Best range finder for 2018

[muleman69]

Looking to update range finder, I have four now and looking for a better one. On the ones I have the yardages are not even close to advertised?

 

[BountyHunter]

Based on Brian Litz's lates book, where they tested most mftrs, the Sig kilo 2400 is the best for the money unless you want to spend thousands and thousands.

 

[muleman69]

Based on Brian Litz's lates book, where they tested most mftrs, the Sig kilo 2400 is the best for the money unless you want to spend thousands and thousands.

I have both the Kilo's 1200 and 2400 but not impressed. Seems like most finders are great at about half the advertised yardages.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Find a terrapin. The rest are all about the same. The advertisements are on reflective targets such as a stop sign

 

[alinwa]

What are you using it for?

For deers and trees and targets and trucks it don't matter they'll ALL work fine. But if you're into ranging short critters out on Thee Lone Prairiee then something called "beam divergence" becomes a 'YUGE factor. It's measured in milliradians and it's absolutely the difference between a hit and a miss on a coyote at 500yds. When I was shooting ground squirrels (before we killed all the free ones) we found most units to be useless except for ranging back to your truck.

Terrapin.... YES, pricey but YES. As Per Usual Dusty ain't just talkin' out his butt.

In fact anything over 2 Grand is perty darn good (Swaro/Zeiss) but on the cheaper units IMO the only worthy value will be Leica, and they ain't all that cheap.

I have 3 Leica's that I carry about. My other brands have been gifted to happy fellows who don't know the difference.

Search "laser rangefinder beam divergence" to find out what I'm bumbling on about.

cuz I type slow

Ohhh, yeahhh, and edited to agree with Boyd below!!

GET'cherself a small tripod, or use what's to hand but Boyd is right you CANNOT just stand there and freebang it....

 

[BoydAllen]

The funny thing is fellows seem to think that they can hand hold a rangefinder on a tiny target, a long ways off, something that they would have no chance of shooting off hand. Think about it.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Leica 2700 or if you have some $ burning your pocket Terrapin

 

[JBT47]

Find a used Vectronix Terrapin.

 

[muleman69]

The funny thing is fellows seem to think that they can hand hold a rangefinder on a tiny target, a long ways off, something that they would have no chance of shooting off hand. Think about it.

I hear ya, I have to be locked in solid to get readings at much distance at all. trying to shoot 1200+ and my units are not getting it. May have to get a loan from the wife and buy a terrapin

 

[Delfuego]

I would advise against a used Terrapin. They are not warrantied. Unless it comes from a a buddy you trust, it could be an expensive paperweight. The new Terrapin X is pretty good, not as good as the original, but has a warranty. I prefer Binocular / LRF combos. You can see the target better and they are still binoculars. The Leica's are the best of the bunch for these. Model depends on your needed range. +2000 yards? Get the newest 3000 model. >2000y = 2200 model. >1200 or so the older model works great and is a steal. I run the Rudolph Optic Bino/LRF. They have a fast laser and decent glass for a good price.

 

[BW64]

I like my Nikon Black rangex 4k. Does what it says.

BW

 

[Brians356]

The funny thing is fellows seem to think that they can hand hold a rangefinder on a tiny target, a long ways off, something that they would have no chance of shooting off hand. Think about it.

That's why there's a standard tripod mount mount hole on the bottom of my old Leica 800. But on a walking hunt, who has the luxury of using it? I've gotten pretty good at "shooting" the Leica offhand, but unlike trying to aim a rifle, I don't care if I mark the cheek, neck, thorax, or rump, so concentrate on holding vertical. I take two or three readings, and if I get successive ones that agree, I figure I'm not pointing at sagebrush in front of, or something behind, the target. Also, you need to have some reasonable estimated range in your mind, as a sanity check. YMMV.
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[BoydAllen]

Many years back, when the original Geovid was first out, I helped a friend test every brand of rangefinder that was being marketed to hunters. There were a bunch. What we learned was that with marginal targets and difficult backgrounds, that their useful range could be less than half of their rated yardage. If you are ranging a small animal with a light coat, that is in a flat field of grass, a long way out, hand held, that you can easily be reading behind or in front of your intended target, and that at those distances, for those size animals, the mistake could easily result in a miss. Walk closer.

 

[Brians356]

If you can get three readings within +/1 one yard, and you liked the sight pictures getting them, you likely aren't ranging grass or brush, in front or behind.
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[BoydAllen]

To clarify, we were taking readings standing with two hands.

 

[6MT]

I have a Terrapin-X. I like it because it talks to my Kestrel with AB via LINK. Shooting solutions have never been easier. And it will range easily to a mile and a half and beyond (if you steady yourself). I look forward to taking it on vacation and playing with just how far it will reliably range. But what I mean by reliable, is me doing my part. No different than good shooting technique...being able to hold on a small target at long range with only 8x magnification. It is difficult, no matter how good the unit is.

 

[Rogmay]

I recently purchased the Leica 2700, it is a amazing unit, holding it in my hand I’ve ranged elk at over 1500 yrds, trees, rocks and hillsides at over 2350 yrds, with repeated distances, when I leaned against my truck with it still in my hand I was able to get over 2730yrds at the same objects, not animals and haven’t tried reflective objects yet. I have never looked through the Terripan and from reading about them I’m sure they’re nice, but a little more pricey! I have a pair of Swarovski bino’s so wanted something small that fits in my shirt pocket. It does have the ballistic program but I didn’t get it for that, just strictly ranging. I compaired it to the nikons, sigs and leupolds, none of them were close in the optics. I did almost buy the sig 2200 and thought it was the best one for that price range, but had $500 n Cabelas points so said heck with it and bought the Leica, glad I did, its now the second Leica (1200) I have and it’s still works great, it’s now been moved to my sons fanny pack!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

It matters what you plan to use it for. I have owned a terrapin and they are the best for a straight up distance. They do nothing else. Not even angle for shoot to range. If you plan to use it for hunting that is not what you want. I sold mine and got a G7 BR2 range finder. Works just as good on game to distances past where I would shoot and gives you a ballistic solution instantly. For hunting its awesome. If your at the range or playing elr, a terrapin and kestral would extend your range but it takes time to figure your solution. The BR2 actually ranged farther when snowing.

 

[waynemac]

After having a Leica and a Swarovski, I was concerned with the sampling rate which was like once every two days. I purchased a Sig Kilo 2000 three years ago, and was really amazed at how easy and fast it ranges what I need to range. I have Strelok for my ballistic solution, and this came in at less than $400.00. I know there are good high end range finders out there with really nice bells and whistles, but for the money, you won’t beat Sig’s offerings.

Just my .02 worth,

Wayne

 

[dkhunt14]

After having a Leica and a Swarovski, I was concerned with the sampling rate which was like once every two days. I purchased a Sig Kilo 2000 three years ago, and was really amazed at how easy and fast it ranges what I need to range. I have Strelok for my ballistic solution, and this came in at less than $400.00. I know there are good high end range finders out there with really nice bells and whistles, but for the money, you won’t beat Sig’s offerings.

Just my .02 worth,

Wayne

You must of got one of the rare ones that work. Three different ones that my buddies have owned wouldn't range past 600 yards. That was on big objects like trees. I know all 3 got sent back. Matt