laser range finding scope

jnicholson · 10-31-2007, 03:41 PM

I got to shoot a 4 x 12 x 42 laser range finding scope today at Clark Rifles. I've never used a BDC - Bullet Drop Compensating turret before and after I sighted the scope in at the hundred yard range I moved over to the big range and put the recommended turret on for my ammo and turned it up to 200 yards and then 300 yards and it worked great. Theoretically it should have worked but I'm one of those Bubbas that has to do it myself. All you do is push a remote button on your fore stock and the yardage lights up near the top of your view through the scope. Then you dial the top turret to what ever yardage it says and point dead on. There are also mill dots on the reticle so that you can compensate for windage or running shots in a hunting situation.

That was a fun lunch break.
Now I'm set to go shoot some fur with it.

Two new great toys this year, first the Butt Out and now this scope!!!!

huntinfool · 10-31-2007, 04:08 PM

Can't bring it to Oregon!

stlhdr1 · 10-31-2007, 04:19 PM

That's what I want to get...

Keith

jnicholson · 10-31-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Can't bring it to Oregon!

I'm looking for the verbage on that in the Oregon regs, specifically for centerfire. Can anyone help me with that ???... page number etc.

baltz526 · 10-31-2007, 09:23 PM

i think you can, just not on a bow. but it is an interesting comment. page 32 about 1/4 way down left colume lazer light is prohibited. a range finder is projecting a beam, but i think the law was passed for lazer sights. but it covers a lazer range finder built into a sighting devise. so i would say it is not legal to hunt with in oregon

jnicholson · 11-01-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baltz526

i think you can, just not on a bow. but it is an interesting comment. page 32 about 1/4 way down left colume lazer light is prohibited. a range finder is projecting a beam, but i think the law was passed for lazer sights. but it covers a lazer range finder built into a sighting devise. so i would say it is not legal to hunt with in oregon

You know I always thought it was illegal in Oregon and had no intention of using it there. When huntin fool brought it up "can't bring it to Oregon" I thought I'd just look it up since we do have a lease out there that I could use.

I couldn't find any restriction in those regs regarding centerfire. Does Oregon have an additional set of rules (like Wa WACs) that maybe says something about it?

Or are we all just assuming?

There's bound to be an Oregon gamie on ifish ... speak up.

Any centerfire WA restrictions I should know about?

John

Hunt'nFish · 11-01-2007, 07:25 AM

Spendy toys those are. John is Bushnell working on one? Those Swarvarski's are too many $$ for me.
Build one into an Elite series and I might have to take a look.

Personally I don't see what the big deal about prohibiting them. Doesn't make much differance to the animal wether I pull a rangfinder from my pocket or if it's part of my scope. The end result is still the same.....and ethical & humane one shot kill.

I'm sure telescopic sites were thought unfair and unsportsman like at one time.
Hunt'nFish

Jeremy · 11-01-2007, 07:32 AM

Page 32: left collumn:

No person shal: Use an artificial light for hunting any wildlife, except raccoon, bobcat, and opossum provided the light is not cast from or attached to a motor vehicle. This includes laser sights or any other sights which project a beam to the target. This does not include battery operated sights which only light the reticle.

Lucky Guy · 11-01-2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Page 32: left collumn:

No person shal: Use an artificial light for hunting any wildlife, except raccoon, bobcat, and opossum provided the light is not cast from or attached to a motor vehicle. This includes laser sights or any other sights which project a beam to the target. This does not include battery operated sights which only light the reticle.

Looks like sloppy drafting to me. It looks like what they meant to say is you cannot "use an artificial light, including a laser, to illuminate any part of the animal while hunting." I'll call and see what they say if there's no one pipes in here from odfw.

MossyOarReelCreek · 11-01-2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Page 32: left collumn:

No person shal: Use an artificial light for hunting any wildlife, except raccoon, bobcat, and opossum provided the light is not cast from or attached to a motor vehicle. This includes laser sights or any other sights which project a beam to the target. This does not include battery operated sights which only light the reticle.

Here is Washingtons reg on the same topic:

11. Using night vision and laser sights
It is illegal to hunt deer or elk with the aid
Of infrared night vision equipment or with
Laser sights (not to include range finders)
Capable of projecting a beam onto the target,
While in possession or control of a firearm, bow
And arrow, or crossbow.

