I was curious now that the Leupold RX-2800 has been out for a while what peoples thoughts are on it? I have read everything I can find so far and the feedback has been limited yet positive as it was so new, with most reports coming from mid 2018. I saw Rex did a review and thought it was his best rangefinder he owned to date. He also says at the start of his review that his friends at King of 2 Mile claimed it ranged as well as the Terrapin X. If that is the case that is outstanding for the price. Have those here that have the Leupold RX-2800 been able to range steel out to a mile or 2000 yards successfully? I'm wanting to upgrade my Leica 1600b and want to know if this would be worth it. Thanks!
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Leupold RX-2800 LRF - Opinions
- Thread starter JW74
- Start date
I've had my RX-2800 for about 7 months now and never really tested it's limits I guess. I have ranged steel targets out to about 1550 yards (that's as far as they went) and while hunting able to get readings back offhand to clearcuts to 1800 yards. It's also performed really well in picking up targets in flat brushy country (think sagebrush mule deer or antelope hunting terrain) where I've had horrible issues in the past with other rangefinders.
I have ranged out to 2,950 yards with mine off a wind generators tower. I replaced a Leica 1600 with the Leupold and the Leupold is a big upgrade. You can range a full size IPSC way past 1000 yards with it. The laser has very small beam divergence. I got mine for $450. There is not any other rangefinder that comes close for the money.
Mordamer and osu92, thank you for the replies. That is exactly the real word experience I was looking for! The Leupold sounds solid and you definitely get a lot of value for the price. I have noticed a large step up in LRF performance in the last two years as well as a significant drop in cost for that performance.
While researching an updated LRF over the last few days I have also read a lot about the new Vortex Fury HD 5000 binoculars. Although they are in the $1100-1200 range they appear to have outstanding range capabilities as well and a very narrow beam divergence. From everything I have read the glass is half decent for the price. This has me considering if I should kill two birds with one stone and go the bino with lrf route? I need a good LRF more than binos though and if the Leupold ranges better than the vortex lrf binos I would be inclined to stick with the Leupold.
While researching an updated LRF over the last few days I have also read a lot about the new Vortex Fury HD 5000 binoculars. Although they are in the $1100-1200 range they appear to have outstanding range capabilities as well and a very narrow beam divergence. From everything I have read the glass is half decent for the price. This has me considering if I should kill two birds with one stone and go the bino with lrf route? I need a good LRF more than binos though and if the Leupold ranges better than the vortex lrf binos I would be inclined to stick with the Leupold.
The Leupold RX-2800 really intrigues me. About to order a new LRF that’s getting into LR shooting, and I was thinking of pushing him towards the Leica 2400 for the money. This RX-2800 May be the ticket though if it offers better performance for similar money.
The coldest I have used mine was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. I was hunting and not specifically testing rangefinder performance, but I didn't have any problems. I am sure you are looking for colder than that.
Do your self a huge favor and skip any vortex LRFs. Stick with the leupold 2800 or top end leicas
I was also looking at the rx-2800 seems like a an amazing value, on the other hand should I keep saving up and splurge on zeiss or leica rangefinding binos?
I ended up going with the Sig Kilo3000 BDX LRF binoculars. I have heard from several people that they are a good value for the money with an excellent LRF. One bonus is that they will also connect to the Kestral with AB. I should have them in hand this week and look forward to trying them out.
Got my leupold rx-2800 yesterday at bass pro shop. On sale for $449 I almost got the vortex HD4000 but the Leopold glass was better. Here are some pictures on a sunny 82deg day in So Cal.
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Loving mine. Definitely a big improvement over the Kilo200 I had.
Here's how to determine your rifle & load's TBR/W "Group Number" to make the RX2800's ballistic solution as accurate as possible. You can also figure out a correction when using a 100 yard zero versus a 200 or 300 yard zero from the RX2800 Load Group Table.
