Compass Advice

Hi All,
I'm thinking of treating myself to a sighting compass, and was after some advice! Firstly how much more accurate are they - can you REALLY take bearings to the half a degree? And which would be a good make to go for? At the moment I am using an £11 basic compass - which is OK - but if I can get myself in a more specific area with better bearings it will probably help with the location of those more ellusive boxes!!

Hi Jo, there are a variety of compasses out there that people us, but one in particular is the Silva Expedition Type 54 which most people use including myself. See below:

These work out around the £60 mark but well worth it! I've had mine for over twelve years! The web site is http://www.silva.se/Default.aspx?epslanguage=EN
This compass has a little window in the bezel that you look through that will give you exact bearings right down to the 1/2 degree!Plus also gives you the backward bearings.

The tutorial I did for compass navigation is this one viewtopic.php?t=609

Using a sighting compass gives you a much more precise location for the boxes especially when you have close subjects for the bearings. Not just that though it is very useful if your GPS breaks down or the batteries run out.
I tend to mainly use a sighting compass with a GPS as a backup.

Hope this helps
Dizzy

Thanks for that - have checked out the Silva link, looks good.
Will check the bank balance and go from there!

As for a GPS .... think that may have to wait a bit - will just have to get super good at navigating with just a compass - I'm off to the tutorial again!!

WOW!
The new compass has arrived this morning. Not sure what I was expecting - but not that. It is very different to my £11 basic compass - and now I can see why 1/2 degrees are possible!
I was supposed to be shopping after work - but I've got a feeling a trip to Dartmoor may be more likely, so that I can try out my new toy!!
Thanks again for the recommendation.

He, he . Glad you got the compass ok. Remember to keep it away from anything magnetic or metal, especially when taking bearings. My old metal rimmed glasses caused me some problems a few years ago, it was only after spending many months wondering why my bearings were out that I realised what was causing it!

Keep it safe and away from anything metal in your bag.

Have fun,

Dizzy

And don't lean against the wall of an OP whilst trying to take a bearing - guess how know

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