Am asking those who have had both about any comparisons, observations or issues between the two that they would care to make. Have put off the purchase of a LRF in deference to putting "Good" glass on as much of my collection as possible. Kinda expected to see more 1200s being liquidated from those who "stepped up" to the 1600. My needs only require something that is reliable and accurate to realistic .308 ranges, but room to grow is always nice. Thanks in advance !!
Rifle Scopes Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
- Thread starter HugoStiglitz
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Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I recently purchased an LRF 1200, right after the 1600s appeared and the 1200 price dropped. My thought was exactly as you stated, reasonable .308 range should be good enough. However, I have not been able to range anything beyond 500-600 yd, max. I've tried new batteries, holding against a post for stability, a tripod, etc., and it just won't get past that distance. I can't speak for others' experience with the 1200, but I'm a little disappointed at the limited range. FWIW, I kinda wish I had spent the extra $$$ for the 1600.
I recently purchased an LRF 1200, right after the 1600s appeared and the 1200 price dropped. My thought was exactly as you stated, reasonable .308 range should be good enough. However, I have not been able to range anything beyond 500-600 yd, max. I've tried new batteries, holding against a post for stability, a tripod, etc., and it just won't get past that distance. I can't speak for others' experience with the 1200, but I'm a little disappointed at the limited range. FWIW, I kinda wish I had spent the extra $$$ for the 1600.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I went from a leupold to the Leica 1600, all I will say is, anyone here on the site is more then welcome to stand out on my porch with the 1600s and you will range a grey house in the afternoon daylight at 1760, beef cattle at 900, tree lines at 600, deer in an alfalfa field at 700 and so on,
I’m really happy with mine
I went from a leupold to the Leica 1600, all I will say is, anyone here on the site is more then welcome to stand out on my porch with the 1600s and you will range a grey house in the afternoon daylight at 1760, beef cattle at 900, tree lines at 600, deer in an alfalfa field at 700 and so on,
I’m really happy with mine
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I picked up some used Geovids that have a 1300yd range. They range very well and I have ranged billboards at 1427, trees at 1000 and deer at 750 with them just testing them out. I came from a Zeiss PRF and they compare very well. gstaylorg you may want to consider Leica CS to check them out. They perform better on certain targets and in certain conditions but I have had no problems ranging anything in the 5-600 yd range and that is your max. Our actual ranging units cannot be very different. Something is defective in your unit I expect.
I picked up some used Geovids that have a 1300yd range. They range very well and I have ranged billboards at 1427, trees at 1000 and deer at 750 with them just testing them out. I came from a Zeiss PRF and they compare very well. gstaylorg you may want to consider Leica CS to check them out. They perform better on certain targets and in certain conditions but I have had no problems ranging anything in the 5-600 yd range and that is your max. Our actual ranging units cannot be very different. Something is defective in your unit I expect.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I had the lecia 1200 and it was great no issues. It would range great, but out past 800 and beyond i had to try it multiple times, but it worked out past 1000. I upgraded to the 1600, the first one was messed up it wouldnt work at all, i send it back and really considered just getting the 1200 again, but i got another 1600, it works flawlessly. It is was faster than the 1200 and it will range out past a 1000 yards on the first try. It will reflect and hit things in the middle of the day no problem. I am glad i got the 1600, the ballistic program i havent used it. Get the 1600 you will be glad u did.
I had the lecia 1200 and it was great no issues. It would range great, but out past 800 and beyond i had to try it multiple times, but it worked out past 1000. I upgraded to the 1600, the first one was messed up it wouldnt work at all, i send it back and really considered just getting the 1200 again, but i got another 1600, it works flawlessly. It is was faster than the 1200 and it will range out past a 1000 yards on the first try. It will reflect and hit things in the middle of the day no problem. I am glad i got the 1600, the ballistic program i havent used it. Get the 1600 you will be glad u did.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
The 1600 is very nice, all I've ranged is buildings so far, but I had no problem ranging an ATC tower at 1578 and another building at a mile. Very clear glass.
The 1600 is very nice, all I've ranged is buildings so far, but I had no problem ranging an ATC tower at 1578 and another building at a mile. Very clear glass.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
In my experience with laser rangefinders you pay your money and cross your fingers for good luck.
