Rangefinder recommendation

[Westwind]

Anybody got a rangefinder they like? Would like to Buy at Cabela’s and stay around $200 if I can. Not sure I need the rifle and archery ballistics programs but I do still shoot both. Tell me if I’m wrong thinking I don’t need the ability to figure the ballistics stuff.

 

[Bill]

Never used one with ballistic compensation but if you don't have a chronograph and know the ballistic coefficient of your particular round (and enter them into it) it's not going to be accurate at long ranges. I have a chronograph and just chart out the ballistics and tape it to my stock.

 

[Westwind]

I’m thinking that allows me to stay in the $200 range easy then!

 

[cbw]

Have you considered a bino/rangefinder combo? I bought one 2 years ago and wouldn’t go back.


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[Angus 1895]

I just recommend you have one with some mass to it.

I bought a ultralight one and I couldn’t hold it steady enough to range things one handed.

Especially if I was amped up with bull/ buck fever.

 

[bigboreblr]

You shoot open areas, wind, or just typical 200 and under stuff.

I have a 3 year old luepold costed me around 450. Basic distance is all that needed, the basic vortex one works good.

I'd go a basic luepold or that vortex. Just keep a range sheet with you that includes wind drift.

 

[Kooch]

I have a Leica, and it’s out of your stated budget. The glass in the thing is spectacular for a small handheld rangefinder. It’s great for bow ranges.

I have a hard time using it at longer ranges because of shake.

If I had it to do all over again I’d get a small short range cheap unit for bow hunting and a good set of range finding binoculars for rifle.


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[Mtyhunter]

I have a nice Bushnell that calculates everything that I bought for golf, got a cheapo Halo that does distance only. Bushnell cost 5 times what the Halo costs, and aside from big elevations, they both give me the same yardage. Trying to hit a golf flag with them at long range is the same, too.
I wouldn't have spent the big money on the Bushnell after seeing the Halo give me the same results.
I agree with Kooch above, would have been a better buy to get the range-finding binos for hunting, and the cheapo Halo finder for golf.

 

[Westwind]

Have you considered a bino/rangefinder combo? I bought one 2 years ago and wouldn’t go back.


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I would but I have a set of binos I really like! I like that idea though.

 

[birdog]

Vortex. Take your pick.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Electro optics as a category are notorious for reliability issues. In general the lazers in sig RF are pretty bitchin but they aren’t without their reliability issues. I’ve had $300 and $1000+ sig rangefinders for at least 6 years and they’ve been good. I had to send a pair of $2500ish msrp sig RF binos in for warranty this year but they sent me a new pair in short order.

I had two pairs of $3k msrp Leica RF binos fail to range once temps got in the 30s..

all that to say rangefinders are a crap shoot and are likely to have a short shelf life or mediocre reliability..

 

[Telemark]

I recently bought a Vortex Intrepid 1000 because I got it almost half price. It ranges things just fine, which is what I need it to do. I haven't read the manual or dug any deeper into the specifics of it, but I like it so far.

 

[Westwind]

Thats pretty much all I’m going to do with it- just range stuff.

I think I will try to get this done today.

 

[Westwind]

Well I spent twice as much as I wanted to. Entry level Leica.

 

[bigboreblr]

At long ranges most have ocassional issues hitting your target. Sometimes you find something the same distance away and target that.

Big trick is to use it where you hunt often. Know the place well enough where you might not need it when the deer show up. Some things take a best 2 out of 3 rangefinding.