Range Finders?

[barefooter19]

Can anyone give me a rundown of some good rangefinders.....? I have looked at some but what do you all say.....

[TheTone]

I've been pretty happy with my Nikon 440, it doesn't have the features lots of them have, but it does what I need which is give you the range quickly. Its small and light which I like and seems accurate as well. I looked long and hard at the Leica's and they are clearer and draw in more light, but for the added price I wasn't sure if it was worth it to me. Some of the ones Leupold and OptiLogic make that calculate the horizontal distance on angled distances are really cool and I think thats a great feature. If my Nikon ever goes belly up I'll probably end up with one that has the angle feature.

[Dangerous Dave]

Bareft19, I used to laugh at anyone who tried to rangefind deer because the local deer around here don't give anyone any time to goof around with electronic do-dads and will leave you in the dust while you're standing there pushing buttons.
This ALL changed when I BADLY misjudged the range while shooting at a 3 point muley this year. I cussed myself up and down thinking I had wounded the deer. Luckly the distance was so far that the bullet dropped at least 2 feet and I totally missed.
At this time, I'm waiting delivery on a Leupold III. I like the idea of the ballistic compensator.

[Kyhunter42]

I'm also looking at getting a rangefinder. One of the guys I hunted with in MT had one. He had the Nikon 440. I used it a couple of times. I really liked it. It was small and lightweigh. It was great for judging distances. I believe it was the Nikon Prostaff. I don't know if I want that one or an 800 yard rangefinder. 800 yard is too far to shoot, but it is nice to know the distance when making a final stalk.

[ALL PLAY]

As a bow hunter you learn to range at close distances. I purchased the bushell compact and loved the price too, but now I was carring 2 optics. So last year I purchased the rangefinder bio's from bushnell. All though they are alittle heavy now I only carry 1 and this has improved my judging in the field.

When you are scouting or just crusing the hill look at something and judge it now use your rangefinder and see how well you do. Practice will pay off in the end when you have an animal on the ground instead of running away due to bad judgment call on distane.

Just my 2 cents!!!!


Bo

[Washington Hunter]

I really like my Nikon Monarch 800, and they can be had for not much over $300. Very reliable out to at least 350 yards every time.

[barefooter19]

I was looking at the leupold II the price is around 250. Does anyone know much about it. the range is 750

[Washington Hunter]

I don't know about the Leupold, but I do know that most rangefinders reallly won't range as far as they are rated, at least not on a non-reflective target. So don't expect that Leupold to range to 750. Divide that number in half and that is probably about right.

[Larry Landgren]

I just got a pair of Leica 10x42 Geovid BRF Binocular Laser Rangefinder. They are pretty dam accurratte and easy to use. I highly recomend Leica products

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leica-10x42-geovid-brf-yards.html

[Dangerous Dave]

OH BOY!! The Leupold RX III is waiting at home for me!! I'll let you all know how it does when I get through goofin' around with it. PS, Yep, Leica's ain't bad. Dave

[mtmiller]

I have a Leica Rangemaster 900 and it works wll for me. I got a pretty good deal on it a few years ago and it still works without a hitch. I change the battery every year, but it has never needed it yet.

[Vinnie B]

I have the Leica CRF 1200 and it is awesome. I have got it to read over 1300 yards numerous times. By far the best rangefinder I have used. Plus, it is really small, not much bigger than an Etrex

[Calif. Hunter]

I've had a couple, and they both worked well. One was a Bushnell and I don't recall what the other one was, but it was not a Leica or other high end model. I just received the Leupold Wind River binocular rangefinder, but haven't even had a chance to take it out of the box. I don't plan on taking shots over 350 yards, but I like to know the exact yardage when I have the time to do so. I haven't really used any of them on an actual game animal, as most of my shots end up being under 200 yards anyway. If I was to take a longer shot, it would be imperative to know the distance as precisely as possible - the difference in drop between 350 and 400 yards can be large.

