't got an answer yet.... Will this new range finder spit out MOA corections, or only yardage corrections?

If it doesn't give MOA corrections, it wont be of any use to me. My loads seem to change fairly often, with new bullet or powder, etc., so BDC turrets just dont work for me.

Really hoping they come out with an MOA correction version.

-Mark
 
Timing on the Leica?? One of the guys from Leica posted an August release date for the Leica on this forum......We shall see!!

kz

KZ,
I believe August is correct. That will be too late for my 2010 hunting season.

I'll correct my post. I was thinking of the Vortex Viper PST line of scopes - supposed to be out ~ May.
 
Sounds like its usefulness will be limited. The ballistics data will only apply to telling you corrected distance if your load fits on one of several pre-determined ballistic curves (loads). Not much chance of that working for many of us, given the precision at extended ranges that we require.

Agreed, and I'm not expecting to use the ballistics program in the Leica. But if the Leica provides accurate environmental pressures & temps, and inclination/declination angles, I can consider leaving two devices at the house. 1) the Kestrel and 2) carpenter's angle device. A little less gear to pack around in the wilds.
 
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KZ,
I believe August is correct. That will be too late for my 2010 hunting season.

I'll correct my post. I was thinking of the Vortex Viper PST line of scopes - supposed to be out ~ May.

August will work for my hunting season, but it will not work for me at present. I shoot out to 2,000 yards and it's a pain to keep using my GPS. But at this point, there is no way I would recommend the new Swaro with the new Leica 1600 coming out...Swaro has some real serious quality problems they have to address. At this point, I have not even heard anyone from swaro even admit they have a problem.

Yes, many people on this web site have had good luck, but when you pick up 12 or 13 new swaros and test them and all of them have ranging issues, baby you got a problem.

Im guessing, once Leica gets this new 1600 out in the populas, it will totally dominate swaro sales, then they may have to look at their product.

Im considering stepping up to the Vectronix unit. They have won many many military contracts with this unit. It's very expensive, but if you want to range to 2,000 and beyond, this is an obvious option. I think it's something like $3,500, and it ranges to 3000 yards.

Like I said, until then for target shooting, the GPS will get you close enough to walk in your bullets. After using my GPS at 1600 yards, I got my son on target by the second shot. This will work for practice.

KZ
 
The Zeiss PRF im using is working very well for me... it ranges animals, trees, grass, dirt and rocks out to 1400yds in midday sun very reliably. The only things it wont range this far are black objects and black animals.... it just doesnt like black things at all...
 
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