Help with Conx

I have not been able to range steel past 800 yds with the Conx. I have to range large saguaro and estimate the distance from there. The lack of response here may indicate few if any have been able to range steel at 1000 yds with the Conx.
 
If found that if you just press the button real quick it wont work well but if you hold it down you get much better results. Its almost like as it gets further out there is less of a chance that it bounces back straight into the machine, holding it down sprays out a bunch more beams making the chances of one getting back higher.
 
.30kal, that is great, any techniques you have found to help reach that distance?

I had issues getting past 1000 yd the first couple times, but using prone with both elbows on the ground or off a pack helps a lot. The beam isn't necessarily centered, so find out where within the reticle it is strongest by incrementally ranging small targets and hold the button down to get multiple readings. It's not the best RF, but the pairing with the Kestrel is great and is why I bought it. I got such a good deal last year on the package with the rebate that I basically got the RF for free. I'm glad Sig is going to be supporting BT with the Kestrel, but I don't trust their reliability and their glass (plastic) sucks. If Leica will follow suit, I'm dumping the Conx for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basher
I had issues getting past 1000 yd the first couple times, but using prone with both elbows on the ground or off a pack helps a lot. The beam isn't necessarily centered, so find out where within the reticle it is strongest by incrementally ranging small targets and hold the button down to get multiple readings. It's not the best RF, but the pairing with the Kestrel is great and is why I bought it. I got such a good deal last year on the package with the rebate that I basically got the RF for free. I'm glad Sig is going to be supporting BT with the Kestrel, but I don't trust their reliability and their glass (plastic) sucks. If Leica will follow suit, I'm dumping the Conx for sure.

I was going to recommend the same technique. Get low and stable if you can, and for sure experiment with where the laser coincides with the reticle. For me, it's located at about 1:00 on the reticle, right on the end of the circle. Once I figured that out, I was reliably ranging a plate out to 1002 yards. That's the farthest I've had the opportunity to range steel.
 
I’ve been able to get it to a mile but on something large, havnt has the chance on steel past 800 yet, the pairing with the kestrel is also why I got it and I got it during the rebate while cabelas had it on sale
 
Mildot dude will be along shortly to reassure you how awesome it is. In the meantime I'd suggest using a tripod for stability and range the ground the target sits on rather than the target itself.
 
As others have alluded to, your beam may not line up with your reticle. You need to test this at 100 yards (easy an fast to do), and then you will know if that's the issue. There's a good video on youtube about this.

If it does line up, as both of mine do, then I just get as steady as possible, and fire way. I have been able to range larger targets to 1400 or so, but sub 2moa can be tougher.

It's not the best LRF on the market, but it does work very acceptably in my experience. My first one was dirt cheap, and the second was more than free with my Kestrel, so it was a no brainer. The glass is pretty decent, and I like having my dope show up in the LRF.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Whiskeywater1
My range has steel out to 1100-1200. I use a low tripod with the Conx and just take my time. At those ranges, I have the Rf pickup the closest thing it measures (whichever setting that is). Sometimes it takes a little work, but i can normally get what I am looking for.
 
Stability is key. I've got steels from 375 to 1760. The CONX will range consistently to my 1565yd target if I'm on a tripod or stabilized well in some other manner. It has never failed to range 1565yds. However, 1760yds is hit or miss depending on the day. I'm sure lighting or other atmospheric conditions play a role in this. It is possible you might have a bad unit, but IME the failure rate of the Bushnell Elite's is quite low compared to some other popular brands. Test alignment, and perhaps start a conversation with Bushnell.
 
Having mixed results getting hits on steel. What targeting mode are you guys finding most effective getting hits past 1000 yards? Thanks in advance for the help
G'day, Sorry for not replying sooner, The key to getting constant returns with the ConX is stability, I had the same troubles as you and I found that my breathing and heartbeat was the cause, The Target/Bulls eye mode it the correct one to use but I feel happier using the Tree/Brush Mode, The beam on the ConX should be slap ang in the middle of the Aiming Circle, I tested mine by Ranging a CB Ariel at 229yds hand held and sure enough it is in the middle, Other folks have said that they have more success using the ranging mode which is where you do not have any Icon on the screen.

The ConX has quite a small vertical Beam so getting it on target is important, As I said I ranged that CB Ariel which was only 1/4" wide at 229yds away and I ranged it where the tip of the Ariel was right on the top centre edge of the Aiming Circle and it looked like a thick White Hair through the rangefinder where the Aiming Circle lines looked about 3 times thicker than the Ariel, You can just make it out in this picture, Where it is bolted to the Top of that 1" Pole, sorry about the picture but that Ariel really is hard to see but it stands about 4 feet high from the top of the pole.

