Rangefinders in the Cold

[gpr]

Does cold weather make for difficult conditions on a rangefinder? Reason i ask is I had a sig kilo 2000, and could never get it to range very far in the cold. However in warm weather it did great. Got a kilo2200 and same thing, can't range animals out very far in the cold. I tried keeping the unit itself warm by leaving it inside, or when outside i put it underneath my coat. However, same issue can't range very far in cold temps.

This is very disappointing when trying to deer hunt.... I thought these 2200's were suppose to be a lot better but seem the same as the 2000.

 

[demolitionman]

Interesting you mention this. I too noticed the same thing a few weeks ago. Targets I typical can range just weren't getting back to me. Sig 2000, that I easily ping stuff to 1000 yards and more, wasn't working for shit past 600. Temps were 23 degrees, partly cloudy 30mph gusts....

 

[MilDot1960]

That depends on what you call Cold, I have used my Conx below freezing *c and it has been fine, and before Christmas I also tested is out in thick Fog where Visibility was down to 150 to 170 yards and I was still getting readings on vague shadow/shapes of things at 212 yards that I could see their Ghost like shapes but not make out what they were.

hope that helps.

 

[Mordamer]

Cold weather affects batteries and I believe that with lower battery voltage laser range finders can start to lose signal strength. I could be totally wrong on this as I am not certain of the design details of laser range finders, but I find my Leica rangefinder to start to lose max distance ability right before the battery goes.

Certain battery types and brands have better cold weather performance. When I have a good fresh battery in my Leica it performs perfectly in cold weather. I was just hunting in -4 degrees Fahrenheit and did not have any issues with the range finder.

 

[MilDot1960]

Lithium Batteries are good for about 30 below and they are fully leak proof, So I would not risk using anything else,

 

[DetroitRearView]

I have a sig 2400, swaro el range and a PLRF10. I was out yesterday in -10 degree, bright sunlight with 2-3 feet of snow on the ground weather with all three. I could easily range deer at 800 plus with the 2400 and the Swarovski. It was easy of course with the Vectronix. I ranged horses with it beyond 2500 yards. I did have a sig 2000, leica 2000b as well as the latest Leica 2200 HDR’s and found All of them unpredictable, especially in cold weather / bright sunlight.
Not so with the 2400, it has been a very reliable RF and provides excellent ballistic solutions as well.

 

[missed]

It's most likely the laser itself that is having the challenge in the cold weather. Many laser emitters are sensitive to cold weather. There are additional design criteria that are needed for cold weather emitters.

Have any of y'all had the ND3 lasers from laser genetics that weren't worth a dang below about 40 degrees? Same thing.

 

[Stag556]

I had the very same issue with my 2000. I emailed sig about it and they stated cold weather will negatively affect electronics. Pretty disheartening since most, not all, but most will want to use this while hunting in colder temps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DetroitRearView]

I am not sure what the build differentials are between the 2000/2200 and the 2400 besides the AB function and beam divergence, but the 2400AB has been excellent for ne and others in very cold conditions. I had hunted 11 days straight this Fall without heat from my base camp through heavy blizzards -10 to + 25 degrees between 8-10K elevation on the original battery ranging elk everyday from 500-1000 yards. I settled on this bedded bull on day 11; 571 yards 11 degrees downward angle with crazy winds + 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The sensors seem to work very well, my dope chart for this distance gave me 3.2 mils - but the 2400AB showed 3.1. It has been spot on in varying conditions, so I went with the 3.1 given by the 2400. My 21” 300 win 190 SMK again proved itself (absurd to run a shorty .300 by many) one and done - entered just behind right shoulder taking the lung, top of the heart, lower left lung, breaking the offside elbow.
In my opinion the 2400AB is a great tool for hunting.

 

[Forward543]

Same issues. Sig 2000 and 2200. When they are cold, they dont work past 600yd +/-. If i keep the lrf warm in a vehicle and take it out to range stuff, it works. Seems as if you need the unit to be warm. Next to your body should work.

