My 800 yd. Bushnell laser rangefinder will not give me readings on prairie dog mounds very far out. I need suggestions on an improved rangefinder. Hopefully for less $ than a $2,000.00 Leica. I just have trouble justifying that much money for a range finder at my age.
laser rangefinder
- Thread starter swampshooter
- Start date
CatShooter
swampshooter said:
None of them will do it... it is because the beam is skimming along the ground and you are getting ping returns from all sorts of garbage. There is nothing you can do about it, and throwing money at a new laser will not fix it.
Get a good optical rangefinder like the Barr & Stroud, the Wild, or the Swedish Periscope.
CatShooter
JamesnTN said:
I have a AN/GVS-5 (new, about $12,000) and it sucks on dog towns.
potatoe
Silver $$ Contributor
I think your rangefinder is just having hard time picking up non reflective targets. I've had a bushnell that wont do it and I've seen several others.
We use a Leica 1200 (older model) and it works very well, I can't remember that last time we could not get a reading in any field. The new models are $800 for the 1600 yds and $600 for the 1000yd. Also some great deals can be had on ebay for the older models. Less than $400 for the Leica 1200.
I personally am not going to lug around on of those old bazookas like Catshooter, I'm too lazy
We use a Leica 1200 (older model) and it works very well, I can't remember that last time we could not get a reading in any field. The new models are $800 for the 1600 yds and $600 for the 1000yd. Also some great deals can be had on ebay for the older models. Less than $400 for the Leica 1200.
I personally am not going to lug around on of those old bazookas like Catshooter, I'm too lazy
Cat I bet my Vectronics Terripin will range it. It weighs way less, is a lot smaller and ranges in a second. It repeats time and time again. If you can find a Terrapin it is the best, hands down.The Swarovski does a good job for the money. You need to tripod mount to be solid for good readings. Matt
CatShooter
dkhunt14 said:
It is not a matter of "if you get a return ping".. it is a question of is it accurate, and on prairie towns - read it ten times and get ten different numbers.
CatShooter
OleFreak said:
What... that makes no sense?
“It is not a matter of "if you get a return ping".. it is a question of is it accurate, and on prairie towns - read it teen times and get ten different numbers.â€
Helps to mount the freakin’ laser beam shootin’ thingy on a tripod or some contraption that will aid in your attempts to bounce the beam off whatever it is you’re trying to range. Didn’t dey never learns ya to read, Cat?
Helps to mount the freakin’ laser beam shootin’ thingy on a tripod or some contraption that will aid in your attempts to bounce the beam off whatever it is you’re trying to range. Didn’t dey never learns ya to read, Cat?
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
Beam size. Lieca 1600 is probably best bang for the buck. I had a Terrapin, now a plrf 10 the terrapin would range to 4000 the plrf 10 only to 3000 but has a smaller beam.
CatShooter
OleFreak said:
Yeah... I lernt reedin'...
... but my point is not about putting it on a tripod.
I was assuming that it was on a tripod.
But even on a tripod, when you are ranging over flat prairie at long range, the size of the beam (which is actually much larger than the advertisements say) will get many hits, both in front and behind the dog you are looking at.
You can ping a group of dogs that look like they are all standing on a mound, but they can actually be strung out over a few hundred yards... and the one you got a return on might not be the one you were aiming at.
L.Sherm
Silver $$ Contributor
Check your lens and make sure it isn't dusty or dirty my Leica 1200 wasn't reading correctly and all over the place and i was about ready to send it back and noticed the lens was a little dusty so I cleaned it with my lens pen and it started working corectly again would be worth a try.
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
Ditto here on the clean lens. I noticed also that when ranging distant rat mounds, being still is the prime consideration, or the beam IS indeed bouncing about and you'll get different readings.
So as not to have to get up numerous times to range the rat, I made a simple baseplate to mount my Leica 1200 on, and now can get accurate readings right from the bench.
Nothing fancy, and zero cost. Add a couple of grocery store asparagus rubber bands, and you're all set. Here's a look at the baseplate.....simple:
I think Leica sells a commercial version of this, but mine was made long before their 'fancy factory' thingie came out, and I know mine cost less and works as good.
So as not to have to get up numerous times to range the rat, I made a simple baseplate to mount my Leica 1200 on, and now can get accurate readings right from the bench.
Nothing fancy, and zero cost. Add a couple of grocery store asparagus rubber bands, and you're all set. Here's a look at the baseplate.....simple:
I think Leica sells a commercial version of this, but mine was made long before their 'fancy factory' thingie came out, and I know mine cost less and works as good.
Leica 1600 B--best by far for the money
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