Laser rangefinder shopping. Need experience and help.

[Tommie]

Heading to the prairie dog fields in two weeks. In the past I've borrowed friends' rangefinders but now it's time to get one of my own. While a Geovid would be great, my budget is more in the $400 range. Knowing that you get what you pay for, I understand compromises are to be made.

My priority is accuracy to at least 500 yards. Angle compensation and other extra-cost features don't appeal to me. Reading online reviews it seems everything in this price range performs with consistent mediocrity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CJ6]

I've used a Leica for years and I'm happy with it.

 

[Patch700]

A bit more than 400 but a very well made piece for the money is Leica.. And do yourself a huge favor , whatever maximum yardage you plan on using it at get one that's rated 1-1/2 times greater.

I use a Leica 1600b and for the money it is top notch.

 

[MK 19]

For the price point your looking at the best deal would be the Vortex Ranger 1000, it is rated on non-reflective targets at 500 yards and 1000 reflective, I have been able to use a store sample of this unit to range reflective targets to just over 1200 yards.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/ranger_rangefinders

For not much more you can also find the Ziess PRF 1600, this unit is very highly rated and I was able to pick up a police helicopter at 1842 yards with the store sample, great performance for not much money, even if it is out of your price range.

http://www.zeiss.com/sports-optics/en_us/hunting/binoculars/laser-rangefinders/victory-prf-laser-rangefinder.html#highlights

 

[Raythemanroe]

I think they had a run down on rangefinders on here a while back.. I believe Bushnell beat out a few high end rangefinders..


Ray

 

[Tommie]

Thanks for the input. If it weren't 50% above my budget I'd be all over a Leica. I notice nobody is mentioning the Leupold 1000i series. But then again, my last Leupold purchase was a bitter disappointment.

 

[mac86951]

I too was once bit buy the range-finder bug.

Read carefully, most sub $500 range finders will work out to 1k+ yards if you laze a reflective surface... My bushnell will only work to 350 without a large reflective surface which disappointed me a bit since I shoot 400-600y.

They can be very useful if you have a mil-dot scope and know the size of your "target." Doing this you can learn how to measure range with your scope.

-Mac

 

[brian427cobra]

A used Leica 1200 fits the bill perfectly, I got mine for 300

 

[brian427cobra]

Another thing to consider is the Vortex 1000 has a Lifetime Warranty

 

[AndyA]

I bought a Bushnell G-Force that ranges to 1300 yds. The longest I have ranged is 1200 yds to a boat on a lake. I used it elk hunting and was able to range them to 750 yds which were the furthest ones away that we saw. I like it.

 

[d.id]

I bought a Bushnell G-Force that ranges to 1300 yds. The longest I have ranged is 1200 yds to a boat on a lake. I used it elk hunting and was able to range them to 750 yds which were the furthest ones away that we saw. I like it.

Same here. Ranged elk past 1k and rock chucks or at least the rocks they were on out to over 800. Very happy for under $300.

 

[agr516]

This is one purchase that you will kick yourself for going cheap on. I bought a Bushnell ARC 1500 and couldn't range anything consistently past 500 yards that wasn't a truck or a house. I sold it, bought a Leica 1600, and am extremely satisfied with it.

 

['Freak]

I snatched up a Leica 1000 CRF demo unit shortly after the 2013 Shot Show for about $400.

 

[Syncrowave]

The only RF I've ever used is my Bushnell Elite 1600 ARC. I think you can get it for about $360. Mine will lase trees at 995 y on a good day when the planets align. Most days it will lase trees at 880 no sweat. I've tried it on deer at about 700 ...no go. Tried it on crows sitting in a plowed field at about 400...no go. YMMV.

 

[tarzan]

have burris and leica rangefinder bino.burris works better than on the rangeing partl but optic part is bad. the leica works good always use the leica because u can see so much better

 

[boltfluter]

You need to beg,borrow or steal a Leica. Leica has a very small, if not the smallest beam divergence, and you need all the help you can get on prairie dogs. To big
of a beam will hit the ground first and give a false reading to your small target. ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Webyshops.com]

Bushnell makes several decent laser rangefinders well within your price range. The Tour V2 Laser Rangefinder has a very good value for the price point.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I too went the "economy" route with my first rangefinder and was a big mistake. I was so mad at my $500 range finder that I gave it to a friend that never hunts further than 300 yards. I bought me a Leica 1200 (it's been a while) and I was finally happy. Sell some stuff and buy the Leica, all others are a coin toss.

 

[Superx1]

I echo the Leica comments. I don't own one I have a Leupold but my hunting buddy has a Leica and it puts my Leupold to shame. On coyote sets you ususlly have only sage brush and grass to target so your range goes way down but the Leica can pick up dirt mounds at 800-1000 yds consistently.

 

[LarryDScott]

I have owned Bushnell(800) Leica(1000) then a swarvarski (SP)(1950), and all will work
ranging big objects at these yardages. Regardless of brand or price, in PD hunting
you will be disappointed in their lack of accuracy and ability on flat ground
with any of the brands. The beam has to have a reflective object
I tried these units on pods/fence posts and bagged on the truck hood for
a little more accuracy over hand held, and in to many cases you get no
reading at all.
If you are ranging on sloping ground, you can expect better results.
LDS

www.greatscottshooters.com