RANGEFINDER TROUBLESHOOTING

COMMON ISSUES


Cause:
A rangefinder failing to power on can have many possible causes related to the battery, battery cap, or the rangefinder itself.

Solution:
First, using a pencil eraser or steel wool, clean the metal contact on the inside of the battery cap. Invisible corrosion can reduce the quality of the contact with the battery. Next, replace the battery with a new CR2 (or CR123 for the RX-2800) battery. Ensure that the new battery is installed in the correct orientation, as indicated inside the battery compartment. If the battery that came packaged with your rangefinder was defective, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician. Finally, if possible try another brand of battery. The shape of the positive contact of CR2 batteries can vary between manufacturers. CR2 batteries with very short positive contacts may cause connection problems. We recommend Duracell Lithium CR2, Energizer Photo Lithium CR2, or Panasonic Industrial CR2 batteries. If these things do not work and your rangefinder still will not power up, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.


Cause:
Leupold’s patented True Ballistic Range (TBR) and True Golf Range (TGR) modes adjust the range provided based on conditions and shot angle. This may be part of what you are noticing. If you are comparing our rangefinder in TBR or TGR modes to a competitor's rangefinder, it is normal for the values to be different. Leupold TBR and TGR modes provide you with a true ballistic solution, while most competitors' products will only display Line of Sight distance, or horizontal distance, neither of which are as accurate as TBR. Competitors' rangefinders may struggle to give consistent readings between reflective and dark targets at the same range, which could also throw off a comparison. Leupold's DNA and Alpha IQ engines have been specifically designed to eliminate error caused by variation in the target's reflectivity. Another possible cause of inaccurate distances is incorrect use of Last Target Mode. Using Last Target Mode when ranging very nearby objects may cause your rangefinder to return a very long incorrect distance. Last Target Mode should only be used when attempting to range through rain, fog, dust, or other obstructions. If you are comparing your Leupold rangefinder to another rangefinder, it is also important to note that most models will display ranges in a variety of units, such as Yards and Meters.


Solution:
Following the instructions in your manual, program your TBR or TGR rangefinder with all requested information. The range provided in these modes will be adjusted to correct for the inclination of the shot and (in the case of TGR) the day-of-play elevation and temperature. Turn off Fog, First Target, and Last Target modes. These modes are only appropriate in special circumstances. If you are comparing to another rangefinder, ensure that both rangefinders are set to display distance in the same units, such as Yards. If the distances your Rangefinder is giving you are grossly incorrect and you believe it has a defect, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.


Cause:
A laser Rangefinder works by projecting a laser to a distant target. This laser is then reflected back and picked up by a sensor. Anything that interrupts or degrades the laser along the way can cause your rangefinder to fail to return a distance. Lighting, fog, and rain all may reduce the effective max range of your rangefinder. Bright light from downrange may also cause reduced max range or cause the displayed range to be shorter than it should be.

Solution:
If your Rangefinder is not returning accurate distances, try the following:
• Clean and clear any obstructions from the objective lens and the laser aperture.
• Ensure that your grip on the rangefinder is not obstructing the objective lens or laser aperture during use.
• Restart your rangefinder. See your rangefinder’s manual for instructions on restarting and restoring default settings.
• Expect the possibility of reduced range in adverse weather or while using the rangefinder pointed towards the sun.

If the problem persists, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.


Cause:
When shooting uphill or downhill, you will need to compensate for less bullet drop than when shooting on level terrain.


Solution:
If you are using a Leupold rangefinder with the True Ballistic Range (TBR), turn TBR and BAS modes on in the menu. True Ballistic Range detects the angle of the shot and automatically adjusts the displayed distance to compensate for it. BAS mode will display a shoot-to distance, perfect for pairing with a bullet drop reticle like the Boone and Crockett Big Game reticle, or with our Custom Dial System.


Cause:
On the RX-I, II, III, and IV rangefinders from 2006-2010, Bow mode will limit the rangefinder to finding distances within 60 yards. “>150” mode will ignore objects nearer than 150 yards. If you attempt to range targets farther than 60 yards in Bow mode or closer than 150 yards in “>150” mode, the rangefinder will not return a distance.

Solution:
When in Bow mode, ensure that “>150” mode is turned off. >150 mode should be turned off in almost all situations, unless you want your rangefinder to ignore nearby objects. We also recommend always having Line of Sight (LOS) mode turned on. This will display the Line of Sight distance in the bottom-right of the display, even when ranging past 60 yards in BOW mode. If the problem persists, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.



Solution:
Even if you think your rangefinder is outside its warranty period (usually two years from purchase), please give us a call at 1-800-LEUPOLD to discuss your options. We can help you confirm your warranty status and may be able to offer options even if it is out of warranty. Have your unit's model and serial number ready, or have the unit in hand.


Solution:
Our Technical Service team can mail out any user-installable parts for your Leupold rangefinder. Give us a call at 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician and place your order.

Internal and integral parts such as lenses and buttons are not user-serviceable and cannot be mailed out. If your rangefinder has damaged integral parts, please return your rangefinder for inspection and service.

Common Issues

MY LEUPOLD RANGEFINDER WILL NOT POWER ON.

Cause: A rangefinder failing to power on can have many possible causes related to the battery, battery cap, or the rangefinder itself.