Teton · 11-01-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Page 32: left collumn:

No person shal: Use an artificial light for hunting any wildlife, except raccoon, bobcat, and opossum provided the light is not cast from or attached to a motor vehicle. This includes laser sights or any other sights which project a beam to the target. This does not include battery operated sights which only light the reticle.

Where do some get the idea that lazer rangefinding scopes are prohibited by the above regulation? Don't read it so broadly.

"Artificial lights" are prohibited, including "lazer sights which project a beam to the target." Scopes are optical sights. Rangefinders are not sights. A rangefinding riflescope (with an optical reticle, not a downrange lazer sight dot) does not fall within this prohibition. Rangefinding riflescopes do not project a beam (of visible light) to the target.

jnicholson · 11-01-2007, 11:56 AM

Hey,
We need some enforcement help on-line here.

So far, I'm not reading anything that clearly restricts using a laser rangefinding riflescopes on centerfire rifles for predator hunting in Wa or Or.

For those of you who are not familiar with them ... they do not project a beam of light that illuminates the target. They operate like a hand held rangefinder with the range projected on the glass as you look through the scope. No red dot is projected.

huntinfool · 11-01-2007, 12:08 PM

Rifle Scopes with Laser Rangefinders

Currently it is illegal to use a laser sight or any other sight which projects a beam to the target for
hunting in Oregon. Under this regulation the use of scopes which incorporate an internal laser
rangefinder is illegal. The department will be considering whether or not to propose changing
this regulation.

Found the above here:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources...g%20Topics.pdf

Teton · 11-01-2007, 12:32 PM

Thanks for posting that Huntinfool!

I've disagreed with gubment lawyers before, and I disagree with them on this issue. If the only language they are relying upon is that quoted above, they are reading it too broadly. Its a pretty close call, however. It would be nice to see a change, or clarification of the regulations. They are ambiguous on this precise issue. The Government always tends to read regulatory provisions broadly anyway. As new-fangled equipment comes out, the regulations get reviewed periodically.

Obviously, my advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

jnicholson · 11-01-2007, 01:26 PM

I just got off the phone with Dan Boes who is in charge of Washington Hunter Education and works with enforcement.

He said in Washington for centerfire rifles for predator and big game the laser rangefinder riflescope is ok. No surprises in the WACs.

Not on muzzleloaders however, that was clear, bows either :shocked:. he he

He was surprised about Oregon and figured that that rule would be changed.

After telling him about my experience with the scope, he is anxious to get one too:smile: Man who wouldn't? It looks to me like the best of the best for calling coyotes.

I also got a hot lead on a Mt Lion

! Today is a very good day.

It's going to happen. Here kitty kitty.:grin:

John

Abalone · 11-01-2007, 01:40 PM

I want one of those for my bow !

ehunter · 11-01-2007, 01:44 PM

This is probably the reason you can't use one. The same thing for lighted sights on bows. If they allowed that on bows the season would become a 2 week afair with every taking 100 yards shots. Nope keep them off bows, I like to have the time to hunt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abalone

I want one of those for my bow !

jnicholson · 11-01-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehunter

This is probably the reason you can't use one. The same thing for lighted sights on bows. If they allowed that on bows the season would become a 2 week afair with every taking 100 yards shots. Nope keep them off bows, I like to have the time to hunt

speaking of the time to hunt ... muzzleloaders may be in for a big shock when the seasons come out next year. a little birdie told me there are some big rumblings about restriction the time on those seasons in WA because of the enourmous amount of new muzzleloaders hunting now in these areas.

Bummer.

BTW it would be easier to mount a toaster on your bow than this scope.
:grin::grin::grin::grin::grin: of course you would need a long extension cord for your toaster, but it would be nice to warm up ..... oh never mind!

THAT BOW COMMENT WAS A JOKE, however, it is illegal if a dumber Bubba than I was to try it on game.

ehunter · 11-01-2007, 02:32 PM

With a rifle scope it is not much different than having little 0 in screen or marks that indicate the range that doesn't bother me. I maybe wrong but I think they are working on those kind of bow range finders now? Or they may even be out there.

