Sig 8K Cold Weather

[Kyle Wheeler]

I picked up a used 8K from a great guy on here. I was hunting in the 15-25 degree temps this last week and it wouldn’t even turn on even if swapping batteries. Had anyone had this issue? I’m concerned I won’t be able to get a replacement as it works just not when it counts.

 

[Bowfinn]

I picked up a used 8K from a great guy on here. I was hunting in the 15-25 degree temps this last week and it wouldn’t even turn on even if swapping batteries. Had anyone had this issue? I’m concerned I won’t be able to get a replacement as it works just not when it counts.

I would reach out to sig and ask what the operating temp is for the 8k. I’m gonna guess that it’s gonna be lower than 15-25 degrees, but if it’s supposed to be able to operate in those temps I would send it in.

 

[Kyle Wheeler]

I would reach out to sig and ask what the operating temp is for the 8k. I’m gonna guess that it’s gonna be lower than 15-25 degrees, but if it’s supposed to be able to operate in those temps I would send it in.

Thank you I will!!

 

[Bowfinn]

I just remembered my 3k around 10 degrees only had about half performance after cold soaking all night, but I still worked.

 

[Kyle Wheeler]

I just remembered my 3k around 10 degrees only had about half performance after cold soaking all night, but I still worked.

Super helpful thank you!

 

[Hagen]

It was -5 yesterday and rangefinder sat in truck night before so it was cold also. Mine was able to range fine. I only shot a couple ranges though, too cold to have hands out much.

 

[Smithb9841]

I’ve used mine close to 0 without issues.

 

[Elk botherer]

I have a Sig Kilo 2200 and when it gets down to the 30’s it’s slow and weak in ranging and below the 20’s it won’t hardly range at all. I keep it under my jacket when I’m hunting or in my sleeping bag at night when it gets cold. Works fine if I do that.

 

[MC2FS]

Just got a Kilo3k for Christmas. Played around with it at the house and setup the ballistics which seems to line up well as long as you don’t use the onboard temp sensor.

Went out for a coyote hunt this morning and had it stowed in the front zipper pocket of my AGC bino harness. Temp was 15-20°.

Setup my stand and went to get a few ranges before starting my calling and I couldn’t even get the sagebrush at 20yds! Noticed it said the battery life was at 50% on the new battery too. Tried scan mode, tried XR, first, last, best modes and still nothing. So I put it back in my bino pack and was back to old school mental ranging. Luckily it was only coyote hunting with a max point blank of 200yds

Well, after sitting there with my pack in the sun I picked it back up and was able to get some hits on ranges out to 500yds but still not the close stuff. I put it under my armpit for awhile to warm it up and it went back to ranging just fine!

Contacted customer service about the issue and this is the response;

Most likely the batteries are the issue. We have found the lithium batteries don’t work well below 50 degrees. We recommend alkaline batteries when possible, they are hard to come by.

Google doesn’t even hit for alkaline CR2 batteries and I was under the impression lithium is better in the cold anyways???

 

[Elk botherer]

Just got a Kilo3k for Christmas. Played around with it at the house and setup the ballistics which seems to line up well as long as you don’t use the onboard temp sensor.

Went out for a coyote hunt this morning and had it stowed in the front zipper pocket of my AGC bino harness. Temp was 15-20°.

Setup my stand and went to get a few ranges before starting my calling and I couldn’t even get the sagebrush at 20yds! Noticed it said the battery life was at 50% on the new battery too. Tried scan mode, tried XR, first, last, best modes and still nothing. So I put it back in my bino pack and was back to old school mental ranging. Luckily it was only coyote hunting with a max point blank of 200yds

Well, after sitting there with my pack in the sun I picked it back up and was able to get some hits on ranges out to 500yds but still not the close stuff. I put it under my armpit for awhile to warm it up and it went back to ranging just fine!

Contacted customer service about the issue and this is the response;

Most likely the batteries are the issue. We have found the lithium batteries don’t work well below 50 degrees. We recommend alkaline batteries when possible, they are hard to come by.

Google doesn’t even hit for alkaline CR2 batteries and I was under the impression lithium is better in the cold anyways???

That mirrors my experience with Sig rangefinders. I really would like to get their range finding binoculars but I have trust issues with their electronics in the cold. It would be crazy nice if the electronics worked all of the time because being able to glass, range, and get a dope all in one step would sure expedite the hunting process. I hope you figure a solution out.

 

[MC2FS]

That mirrors my experience with Sig rangefinders. I really would like to get their range finding binoculars but I have trust issues with their electronics in the cold. It would be crazy nice if the electronics worked all of the time because being able to glass, range, and get a dope all in one step would sure expedite the hunting process. I hope you figure a solution out.

I was thinking of trying some hot hands pouches in the pocket with it.

I’m no engineer but I just can’t understand how my 15+ year old Leica doesn’t have this problem. Even my Leupold Fulldraw didn’t have a problem. Same size battery on both but maybe they draw drastically less power?

 

[Elk botherer]

I was thinking of trying some hot hands pouches in the pocket with it.

I’m no engineer but I just can’t understand how my 15+ year old Leica doesn’t have this problem. Even my Leupold Fulldraw didn’t have a problem. Same size battery on both but maybe they draw drastically less power?

The hand warmer idea is actually pretty ingenious! I wonder if it would cause any fogging issues?

 

[Elk botherer]

I’ll give it a try on my next mountain lion hunt.

 

[6.5x284]

A always keep a spare lithium battery in my pant pocket on super cold days. I’ve had to swap to a warm battery to get a range on multiple brands before below 0.


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[Terrapin]

A always keep a spare lithium battery in my pant pocket on super cold days. I’ve had to swap to a warm battery to get a range on multiple brands before below 0.


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That’s what the little pocket is for on the front of long underwear… storing two extra AA batteries & a chocolate/ peanut butter powerbar. Keeps them warm all day.

Follow me for more cold weather advice.


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