[wardog]

Has anyone made an inexpensive laser rangefinding scope yet? Swarovski made one years ago, but it was extremely expensive.

With the price of laser rangefinders dropping, I'd think someone would combine one with a decent scope, (a built in BDC with adjustments for bullet weight and velocity would be nice) and sell em for a decent price.

[4v50 Gary]

Years ago I wrote Leupold suggesting such a scope with a computer chip for BDC that is automatic. Change in reticle color (or something like that) would tell the shooter it's good to go. I'll claim credit for being the "idea" guy but darn if they don't name somebody else. :(

[Marko Kloos]

I'd settle for a decent scope with a choke-type optical rangefinder, like the HK G36 or SVD Dragunov scopes. Easy to use, less parts to break, much less expensive, and almost as effective. Haven't seen a scope with that feature on the market yet, though.

For those who don't know the concept: a choke rangefinder is a funnel-type gizmo in your optics that looks like a sideways funnel. It is calibrated for a certain magnification, and the distance between the top and bottom of the funnel corresponds to a standing human of average height at ranges from 200 to 6-800 yards. Line up your target so that it fills out the funnel from top to bottom, and read the corresponding rage setting. (For a head-to-waistline sihouette, do the same and divide the range by half.)Presto, range established...put the corresponding reticle on the target and pull the trigger.

[SodaPop]

I think Marko is talking about something like these http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=VT630M2308&storeid=1&image=dsa6x30suprscope.gif

I don't know what the reputation is for these but they are pretty neat. The only thing I don't like about them is I wish they were 4x30 instead of 6x30.

These are a little cheaper http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=VT46M1308&storeid=1&image=dsa4x24M1scope.gif

[4v50 Gary]

Interesting scopes. Factory lifetime warranty. We ship it via pigeon to Russia for fixing?:p

The choke type range finder is actually a 19th century concept. They called them "stadium" then and was a piece of brass with a cutout (triangular shape) or sliding bar. Two sets of markings were on it and one represented a foot soldier and the other a mounted man. It had a chain from which you held it beneath your eye and extended it for a fixed distance (I don't recall whether it was 14" or 18").

Some were issued as match prizes to sharpshooters during the Civil War. However, I don't recall ever reading about a soldier (yet alone a sharpshooter) using one in combat. Artillerist were more likely to use it and a good eye was critical if you wanted a bomb to explode over or admidst your foemen.

Returning to the choke type range finder, well, it worked then, it works now. Regarding modern "mil-dot", a primitive form of cross-hairs was developed by a Civil War era gunsmith scopemaker and said cross-hairs acted as both a range finder and for aiming.