LRF - on Bino’s/spotters or Scope?

[tarponhead]

I’m in two minds - is a laser range finder best on your binoculars or on your scope?

I ask because binoculars with LRF are significantly more expensive, than those without. I have started using an Alpex 4K lite and really like the LRF function, but I know that scanning with a scope is generally frowned upon.

I have a Swarovski monocular that has a range finder and it’s good, but x7 mag and heavy, so I find I prefer my 8x42 Vortex Razor binoculars faster and more revealing for assessing a potential target deer.

So which is best? Assess the target and if suitable, range it with the scope? I will get an Alpex 4K soon to join the Lite and reckon it will supersede any desire (and cost) to combine bino’s with LRF.

However, am I missing something, as lots of you have gone the combined and expensive route of LRF binoculars/spotters?

 

[Tim.243]

I’m in two minds - is a laser range finder best on your binoculars or on your scope?

I ask because binoculars with LRF are significantly more expensive, than those without. I have started using an Alpex 4K lite and really like the LRF function, but I know that scanning with a scope is generally frowned upon.

I have a Swarovski monocular that has a range finder and it’s good, but x7 mag and heavy, so I find I prefer my 8x42 Vortex Razor binoculars faster and more revealing for assessing a potential target deer.

So which is best? Assess the target and if suitable, range it with the scope? I will get an Alpex 4K soon to join the Lite and reckon it will supersede any desire (and cost) to combine bino’s with LRF.

However, am I missing something, as lots of you have gone the combined and expensive route of LRF binoculars/spotters?

Never used or needed one as over the years I have mapped out what is how far and if it is too far get closer.
Not many fields you can shoot 360 deg so a lot of shooting will be in a known direction (for good back stops)
I clocked 2 fallow last night and put in 350 plus yds using a dogs leg for straight line cover. Clonked one at 180 paces back to where I shot it.

Let your eyes be your guide and your balls be the plum bob

 

[paul dillon]

I would rather scan the area using bino's with or without LRF for obvious safety reasons then use your scope with LRF to range the animal you a intend to shoot

 

[tarponhead]

Good advice - I know I’m crap at guessing ranges, so I tend to calibrate myself using lRF, except in woods where I know the ground and don’t let it bother me - no chance of a rangy shot, even if I wanted to. This is more for foxes, but possibly for fallow in big fields.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Range finding binoculars are very handy. You can spy deer at say 600 yds and then work out how best to close the gap. I also use the rangefinder a lot when shooting at targets to input the range into Strelok Pro.

Regards

JCS

 

[foxinmad]

My Swarovski ELR's are in Austria just now for repair and hopefully be back in the next couple of weeks.
I was out yesterday and missed having them there with me, had an old pair of binos with me so I could scan but missed the range finder.
I have got used to having binos with the range finder built in and can't see me changing that.
Warranty only lasts so long with the electronics inside them that's the problem, my ones are 7 years old bought new and are in for repair at Swarovski and got a bill for over a couple of hundred quid.
On the invoice it stated no warranty or good will gesture for repair.

 

[Jagged77]

For ranging a shot it’s best to have the LRF on the rifle scope, especially with an Alpex with its ballistic calculation feature. For general spotting then on bino’s or thermal. Sometimes I carry a small dedicated LRF too just for quick checks, I’m not all that big a fan of the one built into my thermal.

 

[Tim.243]

Range finding binoculars are very handy. You can spy deer at say 600 yds and then work out how best to close the gap. I also use the rangefinder a lot when shooting at targets to input the range into Strelok Pro.

Regards

JCS

A good friend had 2.2k of swro rf bins and was standing with me looking at a field we were planning to shoot for pigeons he proceeded to ping where they were dropping into!
A couple came past on a different line and I asked would he take them on (as a shot) no he said as they are too far, how do you know that?
Well they just are! then looked at me pointing to his RF bins and laughing then put them away

 

[viking90]

I use the bushnell LRF binos and really like them. I got the new fusion X version under warranty but I wouldn't be without them. I really like the look of the new sig 6k and 10k but you have to be aware magnets in your bino harness can be a problem for the internal compass on the higher end ones that have such things

 

[Pellet Pinger]

I have 2 Zulus and 2 Alpex 4k all of them are non LRF versions as personally i don’t see the need for an LRF or ballistic calculator on a scope even for shooting rabbits with the 22lr, i spot and range with a thermal with built in LRF so work off holdovers like we always have. That way i can keep my rifle slung on my shoulder to range something rather than having to turn the scope on twiddle buttons etc plus you have the LRF capability regardless of which rifle you take out of the cabinet.

 

[NullMac]

Depends on what you are doing,

If you are on the open hill then lrf binos are good cos you can work out the range you will have if you get yourself into various positions.

In woodland rifle would be fine or on the thermal. Binos fine too.

Rifle is very very good if you are in on a group as you can work out shooting options and possibly holds for second shots rather than lrf. If the group settles after the first shot then you don’t have to come off the scope never mind the gun to get a solution if you want to rerange.

