Laser rangefinder shopping. Need experience and help.

[Raythemanroe]

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

I don't have the prairies and flat lands that the ground squirrel hunters have.. I like to range objects and tree lines along with berms while I sit and hunt any game for the most part.. I like this approach because I have a close guess off hand most of the times for speedy shots..


Ray

 

[LRPV]

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

This has been my experience as well.

 

[GrocMax]

Have a Burris Elim III 4x-16x and it actually will range on PD's to about 400-450 consistently, mounds or cactus to about 700-800 in bright sunny conditions. Out a truck window with the engine idling. On a steady rest bet it will do much better, biggest problem ranging is button location vs shooting position forces me to lose aim point. REALLY needs a remote range button. And the glass is decent. Good actually.

Only complaint is the stadia are a bit large for PD sized objects at my preferred 6x-8x zoom level. I like to see hits/misses. The front twist type parallax/focus is a bit of a bother. And its HUGE and heavy.

Optically ranging PD's- gave up, they vary too much in size. However fine grid style scopes work great for 2nd shot *if* recoil is low enough for you to see exactly where it hit. And you NEED 2nd shot wind corrections out there, hardly ever calm or steady.

Wouldn't recommend it if you desire to long range 800+ yds PD shoot off a bench, you're going to want a dedicated long range rangefinder, but for PD shooting within midranges it works fine. Most varmint calibers start dropping off at 300-350 and that's where you need to start knowing accurate range corrections, being off 50-75 yds trying to optically range = miss.

Its not an FFP scope, and the ranged drop and drift corrections change with the zoom level, if your bullet BC, speed, and altitude programming is right its correct.

 

[Grimstod]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but does anyone still make optical range finders? Something that doesn't use a battery would be nice.

 

[Hydenseek]

If anything will do it, it will be a vectronix

 

[Barlow]

I have a Leupold VX something or other, supposed to be good to 1200 yards, but 900 is a stretch and I would not recommend them. Barlow

 

[artbosco]

Here's an option you may not have considered: http://www.golfsmith.com/product/30117860/bushnell-z6-jolt-rangefinder Plus 20% OFF if you hurry. Since I play golf and shoot, this thing is the perfect 2 in 1 tool! Check out the features.

 

[KenOath]

Started with a Leupold RX800 wasn't overly impressed, wasn't consistent out to claimed ranges sometimes falling well short. I sold it and spent a little more on a Leica 1600b and haven't looked back, does everything Leica claims it does and more. I've only owned these two rangefinders just my 2 cents.

 

[Shrek]

I’ve owned a half dozen rangefinders over the years and was disappointed with all but the last one I bought. A Leica 1600b.

 

[mike a]

Leica 2400 Rangemaster rocks $550. Mike

 

[okie]

leica

 

[KTM26]

Another vote for the Leica’s. Their glass is so clear I don’t carry binos for archery whitetail hunts. Their red readouts are easy to see in low light. And they reach out well as I’ve used mine out west for 6 yrs. Durable and will survive some bumping around.

Had a Bushnell and it died in the 1st rainstorm. Had a Leupold and couldn’t read their black/grey readouts in low light......old saying, buy once, cry once.

 

[Knotwild]

I just bought a Leica 2700 b demo from Cameralandny for $469 delivered. Can't wait to try it.

 

[std7mag]

There are a ton of different rangefinders on the market.
I saw the OP wasn't looking for all the bells & whistles that drive costs up.
Myself, being ummm, financially challenged shall we say, needed something that works plain & simple but didn't break my bank account.
I ended up on Amazon and purchased a SA Sports Dragoneyez 1500. And been really happy with it for hard use for 3 years now.
7X eyepiece.
Reflective target to 1,500 yards.
Non reflective to 600 yards.
I regularly range deer in the 600-800 yard. With a stable rest, my furthest range on a deer was 1,160 yards. I checked with Google Earth, and came within 10 yards.
On a gasline, ranging to my truck picked up 1,623 yards. Again, close per Google Earth.

I have Strelok Pro on my phone to give me slope angle/distance, weather conditions, and ballistics.
Cost was in the $200 range.

My only dislike...
No way to screw onto a tripod, when in the field. There may be some base with elastic straps available, but i don't have one yet.

Grimstod,
The only "analog" rangefinder i can think of is actually a scope.
The Redfield Revenge, and Revolution.
Hash marks for different sized animals.
8" gopher, 16" deer, 25" elk & coyote.
Crosshair on belly of deer/elk. Zoom in. When bracketed gives you distance.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The OP posted this thread back in 2014...

 

[338 dude]

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.

My Leupold RX 1000 I with TBR had trouble ranging a deer at 450 yards