Range Finders
- Thread starter Tenbore
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I've been thinking about range finders. Please let us know your experience with this one.
Nowadays, it seems like the newest, bestest, top-of-the-line optics that you bought yesterday are already obsolete tomorrow.
I'm waiting for some replies to this, also. I have never owned a range finder, so I don't know if I need one. 
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I purchased one when I got into PRS as some of the time the course didn't have the distances posted. I forget the brand, bought it at Scheels, was about $40.00. It compared well with other brands. Each of us using our own brand and the distances were pretty close. I did discover it is best to measure using some support of some sort, holding it offhand was not helpful.
contender
Ruger Guru
I purchased a Leupold range finder many years ago. It didn't get used much,, but it was stored in a humidity controlled safe, no batteries installed, and in it's case. Basically it was in new condition. I went to get it out of the safe to take on a hunting trip for elk,, and it was completely dead.
Several calls, discussions with Leupold,, and the best I got was a "discount" off retail of about 60%. That wasn't much less than I could replace it by purchasing one online from a few places.
I was not very happy.
I took it to SHOT with me,, and went to the Leupold booth. I asked for the most senior executive there. When a gentleman came to see what I needed & said he was one of the upper management,, I politely said; "I've got a present for you,, a Leupold suppository." He, as well as a couple of others looked it over & agreed that it looked new & that it hadn't been abused & such.
He offered to replace it,, but said it'd take a few months as they were awaiting a new shipment of a newer model. it took 6 months,, but I finally did get a replacement. I'd have to go dig mine out of my safe to check which model it is,, but it sure made me wary of their electronic products.
Several calls, discussions with Leupold,, and the best I got was a "discount" off retail of about 60%. That wasn't much less than I could replace it by purchasing one online from a few places.
I was not very happy.
I took it to SHOT with me,, and went to the Leupold booth. I asked for the most senior executive there. When a gentleman came to see what I needed & said he was one of the upper management,, I politely said; "I've got a present for you,, a Leupold suppository." He, as well as a couple of others looked it over & agreed that it looked new & that it hadn't been abused & such.
He offered to replace it,, but said it'd take a few months as they were awaiting a new shipment of a newer model. it took 6 months,, but I finally did get a replacement. I'd have to go dig mine out of my safe to check which model it is,, but it sure made me wary of their electronic products.
I probably don't NEED one either. It will be interesting to check my range guesstimation with what the optics say.I'm waiting for some replies to this, also. I have never owned a range finder, so I don't know if I need one.
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I'd like to get one, just because. The reviews I've read were hit or miss.
I'll wait for one more accurate and user friendly. I'll bet Garmin could make a dandy one, just like their new chronograph. Make it look like a ray gun with a duplex reticle and accurate to within one single foot, or less
I'll wait for one more accurate and user friendly. I'll bet Garmin could make a dandy one, just like their new chronograph. Make it look like a ray gun with a duplex reticle and accurate to within one single foot, or less
contender
Ruger Guru
I just checked my replacement Leupold range finder for the model.
It's a RX-1400i TBR/W.
And it's still in the shrink wrap packaging as it was when it shipped to me. I have not had it out of it's packaging at all.
During the LONG time between my first one going bad,, & FINALLY getting it replaced,, I purchased a Bushnell one that I've used a few times. That's why my Leupold is still NIB.
It's a RX-1400i TBR/W.
And it's still in the shrink wrap packaging as it was when it shipped to me. I have not had it out of it's packaging at all.
During the LONG time between my first one going bad,, & FINALLY getting it replaced,, I purchased a Bushnell one that I've used a few times. That's why my Leupold is still NIB.
Range finders are great but I wouldn't buy another if I could afford a bino with RF built in.
IMHO, best use of a rangefinder while hunting (from a stand anyway) is ranging visible 'markers' in the area to get some idea of range of probable game sightings. Fiddling with a range finder while game is visible often results in a missed opportunity.
IMHO, best use of a rangefinder while hunting (from a stand anyway) is ranging visible 'markers' in the area to get some idea of range of probable game sightings. Fiddling with a range finder while game is visible often results in a missed opportunity.
