Wild or B&S rangefinder

[bl4ckd0g]

I'm looking for a combination rangefinder and spotting scope, so these look like a decent option. What's the going opinion on them and are there any complications in operating one?

Also, where can I find one for sale?

 

[CatShooter]

I'm looking for a combination rangefinder and spotting scope, so these look like a decent option. What's the going opinion on them and are there any complications in operating one?

Also, where can I find one for sale?

Neither of these are suitable as a spotting scope - they are ~11x power, and huge.

They are about 3 feet wide and need a large tripod - so you can't use them in close quarters.

Here is a link to pictures of the Wild and the Barr & Stroud.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/site/rangefinders.html#Wild

They show up on eBay about once a month, and in working,but ratty) condition, go for around $300. Cream puffs with all the chotchkees can go for $1,000.

They are THE rangefinder of choice to use on Prairie Dogs, because they are not subject to the problems that lasers have when used over flat prairie.


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[bl4ckd0g]

I found a used Wild M/41 for sale at Samco, and I decided to spring on one even it it becomes a living room curiousity.

Sounds perfect for varmint shooting and would also be rather nice for antelope if I'm not working through Wyoming's hunting season this fall.

 

[CatShooter]

I found a used Wild M/41 for sale at Samco, and I decided to spring on one even it it becomes a living room curiousity.

Sounds perfect for varmint shooting and would also be rather nice for antelope if I'm not working through Wyoming's hunting season this fall.

That's a good price, because most of the ones on ebay don't have all the stuff. There is a large tripod that some came with, and you might look around for one. Deutsch optics originally sold them, and thy might still have a few tripods. The one in the picture works for prone.

If you need any help in calibrating, let me know - it looks hard, but is easy.

I have a manual as a .pdf somewhere... if you send me your e-mail address, I will forward it to you.



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[bl4ckd0g]

Hopefully it will come with a manual,in English). Otherwise I'll have to take you up on your offer.

I'll be getting plenty of practice at work since the elk seem to travel the ridge opposite from my drilling rig in the evening.

 

[7C15]

I have a WILD and a NIFE they are excellent range finders. The Swedish NIFE is a little hard to use when holding offhand because the eyepiece is on one end and angled. It does have a short unipod that sticks into the ground and a very heavy duty water proof carrying case . I want to make an adapter for one of my Bogan camera tripods this should make it much easier to use. The optics are superb! but it only reads to 1500 meters. I use my WILD much more since it has a nice tripod but it is a bit short sometimes. I would say for just walking around the NIFE is lighter and can be used horizontal or vertically. I paid around $500 for the WILD and $150 for the NIFE.

 

[CatShooter]

I have <...> and a NIFE..."

I also have one of those Swedish Periscopes

Do you how to calibrate the Swedish one - Mine is out of cal and I haven't figured out how to calibrate it?


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[7C15]

I'll have to check. It can't be too hard though. I know the vertical spacing adjustment always gets moved from handling it. I always have to set it. I don't have any instructions but you could maybe use the calibration board from the WILD range finder. I'll check that thing out tonight.
Do you have a better mounting system for a tripod on yours ?

 

[CatShooter]

It can't use the Lathe board from the Wild - the spacing of the black lines MUST be exactly the same as the spacing of the objective lenses,which it is not).

I have not found a way to mount it on a tripod - I was pretty disappointed in the spigot system.


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[7C15]

Oh, I never gave that any thought on the spacing. I got the Swede finder out of the garage to see about calibration. I know you can check the WILD by using the dark lens cover and look at the sun to check calibration. So I checked out the full moon this evening and like the WILD when you adjust the image it should be set on the infinity ''8'' symbol. And when I came into the light of my kitchen to read my setting,it was almost perfectly centered on the ''8'' symbol. Looking at the NIFE range finder I see two screws- one by the eyepiece and one behind the top aperture. I'll bet there is an adjusting screw under them. I'm not going to look since mine seems to be in calibration. Maybe some one else knows what's hidden under the two screws.
If anybody is interested,I'm going to design a tripod mount for the NIFE range finder that'll fit a Bogen or similar tripod and when time permits I can make a few extras. A better mount for the WILD should be in order also.

 

[CatShooter]

"... Looking at the NIFE range finder I see two screws - one by the eyepiece and one behind the top aperture. I'll bet there is an adjusting screw under them. I'm not going to look since mine seems to be in calibration. Maybe some one else knows what's hidden under the two screws.

It wouldn't be by the eyepiece, so it might be the other one - I'll check tomorrow.

If anybody is interested, I'm going to design a tripod mount for the NIFE range finder that'll fit a Bogen or similar tripod and when time permits I can make a few extras.

I would love one when you make them...

A better mount for the WILD should be in order also.

I like the Wild - I have the short tripod, and the tall tripod with the oak legs and bronze head - it's really classy. I can use it prone or sitting.

I don't think it is safe to use the sun to calibrate - I use the moon.

Keep in mind that there are TWO adjustments for the calibration - the up and down setting,done first), then the left/right vs range calibration.

The up/down stays put pretty long, but the left/right should be checked from time to time.

When "in cal", they are accurate to 5 yds at 1,000 yds if you have 20/30 vision, and to ~5 feet if you have ~20/10 vision.


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