Rangefinders

[351 WINCHESTER]

My son wants a rangefinder for Christmas. He bow hunts as well as rifle.

I can't see spending $400 or more. I don't want junk either.

Thankyou.

 

[powderx]

I don't personally own any so I'm interested too. I've always liked Nikon scopes. Are their rangefinders good?

 

[redneck2]

I have two. An older Nikon and a Leupold RX-1,000 (1,000 yard). The Leupold is hands down better, but it's newer. Just like anything, technology improves and prices drop.

I REALLY like the Leupold. The Nikon has a black reticule. Hard to see if the light isn't bright. The Leupold has red, which shows better the darker it gets. Really easy and quick to use. Remember that the advertised range is maximum under ideal conditions. If your target is not reflective, the range is diminished accordingly.

FWIW...I'd also strongly getting a retractable lanyard. The range finder is really easy to drop and small enough to lose. I keep mine on my bino harness.

 

[oldandslow]

351,

I got a Leupold RX-600 (600 yard range) about three years ago and it works fine for my hunting. I haven't tried to range anything over 300 yards however. It was about $200. It's simple to use and seems accurate.

I got disenchanted with Nikon after I bought a set of their ATB binos for $230. The rubber "armor" coating flaked off the body after about a year's use. I sent it back under their warranty but they said only the optics were covered by their "warranty" and made me pay for the repair and the return postage. After about three months of use the new ones have an objective lens bubbling pattern on the coating of one lens. I'm just using it as-is after their last "warranty" repair figuring they will find a new way to stick me for the repair cost and return shipping again. Good luck.

Merry Christmas- oldandslow

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I use a Bushnell Elite 1500 and under ideal conditions have picked up a grain bin just a tad over a mile out (I think it was about 1770 or 1780 yards). Under most conditions anything out to 1200 is doable and other than the absolute worst conditions anything inside of 600 yards is gauranteed. Only once have I been out where it wouldn't pick up anything past 30 yards due to the fog.
They have since replaced this model with the Elite ARC or something like that, you can still find the model I have used in many places and I have no complaints with it.

 

[marinetowgunner]

The vortex ranger 1000 is another that works really well. I saw a review for in not too long on another forum:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f18/vortex-ranger-1000-laser-range-finder-review-101812/