Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

[SRSDriver]

I need bino's, and I need a rangefinder.

I'm shooting steel from 100-1000 yards. My total budget is $2500 to get both.

I see the swarovski unit is the standard of measure in rangefinders. Should I look at something like the swaro and a separate set of binos, or perhaps look at the Leica geovids or even the bushnell 1600 fusions.

It really looks, based on the reviews and recent discussion, that the 1600 ARC electronics have taken rangefinders up a step, and the unit appears to be on par electrically with many other more expensive units. I know that the bushnell optics are not going to be swaro glass, or even leica. But for steel, am I giving up much?

I've been thinking either Swaro + binos, the geovids, or even say, the fusions and spend the rest on ammo....

Any other suggestions in this price range? Also, is 10X too much magnification for handheld use when finding/ranging steel targets on binos?


ETA: Just saw the zeiss PRF... The Zeiss and ARC seem to be outranging the swaro, and the Leica's seem to be having a problem with relibility... ? Lots of reviews, perhaps personal opinions/preferences would be warranted here?

thanks again

 

[JC Steel]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

I have had them all and now I have a Ziess

 

[Bradu]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

I have been looking at these rangefinders and searching on here, it seems that all three are good. I went to the local hunting store and they only have the Swaro in stock, I was hoping to go outside and compare them.

 

[poison123]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

Had the Zeiss and Bushy...here's what I roll with now.

So a question is.....this just for fun banging away at steel? Or competition use?

 

[SRSDriver]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Poison123</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Had the Zeiss and Bushy...here's what I roll with now.

So a question is.....this just for fun banging away at steel? Or competition use?

</div></div>

Is that the swaro? Someday I'd like to try a competition, but just fun stuff now...

ETA - No way that's the swaro... What is it? I can actually read it unlike everything else..

 

[alcesgigas]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

Must be the Vectronix Terapin PLRF05--or the new Swaroviski 8x42 ELRFs?

 

[threetrees]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

would say it's the vectronix. the swaro el range that i checked didn't have any form of reticle in it. you can also check the photos from jay in http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2772991#Post2772991

 

[ggmanning]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

I only need about 1000yds ranging. I opted for used Leica Geovids on here....not HD at $1450. I couldn't be happier. Great glass and good ranging. At 32 ounces they only weigh about 12 ounces more than the Zeiss 10x32s I use when I don't need ranging and are lighter than comparable 10x42s and a separate ranger. I like one less piece of gear and glassing plus ranging in one step. Depends on needs and I don't need more than 1000 yds ranging so spending more to get capability I won't use made no sense. There are better ranging/binocular combos as far as ranging distance but for my use they are perfect.

 

[cali_tz]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?

that's definitely a Vectronix LRF... that's their reticle and display.

 

[SRSDriver]

Re: Rangefinder: swaro vs leica vs Fusion 1600?


An update on this thread.

I bought the ARC1600 fusions from a hide sponsor... Despite some of the tricks/covers folks have used on here, I still had trouble seeing the ranging in bright light. The glass is nice enough, the ranging has been fantastic, but when it's difficult to read, I end up spending a lot of time monkeying around trying to read it... It really is the only fault of the ARC1600, which is otherwise fantastic.

I've bought another ranging device, I'll do a review in another thread.