Need a new LRF some advice please UPDATE SPOKE WITH SIG

lancetkenyon said:
Do you want a good unit?
Or a good warranty?
The best warranty is one you never need.
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This! My oldest son gifted me a Leica 1600 in 2011, which still works today. IIRC, the warranty was 10 years. Without using the warranty, it has served me well in the last 13 years. I also expect this kind of life expectancy on this type of equipment.
 
DartonJager said:
Well my Sig Kilo 2000 (even with a new battery) display no longer is displaying most information including no more complete distance readings, only the last number and a partial of the second to the last. I plan on calling Sig on Monday but I have owned this LRF for well over 5 years probably closer to 8 years now so I don't know what if anything Sig is obligated by warranty to do for me. It was a very sudden onset issue as in 100% normal operation then problem.

The Sig 2000 Kilo has never been abused or even dropped or been submerged or gotten seriously wet the entire tine I have owned it.

I have now owned three LRF over the last 25+ years. First was a Bushnell 400 that just stopped working after at least 8-10 years. Then its replacement was a Bushnell 600 that after about 8-10 years no longer gave accurate or dependable readings. Then I bought a Sig Kilo 2000 and now it is malfunctioning.

I have read MANY MANY LRF reviews over the years and have seen a great many people comment recommending Vortex LRF's because of their forever warranty based on the fact odds are more likely than not a overwhelming majority of LRF will at some point as all three of mine did stop working and the LRF with short term warranties almost always stop working AFTER their warranty's expire.

So If Sig won't do much for me or is willing to fix it but it gives me a repair estimate of 50% the cost of a new LRF should I just say heck with it and buy a new LRF and based on warranty make it a Vortex this time?
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Three years ago I spent months agonizing over whether to by the Vortex Fury HD5000 AB or Sig Kilo 5K. In the end I went with the Vortex due to the unlimited lifetime warrantee and reported less finicky connectivity to the Kestrel 5700. I waited for them to go on sale and including tax and shipping, paid $1168.11. I have been very happy with them and would buy them again.

Unlike the glass and metal used in binoculars, lasers and the electronics associated with them are consumables, just like lightbulbs, and with time and use will "wear out" and need to be replaced. If you don't mind budgeting for new LRF every 5-10 years (YMMV), then there are many higher quality (and more expensive) options than the Vortex. I have heard good things about the Sigs and if they now have an unlimited lifetime warrantee, I would not hesitate to buy them.
 
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6.5x300 WBY said:
How do you like the gen 2?
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The glass is better than the Vortex, love the display. Menu navigation is easy and storage for 30 gun profiles. Wind function is nice and easy to use. All focus wheels are very smooth. Very fast ranges and drop solutions, much faster then Vortex Hd AB. That's about all I can say for now have not had a chance to really run them on some critters yet or at distance.
 
All said above, if the op wants a really good, dependable non-bino rf the Leica 2400 and 2700 are great LRFs.
 
elj1973 said:
The glass is better than the Vortex, love the display. Menu navigation is easy and storage for 30 gun profiles. Wind function is nice and easy to use. All focus wheels are very smooth. Very fast ranges and drop solutions, much faster then Vortex Hd AB. That's about all I can say for now have not had a chance to really run them on some critters yet or at distance.
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Thank you for your input. That's high on my list. Appreciate your time
 
I have a Revic BR4, Leica Geovid Pro laser range finding binoculars, and an Sig Kilo 2000 LRF (no ballistics). I previously had a Leupold TBR-1000 which I gave to my brother in law. I've also used the Gunwerks/Revic original BR2's, Kestrels with Hornady 4DOF, and the Revic BLR10b laser range finders at courses.

LRF is mature technology IF you do not need ballistics. Pick one at the price you can afford with the warranty you want. Any of the ones I've used worked well out farther than I shoot.

IF you want ballistics, and they fit your budget, I highly recommend the Revic BR4 or BLR10b. I think they are the easiest to use laser range finder with ballistics of those I've used. My Leicas binos have Applied Ballistics Elite ballistic calculator which is also good but not as easy to use IMO. I also really like the ability to switch from near/far ranging mode on the Revic's.

