Friends,

Going against most of y'all's recommendations, I chose to pack along my Leica Geovid rangefinder Binos (8x42).

This was an excellent move - everybody and I mean everybody in camp was lamenting about not bringing along their LRFs.

It came in very useful during stalks - was a blast to range far-off Eles, etc. And when needed, proved to be a very valuable tool for hunting in Africa.

My PH was really good at judging distances for my game, but that little extra piece of mind by using the LRF didn't hurt at all!

If you have one take it!

Jeff

Thanks for the info. I will take one. If there is time, should be useful and fun.

I personally do not think a range finder necessary..Yes you can range far off animals..But to know how far an impala or kudu is IMO absolutely crazy...Just make the shot.
I will be taking a range finder and it will be for after the shot and will not carry it while hunting..
With practice and shooting at 1,2 3 hundred yards ranging is not needed..knowing ones rifle is more important...and where it places the bullets...

Mike

guess I'm from the old school, I don't own a range finder, but did at one time, sold it to a buddy. It was fun to play with but that was about it.

Very few of my hunters bring one. The ranges are short for centerfire rifles. I do have one in my pack all the time and use it frequently for various purposes, from setting up primitive weapon blinds to ranging game for muzzle loading shooters and archers. I also use it to range game from time to time for some of the less experienced hunters we have that are nervous about shooting beyond their means.

I seem to always have that thing out checking distance for one reason or another. I think a PH packing one is handy it's why I do it. For the visiting hunter, I'm not so sure it is that important, or that the time to use it exists under most conditions.

Most centerfire rifles will work easy point and shoot to 250 yards and the bush shots will typically be well under that distance. There have been a number of times I used it to measure the stalking distance to calculate the remaining light we have to see if the stalk was practical. When I measure 950 meters and have 15 minutes of available light we should probably look for something else! I have seen hunters tinkering with rangefinders when they should be shooting. That tends to get old in a hurry when game is lost due to fooling with crap instead of shooting. I could say that with field glasses as well. I much prefer my hunters are looking through the scope getting settled fot the shot when I find the best animal in a group rather then enjoying the view with their field glasses until the time comes to shoot. Then they fidget with getting ready for the shot and the game has walked into the bush!

Over all it's handy little tool I would not be without in my work.

Jeff,

I found mine very handy for hunting from a blind or machan. I could range off different trees, bushes, brush lines and know where the limits of my shooting were. Then I could just put it away. I'll definitely be taking it to Zambia for sitatunga in Tondwa.

I don't find a range finder very handy to carry in the field in addition to my binos though. I do want to check out the new Swarovski. It might be the trick for double duty and it is a handy size and weight.

Mark

Rangefinders are handy when shooting at game but they are sometimes even handier after the shot. How many times have you shot an animal that has run off and have a hard time finding where the animal was standing? Say you are hunting from a blind and the animal ranges 220 yards. You shoot hear the hit and the animal runs off. Now all you have to do is go to where you think the animal was standing and range the blind or the spot you shot from. When it ranges 220 yards you should have a blood trail. Granted there is not always time to do this but it sure works wonders for me.

I never use one, but lots of our hunters do and they do work..The Game scouts, trackers and a lot of PHs are using them and GPS units..Something about a Masai with a GPS that bothers me!! so much for the indigenous that are like one with nature man!!

Oh well, modernization is inevetable I suppose, and to each his own, but I draw the line at laser hunting rifles that shoot flat .001 inch groups at up to 2000 yds. with no hold over in the optical center of the marfosious scope of the future...

Dang!!! I want one of those rifles NOW!...

...You draw your line up there in Idaho and I'll knock you off of it from down here in God's country!!!

It's all good,

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Friends,

Going against most of y'all's recommendations, I chose to pack along my Leica Geovid rangefinder Binos (8x42).

Jeff

If you had your druthers, would you stick to the 8x42 or go for the 10x42.