In washington you can hunt all the seasons? So if you don't get a bow elk can you use the same tag in the muzzel loader season?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnicholson

speaking of the time to hunt ... muzzleloaders may be in for a big shock when the seasons come out next year. a little birdie told me there are some big rumblings about restriction the time on those seasons in WA because of the enourmous amount of new muzzleloaders hunting now in these areas.

Bummer.

BTW it would be easier to mount a toaster on your bow than this scope.
:grin::grin::grin::grin::grin: of course you would need a long extension cord for your toaster, but it would be nice to warm up ..... oh never mind!

THAT BOW COMMENT WAS A JOKE, however, it is illegal if a dumber Bubba than I was to try it on game.

10Key · 11-01-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehunter

With a rifle scope it is not much different than having little 0 in screen or marks that indicate the range that doesn't bother me. I maybe wrong but I think they are working on those kind of bow range finders now? Or they may even be out there.

In washington you can hunt all the seasons? So if you don't get a bow elk can you use the same tag in the muzzel loader season?

No. In Washington you have to chose your weapon (therefore seasons) for both deer and elk.

jnicholson · 11-01-2007, 09:02 PM

There is a "Multi-Season Permit" drawing in the works, see page 6 of the WA Big Game Regs. Apparantly there will be more info coming about it Feb-March 2008.

It looks like a lucky lottery type of drawing.

Wouldn't that be nice to have?

adobe wall · 11-02-2007, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehunter

This is probably the reason you can't use one. The same thing for lighted sights on bows. If they allowed that on bows the season would become a 2 week afair with every taking 100 yards shots. Nope keep them off bows, I like to have the time to hunt

nah, not really.....

My former home state has very few restrictions on archery tackle. The average deer is killed at around 10 yards. Yes, there are people who can shoot farther (and do) because they practice a lot but in real life, in the woods, it's still tough to actually hold the bow steady when you are looking through the sights at a live animal a long ways away.

I killed a lot of deer with a bow but rarely took shots over about 20-25 yards. Deer move a lot and a lot can happen when the time of flite is stretched out with a long shot.

Lasers, scopes, lighted pins- it all just helps the aiming part. The toughest part about bow hunting is "knee high windage" (nerves), critters that don't understand they need to stand still, and brush.

As for the rangefinding scopes, I was really surprised to read Oregon's interpretation of their law for the same reasons others have mentioned (no visible aiming point projected through the scope).

regards, aw

Abalone · 11-02-2007, 08:10 AM

Lighten up Dawgs, I was only Joshen you.

Range finder on a bow, Right....

It would only make sense to me on a long range shot ( 300 yards + ) with a rifle. In any case I couldn't afford one.]

LiveLarge · 11-02-2007, 12:16 PM

It seems to me that knowing the distance of your shot would lead to less wounded game. I personally have found that if I am taking a shot where I have to worry about bullet drop with my 25-06 I am probably shooting too far. I have killed animals that others have wounded from shooting too far, and in every case I hear something like "If I had known it was X # of yards I wouldn't have shot" This is why I have a range finder, and use it

toas243 · 11-02-2007, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveLarge

It seems to me that knowing the distance of your shot would lead to less wounded game. I personally have found that if I am taking a shot where I have to worry about bullet drop with my 25-06 I am probably shooting too far. I have killed animals that others have wounded from shooting too far, and in every case I hear something like "If I had known it was X # of yards I wouldn't have shot" This is why I have a range finder, and use it

Not true cause some people just want to shoot at any thing they see ,with their eyes ,even when they know the yardage

LiveLarge · 11-03-2007, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toas243

Not true cause some people just want to shoot at any thing they see ,with their eyes ,even when they know the yardage

Thats sad.

PIR8 Hook · 11-04-2007, 02:06 PM

I looked those puppies up for yote hunting on my Bushmaster Varmiter...OUCH!!!

LiveLarge · 11-04-2007, 02:34 PM

$800 and up. Looks like the Zeiss is the most expensive at around $3700.

My scope and range finder together (both Leupold) will run you over $850 easy.

I will stay where I am at. It took me a while to save up for this scope and if it lasts me as long as my dad has had his Leupold, I won't be looking for another for 20 years.