[Dangerous Dave]

That's the thing: if you have time to use it. Some of the time I don't, but there are instances when you nearly get all day to rangefind a buck as it feeds down a ridge or when you suprise them bedded down.
I yanked the Leupold RX III out of the box and was relieved to notice that it wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be. Optics are not bad -but not spectacular, and at 8X it brings things in well enough. I love the fact that the yardage is displayed twice: once in straight-line yardage in large numbers directly above the reticle, and again to the right and below the reticle in smaller numbers to display the computed ballistic distance to the target when the device takes into account the up or down angle of the shot. Not bad!
Haven't had a chance to actually point it at a deer yet, but I was crazy enough to climb up on my roof and rangefind a shopper at the nearby shopping center at 748 yards, so I guess it works. I tried to lazer a bald, grassy ridge I think is about 850-900 yards away, and the display said nothing... probably because there was nothing on the ridge to reflect the signal back off of but dried grass. I think that if an animal or a rock was on the ridge I would have gotten a reading.
It's got a digital thermometer readout, but it's got to be disabled in order for the adjusted ballistic distance readout to function. I guess I could turn it off and on if I got bored and wanted to know what the temperture was. I really like the inclineometer (it works in any mode) -and in fact- the dang thing will come in handy at work.
Only one complaint: I have to really jump through hoops and do a lot of button pushing in order to scroll through the whole set of options for the "Hold"-over setting to be employed. This -of course- computes in inches the amount of holdover at a given distance taking into consideration 1) the type of rifle you are shooting 2) the range you have zeroed in at, and 3) the angle (incline) of the shot. Of course, I'm supposed to know all that holdover stuff from studying ballistic charts and from shooting out to that range. I need to get the thing out into the field and see how it works. The thing even has a backlight built into it. All in all, not bad -I like it fine. DD

[HoofsUp]

I just bought a Nikon 1200 and the optics are good at 7x. It shows the yardage to the ranged object in bold black letters and has a backlight for low light conditions. Simple and just what I bought it for.

[snake river rufus]

I have the leupold range finding binos and fell that they are OK as far as using them as a range finder. Opitical clarity leaves a lot to to be desired though, and they are nearly one pound heavier then any other binos in that class. If I were to do it over, I would choose a decent monocular for ranging and use my Ziess for glassing.

[barefooter19]

To the top!

[lilbiggun]

I was also one of those guys that decided that rangefinders were not necissary, until I bought a nikon monarchs 800 last year. Now I'm kicking myself in the pants. I missed out on a real nice black bear last year cuz I woulda swore it was over 400 yards away (I dont shoot that far on a bear), went back with my buddies rangefinder and found out it was only 170yards to where the bear was sitting. Bought the nikon and Now I carry them whenever I go out.

I like the nikons, definitly not the best on the market, but I havent had a problem with them. No complaints.

[Nealz]

Anybody using the new Leupold RX-1000 RF? They redesigned it to eliminate a lot of the admittedly confusing features on their RX-II model and it looks pretty interesting. Uses red LED instead of LCD imaging. Smaller and lighter too.. a big plus for a gram geek like myself. Just looking for some actual field data. Thanks.

[Layin_It_Down]

I have the Leica 900 scan and have used it without failure for something like 5 or 6 years now. Get one with the illuminated reticle.....(a must have)

Recently tried the new Leupold RX-1000 I think it's called. Real similar to my Leica in lens quality, response time and simplicity. It also has the illuminated reticle as well. I would also try to keep it simple. Unless you're shooting straight up or down, you don't need the TBR. Might be useful in treestands though.....

My wife has the Leupold RX-II. Nice and compact, but too many doodads. If I were to buy one right now, I would go compact and simple. Either Leica or Leupold's new RX-1000. Spend a little more and get what you want; you'll be glad you did.

[BOHNTR]

I've used my Leica Geovid BRF 10-42's for the last 4-5 years now......awesome glass with a very reliable and accurate rangefinder built in. Best of both worlds.

[Big Fin]

Anybody using the new Leupold RX-1000 RF? They redesigned it to eliminate a lot of the admittedly confusing features on their RX-II model and it looks pretty interesting. Uses red LED instead of LCD imaging. Smaller and lighter too.. a big plus for a gram geek like myself. Just looking for some actual field data. Thanks.

Neal:

I don't own one, but have had the chance to use one a lot recently. I am very impressed wtih the read out and how quickly it acquires the target. If I went with a "stand alone" rangefinder, that is the one I would go with. Not that I need a lot of true ballistic compensation, as I don't do much shooting at extreme angles, but it has that also. Very light, very compact, and when I used it, was very impressed.