The lifetime warranty is excellent on those companies that have it. Like most things, if they don't die in the first year they seem to last a long time. My Nikon Laserforce range finding binos but the dust after one season.
 
OneHi said:
I deliberately avoided buying SIG brand optics with electronics because I felt the warranty sucked you don't even know if the 5 year warranty already expired when you buy them brand new based in serial numbers date of actual production not actual date of purchase however I do like their non electronic binoculars such as the Zulu 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s fantastic unconditional lifetime warranty I tried almost every single one of them. Of course had to use their warranty too which was almost Vortex-like in quick 1 to 2 week total turnaround time.
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To be honest I didn't consider Sigs LRF warranty at time of purchase. Just didn't. I am looking for just a well made dependable weather proof LRF with a back lit screen. I will use it for archery and rifle deer hunting as well as turkey hunting. Unless I am hunting private ground for deer my ranges due to public ground cartridge length limitations, shots will be 300 yards and under as I use a 450 Bushmaster and Bear Creek copper bullets in my reloads whos' MV is 2550fps.

My budget right now is must be under $275. Can't afford a bino/LRF combo, LRF only.
 
DartonJager said:
To be honest I didn't consider Sigs LRF warranty at time of purchase. Just didn't. I am looking for just a well made dependable weather proof LRF with a back lit screen. I will use it for archery and rifle deer hunting as well as turkey hunting. Unless I am hunting private ground for deer my ranges due to public ground cartridge length limitations, shots will be 300 yards and under as I use a 450 Bushmaster and Bear Creek copper bullets in my reloads whos' MV is 2550fps.

My budget right now is must be under $275. Can't afford a bino/LRF combo, LRF only.
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If you were happy with the Sig you had you might want to look at Amazon prime days starting tomorrow. You maybe able to get a Kilo 3k in your price range. I have ran multiple Leuplod RX's they worked really good for shooting 3d archery in bad conditions compared to my friends Vortex. He sold his right after that shoot and got a Leupold
 
Spoke with Sig a few minuets ago. Guy said he will send me an email, send him pics of the KILO 2K including the serial NO# and he will send me a replacement SIG KILO 3k FREE 100% absolutely free, just properly dispose of the old KILO 2K.

Now that's what I call customer service on a LRF that is at least eight years old and SIG is under no obligation to warranty it.
 
DartonJager said:
Spoke with Sig a few minuets ago. Guy said he will send me an email, send him pics of the KILO 2K including the serial NO# and he will send me a replacement SIG KILO 3k FREE 100% absolutely free, just properly dispose of the old KILO 2K.

Now that's what I call customer service on a LRF that is at least eight years old and SIG is under no obligation to warranty it.
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Best possible outcome.
 
kgarrett said:
Best possible outcome.
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Agree 100%. Was told by SIG if I replied to the Email same day I would have a new SIG 3K LRS in 5-7 days.
If I were blessed to be lucky enough to live west of the Mississippi in states where public hunting acres are measured in the millions not thousands of acres I could justify spending 3-4x more on a LRF or LRF/binos. But I hunted in units in Wyoming, just UNITS that had more acres of public hunting access than any state east of the Mississippi have I have ever hunted in. When auto INS for my two sons is now $3k+ a year $1k-$1600 for a LRF is tough to float.

Again thanks to all for the great helpful replies.
 
DartonJager said:
Agree 100%. Was told by SIG if I replied to the Email same day I would have a new SIG 3K LRS in 5-7 days.
If I were blessed to be lucky enough to live west of the Mississippi in states where public hunting acres are measured in the millions not thousands of acres I could justify spending 3-4x more on a LRF or LRF/binos. But I hunted in units in Wyoming, just UNITS that had more acres of public hunting access than any state east of the Mississippi have I have ever hunted in. When auto INS for my two sons is now $3k+ a year $1k-$1600 for a LRF is tough to float.

Again thanks to all for the great helpful replies.
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The Sig 2K I've got is a very nice unit. Ranges fast, easy to read display, and nice ergonomics. I went down the rabbit hole of ballistics and blew the budget lol.😂
 

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