Range finder recommendations

So now I’m looking at a rangefinder too.

I would be using it for PRS-style shooting, meaning I’d need it to accurately laser .5MIL steel targets out to say 1500yrds. Anyone have recommendations for what would work and have decent glass? I have a Kestrel but I don’t need another fancy device with Bluetooth.
 
I’m also wondering if it’s doable to combine binos / rangefinder and spotting scope: ex the Sig 3000. Can you use 10X binos as a decent spotting scope for other shooters or is 10X just not enough? Usually when I’m spotting for others I’m on my own rifle using my reticle to call shots. Some binos that range find AND mount to a tripod AND have good glass would be a win.
 
Tikka223 said:
I’m also wondering if it’s doable to combine binos / rangefinder and spotting scope: ex the Sig 3000. Can you use 10X binos as a decent spotting scope for other shooters or is 10X just not enough? Usually when I’m spotting for others I’m on my own rifle using my reticle to call shots. Some binos that range find AND mount to a tripod AND have good glass would be a win.
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You could use Sig K3000s to spot. I usually carry my spotting scope around for PRS/NRL matches and just pull out my K3000s to verify ranges but I've used them to spot in team field matches where there was no time to pull out a spotting scope. The RRS Cinch is a great way of mounting them to a tripod (that has a RRS/arca clamp) as it's low profile enough to still carry the binos in a bino harness.

There's a set of Steiner LRF binos (8x I believe) that also bluetooth to a Kestrel, have an etched mil reticle (nice for spotting) and most likely better glass than the Sigs but they also cost proportionately more. Even more if you want the 1535nm laser (invisible to NV and much better in rain/fog/snow).
 
rugbydave said:
You could use Sig K3000s to spot. I usually carry my spotting scope around for PRS/NRL matches and just pull out my K3000s to verify ranges but I've used them to spot in team field matches where there was no time to pull out a spotting scope. The RRS Cinch is a great way of mounting them to a tripod (that has a RRS/arca clamp) as it's low profile enough to still carry the binos in a bino harness.

There's a set of Steiner LRF binos (8x I believe) that also bluetooth to a Kestrel, have an etched mil reticle (nice for spotting) and most likely better glass than the Sigs but they also cost proportionately more. Even more if you want the 1535nm laser (invisible to NV and much better in rain/fog/snow).
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Ouch, those Steiners aren’t cheap!
 
I’ve run newcon units before. They work as advertised. There are lots of common spotters getting into the 3500 plus range, add 1500 or more for some range finders, and add a dash for convenience. I can see the numbers.
 
So what am I missing here?

I want an accurate LRF that’ll give me distances in meters to targets from 0-1500m. Seems like potently of stuff out there will do the trick without spending over 1000$. Seems like the big jump in money comes with binos or AB software. What is the big advantage of the LRF talking to my Kestrel? I have a Kestrel 5700 and it takes 2 seconds to input the target distance. For example, the Sig Kilo 2400ABS seems comparable to the Vortex Razor but adds the software for 500$. Is the money buying simplicity or is there more to it than that?
 
Tikka223 said:
I’m also wondering if it’s doable to combine binos / rangefinder and spotting scope: ex the Sig 3000. Can you use 10X binos as a decent spotting scope for other shooters or is 10X just not enough? Usually when I’m spotting for others I’m on my own rifle using my reticle to call shots. Some binos that range find AND mount to a tripod AND have good glass would be a win.
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You'd want to have a closer look at the Leica Geovid 3200.com. Awesome glass and good rangefinder. They are spendy though. The Sig Kilo 3000 would be a very close second, especially when their cost is considered. The geovids, like the kilo has on board ballistics, and will also link to a kestrel for a full AB solution. By using a customs curve in Leica's ballistic app I was able to get it to match my dope from the Kestrel.

To answer your question you just posted (which seemed to be 2 part)...the benefit of a RF talking to the Kestrel is simply economy of motion, and only needing to handle 1 device. Additionally, your firing solution is instantly displayed in the bino viewfinder. I guess it is entirely subjective on whether you see the value in that. Whether your RF has it's own ballistic solver built in (regardless of whether it talks to a kestrel or not) is a different thing. The Sigs are limited to 800yrds (i think) using the onboard AB lite. My Leicas will give me drop out to 1000yrds, which I tweaked to match AB nearly perfectly. Also, my Leicas have a built in environmental suite. Meaning that the Kestrel can be left at home for any real world hunting situation in my part of the world.

Just this weekend, even with the forest fire haze, I got a 3110yd reading off of a moving civilian helicopter.
 
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That’s all really good info but I think for my purposes it’s more a question of figuring out target distances and using my Kestrel to get my dope. Once I have the dope I can write it down on a target card and bounce between targets either in a stage or while plinking.
 
Then for your purpose, there’s definitely no point in shelling out the extra coin for a model with AB integration or an onboard solver.
 
CDNsldr said:
Then for your purpose, there’s definitely no point in shelling out the extra coin for a model with AB integration or an onboard solver.
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Got it. I’ll be happy if I can reliably get distances off 2MOA targets out to 1500M. I can’t see too many scenarios where I would need more than that. Seems like most newer LRFs should be able to pull that off. I have an older Leica that only does yards and it wouldn’t give me results past 800M this past weekend. Time to upgrade.
 
Tikka223 said:
So what am I missing here?

I want an accurate LRF that’ll give me distances in meters to targets from 0-1500m. Seems like potently of stuff out there will do the trick without spending over 1000$. Seems like the big jump in money comes with binos or AB software. What is the big advantage of the LRF talking to my Kestrel? I have a Kestrel 5700 and it takes 2 seconds to input the target distance. For example, the Sig Kilo 2400ABS seems comparable to the Vortex Razor but adds the software for 500$. Is the money buying simplicity or is there more to it than that?
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So there's a few things to unpack there.

Firstly, to get reliable ranging to 1500m, you generally need a "higher end" commercial LRF and at that point, you kinda end up with some stacked/redundant software/capability. Being as that you already have a Kestrel 5700, something like a Sig 2400BDX (not ABS) would give you good ranging abilities and the ability to link to your Kestrel (but not a full on-board AB suite)so you'd have the same capability as a Kilo 2400ABS but less cost (and no redundant software).

The advantage of the LRF binos (I have the Sigs K3000s but believe the Vortex are almost identical plus some software/feature improvements) is that target ID is improved with binos and 10x vs a 7x monocular and I also believe that the LRF receptor is bigger and therefore a bit "better". I've been able to consistently further with my K3000s than I could with my K2400BDX.

With regards to the ability to "link" a Kestrel to a LRF, it doesn't sound like it's particularly useful for what you're wanting to do. For your typical PRS/NRL-type match, there's really no benefit. That is a capability that really shines when you get into the type of matches (my favourite) where you have to locate, range and engage targets all on the clock. In those situations, having a LRF/binos that are linked is just a huge time saver and improvement to your workflow. Not only does your dope for each target show up in your binos as you range them it also populates the dope in your Kestrel, allowing you to very quickly build a range card.
 
Went with a Vortex Razor HD 4000. Now to wait for it to show up and see how it performs. Checked out lots of reviews and people had some good things to say about the glass.
 
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