[1911ShooterTJ]

Anyone have any experience with the Nikon Monarch Laser 800 or the Leupold RX-III's? I'm looking to buy a laser range finder for hunting and would appreciate any comments!

Thanks

[USMC_2674]

Archery, Handgun, Muzzle Loader or Rifle Hunting what you wanting it for?

That makes a big difference in the "range finder".

I have owned good and bad ones. Long range and short.

If you keep your shots within 200 yards, then I think the Bushnell 450 Sport is a great piece for the $$.

The new RX leupolds are nice... especially if you are hunting in a lot of up / down terrain. But, for me aren't worth the price (and I hunt in Utah with a lot of up / down terrain).

But, I'm not shooting at 1200 yards either. :)

Semper Fidelis

[Art Eatman]

I have a Bushnell 800. It's definitely accurate to 800, for sure, from known topo-map distances and surveyed distances. It's accurate at 100; it sez my tape-measured 100-yard backstop is 100 yards from the benchrest. :)

Art

[Zak Smith]

The best deal under $400 is a used Leica 1200. You can find them for around $325 - 375 on the boards from time to time (e.g. SnipersHide).

[phantomak47]

Once you buy one you wont know how you hunted before with out one!!!

[redneck2]

You might think about the range you really need. I've got one that's 400 yard model. While the 1,000 yard ones sound cool, are you going to shoot at 1,000 yards?? Other than PD hunting, I'm not gonna shoot over 400 so that made my choice, and I saved some money. YMMV

They are one cool toy.

[Anthony T.]

I just bought the leupold wind river 800 RF binos and they're awesome. Around 500 new. Very accurate and range from 15-875yds.

[Smokey Joe]

Am also thinking of getting a rangefinder. I bowhunt and gun hunt, so close as well as far distances are important.

Question: These RF's are all rated for "reflective" targets, like for example the side of an Abrams tank. The side of a deer is MUCH less reflective, and the tiny side of a prairie dog is less reflective yet. How do we rate the various RF's on the actual things we'll be ranging???

[rock jock]

I have a Nikon 600 and I would say it does a decent job, but not great. The problem I most commonly find is not being able to get a reading, even at distances well below 600 yds. This is very frustrating on a hunt. What I end up doing is targeting an object near the point I want to rangefind and use that as a reference. This will work in most cases. When it does get a good reading, it is very accurate.

Now, what makes the Nikons attractive and still worth considering is their very small size. If the new compact Leica's had been out when I bought my Nikon, I would have picked one of those up instead, and, actually, will probably do just that in the next year or two. The regular Leica's are simply way too bulky for a stalk and hunt IMO.