Posted: 9/30/2015 12:12:32 AM EDT
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Radius LRF
Has anyone had the opportunity to play with one of these? I know they are pre-order right now, but surely someone here has some ins to get to demo one before release. Frank mentioned the Terrapin Vectronix in the SH video teaser. Maybe this will be a practical replacement for <$1K. 
Edit: I assume he was talking about the Terrapin when he mentioned the Vectronix. |
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So how do you know it is on target? If you zero it with the rifle scope it will only be on at that distance. Seems like a rail mounting, far away from the scope would make it worse. I cannot find a manual on their site for directions.Only could range with the scope set at the zero range then you would have to dial the scope. Seems like a gimmick that wont really work that well in actual use compared to a handheld.
Edit: I guess impractical is a better term than gimmick. I see now generalized directions for weapon mounted rangefinders, it says they need to be zeroed at 800 to 1000meters. So I guess you have to dial to 100yd zero on your rifle scope to range? Kind of like using a SFP scope and having to dial the mag level to the proper place to range. |
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i got to play with an early version a couple weeks ago while a friend was testing it. i have one on order as well.
it will take me some time to get used to the form factor and having more junk hanging off the already heavy rifle, but the unit worked exceptionally well, and was able to laze everything the PLRF 10 did. readings were within a yard. offhand, the obvious thing to do would be to not 'zero' it at all. instead, make it offset from your reticle by the same distance as your height over bore. that way, it's parallel and always off 2.4" or whatever. that will never make a difference as beam divergence is much bigger than that. although i think i will like using my PLRF 10C better, and i like being able to laze stuff without pointing a gun at it, and it does double duty as an observation device, i think support from vectronix won't be around forever and with such a ridiculously short warranty, the cost of repairs for a vectronix are probably more than a new unit from silencerco. so the PLRF is nice while it lasts, but I think I'll work pretty hard to get used to the new LRF. the actual reason i'm super-excited about this thing though, is that it will work in the dark a lot better than using a pvs14 behind the PLRF 10c. shooting in the dark is about to get a lot more practical. on a traditional stock, i think putting the unit on top of the scope is going to be the only way to go. using an EFR rail probably has too much flex, depending on how picky you are about hitting small targets. it would be nice to run it out there though. |
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Pigs, coyotes, and other critters are less safe at distance at night.
Played with it a little. Scan mode works pretty well, pulses every 1/2sec or so. Tagged some trees at 1456 yards consistently. With the radius mounted on the side rail the beam dispersion is mostly vertical. 
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Very nice!
How is it on smaller non-reflective targets at range? Do you think it will reliably range IPSC size steel >1KM? I assume you zeroed it parallel to the barrel, what distance did you zero it at and how far can you dial before you quit getting reliable readings? Since you said the way you have it mounted orients the beam vertically do you think it is more forgiving to changes in the reticles elevation? |
Thanks guys. I'm scared to try stuff new to the market  , but this has my attention. If it will range as reliably as the Terrapin, I see myself getting a Badger SLICK or Sphur Leupold ring. It would be nice to co-witness the LRF to the spotter for ELR.
I agree that this would be tits on a rifle to use at night. This is gonna cost me a lot more than the MSRP.  
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| If this thing can range 12" plates at 1000 in bright sunlight I'll buy one for sure. Attaching to a rifle doesnt interest me. My plan was to make a mount and attach it to the side of my spotter. Find target in scope. Put the reticle on it, hit range button, profit. |
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12" plates won't be a problem. I'll try to take a video this weekend for you.
i actually tried that years ago with a terrapin. couldn't get it to hold zero with the goofy tripod mount though. i will definitely be using the radius on the spotter most of the time, but do want the ability to run it on the gun. i ordered the spuhr A-0029 raptar adapter yesterday (this pic was just a joke. i don't actually run my spotter like this. mostly because i can barely lift it) 
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I was able to get behind a Radius at the range the other day. It worked very well and was +/-3 yards from a Leika out to 945 yards. Very stout construction with an aluminum body, the display will rotate 360 deg to accommodate different positioning on a rifle.
Down side is weight and no return to zero mounting Over all I was impressed. I still want to see what the beam looks like at night under NVG's before I plop down the cash. |
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I can try to get a through the scope pic with mine through a gen ii razor with a wp co-lr in front.
Mine is mounted on the left side rail. I thought I read that the beam dispersion is around .8x1.5-2 mrad and that sounds right from what I saw. With it mounted on the side rail the beam is vertical. I had it out last weekend, late afternoon with the sun at my back and ranged my dirt pile and 22" plate at 998 once. Couldn't range it again after that but the shady side of some hay bails at 870 was no problem repeatedly. Ranged the side of a tin barn at 1715 without issue after the sun was behind the treeline. I may not have it perfectly aligned and that could be part of why I had trouble ranging the plate. |
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a few days ago, i ranged a cellular antenna on a tower repeatedly at 1646 yd. today, i ranged 3 steel targets very quickly at 477, 534, 611 and got first round hits on each.
I've had hits on trees out past 2000. I really like it. I don't much care for the buttons though. |