If like me most of it is in woodland and they will leg it after the first shot I often think that lrf on thermal would be good as I would not really need the binos at all.

 

[Leec6.5]

I’m in two minds - is a laser range finder best on your binoculars or on your scope?

I ask because binoculars with LRF are significantly more expensive, than those without. I have started using an Alpex 4K lite and really like the LRF function, but I know that scanning with a scope is generally frowned upon.

I have a Swarovski monocular that has a range finder and it’s good, but x7 mag and heavy, so I find I prefer my 8x42 Vortex Razor binoculars faster and more revealing for assessing a potential target deer.

So which is best? Assess the target and if suitable, range it with the scope? I will get an Alpex 4K soon to join the Lite and reckon it will supersede any desire (and cost) to combine bino’s with LRF.

However, am I missing something, as lots of you have gone the combined and expensive route of LRF binoculars/spotters?

Zero .1” high then you don’t need one

 

[Tim.243]

Zero .1” high then you don’t need one

The pinks are coming, hang on I will get my Range Finder...fiddle fiddle **** the battery is flat, no problem they have gone over lol

 

[Cris]

Zero .1” high then you don’t need one

But but but I want them!
In all seriousness yes that has worked for me for many years.
Since changing my scope to one with a BT, I started using a hand held LRF. Problem was I then had, thermal, bins and an LRF. So I started looking reducing the clutter.
Wont be without the thermal so that leaved the LRF and Bins. Then I also questioned the need for a 42mm objective lend on the bins having spent years travelling in africa using 8x32 to save weight.
Now have a pair of LRF 8x32 bins and just the thermal.

 

[Leec6.5]

But but but I want them!
In all seriousness yes that has worked for me for many years.
Since changing my scope to one with a BT, I started using a hand held LRF. Problem was I then had, thermal, bins and an LRF. So I started looking reducing the clutter.
Wont be without the thermal so that leaved the LRF and Bins. Then I also questioned the need for a 42mm objective lend on the bins having spent years travelling in africa using 8x32 to save weight.
Now have a pair of LRF 8x32 bins and just the thermal.

In my opinion that’s far too much complication that’s required!

Put by all means crack on any which way you seem to defined comfortable I’m still a firm believer of 1 inch high hassle free 4 legged fuzzy fuzzy Jahad!

 

[tarponhead]

Zero .1” high then you don’t need one

Which is what I do just now. So I am rapidly concluding that it won’t add much to my hunting deer, but the ballistic drops for rim fire in my Alpex 4k lite are handy - especially loopy .22lr - so I can spend the savings/cost avoidance on more hunts and not more kit!

My existing go-to LRF Is a mini Leica Rangemaster which is handy for unfamiliar ground, and is small and light enough to not get in the way.

How long before D/N digital scopes calculate wind drift as well….?

 

[Leec6.5]

Which is what I do just now. So I am rapidly concluding that it won’t add much to my hunting deer, but the ballistic drops for rim fire in my Alpex 4k lite are handy - especially loopy .22lr - so I can spend the savings/cost avoidance on more hunts and not more kit!

My existing go-to LRF Is a mini Leica Rangemaster which is handy for unfamiliar ground, and is small and light enough to not get in the way.

How long before D/N digital scopes calculate wind drift as well….?

Referred her to my post above , all too complicated then it needs to be

 

[tarponhead]

But but but I want them!
In all seriousness yes that has worked for me for many years.
Since changing my scope to one with a BT, I started using a hand held LRF. Problem was I then had, thermal, bins and an LRF. So I started looking reducing the clutter.
Wont be without the thermal so that leaved the LRF and Bins. Then I also questioned the need for a 42mm objective lend on the bins having spent years travelling in africa using 8x32 to save weight.
Now have a pair of LRF 8x32 bins and just the thermal.

This, exactly, is the issue I was trying to solve. This happened to me with angling as well - from hand-me-down kit to mountains of the best kit, now to very little, but only what works. In truth though, it’s great to be able select what you need for the day and leave the rest behind.

 

[Leec6.5]

Been there, wasted the money on fishing stuff now like my

This, exactly, is the issue I was trying to solve. This happened to me with angling as well - from hand-me-down kit to mountains of the best kit, now to very little, but only what works. In truth though, it’s great to be able select what you need for the day and leave the rest behind.

Been there wasted the money on fishing stuff now like my stalking I have gear that has a use that is practical and is good quality, buy once cry once by twice learn the bloody hard way

What you have to remember is Boys batteries run out glass doesn’t

 

[tarponhead]

I put my Delta Titanium back on my .17hmr and zero’d it - shooting 0.5 MOA groups, so the glass will stay, even with max mag x9. At last light I could still see into the wood, so that’ll do for me, for now. I’m saving the Alpex lite for a .223 set up, if D&C Police grant my variation request. The best of both worlds!