Rangefinders

[Jake]

 I Just wanted to see if anyone has any recommendations for a accurate rangefinder that's reasonably priced. I have a halo 600 but unless I'm ranging a brick wall it's wildly inaccurate. I have replaced the batteries and still reads the same just doesn't like anything soft.

Thanks in advance for any advice .

 

[TiredRooster]

I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro Sport 450 that I bought from Cabelas years ago. I've used it a lot over the years and have had zero issues with it and it is accurate. I compared it's readings to my buddies Leopold range finder one time and they were both spot on with the same yardage readings. But you do have to have something "solid" to hit in order to get consistent/accurate readings though. I don't really see how any finder could give very consistent and accurate readings without having a solid target to hit. Having said all that....that Bushnell works really great. I've never had any reason to look into a replacement for it. And it was very reasonably priced!

TR

 

[cootertwo]

I have one from ATN, and it works OK, however, the numbers/letters etc. are in black, so it's pretty hard to read at times.

 

[Cranky1]

I’ve got a sig kilo 2200 and I’m pretty impressed with it. I was wanting the 1250 but caught the 2200 on sale. I’ve hit 1680 yards to my neighbors barn consistently and 166 yards to a stump consistently. 

 

[Coldair]

I had excellent results and reliability with Bushnell and Simmons rangefinders and they don't need to be fancy nor expensive.



CA

 

[Cranky1]

I’ve also used an older Bushnell, it still works good. I like the sig line due to the speed of ranging (4 times per second) and it just seems very repeatable. The kilo 850 and 1250 are nice for the $$$

 

[Jake]

Thanks guys I appreciate the input.

Maybe I just got a lemon with this one? But I'm thinking that you get what you pay for. The Sig kilo 2200 is one I've definitely been looking at.

 

[bandg]

I have a Leica 1200 and have ranged cows to 900 yards. I've read that the new Nikon Black is outperforming the Leica and pretty much everything else available in the size and price class but haven't actually used one yet. It also has more features than the Leica I currently have. 

 

[Crusher]

Just looked at the Nikon Black. At $450 that thing needs to bring me a cup of coffee in the morning.

Wow..



Crusher

 

[bandg]

All relative. If you want or need that level of performance it doesn't seem that expensive to me. Much like the discussion of compressors, it depends on what you need and value.

 

[JohnL57]

I had a Bushnell yardage pro 450 for years-it worked ok except when it didn't- like when it was foggy or the brush was very dry. (Both occur frequently in my area !) I got a Nikon Aculon for around $150 and it works way better than the old Bushnell and is a better fit in my pocket to boot!

 

[pcpfan37]

Take a look at the red field raider 650 

i had the raider 550 and it did well for me Had it for years and when the focus lens somehow came loose in the eyepiece Leupold offered me 60%

off a new unit so I got the Leupold 1300 I haven’t used it enough to have an opinion on it yet but seems like a good unit 

the raider is affordable and works well for its intended use plus it’s backed by leupold should something happen to it

pcpfan37

 

[LDP]

The vortex range finders are solid.

 

[Macloaded]

I have been using a hawke lrf 600 for a couple of years now without any problems. Picked it up for £80 so very much at the cheaper end of the scale but can't fault it

 

[adam24k]

I've also been looking, went to Cabelas to look... was recommended the "Vortex® Ranger® 1300 Rangefinder" for $299, has red led, unfortunately it was sold out, but available online. Had great reviews, used my Cabela point and ordered one. They have free 2 day shipping.

 

[Elbowgrease]

I have found myself using my mil dots to range at times when I run into issues where the range finder will not pick up what I am trying to range. 

The formula I use is... 

Size of target in inches divided by number of mill dots. then multiply that by 27.77.

This is pretty darn accurate as long as you know the size of your target and break down the spacing between each mil dot into tenths. This will get your range more or less figured out. If you do the math correct and are close to your measurements you should be within a yard or two most of the time. From there its just a matter of taking the shot and making some adjustments if need be. I have had had good luck with it. 

 

[Matt247365]

I have a Simmons Volt 600.

Less than 100 bucks.

Works good. Nothing fancy.

Matt

 

[Dan_Br]

I have never used a range finder and ask, can you just aim at the "ground" as if a squirrel was there and get a reading or do you need to be be aiming at a tree or some other object?

thanks

 

[Imold]

I have a older Bushnell yardage pro that’s been ok for the last 12-15 years and then I have a Leupold RX-650 that’s not to bad, hard to read in low light but it works, both under 200.00 dollars.

 

[Imold]

I have never used a range finder and ask, can you just aim at the "ground" as if a squirrel was there and get a reading or do you need to be be aiming at a tree or some other object?

thanks

As long as it’s a stationary target you can range it, clump of dirt to a tree, squirrel to ELK but some rangefinders have a Min of 10 yards and some it doesn’t matter then there are Rangefinders that you can hold on a moving target and they will give you a constant range reading it’s all on how much you want to spend.