The Rangemaster CRF 2400-R comes into market with more ranging power, stripped down foundational performance, and granular scan returns.
It’s fast – less than 0.3 seconds fast.
It’s accurate, down to decimal performance especially suited for bow hunting.
If you want great optics but the simplicity of LOS and EHR without the ballistics, the Rangemaster CRF 2400-R is about as simple and as affordable as you’re going to get from the German brand.
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Leica quality & performance
What We Don’t Like: Things to note
Best Uses: Hunting, Bow Hunting, Target Shooting, Long-Range
- Yard Range: 10-2400
- Magnification: 7x
- Objective Lens: 24m
- Display Type: LED
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.25 x 1.25”/6.5 oz
- Waterproof/Fogproof: Yes/Yes
- Angle Compensation: Yes
Our Verdict: The Rangemaster CRF 2400-R is the brand’s budget rangefinder but it’s high-end to almost everyone else. Sure, it doesn’t have ballistics like the Rangemaster CRF 2800.com, but it has everything else in a streamlined and easy-to-use platform. Don’t forget, it’s accurate, tough, and affordable. Now, this is the way to buy a Leica.
Who is the Leica Rangemaster CRF 2400-R Best Suited to?
The long-ranging performance and tight beam divergence of the Leica Rangemaster is definitely best for hunters that consistently need to grid and locate where they need to be next. It can save a lot of wear-and-tear on your boots and provide discrete positioning when you need to get in range of your target.
On that same note, it’s 0.1-yard decimal readings and 0.5-yard accuracy below 200 yards makes it extremely convenient for bow hunters. The internal EHR angle compensated measurements provides the true horizontal distance you need to know to avoid a high miss.
For everything hunting – the Rangemaster CRF gets it done.
How Does the Leica Rangemaster CRF 2400-R Perform?
The CRF 2400-R is immediately put up against the now discontinued CRF 2700-B. The 2700-b had ABC technology which was the ballistic compensation programmability and an extra 300 yards in ranging. Of course, it had a higher price point that the CRF 2400-R.
Now, where the CRF 2400-R comes in is with all the same great laser, optics, and carbon-fiber chassis, but has 300 yards less ranging and does away with the ballistics. Most hunters are using other solver programs for ballistics anyway, and it’s really a new and improved version of the 1600-R.
The Rangemaster comes in at a competitive price point with the best rangefinders that other manufacturers are providing at around $500. Where it outperforms its competitors is with its tighter beam divergence and optical quality.
It has a roof prism optical system with phase correction P40 coatings, HDC High Durable Coating and AquaDura exterior lens coatings, and of course, their super-secret glass sources. Yes – we’ve directly tried to get them to spill the beans before. It was a fail.
As long as they keep pumping out quality products, they can keep their secrets. The Rangemaster CRF is an entry-level rangefinder for the brand, but it’s a high-end rangefinder that competes with the best in this price range.
Features & Benefits
Leica Quality & Performance
Of course, everyone spends more for improved rangefinder performance and yardage, and while the 2400-yard ranging performance of the CRF 2400-R is impressive, it’s not the longest ranging unit in the market for its price point. Why do people really turn to Leica? Optical performance.
They are known to provide the best optical performance in almost any category of sporting optics they manufacture. No one can quite put their finger on it since Leica is so tight-lipped about their formulas, glass sources, and even grinding and polishing methods, but you can see the difference when you look through a Leica versus an inferior brand.
The CRF has a carbon-fiber and die-cast magnesium chassis that brings strength and lightweight benefits to the unit. Additionally, CF optics provide a well-known resistance to climate expansion and contraction – FYI. It functions in extremely cold climates as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, is waterproof to a meter for 30 minutes, and is expected to operate up to 3000 actuations before needing a new CR2 battery.
EHR
If you’re curious about what the “R” designation stands for, it’s supposedly to indicate that the unit has EHR – Equivalent Horizontal Range. This is Leica’s horizontal distance with angle compensation taken into account.
The EHR feature is effective from 10 to 1100 yards, although it seems that its best performance in accuracy is up to 874 yards (800 m).
One thing to note about EHR is that you can toggle it on and off in the settings. If you’re new to Leica rangefinders, then it will take some getting used to seeing the LOS distance first and then the EHR distance provided after. This is also true while scanning. The EHR distance will be provided after the last LOS distance provided in Scan mode.
Bow Hunting
While it would be nicer to have a rangefinder with a minimum distance of 5 yards, the Leica more than makes up for it. For distances up to 200 yards, you not only have 0.5-yard accuracy, but you also have 0.1-yard decimal readings for precision measurements especially suited to bow hunters.