Jeff, I think taking a pair of geovids is not the same as taking a pair of binos AND a range finder. Can't fault you for taking them.

Am curious why the others were lamenting about not having their LRF. Was your PH the only one that could judge distance accurately?

I just got back from Namibia. I brought a small
Busnell, It was rated to 800 yrds, but the instructions said deer size animals to 300.I passed on a shot at a big Kudu because it would not range pass 325, Shot lower than I wanted on a Zebra at 300 or so because of a poor reading.
I had done the work needed to know where my 375 and 416 would hit at 350 and 400 yrds,but passed on shots because I could not range the animal or vegetation next to it. 200-250 I did not need it ,pass 300 it was of little use!!!!
We were making stalks on some large and open salt pans. If you are going to shot pass 300 make sure you and your rifle are up to the task.

JD

I bought a $500 Leica 1200LRF, supposedly the latest and greatest, specifically for my trip to Namibia. I never used it even once. I didn't need to. My PH had a $5,000 Zeiss 20x bino with image stabilizer and built in LRF. He judged the trophy quality, whispered the distance to which animal I was meant to harvest and all I did was steady the sticks and squeeze the trigger. The only optics I used was my riflescope.

They are definitely a boon when doing "voorsit" hunting on Springbok.

The only time I have ever used mine was for S.D. whitetail. When I'd sit down I range various points on hillsides to see where the 400 yd and 500 yd mark was. Anything under 400 and I am good to go without changing hold point by much. At 400+ it takes a little more thought on my part where to hold. Pretty much anything under 300yds is a gimme as far as poa if your sited in for 300 and so I've only gotten probably 10 minutes total use out of my range finder. It's a nice to have, but I can't say I have the need for it that often.

SankeLover,

My guess is that due to the fact that I had the Bino-LRF combo I was able to have a little "Fun" aside from the straightforward stalking and looking - it was cool to learn for myself the actual distances of unfamiliar species (for me at least) of game animals.

The LRF served as a training tool for me. As stated earlier my PH was never off on distances - but I sure was. Funny how when you get used to certain body sizes / types other animals become a little tricky to judge - need more practice I reckon....don't we all.

Hate to say it, but, I'm gonna have to go back over for more practice - dang-it!

Jeff

I use range finder when set up for turkey or on a stand for whitetail. Like others I range verious land marks for reference and the put them away. I have never taken a pair to Africa and never felt the less prepared for the lack of them.

My Leica is small enough that I pack it in a bellows pocket of my trousers.

I have found it very useful on hunting trips, including in Africa, over the last several years that I've had it.

I wouldn't go hunting some game in some places, such as plains game hunting in Namibia, where the shots can be long, without it.

It's fun (and sometimes embarrassing) to test your own and your PH's range estimating abilities in any case.

This year in the CAR I missed plenty of birds and a couple of duikers with my because (my arrows were of the heavay sort for buff, so falling quickly dowb)I didn't bring my leica range finder.
I am using the leica rangemaster and the 10x42 binoc Geovid range finder I have borrowed, my usual 8x56 Swarovski having suffered from a carcrash.

TODAY IS A BIG DAY

Today, Leica is putting on the market the new and very light (1.1 kg)

LEICA GEOVID 8X56 BINOC w RANGE FINDER.

I was granted to get them today. I am waiting.

jbderunz,

Do you have any pics available / URL to see those new "Geovids".

Bon chance!

Merci

Jeff

hI Jeff

I am still waiting, they'll come anyday.


here is a link

leica

Good hunting

I have got the Leica GEOVID 8-56 with laser rangefinder. I got it on monday.

My, wonderful.
I have 8-56 Swaro, but the Leica beats them.
Never such such a brightness, such a luminosity.
Light-gathering is stunning. At twilight one can hunt at least 15 -30 minutes longer.
I am a lucky guy.
I cannot explain why Leica made no advertising.
Only 14 binocs hit the France.???????????
15-56 Geovid with laser rangefinder are to come too.