The Leupold RX2800 uses "Group Numbers" to categorize rifle ballistics. Use your favorite ballistic calculator to work up three range tables:
1. Use a 200 or 300 yard zero, zero wind and 600 yards as max range. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches.
2. Add a 10mph crosswind from 3 o'clock or 90 degrees and write down the 600 yard wind drift in inches. We do a separate chart to keep vertical wind jump out of our elevation number.
3. If you don't zero your rifle at 200 or 300 yards then do another range table using your actual zero range (I use 100 yards) and no crosswind. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches. Since the RX2800 Load Group Selection Table uses 200 or 300 yard zeros we'll use this number to calculate an elevation correction to make the RX2800's ballistic solution more accurate.
These numbers must be in inches to use the RX2800 Load Group Selection Table. I use the free online Hornady 4DOF calculator. Be sure and select the units as inches, not MOA or Mils.
With value #1 and #2 go into the RX2800 TBR/W LOAD GROUP SELECTION TABLE (shown above) and find where your numbers fit in. You have to match the zero range (200 or 300 yards), value #1 and value #2 in the chart. When you match all that you get the "Group Number" you will enter into the RX2800's setup menu. Turn the RX2800 on then hold the Mode button for more than 2 seconds to enter the setup menu. Press the Mode button to move between fields and press the Power button to select values. "Function 2" is where you set your Group Number.
If you don't use a 200 or 300 yard zero that the Group Selection chart uses we can calculate a correction to compensate. For example, I zero my rifle at 100 yards so I subtract value #3 from value #1 to get my correction. For my Tikka T3x TAC A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor with Hornady 147 ELDM factory ammo gives me a 2665fps muzzle velocity and I zero my rifle at 100 yards. This load puts me into Group 10 with a zero elevation correction of 0.4mil. I add 0.4 to the RX2800's elevation mil display. The elevation correction is the same at all ranges. The wind solution does not need to be corrected.
P.S. I love this freakin' rang finder.
The Leupold RX2800 uses "Group Numbers" to categorize rifle ballistics. Use your favorite ballistic calculator to work up three range tables:
1. Use a 200 or 300 yard zero, zero wind and 600 yards as max range. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches.
2. Add a 10mph crosswind from 3 o'clock or 90 degrees and write down the 600 yard wind drift in inches. We do a separate chart to keep vertical wind jump out of our elevation number.
3. If you don't zero your rifle at 200 or 300 yards then do another range table using your actual zero range (I use 100 yards) and no crosswind. Write down the 600 yard trajectory in inches. Since the RX2800 Load Group Selection Table uses 200 or 300 yard zeros we'll use this number to calculate an elevation correction to make the RX2800's ballistic solution more accurate.
These numbers must be in inches to use the RX2800 Load Group Selection Table. I use the free online Hornady 4DOF calculator. Be sure and select the units as inches, not MOA or Mils.
With value #1 and #2 go into the RX2800 TBR/W LOAD GROUP SELECTION TABLE (shown above) and find where your numbers fit in. You have to match the zero range (200 or 300 yards), value #1 and value #2 in the chart. When you match all that you get the "Group Number" you will enter into the RX2800's setup menu. Turn the RX2800 on then hold the Mode button for more than 2 seconds to enter the setup menu. Press the Mode button to move between fields and press the Power button to select values. "Function 2" is where you set your Group Number.
If you don't use a 200 or 300 yard zero that the Group Selection chart uses we can calculate a correction to compensate. For example, I zero my rifle at 100 yards so I subtract value #3 from value #1 to get my correction. For my Tikka T3x TAC A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor with Hornady 147 ELDM factory ammo gives me a 2665fps muzzle velocity and I zero my rifle at 100 yards. This load puts me into Group 10 with a zero elevation correction of 0.4mil. I add 0.4 to the RX2800's elevation mil display. The elevation correction is the same at all ranges. The wind solution does not need to be corrected.
P.S. I love this freakin' rang finder.
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