range finder

[CarbonMTN]

Leupold or Vortex what would you go with and why?

So I'm in the market for my first range finder. As of now I am shooting out to 600 yards (using friends range finder). I think my future max shooting range as of now, with my currant gun line up, is 1000 yards.

So my thing is do I buy once cry once and get something like the Leupold RX 2800 that can range way past my what my max or go with the something less like the RX 1600i or the range 1300 and the extra ammo could go towards other gun stuff.

Is there a benefit to go with a higher model with its capabilities or if it strictly just being able to range further.

 

[pell1203]

A reminder, when making your final decision be aware that as a rule of thumb most rangefinders can only consistently range steel, paper, and live animal targets at about 50% of their maximum rated distance.

 

[crunchy]

Finding the right rangefinder is tough. I have a leupold tbr1000 or something like that. Trust but wont range much further than 700 yards on hillsides and trees. Would look for something with a bigger optic and stronger magnification next time. Not much more just more.

 

[Blair993]

I used my leica 2400r to range sheep at 2215m in the mid day sun. Works very fast and well

 

[Freediver111]

I had a Leupold, now I have a Leica. No comparison. Leica is that much better at picking up ranges. Lots of good reviews with Sigs too.

 

[pell1203]

One other nice thing about the Leica's is that you can use them as a 7x monocular in a pinch as the optical quality is excellent!

 

[JimLee]

Sig Kilo 2200MR is what I use and like, have ranged non reflective targets out beyond 2000Yds with it.

 

[Strykervet]

A reminder, when making your final decision be aware that as a rule of thumb most rangefinders can only consistently range steel, paper, and live animal targets at about 50% of their maximum rated distance.

That's a fact. I needed one for extremely long distance with an M2, figure on 1 mile plus. So a 1 mile LRF ain't gonna cut it unless I'm ranging stadiums and the farther out it gets, the more error. I lucked out big time (lottery lucked out) on one that ranges 6 miles for $400. Been looking for another and haven't turned one up yet, but they're out there. It'll tag stop signs at over 1k and it's pretty much dead on the money. I think it's +/- 10m @ 10,000m, supposedly it'll range a tank at the maximum distance. according to the literature

Also, for long range LRF's, another general rule is the price is about $1 per meter FWIW. If you look at the Newcon Optic stuff (they make good LRF's it seems) or the Vectronix stuff, it's almost across the board

 

[short_mag]

Another vote for the Leica 2400r - love mine.

 

[Banango]

You might consider the Nikon 4k

 

[WeisGuy]

Not a vortex. In my optics shop we get more vortex range finders returned then o care to mention. Yes, they have a great warranty but you will constantly be using it with their LRFs. Leupold rx-2800 has done well for me and the leica 2400 is a fantastic option at the price. I'd lean towards the Leica.

 

[Strykervet]

A reminder, when making your final decision be aware that as a rule of thumb most rangefinders can only consistently range steel, paper, and live animal targets at about 50% of their maximum rated distance.

This. And another rule of thumb is they cost about $1 per meter once you get past 1k or so (though they are getting better).

I'd also check out the Newcon Optik stuff. Their PEQ's reviewed total shit, but a member recently got an LRF and reviewed it on here and it seems it did well. And they have decent prices until you get up to the military grade stuff, where it tends to hit that $1 per meter wall. I'd look up that review. Wanna say the one he got is good for 2-3 miles and accurate to +/- 1m! That's ten times more accurate than my old military model, it'll do 6 miles at +/-10m and uses a dangerous class 4 laser. However, it only cost me $400 on ebay so I can't complain, a modern one would run $10,000.

 

[Mach U]

I bought a leica 2400R

 

[SEMO Shooter]

Good choice. I recently bought a 2000B on sale. I ranged a 12" x 16" steel target on a cloudy day with light rain at 1300 yards. Last weekend at a match we easily ranged steel targets to 840 yards (furthest distance there was) hand held. My primary use is match shooting. It serves my purpose perfectly.

 

[TKO]

I know you didn't mention the SIG Kilo or the new Nikon 4K, but they are very solid range finders. Last weekend I had a chance to compare the Sig Kilo 2000, Sig Kilo 2200, and the new Nikon 4K out to 1764 yards. They were all comparable, however, I felt the Nikon 4K edged the others out. If you get the chance to do a SXS comparison, I would, may save you some $change. Good luck

 

[Pilotscrappy]

+1 on the Leica 2400r for the money I think it's the best deal going

 

[CarbonMTN]

So Nikon 4K or the Leupold 2800?

 

[Precision Underground]

2400r. Do it. I ranged 20x40 silhouettes at 2300 the first day out with mine.

 

[CarbonMTN]

Alright the Leupold RX $499.99, Vortex Ranger $429.99, and Nikon 4k $449.99. Very similar is price and they all have their trade offs.

Vortex is a lack lust and I read a lot of post that say that they are not able to track as well as vortex claims... but its got a VIP warranty

Nikon 4k is ... idk its the middle price with a 5 year warranty. Nikon scope dont tingle my junk, So i dont know if I am just skipping over this because I dont like their scopes. , so should I give this one a shot. I know frank did a review but who knows if he bought it or if he was sent a product to review.