 

[260284]

I had issues with my Kilo 2000 when it was 25 degrees out while deer hunting. Next cold morning I used 2 rubber bands and 2 chemical hand warmers, 1 on each side. That kept it warm enough to function at 20 degrees. Need to make a wrap with some velcro and elastic to wrap it in.

 

[gpr]

I was thinking the 2200 and the 2400 were essentially the same lazer but the 2400 simply had the ballistics program in it... Guess i'm wrong from the reports here. Seems the 2400 works for hunting but both the 2000/2200 are for warm weather only.. that is very disappointing to hear, considering I just bought the 2200!

I knew the 2000 didn't work for crap in the cold, so the 2200 I hang around my neck and keep inside my coat until i need to use it. Even with the unit being warm it doesn't range very far. I could get cattle at about 350 yards and that was it, temp outside was about 10. Sorta ticks me off as i can estimate range good enough up close, i need it for the longer shots or to know how far to close the distance and that is exactly where it won't work!

 

[gpr]

Anyone know or test the Vortex Fury's out in cold weather? I was looking at getting range finding bino's, and these seemed real attractive. I thought for pure range-finding ability the kilo2200 would be better. If the vortex fury's work in the cold then I'm likely to go that route.

 

[The King]

The 2400 has a fancy glass lens for the laser emitter. This was specifically designed for extreme cold usage (and to help with beam divergence).

 

[gpr]

I tested the 2200 out again this morning. The unit sat in my house all night to make sure it was warm. Open my pickup window and try to range cattle. It was bright and sunny out and about 20 degrees this morning. I couldn't range cows past 500 yards. Very disappointing as if i can't range a cow past 500 yards, not sure how i would ever range antelope or deer.. Makes me hesitant to give Sig more money as both I have tried aren't impressive in hunting situations.

 

[Evintos]

Anyone know or test the Vortex Fury's out in cold weather? I was looking at getting range finding bino's, and these seemed real attractive. I thought for pure range-finding ability the kilo2200 would be better. If the vortex fury's work in the cold then I'm likely to go that route.

Vortex Fury was placed outside in 14*F on the ground for exactly 2 hours then ranged:
- a tree - 100yds
- a tan colored brick apartment building, battery at half charge - 728yds
- a white billboard (farthest object I could find), battery at half charge - 915yds

Didn't have line of sight for anything farther than the billboard. I'm currently in a city so line of sight to farther objects is difficult to find. If I ever get the chance to, I'll try to range something farther.


Edit: This is with angle compensation mode on.

 

[missed]

Vortex Fury was placed outside in 14*F on the ground for exactly 2 hours then ranged:
- a tree - 100yds
- a tan colored brick apartment building, battery at half charge - 728yds
- a white billboard (farthest object I could find), battery at half charge - 915yds

Didn't have line of sight for anything farther than the billboard. I'm currently in a city so line of sight to farther objects is difficult to find. If I ever get the chance to, I'll try to range something farther.


Edit: This is with angle compensation mode on.

Awesome.

 

[NICETRY]

I regularly hunt in Alaska in the winter. I have two range finders I use. A Leica 1600B and a Vectronix Terrapin. Leica has worked fine for me down to negative temps and the Terrapin has seen near -30 and still ranged without issue. A friend of mine uses a Sig Kilo2000 and at 15 or colder it does not range so he keeps tucked in his jacket so it stays warm. I think the Kilo manual shows a operating temp window and 15 was the low side of it.

 

[pell1203]

Just as an FYI. The Leica 1600-B manual states its operating range is from 14 - 131 F degrees.

 

[bucklowery]

I was having similar issues with my Leica 1600 on a trip to Kansas much colder than the usual Florida weather. Turns out I had a bad pack of batteries. It was a two pack. Tested it again with new battery and all is well. Left the rf outside all night for three nights in 20 degree weather just to be sure. All is well now


Thanks

Buck