I started with a Leica CRF1200 when they were first released and found it ranged as claimed - fast readings out to 1200m+ on reflective targets. Then I decided to try a Swarovsky - three of them in fact. The first two would not range as far as the Leica so I returned them as faulty. The third had a maximum range of over 1700m but would not range on some close targets (600m) as well as the Leica. I returned it also. (Full credit to Swarovski customer service and their tech staff for their efforts to help with that riddle)
Last week I tested my new Leica CRF1600 against my old trusty CRF1200 with its well used battery. The 1200 out-ranged the 1600 at 1209m. Guess which one I'm keeping.
Good Luck
In my experience with laser rangefinders you pay your money and cross your fingers for good luck.
I started with a Leica CRF1200 when they were first released and found it ranged as claimed - fast readings out to 1200m+ on reflective targets. Then I decided to try a Swarovsky - three of them in fact. The first two would not range as far as the Leica so I returned them as faulty. The third had a maximum range of over 1700m but would not range on some close targets (600m) as well as the Leica. I returned it also. (Full credit to Swarovski customer service and their tech staff for their efforts to help with that riddle)
Last week I tested my new Leica CRF1600 against my old trusty CRF1200 with its well used battery. The 1200 out-ranged the 1600 at 1209m. Guess which one I'm keeping.
Good Luck
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I think they all run about $799, i bought mine from bear basin, good people they took that fu*ked one back, and sent me a new one. Cabelas also is like that, but make sure you can send it back case you get a bad one.
I think they all run about $799, i bought mine from bear basin, good people they took that fu*ked one back, and sent me a new one. Cabelas also is like that, but make sure you can send it back case you get a bad one.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
Cruise amazon.
I recently bought my son a Leupold RX-1000 for $263 with free shipping, NIB.
It has been my experience, as well, that you pays your money, and you takes your chances with LRFs, no matter the brand. Much like factory rifles.
Cruise amazon.
I recently bought my son a Leupold RX-1000 for $263 with free shipping, NIB.
It has been my experience, as well, that you pays your money, and you takes your chances with LRFs, no matter the brand. Much like factory rifles.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
Thanks for the heads-up. I think you are probably correct. I will contact Leica; thanks for the good suggestion! I had been prepared to live with it as its an out-of-production model now, but making a call is no trouble.
Thanks for the heads-up. I think you are probably correct. I will contact Leica; thanks for the good suggestion! I had been prepared to live with it as its an out-of-production model now, but making a call is no trouble.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
PM sent. Your problem is one of collimation (the beam is not properly aligned to the receiver). Any LRF is like a rifle and scope. If the emitter (rifle) is not pointed in the exact same direction the receiver (scope) is looking, the beam (bullet) will not hit where the reticle is centered. With a rifle, being 6" off can still be a kill at 100 yards, but that same 6 inches will be 30" (and a complete miss) at 500. Same thing with an LRF. With an LRF you get ranges consistently out to a certain point, then they get iffy, then a little further, nothing. 99.9999% of CRF or LRF 1200s that will not range past 5-600 yards at all, have this problem. The culprit (just like with your shooting iron) is most likely, but not always, an impact. Sometimes they do come mis-collimated from the factory though. It can happen to any rangefinder, and the thing to do is contact the company. Most will take care of the problem for you.
PM sent. Your problem is one of collimation (the beam is not properly aligned to the receiver). Any LRF is like a rifle and scope. If the emitter (rifle) is not pointed in the exact same direction the receiver (scope) is looking, the beam (bullet) will not hit where the reticle is centered. With a rifle, being 6" off can still be a kill at 100 yards, but that same 6 inches will be 30" (and a complete miss) at 500. Same thing with an LRF. With an LRF you get ranges consistently out to a certain point, then they get iffy, then a little further, nothing. 99.9999% of CRF or LRF 1200s that will not range past 5-600 yards at all, have this problem. The culprit (just like with your shooting iron) is most likely, but not always, an impact. Sometimes they do come mis-collimated from the factory though. It can happen to any rangefinder, and the thing to do is contact the company. Most will take care of the problem for you.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I bought a CRF 1600 last week off of bigsky23 in the FS section.
It is my first rangefinder, so I am just getting used to it. I wish I could compare to the LRF 1200, but I can't.
I will say that I love the compactness, the angle of inclination feature is great. The ballistics program sucks. The atmospheric readings are redundant (I have my watch and my Kestrel, I guess I could always use another source of redundancy).
I like the narrow beam divergence. I was able to range a 48" railroad sign at 850 yards... that is a narrow target. Inside of 600 yards, it will range anything easily. Outside of 600, it starts to get finicky, not liking some surfaces (e.g., roof tops- probably because of the angle, buildings with a lot of windows, small targets). It will range a long way. Off hand, I was able to range a water tower at 1700 yards in broad daylight. That is a long way. I checked its accuracy on that one and it was repeatable and according to Google Earth, correct to within a yard.