Leupold the lowest warranty at 2 years, but its Leupold and the glass on the range finder is great and its for a x7 which will help with 1000 yards.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

I played with the nikon at sportsman's yesterday and wasn't all that impressed.. Glass was way dark in the store, the vortex ranger looked better, and the Leica blew them both away... The 2400r Leica its priced about the same as the other two. I didn't have a chance to look at the Leopold.
As far as ranging the nikon will probably edge out the vortex, but again all the research I have done sub 500$ the Leica beats them in every category

 

[George P. Burdell]

I'm thinking about getting the Leica as well. Hear a lot of good things about them for the price

 

[CarbonMTN]

I played with the nikon at sportsman's yesterday and wasn't all that impressed.. Glass was way dark in the store, the vortex ranger looked better, and the Leica blew them both away... The 2400r Leica its priced about the same as the other two. I didn't have a chance to look at the Leopold.
As far as ranging the nikon will probably edge out the vortex, but again all the research I have done sub 500$ the Leica beats them in every category

but when i think of Leica, i think of old English Polaroid cameras. I dont see many people using them nor talking about them other than on this forum.

 

[DaleGribble82]

Leica is phenomenal. I don’t own one, I use a Bushnel Elite Conex setup. My experience though with Leica is pretty extensive, I’ve used the Vector LRF a lot in the Army, and I’ve used Leica Geovids with the built in LRF, and they were fantastic in my opinion. Very expensive though. You can definitely find a lot of good info on this forum. Just shop around ask questions, and get what works best for you. Probably some good deals in the PX.

 

[Precision Underground]

but when i think of Leica, i think of old English Polaroid cameras. I dont see many people using them nor talking about them other than on this forum.

My 2400 R ranges 20x40 steel at 2300 resting it on a bag. That’s the longest steel I had to try it on. The morons on FB are posting videos of themselves ranging a mountain at 2200 woth the Nikons and leupolds. Not really that tall of an order to hit a mountain with a laser.

 

[DaleGribble82]

My 2400 R ranges 20x40 steel at 2300 resting it on a bag. That’s the longest steel I had to try it on. The morons on FB are posting videos of themselves ranging a mountain at 2200 woth the Nikons and leupolds. Not really that tall of an order to hit a mountain with a laser.

Fact.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

Alright the Leupold RX $499.99, Vortex Ranger $429.99, and Nikon 4k $449.99. Very similar is price and they all have their trade offs.

Vortex is a lack lust and I read a lot of post that say that they are not able to track as well as vortex claims... but its got a VIP warranty

Nikon 4k is ... idk its the middle price with a 5 year warranty. Nikon scope dont tingle my junk, So i dont know if I am just skipping over this because I dont like their scopes. And i should really give this one a shot. I know frank did a review but who knows if he bought it or if he was sent a product to review.

Leupold the lowest warranty at 2 years, but its Leupold and the glass on the range finder is great and its for a x7 which will help with 1000 yards.

I ordered this the other day. Selling the Con X as I'm not doing a Kestral and I prefer the smaller form factor. And it's a Leica.

$399 https://www.eurooptic.com/40536-Leica-Leica-Rangemaster-CRF-2000-B--MPN-40536.aspx

 

[captainemil]

I have the Gunwerks BR2 and they work great, but for some reason I need to range somthing around the house I will grab the old Leica 1600

 

[remaction]

but when i think of Leica, i think of old English Polaroid cameras. I dont see many people using them nor talking about them other than on this forum.

You need to ditch that old notion. Get the Leica, you will be pleased. Great size for fitting into a shirt or chest pocket, clear, and accurate.

 

[Willywonka]

Does the 2400 have a screw stud for mounting on tripod?

 

[Screehopper]

but when i think of Leica, i think of old English Polaroid cameras. I dont see many people using them nor talking about them other than on this forum.

When I think of Leica, I think rangefinder cameras used by photojournalists back in the film days and also sightings in movies. Leica is also known for making surveying equipment.

 

[DaleGribble82]

@CarbonMTN, I’ve seen several sets of Leica Geovid rangefinding binocluars in the PX today. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

 

[opus56]

I recently upgraded from a SIG Kilo2000 to the Leupold RX-2800. Needless to say, it was a huge upgrade. In overcast, morning light conditions I've been able to range trees and rocks to 2200 yds, and that's just holding it in my hands, no tripod. Way past the range of any weapon system I own. Most of my shooting is 1500yds and in and the RX-2800 doesn't break a sweat ranging anything 1500yds and in.

I will also back up the comments on the glass quality. At 7x magnification, it works well as a quick spotter, very clear to my eyes. A couple of other things I'll mention is is the speed it returns the range data. Significantly faster than the Kilo2000 I had. And how it functions in colder temps. My Kilo2000 wouldn't range anything past 500yds with a brand new battery when it was under 32°F. In fact I could watch the battery bars drop when ranging just a few targets. So far w/ the RX-2800 I haven't had any issues at all ranging at the distances I've mentioned above on the coldest day I had it out (5°F).

Now I know comparing the Kilo2000 to the RX-2800 isn't an apples to apples comparison, but I was looking for an upgrade that could meet my current needs (mostly non-reflective targets up to 1500yds), and the Leupold has done it.

 

[Jimdow]

Since most of the "better" rangefinders now feature Bluetooth communications, range, azimuth, and inclination angle, why have the rangefinder vendors not solved the remote target localization problem and posted the target on smartphone mapping software? Hunters and shooters should go for this mapping feature - so should conservationists, archaeologists, GIS data collectors, and a lot of other folks.

 

[Halfnutz]

but when i think of Leica, i think of old English Polaroid cameras. I dont see many people using them nor talking about them other than on this forum.

Lieca 2800.com, talks to the Kestrel. I like mine. But I'm on this forum so maybe we dont count