Obviously, the Rangemaster is well-suited to hunting of all types, and for the bow hunter that also picks up a rifle at various times of the year, you can use the same unit to get it all done. When you’re not bowhunting, you can count on the long-range performance of the CRF to help determine where you need to be to follow the trail and make a long-distance shot.
Beam Divergence
It’s interesting to note that the website states a beam divergence of 0.5 x 2.5 mrad – great. On the other hand, the manual states 1.28 x 0.85 mrad and technical specs state 0.5 x 1.2 mrad. There’s quite the variance here but all provided specs are impressive and tight.
The first number, the vertical beam divergence of 0.5 mils of Leica products is the tightest in the rangefinding industry. You gain confidence in knowing you’re acquiring an accurate scan return and not a false reading based on a measurement acquired above or below the intended target.
However, it does mean you need to be extra precise in aiming the reticle directly on the target, and this helps with mounting the Rangemaster for solid and vibration-free performance for max ranging.
It doesn’t help that the Rangemaster is not threaded for use with tripods. However, Leica does have a CRF tripod adapter that is designed for specific use for the CRF rangefinder.
Limitations
Things to Note
These aren’t flaws but are definitely things to note that can impact your decision on buying a CRF.
While the unit has an LED display, there is no manual ability to adjust the brightness. It’s ambient dependent which means the display will automatically adjust the brightness level depending on the light conditions. There are no complaints of visibility in any lighting condition that has yet been reported.
Secondly, there is no way to thread the rangefinder directly to a tripod. You must rig a setup yourself or spend an extra hundred on a special Leica adapter to get it done.
Thirdly, the unit does not provide the EHR distance first even when you have EHR activated. You will first be provided the LOS distance and the EHR distance immediately after. On that note, it does not appear that the actual angle (as calculated by the inclinometer) is displayed.
Lastly, the CRF has a 15mm eye relief. This can be a deal breaker for those with glasses on, however, the eyecup can be folded down to extend this somewhat.
Popular Questions
The Rangemaster CRF 2400-R is only covered with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Coverage excludes damage from impact and water. Accessories included with the Rangemaster are also covered under the same 2-year warranty.
While Leica is a German manufacturer, all their laser devices that includes the Rangemaster series are manufactured in the Leica manufacturing facility in Portugal.
The Rangemaster rangefinder comes with the instruction manual, Cordura bag, shoulder strap, and a CR2 battery.
The Leica CRF 2400-R does not provide the ability to toggle between various targeting modes. Leica does not state what target mode the Rangemaster CRF 2400-R operates in.
With its reported performance in less-than-ideal conditions, it’s fair to assume the Rangemaster analyzes data based on a variation of first target mode that takes consistent peak readings and provides that to the user.
Leica does not state the various effective ranges on soft, medium, and high-reflective targets. What we do know is that the CRF 2400-R is accurate to 0.5-yards from 10-200 yards, +/- 1-yard accuracy from 200-400 yards, +/- 2-yard accuracy from 400-800 yards, and 0.5% accuracy from 800-2400 yards.
With that in mind, you can expect to range deer and elk out past 1000 yards. How high you can get on soft targets will depend on other factors too. For brushing up on what to expect when it comes to rangefinder yardages, get up-to-date here.
Conclusion
You might have expected more advanced technology from Leica, but this isn’t the unit for it. Sure, they have plenty of high-end units that your wallet will balk at. The Rangemaster CRF 2400-R is their most basic model and is designed for affordability without compromise on optical and laser performance.
If you want the basics without the ballistics, the CRF 2400-R is a worthwhile unit for the job. Being able to see this far, grid the territory, get close without getting in range is what these long-range rangefinders are made to do.
You may as well do it with the best glass and industry-leading laser tech available at the lowest price point, right?
Further Reading
I purchased a Leica Rangemaster 1000-R in 2013 for archery and rifle hunting. It was the first year out (as purported by the salesman at the Reno Safari Intl Conference). It worked well for six years, then quit working on a trip in the fall of 2019. I attempted multiple times in 2020 to contact the factory, to no avail. They wouldn't even respond to my requests to send it in for repair.
It sits today on my desk to remind me to never again to purchase anything from Leica. I thought I bought a high quality product from a high quality company. Wrong.
There are a lot of good quality optics out there. I did not expect a company by the name of Leica would ever fail to respond to a problem with one of their optics, but they did.
In 2020, I purchased a competing rangefinder at 1/4 the cost and it still works fine. At the age of 78, it will probably outlast me. Oh, did I mention that I used my 20 year old Bushnell backup rangefinder in 2019? It still works fine but I was looking for the angle compensator for archery hunting when I bought the Leica.
I continue to spread my experience with Leica to dozens of archery and rifle hunters annually.