X2Range finders are great but I wouldn't buy another if I could afford a bino with RF built in.
IMHO, best use of a rangefinder while hunting (from a stand anyway) is ranging visible 'markers' in the area to get some idea of range of probable game sightings. Fiddling with a range finder while game is visible often results in a missed opportunity.
contender
Ruger Guru
"best use of a rangefinder while hunting (from a stand anyway) is ranging visible 'markers' in the area to get some idea of range of probable game sightings."
This is why I don't have to use my range finder much. I hunt my own property a lot,, and once I've gotten the distances to specific things in an area,, I don't have to range things anymore.
It was because of an elk hunt that I dug out my range finder & discovered it was dead that caused me to have to replace it. I was going to a new place & would have put it to use doing the same things. I've never tried to range game with one.
This is why I don't have to use my range finder much. I hunt my own property a lot,, and once I've gotten the distances to specific things in an area,, I don't have to range things anymore.
It was because of an elk hunt that I dug out my range finder & discovered it was dead that caused me to have to replace it. I was going to a new place & would have put it to use doing the same things. I've never tried to range game with one.
RC44Mag
Buckeye
Some years back I got a real nice Leica from an associate for a fraction of what it was worth. They're a pretty expensive make. A couple years ago midway had a great buy on Nikon rangers for about $125 from what I remember and couldn't pass it up as a backup. I tested them numerous times against each other and they pretty damn close to spot on in accuracy, varied maybe a a yard or so. Just an observation
Leupold makes quality stuff as we all know.
Leupold makes quality stuff as we all know.
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I got one as a gift probably ten years ago. Bushnell I believe. Back when you could get the cheap one for $75 or less maybe. Anyway it works great. I don't see the need to spend hundreds on one, TBH.
I am on my 2nd Leupold ranger finder. The 1st lasted about 8 years, and the LED range numbers had lost some of the visible readouts. Example it would show 1 but should have been a 7. I believe it was rated 1200 yd. I buy Leupold because it was a local company for most of my life. Their products are normally lifetime warranty.
On their products with electronics in this case range finders its 2 years. I got a RX-1600i last year. Unless it has changed Leupold doesn't make or build their ranger finders in house. At one time Sig built them. That could have changed by now.
Here's a myth about range finders. Example with mine, it will measure out to 1600 yds. But that not an elk that's an object that reflects a laser beam much better, say a metal stop sign. An elk or other nonmetal objects absorb some of the beam. So, it might be 100% on elk at 1000 or 1200 yds not 1600 yds. They all work that way.
I like to use a range finder because it's a lot better than my eyes when ranging in open country. I once guessed elk at 600 yds. the range finder said 379 yds. I use it with the built in true ballistic range, so I don't need to guess the incline degrees of an animal uphill or downhill from me. It shows range numbers as a straight shot, for me I can relate to that much faster than adding or subtracting distance due to incline. I use it when stopping and sitting, I guess at ranges of fixed objects and then use the range finder. Sometimes I am close but not always. When buying a range finder for long range or big game hunting I would suggest at least a 6 power optic. Having one that gives you straight line of sight range on uphill or downhill will allow you to shoot faster than using math in your head. With that feature different calibers will require different inputs to be correct. Leupold uses an assigned number in their chart. I use many different calibers, so I need to pick which number to input for the rifle I carry that day. It's not difficult.
I also suggest you to take out the range finder and use it at home, in the neighborhood etc. to figure it out. I do that every year before hunting to be refreshed in its use.
On their products with electronics in this case range finders its 2 years. I got a RX-1600i last year. Unless it has changed Leupold doesn't make or build their ranger finders in house. At one time Sig built them. That could have changed by now.
Here's a myth about range finders. Example with mine, it will measure out to 1600 yds. But that not an elk that's an object that reflects a laser beam much better, say a metal stop sign. An elk or other nonmetal objects absorb some of the beam. So, it might be 100% on elk at 1000 or 1200 yds not 1600 yds. They all work that way.
