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problems with my new leica

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4x4man514 View Drop Down
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    Posted: September/02/2009 at 23:16
i recently bought a leica 1200 rangefinder and so far am not impressed. i was watching a field that was about 7-800 yds wide. there were several dozen wild hogs in the field and i couldnt get a range on any of them. i couldnt even get a lock on of any of the trees on the other side. am i expecting too much from a $600 rangefinder? or do you think there may be a problem with the rangefinder? ive never had one before and i thought i would hear yalls opinion before i contacted the manufacturer.
 
thanks alot
 
kevin
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 09:16
It sounds like something is wrong.  I have ranged a deer at over 800 yards.  Tree's and bushes at beyond 1200.  I would call Leica and talk to them about it, it don't sound right to me.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 18:03
Mine seems to be sensitive to atmospheric conditions. If it's very hot out,and there is a lot of mirage, I can't range things as far. Other than that, I'd check the battery, if that is not a problem, I'd say you have something amiss in your Leica. With good batteries I'm good out to 1200 yards, unless it is very hot.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 19:16
If they were black pigs that may not be to far off. Not many range finders work well on black objects. Black absorbs light rather than reflect it. Try ranging a bush near the hogs. Black cows are very hard to range also. This is the drawback of the laser range finders. They have problems ranging in fog and mist also. The 1200 they state is from a reflective target. My Leica does very well on most any other objects but black.  It has worked more consistently than either the Nikon or the Bushnell in side by side trials that I have done.

Edited by 3_tens - September/03/2009 at 19:19
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 4x4man514 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2009 at 07:32
thanks for the replies! they were black pigs but as i said before i couldnt get a range on anything on the other side of the field. even where i knew it couldnt be over a couple of hundred yards. :(
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NV Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/05/2009 at 00:01

I would check with Leica... I have a 1200 LRF and it ranges all types of critters at those ranges.  There might be a glitch with that unit.  I love mine and like the commercial says, "I don't leave home without it!"  NV Hunter

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/05/2009 at 01:00
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

It sounds like something is wrong.  I have ranged a deer at over 800 yards.  Tree's and bushes at beyond 1200.  I would call Leica and talk to them about it, it don't sound right to me.


+1

I've had mine for at three seasons now. The only real issue I've had with my CRF 1200 is trying to range those tree's and bushes beyond 1200 yards in the late afternoon in 95+ degree weather. When that happens the accuracy drops down to around 900+ yards; as it cools down, the range finder is back to normal. As for batteries, I change 'em once every year before the start of deer season. With ranging different color objects, I find ranging the yellow VW bug down the street from my house an issue because I can't read the digits. :>) I don't recall black being a problem for me but from what Lile (3_tens) said, it's very possible. Other that that, I can't remember any other negatives I've come across so far with my unit. I'd buy another one in a heart beat.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/05/2009 at 20:30
I was actually out hiking today and ranged a black cow at almost 800 yards.  I had never heard of black being harder to range, I guess it would make sense though.  Maybe I hit it just right or hit to the side of it.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/05/2009 at 23:34
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

I was actually out hiking today and ranged a black cow at almost 800 yards.  I had never heard of black being harder to range, I guess it would make sense though.  Maybe I hit it just right or hit to the side of it.  


Cool!!! I didn't recall there being a problem range finding with black objects.

From experience I do know black probably absorbs heat the best that's for sure; I'll never own a black boat again. Wink




Edited by mike650 - September/07/2009 at 13:48
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 13:47
What model 1200 do you have?  Is it the latest verson that looks like this?
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 4x4man514 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/07/2009 at 15:44
yes it is. it looks just like that.
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 4x4man514 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/10/2009 at 22:37
well i called leica yesterday and they really didnt tell me much, just to send it in which i did today. im sure it has to be faulty, i tried it again with a new battery and couldnt range a white tractor trailer at about 500 yds. or anything for that matter. so well see what they do about it! thanks guys!
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/11/2009 at 10:23
Something has to be wrong, I have used 5 or 6 of them now and they all worked very well.  Hopefully they will get you fixed up.  Keep us posted, we like to know how companies treat their customers.  
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ba_50 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/17/2010 at 12:03
My first LRF 1200 wouldn't range worth a darn so it was replaced. This one is about 2 years old and isn't too great either. It will occassionally range a big white or silver building at 1000 yards. In order to laser what I paced off as 1000 yard target turned out to be 1050. To do that I had to get midway between to get a reading off a truck and target. I just assume there are a few exceptional ones and the rest are so so. I get tired of returning things, so that was that.
Let us know how your replacement works out, but I wouldn't expect much.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 4x4man514 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2010 at 22:31
they never told me anything about mine , i just got it back in the mail one day. i checked the serial and it wasnt the one i sent in. it seems to work bettr but i havent used it that much. i THINK its ok now
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/18/2010 at 23:20
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

Something has to be wrong, I have used 5 or 6 of them now and they all worked very well.  Hopefully they will get you fixed up.  Keep us posted, we like to know how companies treat their customers.  


+1

3 years and zero problems with my crf1200; no reason to use Leica CS yet.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ba_50 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 06:56
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I would suggest finding a light colored two story building and see if you get a readout at the advertised 1200 yards on a sunny and overcast day.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 07:37
I would suggest to do the reading in the morning and not during the sunniest/hottest part of the day.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 4x4man514 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 13:39
last year i think i was able to range a treeline at  about 1050 yds but it took me quite a few tries, so i think its ok i just havent had a chance to try to range too many animals.
thanks, Kevin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ba_50 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/19/2010 at 17:31
Trees don't reflect the beam well. Try a building like I said.
Shouldn't have to pick the best conditions either. It either will or it won't.
I used to watch lots of posts on these rangefinders trying do decide, and lots of people seemed dissappointed, be it Leica or Bushnell.
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