Solution:First, using a pencil eraser or steel wool, clean the metal contact on the inside of the battery cap. Invisible corrosion can reduce the quality of the contact with the battery. Next, replace the battery with a new CR2 (or CR123 for the RX-2800) battery. Ensure that the new battery is installed in the correct orientation, as indicated inside the battery compartment. If the battery that came packaged with your rangefinder was defective, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician. Finally, if possible try another brand of battery. The shape of the positive contact of CR2 batteries can vary between manufacturers. CR2 batteries with very short positive contacts may cause connection problems. We recommend Duracell Lithium CR2, Energizer Photo Lithium CR2, or Panasonic Industrial CR2 batteries. If these things do not work and your rangefinder still will not power up, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.

MY LEUPOLD RANGEFINDER IS GIVING ME INACCURATE RANGES, OR RANGES DIFFERENT THAN I EXPECT.

Cause: Leupold’s patented True Ballistic Range (TBR) and True Golf Range (TGR) modes adjust the range provided based on conditions and shot angle. This may be part of what you are noticing. If you are comparing our rangefinder in TBR or TGR modes to a competitor's rangefinder, it is normal for the values to be different. Leupold TBR and TGR modes provide you with a true ballistic solution, while most competitors' products will only display Line of Sight distance, or horizontal distance, neither of which are as accurate as TBR. Competitors' rangefinders may struggle to give consistent readings between reflective and dark targets at the same range, which could also throw off a comparison. Leupold's DNA and Alpha IQ engines have been specifically designed to eliminate error caused by variation in the target's reflectivity. Another possible cause of inaccurate distances is incorrect use of Last Target Mode. Using Last Target Mode when ranging very nearby objects may cause your rangefinder to return a very long incorrect distance. Last Target Mode should only be used when attempting to range through rain, fog, dust, or other obstructions. If you are comparing your Leupold rangefinder to another rangefinder, it is also important to note that most models will display ranges in a variety of units, such as Yards and Meters.

Solution: Following the instructions in your manual, program your TBR or TGR rangefinder with all requested information. The range provided in these modes will be adjusted to correct for the inclination of the shot and (in the case of TGR) the day-of-play elevation and temperature. Turn off Fog, First Target, and Last Target modes. These modes are only appropriate in special circumstances. If you are comparing to another rangefinder, ensure that both rangefinders are set to display distance in the same units, such as Yards. If the distances your Rangefinder is giving you are grossly incorrect and you believe it has a defect, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.

MY RANGEFINDER IS NOT PROVIDING ANY RANGE, OR INCORRECTLY SHORT RANGES.

Cause: A laser Rangefinder works by projecting a laser to a distant target. This laser is then reflected back and picked up by a sensor. Anything that interrupts or degrades the laser along the way can cause your rangefinder to fail to return a distance. Lighting, fog, and rain all may reduce the effective max range of your rangefinder. Bright light from downrange may also cause reduced max range or cause the displayed range to be shorter than it should be.

Solution: If your Rangefinder is not returning accurate distances, try the following: • Clean and clear any obstructions from the objective lens and the laser aperture. • Ensure that your grip on the rangefinder is not obstructing the objective lens or laser aperture during use. • Restart your rangefinder. See your rangefinder’s manual for instructions on restarting and restoring default settings. • Expect the possibility of reduced range in adverse weather or while using the rangefinder pointed towards the sun. If the problem persists, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and servic

WHILE SHOOTING UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, THE RANGE PROVIDED CAUSES ME TO MISS MY TARGET.

Cause: When shooting uphill or downhill, you will need to compensate for less bullet drop than when shooting on level terrain.

Solution: If you are using a Leupold rangefinder with the True Ballistic Range (TBR), turn TBR and BAS modes on in the menu. True Ballistic Range detects the angle of the shot and automatically adjusts the displayed distance to compensate for it. BAS mode will display a shoot-to distance, perfect for pairing with a bullet drop reticle like the Boone and Crockett Big Game reticle, or with our Custom Dial System.

MY RX-I, RX-II, RX-III, OR RX-IV POWERS ON BUT WILL NOT RETURN A DISTANCE.

Cause: On the RX-I, II, III, and IV rangefinders from 2006-2010, Bow mode will limit the rangefinder to finding distances within 60 yards. “>150” mode will ignore objects nearer than 150 yards. If you attempt to range targets farther than 60 yards in Bow mode or closer than 150 yards in “>150” mode, the rangefinder will not return a distance.

Solution: When in Bow mode, ensure that “>150” mode is turned off. >150 mode should be turned off in almost all situations, unless you want your rangefinder to ignore nearby objects. We also recommend always having Line of Sight (LOS) mode turned on. This will display the Line of Sight distance in the bottom-right of the display, even when ranging past 60 yards in BOW mode. If the problem persists, please call 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician, or return your rangefinder for inspection and service.

I'M HAVING TROUBLE, BUT I THINK MY RANGEFINDER'S WARRANTY IS EXPIRED.

Solution: Even if you think your rangefinder is outside its warranty period (usually two years from purchase), please give us a call at 1-800-LEUPOLD to discuss your options. We can help you confirm your warranty status and may be able to offer options even if it is out of warranty. Have your unit's model and serial number ready, or have the unit in hand.

I’M MISSING BATTERY CAPS, EYECUPS, OR OTHER EXTERNAL PARTS FOR MY LEUPOLD RANGEFINDER.

Solution: Our Technical Service team can mail out any user-installable parts for your Leupold rangefinder. Give us a call at 1-800-LEUPOLD to speak to a technician and place your order. Internal and integral parts such as lenses and buttons are not user-serviceable and cannot be mailed out. If your rangefinder has damaged integral parts, please return your rangefinder for inspection and service.