Choosing a Rangefinder
The presence of a rangefinder is not mandatory, but it is highly desirable. This is because, for many types of ammunition at long distances, often over 300 meters, it is important to know the distance with an accuracy of up to 20 meters for trajectory calculation.
The most common mistake among hunters in Kyrgyzstan is confusion about distances; real distances are always greater than those estimated by eye. For this reason, without a rangefinder, determining the true distance in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan is extremely difficult. From the experience of conducted hunts, an important property of a rangefinder is its lightweight and the ability to measure distances of 700-900 meters from passive objects (large rocks, piles of stones). These properties can only be tested in natural conditions; in practice, we found that many devices accurately measure the distance to a flat iron fence at 1000 meters or more, but unfortunately, they are unable to measure the distance to a tree at 350 meters.
The time it takes to determine the distance with rangefinders often depends on the range; for example, at distances up to 200 meters, this time is less than 1 second, while determining distances of 300-450 meters can take up to 2-2.5 seconds, and naturally, distances over 500 meters take more than 4-8 seconds. Moreover, the cheaper the model, the longer this time tends to be. The air temperature also affects the measurement time. Often, this can be negative temperatures down to -20 degrees, which adversely affects the batteries. And in turn, this affects the accuracy and speed of distance measurement. It is clear that waiting 20 seconds for the device to determine the distance is often not feasible.
The ability of rangefinders to measure distance is not dependent on the material they are made from; more often, they are made of plastic with rubber, but there are also metalized cases, all of which affects the weight, which must always be minimized for mountain hunting.
When transporting in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, we recommend keeping the rangefinder in a convenient place from which it can be quickly retrieved; typically, the factory packaging with a belt attachment is completely unsuitable. In this case, a high-set chest pocket is universal (because when shooting from a prone position, it can be damaged on the waist belt).
To quickly access the rangefinder, it is convenient to have a pocket with a flap and Velcro closure. In warm weather, it is possible to carry the rangefinder in internal chest pockets, but for winter hunts, this method is not suitable. This is because, with a sharp temperature drop, the optics can fog up, and the rangefinder will not work. Therefore, carrying it in an external chest pocket will smooth out temperature fluctuations.
Every rangefinder uses power sources; for this purpose, we recommend using high-capacity alkaline batteries. In addition to the standard set installed in the rangefinder, it is necessary to have two more. They should be placed in an internal pocket or a warm place to prevent loss of capacity.
Before actually going on hunts, it is necessary to learn how to use the rangefinder, especially for models with many settings. This way, when the need arises to measure the distance, there will be no desire to read the manual.
The most advanced solution is a hybrid binocular with rangefinder functions; the cost of such rangefinders remains quite high, but from the perspective of weight optimization, in high-altitude conditions, especially in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, when it is necessary to quickly assess trophy parameters and shooting distance, there is no better option.
Text: Administration of the company Extreme Travel
