NEWCON Rangefinders

[timeless61]

has anyone used Newcon rangefinders? can anyone tell me anything about them? i am only finding older threads. and no one really seemed to use them, has it changed since then?

 

[daveyj]

Newcon are way up the list as far as eyesafe lasers go they are powerful and have great range 1000-4000

the glass is not german and the reticles are not the best for fine pinpoint targets but they make up for it in that they seem to give a reading under more adverse conditions.

many of these eyesafe lasers are not good in direct sunlight or rain etc.

 

[Joel Russo]

Forget the Newcon, spend your money on the Swaro or Leica for the class 1 laser.

 

[timeless61]

what does "class 1" mean?

 

[jghoghunter]

Joel whats your reasoning for your reply. Why do you believe the swaro or leica is better? I have a leica and I'm not that impressed with it. Thanks Jess

 

[kcebcj]

I picked up a Newcon 1500 couple years ago. Seems like I paid around 225 for it. I have used it a lot under all kinds of conditions and will say out to 600-700 yards its bullet proof. Now I have cussed it in the bright sunlight but ranged some elk on a hill side at 1350 yards on an overcast day. Go figure. I would not hesitate to purchase this product again. I have no experience with the other Newcon models but if on par with the one I have they are probably pretty decent.

 

[yobuck]

any of the lazers for the civilian market, will let you down on certain days, or certain conditions. that said, i would agree with joel.

 

[Autorotate19]

I guess this is kinda off topic but what kind of rangefinder does the military use?

 

[NJS]

I guess this is kinda off topic but what kind of rangefinder does the military use?

The kind 99.9% of guys on this site can't afford... <wink>

Newcon products are Russian... some are good, but big and clunky... I tried a pair of stabelized binos a few years ago and they went belly up the second time I used them... So I have my doubts. (luckly I got a refund!)

I have been using my Leica LRF for years and it has never let me down.

NJS

 

[Joel Russo]

Joel whats your reasoning for your reply. Why do you believe the swaro or leica is better? I have a leica and I'm not that impressed with it. Thanks Jess

I base my opinion on personal experience.
A while back we had the opportunity to evaluate the Newcon class one, eye safe, lasers. If memory serves me correctly, we played with the 1500 and 2000 models. We took them in the field and gave them a "real world" shakedown. Simply put, my opinion of their "overall" performance is that your money is better spent on the Swaro or Leica. The Zeiss was not out at that time.
For the class one laser, easily packed for wilderness hunts, I use the Swaro... been using it for years. Depended on it for many Sheep hunts in Alaska. Have the Leica as a back up. We all know that the class one stuff has it's troubles in varying light conditions, but the Swaro has earned it's keep in my pack.
When packing in for dedicated long range hunting, or shooting extreme long range 2,000-3,000 yards, I use the Leica Laser Locator. It's similar to the Vector, but no longer available. Ranges 4,000-6,000 yards and cost over $10,000.

 

[Hicks]

I have had the 2000 model for two seasons now. It's the only one I've ever used extensively except for my dad's old Bushnell yardage pro 800. Seemed like a good combination of price and performance as I didn't want to drop the funds for the upper end finders from the other manufacturers.

The day I got it I ranged a cow at something over 900 yards in bright afternoon sun. That evening I ranged a reflective building at something over 2800 yards. The first antelope season my dad ranged a buck for me at about 950 on a slightly overcast day. I can fairly consistently get prairie dogs past 500 yards, even on bright days.

I have noticed that rain, sleet, and mist really limit its functionality but it seems like that is a failing of most laser range finders. I try to baby it as much as possible, but I must confess that it often falls off the dash of the pickup and the glass is a bit scratched. It will still range larger animals out to 900 on sunny days.

The only problem I've ever had is that it sat squished in my back with the button pushed in and I had to replace the battery. Obviously not a fault of the unit. I'm amazed that it still works well even after all the use I've put it through, and how bad I am at guessing ranges. I continuously under range animals, particularly antelope, and I don't know how I was able to hunt effectively before I was able to accurately range

I think the 2000 moniker is a bit overstated though, and I don't have any experience with the upper end models of any manufacturer, but it seems that civilian finders don't range to their stated distance on bright days. I have never been able to range an animal past about 1300 yards.

Hicks

 

[jghoghunter]

I base my opinion on personal experience.
A while back we had the opportunity to evaluate the Newcon class one, eye safe, lasers. If memory serves me correctly, we played with the 1500 and 2000 models. We took them in the field and gave them a "real world" shakedown. Simply put, my opinion of their "overall" performance is that your money is better spent on the Swaro or Leica. The Zeiss was not out at that time.
For the class one laser, easily packed for wilderness hunts, I use the Swaro... been using it for years. Depended on it for many Sheep hunts in Alaska. Have the Leica as a back up. We all know that the class one stuff has it's troubles in varying light conditions, but the Swaro has earned it's keep in my pack.
When packing in for dedicated long range hunting, or shooting extreme long range 2,000-3,000 yards, I use the Leica Laser Locator. It's similar to the Vector, but no longer available. Ranges 4,000-6,000 yards and cost over $10,000.

Thanks Joel,
I was just wondering where your answer was coming from. Thanks for the info.

 

[fraediavolo]

Hello, I've bought a Newcon LRB 3000 (2000 $us) for our long range shooting contest. It's a really efficient equipment, quick shot and easy to use even under bad weather conditions.
About six month after receive it, it was difficult to start, nothing appear in the screen. Then, I first think to the batteries. i change but was not able to find the lithium one; No result. I order specially from oversea, but no more result.
Then I' send a email to Ramoptics, the dealer, that reply to me that I should contact Newcon optic directly.
I do and first they reply that they need my adress to tell me who is the closest agent able to repair.
Then, i send my adress (n new Caledonia South Pacific) and start to speak about the guarantee. They request the invoice and when I send it, the mail come back with the notice that I'm black listed.
Since that time, no possibility to contact them.
I start to think that i have a quite expensive binocular then, I thought to electronical reparator, but tey don't want do anything even just look to see what happened.
Then, with a friend, we open it, and we find using a simple multimeter a default in the alimentation wiring.
We will replace it, and it should come back to live.
Conclusion:
Newcon is an EFFICIENT equipment, but hace one of the worst aftersale policy I know.