Rangefinders for 1000+ meters?

[Rmeju]

I'm working my way out up to, and hopefully past, 1000 meters (my cartridge can get out to ~1700) and I'm looking for a rangefinder. I'll be on known distance ranges for a little while still, so (I don't think) it's super urgent just yet, but I'd like to start looking.

I've been trying to piece together some of the go-to rangefinders, but I can't seem to find info on what I thought would be fairly basic info, like the pros and cons of monos vs. binoculars.

PRB and T-Rex both seem to agree that the Vectronix Terrapin was the way to go, but looks they those have been discontinued.

Bushnell Fusions 1 miles also seemed to do well in testing, and both the 10x42 and 12x50 are available for $1,000 or less (although I still don't know how that stacks up compared to the likes of the Bushnell ARC 1 mile, which also claims 1-mile, but for about half the price). Looks like Lieca 1600B also seems to have some satisfied customers in that price range, although I see some mixed reviews about their rangefinders.

I certainly like the price of the Bushnells and the 1600B better than some of the $2000-$3000 options, but I just don't know enough yet to make an informed decision.

Am I looking in the right areas? Other models I should be considering for the ranges I'm planning on getting to?

EDIT: Any thoughts on the NewCon 1500/1800/2200 rangefinders? Those run in the $300-$700 range and appear to have good reviews, but it seems like this is too good to be true...

 

[OYE]

1000 + rangefinders

You might contact Dan Lilja at Lilja Precision Barrels. The ranges you are talking about is what he is into. I would imagine he's up to date on the pros and cons of those type rangefinders. OYE

 

[MCMXI]

Many manufacturers claim all kinds of things with range finders but there are so many variables to consider in real world ranging including the weather, the reflectivity of the target, your ability to hold the range finder steady, sunlight, etc. I have a Swarovski Laser Guide and have ranged a street light at over 1,900 yards but that was at night when range finders work better due to less light interference. I've ranged a fire station just over one mile from my house a number of times and cars a few hundred yards beyond that. I've ranged numerous targets at 1,300 yards or more under various conditions. As for monocular vs. binocular the main advantage of the latter shows up when hunting since you can glass for animals (more comfortably and effectively) and range them with one piece of equipment. One final point, the bigger and more reflective a target the easier it is to range. I doubt there are many range finders capable of ranging a full size IPSC target at a mile under a variety of conditions.

 

[redbullitt]

Vectronix if you can swing the cash. No question at all.

Leica 1600 works well and is much less expensive, though it is not really in the same class.

 

[gamestalker]

I bought a Leupold RX-IV TBR a few years ago, (discontinued) and that RF would range for me out past 1,500 yds, under the right circumstances though. On paper targets, cars, road signs, it would consistently give me 1,500 yards from a tripod.

That RX-IV RF died on me a couple years after I bought it, bummer, so Leupold replaced it with the RX1000i TBR. This one has been far more effective at extended distances out too, and even a bit beyond 1000 yds., though still rather picky beyond 800 yds.. Up to 800 yds. though I get very good results, excellent actually. 1000 yds, is also pretty good, but a bit harder to get a consistent return on game, but is good on targets, cars, road signs at that distance, or in the dark.

I find that the TBR is a good feature once you've got it set up for the ballistics of a given and accurate load / rifle. I haven't used the TBR for distances beyond 600 yds., being that most of my hunting shots are generally within that range, but it has been very reliable and accurate out to that distance with several different cartridges. Once the TBR has been verified, I have been right on the money out to 600 yds..

It's only $300 - $350, depending on who has them on sale.

Negative aspect, it isn't threaded for a tripod 1/4" thread? The old RX-IV was threaded though? But I just lay it on top of the tripod to steady it, which is ok I guess.

If you want better than this, and better does exist, you'll probably have to get into the $2K - $3K range finders.

GS

 

[OYE]

You might look for a Barr and Stroud 250 or 500 yard model. Both read out to
20,000 yards. OYE

 

[jehu]

If you can afford it get the Vectronixs, if you can't, get the Lieca 1600. Any other lower cost options are a waste of $$$. It's all about beam divergence!:banghead:

 

[MErl]

The newcon, I have a 1500.

Yesterday, from the shooting point it would not register where I wanted to put targets past ~500yd (rolling & grassy). From the targets it would register my vehicle next to the shooting point out to 900.

 

[COLOSHOOTR]

Vectronixs, Leica 1600, or Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-Mile (fusion binoculars are elite line as well and work well). The glass is best on the Terrapin or the 1600 as the Bushnell has a blue tint to it. The new Bushnell models are supposed to address the tint though and the Conx version of the Elite 1 mile will be awesome with a Bluetooth Kestrel!