$200 to spend... what to get?

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BigBL87

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I'm having a hard time deciding, so thought I'd get some input from some experts on investing. :D

Between gift cards and cash for Christmas, I have about $200 to spend on firearm/hunting related stuff. My top 3 things I'm thinking about are binoculars, a rangefinder, and a predator call.

Binos, my options are limited because I need something that can go out to 76mm+ interpupilary distance. I have quite a large cranium. Right now my top candidates are the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50s and Athlon Argos G2 HD 10x42s. Main use will be coyote hunting hopefully in the next year or two. I'm sure they'll find secondary uses too.

Rangefinder, my demands aren't very high. I'd like something good out to 400ish yards. I don't see myself shooting that far BUT I like to be able to go out farther than I expect. Angle compensation would be a big plus, as I did buy a crossbow this year in hopes up taking up deer hunting for archery season soon. I'd also use it for just regular target shooting and coyote hunting probably. I'm looking at the Vortex Impact and Bushnell Prime/Engage. I've also been looking at the Athlon Midas, but $50 of what I have is an Amazon gift card and they're out of stock there.

Predator call is pretty self explanatory for coyote hunting. Primarily looking at the FoxPro Patriot.

I feel like the rangefinder would probably be the most widely useful, but I don't know enough about them to know if what I can afford is worth it. Binos would be really nice to have, and if I don't get the rangefinder I can probably guesstimate ranges using GPS. Predator call is alot more niche, but obviously pretty much a requirement. Whatever I don't get will go on the birthday list for April. ;)

I'm pretty happy with my current optics, triggers, etc.. Only thing I might think about there is a red dot for my HD shotgun since I'm cross eye dominant and it would make life easier.
 
Ive got a set of these guys and optically they are very good, especially for the cost. I dont know if they are wide enough tho....i can go measure em after work today.
https://cameralandny.com/shop/athlo...9a5a-0135-d0aa-00163e90e196?variation=1628535

Id assume the Argos would be nicer still.

The Talos's aren't quite wide enough, assuming their specs in the website are accurate. If they're good optically, though, that for sure bodes well for the Argos!

I'll look around at the Sig rangefinders, I've generally read good things about them.
 
Rangefinder, definitely. I never owned one until recently, but its been money well spent. Especially on longer shots. A good pair of Leupold binoculars would be an excellent investment as well.

Mac
 
If you don’t own an LRF, get one. Find a Sig Kilo on sale, preferably a 2200 but maybe one of the shorter models would be in your price range.
 
Man, really wish I had the $$$ for a Sig Kilo 1600, really like the idea of a red LED display. Going for about $260 on Amazon at the moment.

I may actually try to hold out for a 1600, seems to be a really good value.
 
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Oh, in other news a (now former, since today was my last day) coworker offered to give me his Lucky Duck Riot predator call. Said he lost the battery door so its taped up and he needs to track it down, but he doesn't want anything for it since he got a really expensive FoxPro. I insisted on giving him something, so he agreed to take some ammo for it since I can afford to give some up. So, predator call may be taken care of if he can find it. :thumbup:
 
Just a note on range finders. All of them that I've used were only reliable at about 1/2 the range they are rated for. For them to work at the ranges they claim conditions have to be perfect. In other words a set listed as 800 yard range finders will probably range a house at 800 yards, but probably not much over 400 yards for a deer.

I won't list any particular brand or model. I guess I'm getting old because everything I have hands experience with is no longer made and I haven't kept up with current models enough to say.
 
Anybody have any experience with the Bushnell Engage rangefinders? Can get the 1300 on Amazon right now for $152 which seems decent. All things being equal I probably don't NEED illuminated display as nice as it would be, and the Bushnell seems to have plenty of range for my needs.
 
$200, well there is that single round of 22 lr on gunbroker I saw that's about that much...


Funny, not funny.
I think range finder is a good plan, binos are nice but quality costs, predator call is cool - you could likely improvise that or get something cheaper. I don't know, I guess it depends on your needs.
 
I just dropped $300 on a Sig Kilo 2000 and in the half hour I've been playing with it I've confirmed that I am absolutely *horrible* at guesstimating ranges.

I don't have alot of experience with other range finders, but this one meets and exceeded my expectations.

Standing, one handed, pushing a stroller I'm getting instant hits back on houses at 900yrds on the nose.

Plus it fits, in the case, in the back pocket of my Levi's with room to spare.
 
I'm having a hard time deciding, so thought I'd get some input from some experts on investing. :D

Between gift cards and cash for Christmas, I have about $200 to spend on firearm/hunting related stuff. My top 3 things I'm thinking about are binoculars, a rangefinder, and a predator call.

Binos, my options are limited because I need something that can go out to 76mm+ interpupilary distance. I have quite a large cranium. Right now my top candidates are the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50s and Athlon Argos G2 HD 10x42s. Main use will be coyote hunting hopefully in the next year or two. I'm sure they'll find secondary uses too.

Rangefinder, my demands aren't very high. I'd like something good out to 400ish yards. I don't see myself shooting that far BUT I like to be able to go out farther than I expect. Angle compensation would be a big plus, as I did buy a crossbow this year in hopes up taking up deer hunting for archery season soon. I'd also use it for just regular target shooting and coyote hunting probably. I'm looking at the Vortex Impact and Bushnell Prime/Engage. I've also been looking at the Athlon Midas, but $50 of what I have is an Amazon gift card and they're out of stock there.

Predator call is pretty self explanatory for coyote hunting. Primarily looking at the FoxPro Patriot.

I feel like the rangefinder would probably be the most widely useful, but I don't know enough about them to know if what I can afford is worth it. Binos would be really nice to have, and if I don't get the rangefinder I can probably guesstimate ranges using GPS. Predator call is alot more niche, but obviously pretty much a requirement. Whatever I don't get will go on the birthday list for April. ;)

I'm pretty happy with my current optics, triggers, etc.. Only thing I might think about there is a red dot for my HD shotgun since I'm cross eye dominant and it would make life easier.
 
If you go with anything other than a rangefinder... find yourself a nice stick about 4 ft tall (average height of deer to foot to ears) Put orange tape on the ends of it, and take it to a nice open field. Set your scope on whatever magnification you use as a default while hunting. Depending upon what reticle you have you can use various bits of your scope as a rangefinder. If your reticle is like mine then a 4 ft stick at 3 power is just slightly longer than the thin part at 100 yards. It’s right at even at 150 yards. It’s one half of the reticle (crosshairs to thick part of reticle) at 300. Seems silly but realistically if it even gets you in the ballpark then your shot will likely fall within an inch of the intended POI
 
I would buy a good pair of electronic ear muffs or a custom made leather holster that we normally would not buy because of cost.

I have a pair of Howard Leight Impact Pros that I like (even though they aren't top of the line) and actually picked up some electronic in-ear protection this year (AWESOME for shooting outdoors, love 'em). Definitely good suggestions though. I'm pretty set holster-wise, although a nice custom OWB one for my 1911 would be pretty snazzy down the line.
 
I have a pair of Howard Leight Impact Pros that I like (even though they aren't top of the line) and actually picked up some electronic in-ear protection this year (AWESOME for shooting outdoors, love 'em). Definitely good suggestions though. I'm pretty set holster-wise, although a nice custom OWB one for my 1911 would be pretty snazzy down the line.
I just bought two sets, of the Walker’s razor quads. Have not used them yet and in all honesty never have used electronic earmuffs. Was always skeptical so hopefully I won’t be disappointed.
 
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