Tonight (after dusk), I was able to range a water tower at 1999 yards. Well, actually, I hit it several times and it read anywhere from 1994 - 1999 yards, so I figure 1995 yards. I put the rangefinder in a sand bag for that one, and it still took 4 or 5 tries to get a reading.
But really, I don't shoot a lot of water towers, so I think the ability to range the railroad sign, a relatively small (but reflective) target at 850 yards is a far more impressive feat. I am going to take it out to start ranging some typically sized targets and see how well it does.
On a side note, we had a very foggy day, so I was able to test it under those conditions. With 1.0 mile visibility, it would not range anything past 500 yards. Later in the day, at 5.0 miles visibility, it would not range anything past around 950 yards. Given the time and season when I hunt, it is almost always foggy, so these are important things to keep in mind.
I bought a CRF 1600 last week off of bigsky23 in the FS section.
It is my first rangefinder, so I am just getting used to it. I wish I could compare to the LRF 1200, but I can't.
I will say that I love the compactness, the angle of inclination feature is great. The ballistics program sucks. The atmospheric readings are redundant (I have my watch and my Kestrel, I guess I could always use another source of redundancy).
I like the narrow beam divergence. I was able to range a 48" railroad sign at 850 yards... that is a narrow target. Inside of 600 yards, it will range anything easily. Outside of 600, it starts to get finicky, not liking some surfaces (e.g., roof tops- probably because of the angle, buildings with a lot of windows, small targets). It will range a long way. Off hand, I was able to range a water tower at 1700 yards in broad daylight. That is a long way. I checked its accuracy on that one and it was repeatable and according to Google Earth, correct to within a yard.
Tonight (after dusk), I was able to range a water tower at 1999 yards. Well, actually, I hit it several times and it read anywhere from 1994 - 1999 yards, so I figure 1995 yards. I put the rangefinder in a sand bag for that one, and it still took 4 or 5 tries to get a reading.
But really, I don't shoot a lot of water towers, so I think the ability to range the railroad sign, a relatively small (but reflective) target at 850 yards is a far more impressive feat. I am going to take it out to start ranging some typically sized targets and see how well it does.
On a side note, we had a very foggy day, so I was able to test it under those conditions. With 1.0 mile visibility, it would not range anything past 500 yards. Later in the day, at 5.0 miles visibility, it would not range anything past around 950 yards. Given the time and season when I hunt, it is almost always foggy, so these are important things to keep in mind.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skg_Mre_Lght</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cruise amazon.
I recently bought my son a Leupold RX-1000 for $263 with free shipping, NIB.
It has been my experience, as well, that you pays your money, and you takes your chances with LRFs, no matter the brand. Much like factory rifles. </div></div>
The Bushnell Elite 1600 ARC (NON-FUSION) is probably one of the best inexpensvie (relative terms) unit out there.
I picked up the Leica, and it is NICE, but it was one of the bad ones.
So I decided to see how the Bushnell compares to their Fusion Binocs (which has so-so glass [comparitively])... and it's pretty great. BUT: I'm not seeing it range past 1600 yards.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skg_Mre_Lght</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cruise amazon.
I recently bought my son a Leupold RX-1000 for $263 with free shipping, NIB.
It has been my experience, as well, that you pays your money, and you takes your chances with LRFs, no matter the brand. Much like factory rifles. </div></div>
The Bushnell Elite 1600 ARC (NON-FUSION) is probably one of the best inexpensvie (relative terms) unit out there.
I picked up the Leica, and it is NICE, but it was one of the bad ones.
So I decided to see how the Bushnell compares to their Fusion Binocs (which has so-so glass [comparitively])... and it's pretty great. BUT: I'm not seeing it range past 1600 yards.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.......Last week I tested my new Leica CRF1600 against my old trusty CRF1200 with its well used battery. The 1200 out-ranged the 1600 at 1209m. Guess which one I'm keeping.</div></div>
Update: I returned the faulty 1600 to Sinclair and they promptly sent me a new replacement and refunded my postage. (great service!)
Maximum range with the new 1600 is over 1700m on a large boulder in ideal conditions.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.......Last week I tested my new Leica CRF1600 against my old trusty CRF1200 with its well used battery. The 1200 out-ranged the 1600 at 1209m. Guess which one I'm keeping.</div></div>
Update: I returned the faulty 1600 to Sinclair and they promptly sent me a new replacement and refunded my postage. (great service!)
