Interesting story about rangefinding

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cdn shooter

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Sorry to the mods if this is in the wrong forum.


So I head out tonight to do some longish range shooting 600m or so. I set up a milk jug at an unknown range, headed one ridge over and ranged to find my shot. I used a bushnell 1500 first but it wouldn't range the target. It did range to within what I though was about 60m. It came up with 605m a couple times. I then did a mil calculation, this gave me 540m. I then set up for 650 and let loose, failing to connect with 9 rounds. I made some small adjustments mostly for wind (5-7km to the left) but nothing. My last round I figured what the hell and set up for 540m, set windage like the first shot and WHAM! nailed it.

SO..... My question is what do you guys use to determine range way out there? I owned a swaro 8x32 for a year and I found it was no better than the bushnell.
 
Depending on the situation I use either a GPS (if I'm at the target first) or best guess viewing through the scope.

Steve
 
I dont use a gps to find range, I want to practise what I would encounter in the field. However I do spend time on known range shooting at the local 500m range.

What I'm looking for is a solution to accurately determine range on small objects out to 1500m or beyond.
 
I have a Leica 1600 & a Bushnell 1200 that i use to compare when i am target shooting at unknown ranges.

If i am shooting beyond the range of those units then i use GPS and have access to a survey grade unit that will give me accurate reading to within 16 cm.

I use my Iphone to measure angle of shot and calculate the drop with the ballistic software.

Lastly i use a Kestrel 3000 to give me the pressure, wind and humidity.
 
cdn shooter said:
I dont use a gps to find range, I want to practise what I would encounter in the field. However I do spend time on known range shooting at the local 500m range.

What I'm looking for is a solution to accurately determine range on small objects out to 1500m or beyond.
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A GPS is only good providing you can get to the target area, like in your milk jug shoot. I use it when target shooting or varmit hunting when I can survey the area before the shoot making note of distances of landmarks in a given area. Beyond that its best guess (from scope view) and adjustment based on bullet impact.

Steve
 
Swaro and Leica rangefinders.

You have to range a 'target' that is a good size relative to the laser.

No use trying to read a pop can at 1000yds and say the rangefinder is crap.

Range the mound it is sitting on and life it good.

Jerry
 
I use the Swaro range finder and have good results with it. I usually setup my target with a large white board (30x25") beside it to range off. However, in the winter time with snow on the ground I can forget about any accurate reading beyond 600 yards. When the target is way out there I use a combination of range finder, mil calc and experience to setup the scope.
 
Ranging a milk jug at 540 or 600 or 200 yards for that matter will be tough on most laser economical range finders, most of the laser range finders run at ~600-900nm, the plastic jug will have a Shi* load of absorption and not reflect enough light to get a measurement, the filters in a good range finder will show a "no reading" rather than giving a bogus reading.

If you just shoot at shinny things it will work much better!

Your mil calculation’s when done properly will not lie!

But to answer your question, I shoot using both a laser and mil for distance, you have to pick and choose your days and targets for the laser rangefinders.

I use a Leica1600 and a Bushnell ARC600 laser rangefinder

MM
 
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It really sounds like there aren't any really quick, reliable methods of finding range without knowing exactly how tall your target is. I do wonder about the ultra high end rangfinders by companys like Newcon though.

I think Im going to put the lasers away for a while and work on getting the mil system dialed.
 
A quick read of the top end Newcon Manual might shed some light onto the rangefinder abilities (Page 14 and 15).

cdn shooter said:
It really sounds like there aren't any really quick, reliable methods of finding range without knowing exactly how tall your target is. I do wonder about the ultra high end rangfinders by companys like Newcon though.

I think Im going to put the lasers away for a while and work on getting the mil system dialed.
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Leupold range finder. To break the boredom of long drives , I pick an object down the highway and guess distance then use the odometer, now the gps to verify. I'm quite accurate, people gasp in awe (yeah right) It is a great game for the kids, rewarding excellence is optional and it can help develope their hunting skills for the future.
 
Re: ranging with mildots, I wonder that sort of accuracy can be reasonably expected, when the size of the reference object is known? My SWAG is about 10%, possibly 5% under ideal conditions, but I admit I have not done this much. Are regular mildot users able to consistently range with better accuracy than this?
 
Interesting products from Vectronix Vector IV, are they open for general public in Canada. Does anyone know who sell these in Canada/US?
 
I would be most interested in a spotting scope/laser range finder with a mil-dot reticle. I think a quality piece of equipment like this would be a great tool for spotting, practicing range estimation and mounted on a tri-pod it should give fairly accurate ranges via the laser. Does anyone know of such a product?
 
datatools said:
I would be most interested in a spotting scope/laser range finder with a mil-dot reticle. I think a quality piece of equipment like this would be a great tool for spotting, practicing range estimation and mounted on a tri-pod it should give fairly accurate ranges via the laser. Does anyone know of such a product?
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I agree 100%. I think there are still a lot of room for improvement to what is currently being offered in the shooting market.
 
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