I want to get serious about my long range target shooting and hunting and was thinking of purchasing a laser range finder. There are quite a few models on the market at present, but was hoping to get some feedback on a unit that is capable of a max range of 750-1000m.

Any thoughts...????

Get a leica and don't look back.

Thanks dakor - any feedback on the Bushnell 1200
Legend ARC range finder?

The Leica 1600 is simply amazing. I've owned the Swaro 8x30 for about 4 years. I love it! It's very accurate, will range way out there and is expensive. The Leica 1600 is only $100 less but smaller, lighter, just as accurate, ranges faster and easier, has a temperature and built in angle inclinometer. Both great for folks who carry pocket ballistic programs.

I bought the Leica and did a 4 month side x side test in identical conditions. I sold the Swaro.

Alan

quote:

Originally posted by dakor:
Get a leica and don't look back.

Typically, I hunt 12 months out of the year. My stuff gets used hard, but not abused. I have yet to be disappointed by anything Leica

Best

GWB

Thanks guys - I'll look at Leica

I've had the Zeiss 1300's for almost 8 months and love them. There is not much of a price difference between them and the Leica, but I prefer the two-hand grasp on the Zeiss better.

I've had pretty good results with the Nikons, but the Leicas are definately in a different class.

Those Leica "scan" models as pictured by GWB can be had for a good price secondhand and work great. I bought the 800m model secondhand and it will often range close to that in bright sunlight.

My only gripe with these older Leicas is that the button is stiff and requires a hard push to activate which moves the unit making the reading a bit less steady for reading long range.

The new ones are awesome and smaller but more money.

Just got a Bushnell Scout 1000 ARC for my birthday and am quite impressed for the money. Seems to be very accurate though I haven't had a chance to prove it at it's max. I wanted one for hunting both with a bow and rifle and the ARC program is pretty close from what I can tell with limited use.

I have abandoned the rangefinder in its solo form. You have to carry binoculars too, right?

I now carry rangefinding binoculars. Less gear to carry, better optics than a simple rangefinder which is usually a monocular, and quicker.

I have the Leica Geovids and they're awesome. Best value? The Bushnell 1600 rangefinder/binocular is getting high praise from everyone I know. A friend has some and I think they are great.

There's a thread on snipershide.com about them you may want to explore.

quote:

Originally posted by rcamulia:
I have abandoned the rangefinder in its solo form. You have to carry binoculars too, right?

I now carry rangefinding binoculars. Less gear to carry, better optics than a simple rangefinder which is usually a monocular, and quicker.

I have the Leica Geovids and they're awesome. Best value? The Bushnell 1600 rangefinder/binocular is getting high praise from everyone I know. A friend has some and I think they are great.

There's a thread on snipershide.com about them you may want to explore.

I have written many stories on laser rangefinders; in fact, it is how I got my start at one mag that I continue to write for today.

The best value today I believe is the Bushnell 1600 RF bino. My only complaint is the LED is hard to see when it is bright.

On the other hand, do you really need to range to 1550 yards? The problem with most LRs today is that the beam divergence of their laser is quite wide. A laser is like a shotgun pattern; the farther it travels, the wider it gets. eventually, most of the laser isn't hitting the animal you looking at but an object (a treeline, for example) behind the animal.

The original Leica Geovid had the tightest beam divergence of any LR I have tested. It will detect a cactus at 500 yards vs the hill behind it at 600. But that instrument is no longer made, and the newer Leicas have much wider beam divergence than the original.

The problem at long range is you absolutely need to know the exact range: an error as small as 10 yards moves the probability of hit way down the totem pole.

I have the Bushnell 800m unit. It's been really accurate. I took it to Africa; there was a lot of rain and dust, but it was fine. Still works 5 years or so later. Still accurate and easy to use. Smaller and easier to carry than most, too.

I was loaned a Leica 1200 on last years elk hunt.....so I wanted one as it was a great unit....but the price backed me up.....I waited for the Bushnell to come out with a 1500 and bought it....so far I'm satisfied.....but the positive comments about Leica are justly deserved! It's a great tool!

I've had 3 Leicas upgradeing as I went and ending up at the 1200. None of them were a match for for my buddie's Swarovski, but they were good enough for what I was doing at the time. Kinda. Sorta. Since then I went through a couple Geovids, upgradeing from a 8 x 42 after an outfitter offered me half of Argentina for the first set. After I got home I got a set of 10 x 42 HDs which were a significant improvement in optics. Haveing a quality bino with a good rangefinder built in is great hunting tool, but the Swarovski still beats it as a rangefinder. The difference won't matter to the vast majority of hunters, but it is there once you start approcahing 1/2 mile.

Quite a few years ago had use of relatively flat property which provided ranges out to some 1500yds(that is a lot in West Virginia!)where some of us match shooters would practice for 1000yd matches. Tried a range finder back then and problem we had was it had to be held/supported very securely or it gave false readings or none at all. It was said that range finders of that era only gave a 90% accurate reading due to some sort of regualations? Are the current offerings more user friendly and more accurate than those of past generations??