Maximum range with the new 1600 is over 1700m on a large boulder in ideal conditions.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
Does anyone have experience with leicas customer service? Tried out my 1600 today and it wont pick up a tree past 280 yards, or a hay bale at 300 +. It worked great before, don't know why it isn't now. Probably don't have 150 ranges on the battery. Deer season starts next saturday!
Does anyone have experience with leicas customer service? Tried out my 1600 today and it wont pick up a tree past 280 yards, or a hay bale at 300 +. It worked great before, don't know why it isn't now. Probably don't have 150 ranges on the battery. Deer season starts next saturday!
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deerkllr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone have experience with leicas customer service? Tried out my 1600 today and it wont pick up a tree past 280 yards, or a hay bale at 300 +. It worked great before, don't know why it isn't now. Probably don't have 150 ranges on the battery. Deer season starts next saturday! </div></div>
There is something wrong with it. Leica was great when I dealt with them. I had a used CRF1200 that was having similar trouble...sent it back to them expecting to pay for the repairs since I had not bought it new. They sent me an entirely new unit that works great...ranges as it should and the glass is great. Really couldnt ask for more. It is one of my favorite tools.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: deerkllr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone have experience with leicas customer service? Tried out my 1600 today and it wont pick up a tree past 280 yards, or a hay bale at 300 +. It worked great before, don't know why it isn't now. Probably don't have 150 ranges on the battery. Deer season starts next saturday! </div></div>
There is something wrong with it. Leica was great when I dealt with them. I had a used CRF1200 that was having similar trouble...sent it back to them expecting to pay for the repairs since I had not bought it new. They sent me an entirely new unit that works great...ranges as it should and the glass is great. Really couldnt ask for more. It is one of my favorite tools.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
gonna try a new battery tomorrow, hopefully it fixes it, if not back to dealer..
gonna try a new battery tomorrow, hopefully it fixes it, if not back to dealer..
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
My Leica 1200 will always pick up a stop sign at 1250-1300 yards. Trees and stuff its finicky. I once got 4 or 5 consistent readings in a row on a tree line at 1150, but can't always duplicate it. In general, I'd say my 1200 is just about as capable as a 308.
I checked out some of the Bushnell ARC ranging binos, and was really impressed with them. Other than the image appearing a little "cold" (slightly blue maybe??), the glass was really sharp and crisp. Color rendering wasn't amazing, but the contrast was great. They repeatably pinged trees at 1500 and boulders at ~2200.
My Leica 1200 will always pick up a stop sign at 1250-1300 yards. Trees and stuff its finicky. I once got 4 or 5 consistent readings in a row on a tree line at 1150, but can't always duplicate it. In general, I'd say my 1200 is just about as capable as a 308.
I checked out some of the Bushnell ARC ranging binos, and was really impressed with them. Other than the image appearing a little "cold" (slightly blue maybe??), the glass was really sharp and crisp. Color rendering wasn't amazing, but the contrast was great. They repeatably pinged trees at 1500 and boulders at ~2200.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I have an LRF 1200 and in my mind it's as as good as my .308 is.
I have never shot past 1100 yards with my .308 and the rangefinder works great out to 1237 (max I've hit so far)...
If you don't plan to shoot to 1600 get a 1200 and save the money.
I have an LRF 1200 and in my mind it's as as good as my .308 is.
I have never shot past 1100 yards with my .308 and the rangefinder works great out to 1237 (max I've hit so far)...
If you don't plan to shoot to 1600 get a 1200 and save the money.
Re: Leica LRF 1200 ----> 1600 ???
I wish they still made the 1200. Dropping to 1000, while it will still work for any shooting situation I'd have, was a mistake. After selling of my Swaro to fund other things ('cause I didn't need heavy, slow or 1900 yards) I got the Zeiss PRF instead. It has ranged very well out past 1200 and is just as good optically as the Swaro was. It has an objective that is a little smaller, but is still 8X. The Leica 1600 was too expensive but I do like the Leica shirt-pocket form factor.
I wish they still made the 1200. Dropping to 1000, while it will still work for any shooting situation I'd have, was a mistake. After selling of my Swaro to fund other things ('cause I didn't need heavy, slow or 1900 yards) I got the Zeiss PRF instead. It has ranged very well out past 1200 and is just as good optically as the Swaro was. It has an objective that is a little smaller, but is still 8X. The Leica 1600 was too expensive but I do like the Leica shirt-pocket form factor.
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