[elk_hunter]

I've also got the Leica CRF 1200 rangefinder and LOVE it!

[Nealz]

Good info. I had the chance to play around with a Nikon Archers Choice and although I didn't fall in love with it, I did like the angle compensation feature. The primary use for the new RF will be bowhunting. I hunt treestands somewhat but mostly find myself spot & stalking steepish canyons and arroyos here in AZ. Every optics outfit has their own term... ARC, TBR and so on. Anybody have experience with any of these angle compensator rigs?

[steamingutpile]

I've got two bought a Bushnell 600 when they first came out only complaint its large and bulky. Then i got a Nikon Prostaff 400 nice light and small. And when I ranged an object with both the resulting reading was the same.

[MNHunter]

Neal:

I don't own one, but have had the chance to use one a lot recently. I am very impressed wtih the read out and how quickly it acquires the target. If I went with a "stand alone" rangefinder, that is the one I would go with. Not that I need a lot of true ballistic compensation, as I don't do much shooting at extreme angles, but it has that also. Very light, very compact, and when I used it, was very impressed.

Well BF I was going ask you about this range finder as I can't really find many reviews of it. I had a Nikon that a Hunttalker now uses so I am in the market for a new rangefinder. I looked at the old Leupold models in the past and really did not like them. Confusing to use and the clarity was just not there.I read the new models are very clear.

I was set on the Leica because of the red read out and then I saw the new Leupold. Throw in the fact that they are an OYOA sponsor and that pretty much seales the deal with me. I'm gonna go to Cabelas and see it in person and hopefully take it home.

I am a bit concerned that they aren't waterproof per se. They clearly state weatherproof....whatever the heck that means.

[Elkwhisper]

I've used several of the RX-1000 rangefinders, as well as several of the older Leupold models as well. The RX-1000 is hands down the top of the heap. It has a metal case, red illuminated LED and easily ranges to 1000 yards on reflective targets. I live in Billngs and have been able to get readings out to 1150 off of the rims. I used one this winter for coyotes and this spring for turkeys, as well as a bunch on the 3-D range. I like it way better than my old RX-IV and RX-II but they all worked. It is true that the max range is definitley dependent on the target you are bouncing the laser off of, but that is true with all rangefinders. Just last week I was doing a demonstration and was able to get readings off of horses (the white ones work better) at out to about 675 and trees out to about 750 even though Leupold rates it at 500 for deer and 600 for tree. Rocks are great objects to bounce your laser off of if you can find one close to your desired target.

If you want something a little cheaper, check out Leupold's new RX-600 and RX-750. These are the newest generation of Leupold's lower end rangefinders and you will find them much simpler to use and quicker on the read out.

Leupold is realatively new to the rangefinder game, but they are figureing it out quick! Yes I am a little biased, but I have never been disappointed with a Leupold product.



Elkwhisper

[Dinkshooter]

Good info. I had the chance to play around with a Nikon Archers Choice and although I didn't fall in love with it, I did like the angle compensation feature. The primary use for the new RF will be bowhunting. I hunt treestands somewhat but mostly find myself spot & stalking steepish canyons and arroyos here in AZ. Every optics outfit has their own term... ARC, TBR and so on. Anybody have experience with any of these angle compensator rigs?

After 6 years my first Nikon 440 has died. I picked up a Rifle Hunter 550. I haven't hunted with it yet but playing with it so far I do like it. Although, the field of view seems smaller than the 440 and the crosshairs in the 550 are black and smaller which may be harder to see in low light.

I do alot of archery hunting as well and looked at a Archers Choice, but the Archers Choice only reads to 100 yards. What is the purpose of that? I think the Rifle hunter 550 is the same price. I always use my range finder just trying to figure out where I need to be before the shot, getting my stalk on, not just at the shot.

[Nealz]

I always use my range finder just trying to figure out where I need to be before the shot, getting my stalk on, not just at the shot.

Yup. Me too. We don't always get the time or opportunity to range an actual animal when they just happen to tootle into our lane. I'm leaning toward the Leupold RX-1000 but like most guys here, or anywhere, I'm not made outta money and I don't want to invest in a piece of gear that doesn't meet my needs for a long time. Good solid advice here tho... just what I was looking for. Thanks.