New Range Finder

[slovakien_12]

Hi Guys,

Second season bow hunting. I would like to invest in a range finder up to $300. What do you recommend? I would like to use it for ranging animals for rifle season as well. Lets hear your suggestions and experiences

[604redneck]

Spend more and buy the vortex ranger 1000 for what u get its worth twice that I use it everyday

[Pioneerman]

I have a couple Bushnell range finders that you can buy under $300 and they have always worked well. But yes it you spend more you get better, but I have no issues with the $200 models I use.

[Hillbros_96]

I have the bushnell and the Leopold 750, would definitely recommend saving a little more and getting the best you can afford.

[Roughneck Country]

I would recomend not buying one if $300 is what you have to spend. Save up a little more get a Lieca 1600B

[GOLDEN TOP SNIPER]

So whats the best all around new one ? . use for both Rifle and Bowhunting ? . im not worried about price. i just want the one i will aways use and its compact . with all the bells and whistles .

[jaymac10]

Leica's are the best and more expensive, but I think you get a bit more bang for the buck by going Leupold.


I've been doing my research for the past couple of weeks and can't decide on the Leica 1000 or Leupold 1000....

Leica is plane Jane and $600 whereas the Leupold has everything and is around $450-$500

[Ry151]

I just picked up the leupold RX 800I TBR DNA from bass pro for $329. like it so far. I didnt like bushnells that ive used but i have turrents on my scopes so i only needed true horizontal distances not the bullet drop or hold over info.

[yennek]

i use the bushnell chuck adams model. Works great for bow and rifel hunting and should fit ur budget.

[Legi0n]

I use a Bushnell Scout ARC 1000.
Works with both bow and rifle.
It is very small and the battery is still good after 2 years.
I think it's currently on sale @Cabelas for $299.99

[HarryToolips]

I got my Bushnell at crappy tire works great...

[GOLDEN TOP SNIPER]

sounds like there is no one that everyone can decide on !.

[Singleshotneeded]

I use a Bushnell Scout ARC 1000.
Works with both bow and rifle.
It is very small and the battery is still good after 2 years.
I think it's currently on sale @Cabelas for $299.99
Amazon has the Bushnell Scout 1000 ARC for $250...I've used the model up from that one for years...no issues!
Just FYI, I heard that Vortex has put a bloody lifetime warranty on their rangefinders, so if you find one for a good
price and it does have a lifetime warranty, well that's just crazy for electronics in the bush and mountains.

[wlbc]

sounds like there is no one that everyone can decide on !.

Ding, ding, ding...

Everyone has different experiences and hunts differently so their opinions will vary.

I started out with a top end Bushnell a few years ago. Had all the bell and whistles, glass was okay, worked good out to about 300 yards on hair, but if deer ever start wearing reflective clothing I'm sure it work well at greater ranges.

After that I looked at Swaro, Leica, and Zeiss. I bought the Swaro because it had the best glass, the rangefinder was flawless and the slightly larger size fit my xxl sausage paws better.

[showtimebc]

I got the new vortex, really happy with it.

[GOLDEN TOP SNIPER]

ding ding ding ? . lol. Yes i know that ..

[RiverOtter]

Leica CRF 1600, or 1600B if you want the balllistic computer...

[Dirty]

I think some of you guys are missing the boat. What is the minimum distance on the angle compensation for Leica units? They used to be impractical for bow hunting (50-1000y operating range). Have they changed?

Get a Vortex ranger 1000. For the extra $75 dollars, it isn't worth being cheap and missing out on the lifetime warranty. I have one and it works very well.

[325]

I have the Leica 1600, and have ranged out to 1800 yards. Really handy when trying to determine the distance to a band of rams.

[wlbc]

ding ding ding ? . lol. Yes i know that ..

No offense intended, just thought it was a timely and accurate observation.

[RiverOtter]

I think some of you guys are missing the boat. What is the minimum distance on the angle compensation for Leica units? They used to be impractical for bow hunting (50-1000y operating range). Have they changed?

Get a Vortex ranger 1000. For the extra $75 dollars, it isn't worth being cheap and missing out on the lifetime warranty. I have one and it works very well.

He mentioned rifle hunting as well, hence the Leica suggestions...

[GOLDEN TOP SNIPER]

Anyway . sounds like some of you guys like the Leica . i would love the Ballistics and angle compensation options . im looking over a new compound bow so an angle reader would be nice .. i need to go and look some over .. try them out .

[G.A.]

from my reading on the angle comp and from using it...its over rated..it does nothing on the ground that ive seen...and read others say. so unless you tree hunt in a stand they dont do anything much. and ranges they advertise arent accurate..the max they love avertise is for a reflective surface...like a hose or building..usualy one that claims about 700 or more is more like 200 for game ranging...some better and some are worse..just an average i saw
i just got the nikon archer choice. im happy with it, does 200 yard for a single tree in an open block, for me is far enough, paid under 200 on ebay

[Dirty]

From two different people I have heard bad things about lower models of Nikon. A very experienced bowhunter at my club told me he had nothing but problems with the Nikon Archers Choice. It works fine in dry conditions, but doesn't work worth a damn in rainy or misty conditions. These are the conditions that we predominantly have in the Lower Mainland, especially in the fall.

[G.A.]

works fine in the rain/damp for me with what ive been in...i read alot of bad review to..some about the low light, moisture and so on..i found those reviews were trying to use it to late anyways an cant even see our sights anyways, that was also what i found with the angle comp info..people expected more than it did due to misleading sale info and posting the reflective range and not realty of deer or other game..and they dont read well on black objects....might depend if was the older vesion of them also..i know another guy owns one and didnt come with the case and that is also inc now...has hard plastic body so make noise if buttons or something bumps them.
im not saying they compare to the higher and one, but for 200 buck im 100% happy so far...havent tried in fall yet but im in fraser valley and been but in the rain a fair bit and not fogged on me yet, but i dont walk with it outside my coat either to be in the weather constant

i was also looking at this one since my bow shop now stock them..Scorpion LRF400AC Range Finder - $189.00

[Singleshotneeded]

If the lifetime warranty that the Vortex has is real, and not watered down with small print, then I'd
get the Ranger 1000. It's $347 on Amazon, $100 more than the Bushnell Scout 100 ARC, but if
you get a new one or get your rangefinder fixed anytime you have an issue then it's worth it. By
the reviews it seems to range 500 yards on fur and past 1,000 on reflective targets.

[fyffer]

I use a red field paid 95 bucks. For the price works wicked.