range finder

[tarzan]

anyone have any thoughts on rangefinders? what brand /model to get?

[digger dogger]

Don't spend your money on anything but a Leica!!
Expensive, but I have yet to here bad things said about leicas range fingers.
I have Never had an issue with mine..

[nerka992003]

I'm looking for one too. I'm leaning towards the Leica 1200 from the reviews its sounds like it's the quickest and easiest to use. And from the reviews the only drawbacks is the price.

[MuleyMadness]

They are expensive, but not obscenely so. Any quality RF that will range soft targets out to 500m and beyond consistently isn't going to be cheap, regardless of the brand. Realistically though only ultra long range hunters need a 1200, if price is an issue you could go down a model, still range beyond where 99.9% of hunters can accurately shoot, save a couple hundred bucks, and still be happy as a pig in shit..another option is used, as long as the glass is good, it's not exactly an item that 'wears out.'

[Riverratz]

Lots of people slam them, but my Bushnell 'Yardage Pro' 600 has served me well for the past 10 years, no problems whatsoever. I don't baby it, but it definitely gets used and doesn't get thrown around or otherwise abused either.

As MM pointed out, IF? you're never going to be shooting at 1200 m. why do you need something that reaches out so far, unless of course you're just curious to know how far away something is. If long range shooting/hunting is in your future then buy accordingly.
No matter how good something is now, you can rest assured that in 1-2 years there will be something new that is better.

[Drillbit]

I went with the Leica 1200 and it's great. Best price was cameraland out of NY. They have demo models for reduced prices and you can't tell they've been out of the box.

[pescado]

Im happy with my Leica 1200.

[Bow Walker]

Are you using it for bowhunting or rifle hunting? Or both? Bowhunters do not need a RF that reaches out to extreme yardages. But, what is very handy to have is the angle compensating factor that is built in.

Another factor to think about is the magnification power of the RF. Once you get up, beyond 6 power it becomes a difficult task to quickly acquire targets at closer ranges. When I say closer ranges, I'm talking about targets that are within 100 yards.

I have a Nikon Prostaff RF. It has an 8X magnification factor. Granted, I use it mainly for bowhunting (closer ranges), but what I found was that the higher magnification makes it very hard to acquire a target that is within 50 to 75 yards.

When I upgrade (mine doesn't have the ARC capability) I'm going to get one that ranges out to 800 yards (good for gun and bow) and has a 5 or 6 magnification and comes with ARC. Sound like a Bushnell?

Have a look at sponsor's offerings.
http://www.grouseriver.com/Rangefinders_s/36.htm

http://www.ominecasourceforsports.com/index.php?option=com_productshowcase&Itemid=13&action=details&id=78

[bearhunter338-06]

I have one of the old Bushnell 800 works well for me, a little heavy and bulky compaired to the new ones. Maybe one day I will up grade to one of the new ones.

[todbartell]

Don't spend your money on anything but a Leica!!
Expensive, but I have yet to here bad things said about leicas range fingers.
I have Never had an issue with mine..

I've wrecked two, although they do work excellent when they work! I must say though, Leica did replace both with new models, even after the 1 year warranty had expired

I'm using Leupold RX1000 now, seems to work pretty good although it's no Leica 1200.

Leica now makes CRF1600 and CRF1000, no more 1200

[tarzan]

Thanks guys, i will be using mine mostly for bowhunting and was looking at the Chuck Adams bushnell.

[tomahawk]

Im happy with my Leica 1200.

Likewise, have ranged over 1300 yds with it as well.

[sugar]

www.binocularsnsite.com/product/66500_Leupold-RX-1000-TBR-Compact-Digital-Laser-Rangefinder

This is the one I got from this site. Best price around by far at the time and a great rangefinder for the buck.

[Matty_ola]

Just picked up a brand new leica 1600 with angle comp and bullet drop software built in. (replaced my 1200)

A fellow from gunnutz is selling them for $835 shipped to your door with taxes Doesn't get any better than that.
WSS is selling for 849.99+tax so quite a savings from the other guy.

Here's a link for it http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=562116

Cheers