Rangefinder Hack
Hang a laser designator well under the barrel and use a tactical scope well over the barrel to create a quick range estimating setup. By having the scope’s center line of sight intersect the laser line, the laser’s apparent position in the scope changes with the range of an object in the sight. “Triangulation” methods such as this have been used in many range finding applications. Here’s another example.
At longer ranges, 40 yards in this case, the green laser dot appears well above the reticle horizontal center.
At a slightly closer range, around 30 yards, the dot is closer to the horizontal center.
Still closer, around 20 yards, the dot moves lower.
And when quite close, the dot is well below the horizontal center (at the bottom of the picture).
Here’s the setup on a Condor SS. This was hacked together from parts in the bin. I used a laser pointer because it was much brighter than the inexpensive tactical laser sights. Note the innovative use of bicycle inner tubes. The fuzzy scope pictures were made using an iPhone with a telephoto adapter.
The next step is to get a well focused, bright laser sight to build a system robust enough for field use…
-x356b
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What are the red numbers for?
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Wow this is great. I’m new to the range finding abilities and I have plenty of laser finders I can try.
Very cool. The art of this one seems to be finding a decent laser for a reasonable price.
Did you ever use your setup in the field?
-x356b
Did the same thing a while ago. Just used a red laser instead, it did seem to work fairly well, but the cheap laser would shift around and change POA.
Then took things to the next step.
Find where the laser red light hits…reading the RED numbers gives a range.
Look up the holdover in BLACK.
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Find where the laser red light hits…reading the RED numbers gives a range.
Part of a nv setup, taken apart and re-vamped long ago.
My problem was those cheap 15 buck lasers would move around, thus changing POI..which makes it pretty useless.
Spend a few bucks, get a good laser..and it does give you a GENERAL idea of the range.
Best suited for shorter range stuff, barn hunters