Laser Rangefinder Guide

[Forum Boss]

Gentlemen,

If you haven't checked out the main page lately, here's the link to our latest feature--a very lengthy guide to premium Laser Rangefinders, including a TECH section.

http://www.6mmbr.com/rangefinders.html

The Swarovski came out on top, but we've provided some darn good reasons to spend less on competing products if you don't need 1200+ yard ranging.

Thanks to Chris Matthews for writing up his field tests with a half-dozen sample in the Wyoming high country.

This tome is over 8000 words, and probably represents 70 man-hours,not counting field testing time). But I guarantee you'll learn something new,hint: beam divergence is key).

 

[M700]

That is indeed the finest writeup of the various rangefinders on the market that I've ever seen. Already sent a link to the article on!

Thanks for another outstanding article. Guy

 

[cdog]

I also enjoyed the article very much, I just wish they would have included an offering from newcon. I have read some good posts about these lately,
Cdog.

 

[jb1000br]

cdog..."they" is the Moderator

Nice job Paul

JB

 

[cdog]

Hard to type with foot in mouth at the moment, but I'll manage:,
I really did enjoy the article, and didn't intend to step on any toes! But I have read on another forum that the newcon model 2000 will outrun the swaro for roughly half the price!
Just trying to give a little back from a place that has given me a lot,,this site)
Cdog.

 

[Hans]

I borrowed a Leupold RX-11 from an older elk hunter buddy. He liked it but the display was to confusing with a rain function - slope angle - several mode changes., looking like a heads up display out of a fighter) .
He wished he had bought a simpler version with just range. It worked fine for me . This may help someone else making a purchase.

 

[bg]

One point that should be very important to anybody that hunts in very cold weather. Most of the rangefinders have LCD,Liquid Crystal Display) readouts. If the weather gets cold enough it will not be readable. The Leica's LED,Light Emitting Diode) does not have this problem. Have you ever had and LCD calculator and left it in the car in freezing weather? You usually cannot get a readout on it until it warms up some.

 

[BigJim]

Thanks Hans - just what I did today purchased the RX-1 my first rangefinder. Was confused on if I should get the 1500 s or the model IV, what brand, what range, but the thing that got me the most was the price. This ones $50.00 off and ranges where I need it to go.

Thanks
Big Jim

 

[CIA]

Enjoyed the article very much. I purchased a used Geovid a few years ago and couldn't be happier with it. The optics are great and the range finder is flawless. Wouldn't want to take it sheep hunting as it is a bit big but on my varminting bench it is always there.
Mark

 

[sewwhat89]

Has anyone used/tried the Leupold RX4 ranging binoculars? The price is attractive, but are they a good buy?

 

[songdogslayer]

Hey gang, I just wanted to give a shout-out to this site for the awesome write-up and comparisons for range finders. I went with the swaro and I couldn't be happier. I can point that thing at GRASS 800+ yards away and get an accurrate, repeatable range. AWESOME for prairie doggin and for long range shooting!

 

[canuck]

I have had a few range finders but I couldn't use them in low light as I couldn't see squat out of them. I then purchased the Leica geovid 8X56 . These things are awesome and you can see in very low light.They work very well out to about 1300 yards or so. I will never sell these. If you can swing it I would highly recommend them.They also double as an awesome pair of binos, not quite as good as my swarovski 8X56 SLC but very close.I never carry my swarovski's in the feild anymore.

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I'm looking to buy a laser rangefinder before too long and am interested in the Leupold RX-1000 TBR. Has any body used or bought one of these yet, how does it compare to others. I've not seen any reviews on it other than the ads that Leupold puts out.

 

[sharps]

I HAVE GONE ROUND AND ROUND WITH RANGE FINDERS FROM THE RANGING SPLIT IMMAGE TO THE GIANT MILITARY RANGE FINDER TO BUSHNELL TO LEICA AND I WILL BE BURRIED WITH MY LEICA RANGE FINDER....CLEAR,LIGHT,ACCURATE AND YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR SO JUST
BUY THE BEST FIRST AND DONT WASTE GOOD MONEY BEING FRUGAL AS SECOND BEST IS NOTHING MORE THEN FIRST LAST PLACE...THINK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rustystud]

I too have gone a round or two with range finders over the last 40 years.

The bottom line is you get what you pay for.

As stated I would not waste my money on a bottom end range finder again.

The Bushnell model I had (Range Pro800) worked well for about two years. Then the ranging grid fell down inside the unit. I called Bushnell and they said send it back with $10.00 and they would repair and return it. Six weeks after I sent to them I received a letter saying that someone had already been inside the unit and the warranty was voided. They said for $230.00 they would send me a replacement. I asked them to return my range finder to me. It took another 6 weeks to get the range finder back. First, I was the original owner and bought the unit new from Cabellas. Being somewhat mechanical, I thought I had nothing to loose so I took the range finder appart. It only require removing 4 small screws. The range finder was covered with a gray paint coating and my removal of the screws broke the seal indicating that I was the first person going into the unit. I found the lens with the sighting grid had come loose. It was only attached with clear tape that had lost it's stickyness.
Continued on another post running out of room.
Nat Lambeth

 

[Rustystud]

Continued:

I glued one end of the lens back into the slot and reapired the unit. I was so PO'ed at Bushnell that I gave it to a Kid down the road. It has been replaced with a Leica Unit that has worked flawlessly.

In my opinion they did not even try to repair the unit.

They made a false representation that the unit had been previously opened.

They took my $10.00 and tried to sell me a new product.

I leave with the opinion their warranty is BS, their product is defective, and their company lacks honesty and integrity. I choose not to do business with such companies. As a Gunsmith and dealer I will never recomend their products.

The best advertising a company can have is pleased customers. I give the example Dillon Reloading, Sightron Scopes both have a no BS warranty.

Nat Lambeth

 

[canuck]

I had a similar experience.I sent it in and I know they didn't even look at the unit as they sent it back and said there was nothing wrong with it. I gave it to a hunting buddy and told him good luck.
I then bought the Leica geovids. What an eye opener that was.I could even use them in REAL hunting situations at last light.All the others were completely useless in low light were you get most of your chances at a trophy buck.

 

[Texas]

ANy feedback on Newcons yet? I had the Bushnell a few years ago and on non-reflective targets in sunlight, it would range roughly half the distance it was supposed to be able to read.
I'm looking to read no reflective targets, maybe a spot of grass in a field out to 1,000 yards. Will any of the eye safe range finders do this? ANyone tried a newcon?
Thanks

 

[howeyhowitzer]

i love my leica crf 1200 have ranged sage brush hills at 1200. i also lost it on the high desert floor of south est idaho for 2 months. got back out there and found it. i picked it up and it still works.

 

[wapiti25]

Most range finders will range to about 1/2 the rated range on animals. Animals do not give a good return. I hunted with a $100 Bushnell about 5 YRs ago and the cost me a nice bull elk at about 300yds across a flat sage brush area, would not range and I thought he was farther so shot too high. I have ranged elk at 600 YDS with the Leupold RX-!V that I bought. The display does require studying the book at least for me. Two weeks ago I ranged a bull at 400 in a snow storm and would get a flash from the flakes now and then otherwise it works as advertised.