Just try and control your breathing or movement when Ranging a target, It took me about 3 days to a week solid to get use to it after using a different type of LRF, you need to Aim it like you would your Rifle as in being very steady,

hope that helps, give us a call and let us know how you get on because It is a great LRF when you get to understand it and how it works.

John.
 

Attachments

  • Laser pic 2.jpg
    Laser pic 2.jpg
    36.8 KB · Views: 71
If found that if you just press the button real quick it wont work well but if you hold it down you get much better results. Its almost like as it gets further out there is less of a chance that it bounces back straight into the machine, holding it down sprays out a bunch more beams making the chances of one getting back higher.

Took me a bit to figure this out as I was used to the speed of the sig kilo 2k. At longer distances it's common to have to hold the button down for up to 3-4 sec to get a reading, which of course does not help at all with stability. When paired with a tripod or very solid support with a long button press I can usually get a good return on steel "targets" out to 1300yds overcast, 1000yds in full sun.
conx2.jpg

12"x24" steel @ 1119-1125yds verified by gps, radius, sig, leica.

conx1.jpg

Farthest return I read although it is larger than what I would call a target. Approx 5'x5' runway indicator sign.
 
Took me a bit to figure this out as I was used to the speed of the sig kilo 2k. At longer distances it's common to have to hold the button down for up to 3-4 sec to get a reading, which of course does not help at all with stability. When paired with a tripod or very solid support with a long button press I can usually get a good return on steel "targets" out to 1300yds overcast, 1000yds in full sun.
View attachment 6908651
12"x24" steel @ 1119-1125yds verified by gps, radius, sig, leica.

View attachment 6908652
Farthest return I read although it is larger than what I would call a target. Approx 5'x5' runway indicator sign.
Cool, well that last Photo is almost equal to a 1 mil X 1 mil target at that range of 1446yds, and the first is equal to a 1/4 mil X a 1/2 mil at 1124yds So that is pretty impressive, Well done,

Thanks for posting.

john.
 
FYI - just picked one up via Amazon Prime for $384.99 and paid an additional 6.99 for next day delivery. Vendor only has 5 more available - Billy Bob's Bass. Brought it to work and one of my co-workers purchased one after ranging objects from our parking lot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MilDot1960
FYI - just picked one up via Amazon Prime for $384.99 and paid an additional 6.99 for next day delivery. Vendor only has 5 more available - Billy Bob's Bass. Brought it to work and one of my co-workers purchased one after ranging objects from our parking lot.
How far was he ranging stuff ?
 
Mine is consistent handheld on an ipsc out to 650ish, after that it wont give me crap.

May need to try supporting it better.
Stability might be limiting you. I can get returns from boulders on a hill at ~1100 in middle of the day when I rest my elbows. I'm not steady enough to do that without some support.
 
Stability might be limiting you. I can get returns from boulders on a hill at ~1100 in middle of the day when I rest my elbows. I'm not steady enough to do that without some support.

going to try again sunday when the weather is a little better and bring a tripod this time.
 
I’m glad I read this thread, I haven’t been able to range past 700 with mine. For the guys that use tripods, bushnell has a very inexpensive “ mini tripod’ do you think this would be sufficient?
 
I have some very large grain silos near my house. When I got the conx, the first thing I tried to do was range them... no luck, I just told myself they must be over a mile away.

Well thanks to the suggestion to hold the button longer, I got a hit. They are 1285 yards away. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Apnea
Excellent thread guys . I just picked up a CONX a couple of weeks ago and just found a Kestrel 5700 with LINK ( Not the Elite model ) at Cabela's . I haven't even tried the two together yet due to my work schedule . But , when I do have time to get them out , I hope I can get some coaching from the members here . For now , I have to find someone with a chronograph to get my ballistics correct to feed the CONX . Again , thanks for all of the excellent information .
 
Tripod mount

Press button for a few seconds...long count to 3

Works well but the other BIG variable is degree of ambient light. In bright sunlight, it is hit or miss at anything greater than 1,000 yards. Some days not even that. On days that are a bit overcast, it gets great results out to 1,400 (longest distance I have tried). It is a pretty nice RF for the money I paid.
 
Since this got bumped, and its been discussed above, but one thing Ive noticed is that in addition to holding the button down for a few seconds for better results is that my laser isnt perfectly centered, at least it isnt anymore (?)

Putting a target on the horizon so that there was no chance for false readings (sp that it would either be obviously either short or no reading) I noticed that I had to hold a bit higher to get the correct result, the bottom of the circle was where I was getting readings from, not the center. I have drawn an arrow in this pic to give an example of where exactly Im talking about.
7045697