I like to use a range finder because it's a lot better than my eyes when ranging in open country. I once guessed elk at 600 yds. the range finder said 379 yds. I use it with the built in true ballistic range, so I don't need to guess the incline degrees of an animal uphill or downhill from me. It shows range numbers as a straight shot, for me I can relate to that much faster than adding or subtracting distance due to incline. I use it when stopping and sitting, I guess at ranges of fixed objects and then use the range finder. Sometimes I am close but not always. When buying a range finder for long range or big game hunting I would suggest at least a 6 power optic. Having one that gives you straight line of sight range on uphill or downhill will allow you to shoot faster than using math in your head. With that feature different calibers will require different inputs to be correct. Leupold uses an assigned number in their chart. I use many different calibers, so I need to pick which number to input for the rifle I carry that day. It's not difficult.
I also suggest you to take out the range finder and use it at home, in the neighborhood etc. to figure it out. I do that every year before hunting to be refreshed in its use.
I got to 'test drive' my guide's $2500 bino/RF a few years ago. HOLY COW, that was great but spending $2500 for something I'll use 3 weeks per year was/is not in my budget.
One very productive deer stand I used to hunt allowed shots up to 550 yards but with no terrain features or 'markers' it's pretty hard to tell 425 from 350 or 500 and a misjudgment of of either would cause a miss. This location also had some mean crosswinds and that made knowing exact range more important. On the plus side, the critters were often moving slowly or stopping to nibble so time spent ranging wasn't a deal breaker.
One very productive deer stand I used to hunt allowed shots up to 550 yards but with no terrain features or 'markers' it's pretty hard to tell 425 from 350 or 500 and a misjudgment of of either would cause a miss. This location also had some mean crosswinds and that made knowing exact range more important. On the plus side, the critters were often moving slowly or stopping to nibble so time spent ranging wasn't a deal breaker.
Range finders? I have 4.
My first, a mechanical double imaging unit called the Ranging 1000. While a bit crude it showed me how far my guestimation could be off when hunting in Ky. vs. the Rockies. An eye opening lesson.
Then a Bushnell 800 that would range 500 on it's best day. About a year after new it went to crap. Bushnell & I went back & forth on the fact I hadn't thrown it off a cliff or the like. After about 6 months they finally sent me a 1000 Arc that might read 700 on it's best day, but it's been working fine for a while now.
Enter the no longer made Swarovski. I'd used a friends on a prairie dog shooting trip & was hooked. The problem? $1000. I shopped till I dropped & found one for $800. Wife said she'd split that with me for Christmas,,, I was in. It will read further than I can effectively shoot & has been dependable for about 15 years. Fingers crossed.
A lot has changed since then, I bought a used Leica & a friend has had one for a long time. Both still working. Now there are the popular Sigs, newer Leica's & many others. Hard to keep up with. But think buy once cry once is applicable, for a while, as anything electronic just doesn't hold up forever.
My first, a mechanical double imaging unit called the Ranging 1000. While a bit crude it showed me how far my guestimation could be off when hunting in Ky. vs. the Rockies. An eye opening lesson.
Then a Bushnell 800 that would range 500 on it's best day. About a year after new it went to crap. Bushnell & I went back & forth on the fact I hadn't thrown it off a cliff or the like. After about 6 months they finally sent me a 1000 Arc that might read 700 on it's best day, but it's been working fine for a while now.
Enter the no longer made Swarovski. I'd used a friends on a prairie dog shooting trip & was hooked. The problem? $1000. I shopped till I dropped & found one for $800. Wife said she'd split that with me for Christmas,,, I was in. It will read further than I can effectively shoot & has been dependable for about 15 years. Fingers crossed.
A lot has changed since then, I bought a used Leica & a friend has had one for a long time. Both still working. Now there are the popular Sigs, newer Leica's & many others. Hard to keep up with. But think buy once cry once is applicable, for a while, as anything electronic just doesn't hold up forever.
I remember those Ranging 1000s and I think they made one half that also. I sold them, never used one in the field. They were different and like a model A compared to a 2024 auto. I can't remember anyone returning them broken or not working.
