Need a rangefinder

sparkysteve · July 21, 2006, 08:21 AM

I'm looking for a rangefinder to use for everything from bowhunting to gun hunting. Any one have one to reccomend? I don't know much about them. I've been saving my Cabela's Card points to buy one. Any input would be great.

FirstFreedom · July 21, 2006, 08:47 AM

I can just tell you which one I am saving to get, that I think will be neat, and save space & weight by combining 2 gadgets into one - the Leupold Wind River rangefinder/binoc combo:

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2872

Currently I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 400, and it works quite well, but I want to combine with a high-quality binoc, which I need anyway.

bclark1 · July 21, 2006, 08:49 AM

ah i can't remember what the specific model of mine is, i know it's a bushnell 1000yd one. i got it as a gift. i don't see it on cabela's though. from my experiences, though, i'd give the thumbs-up to bushnell. i haven't used it very aggressively, mostly just seeing what i can hit where when i'm plinking in the woods and fields, as well as just playing with it. it'll range anything i can see, and can supposedly do 2000yd on highly reflective objects... granted, that would have to be like the world's largest mirror in order for you to actually know that's what your reticle is on at that distance...

edit: figured it out, it's the yardage pro 1000. i forgot its features too. weatherproof, yards or meters, and it's got 4 settings depending on the environment you're ranging in, like rain.

Art Eatman · July 21, 2006, 08:57 AM

I bought a Bushnell 800 not long after they first came out. The alleged distances correlate well with topo map measurements. With good reflectivity, it's accurate out at 800 yards and a bit more. It does okay on rocks and clumps of brush in the 400/500/600 range. So, I'm quite happy with it.

Art

FirstFreedom · July 21, 2006, 09:06 AM

I thought that the old-timers could measure instinctively up to 1,000 yards, with 1/2-yard accuracy. Something they learned as a kid, while walking to school in the snow, uphill both ways.

sparkysteve · July 21, 2006, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the input. My dad has a Bushnell too. I'll have to look into them. I don't need the rangefinder/binoc combo. It sounds cool though. I just bought new binocs before my trip to Wyoming last fall. Thanks guys.

**Rich Lucibella** · July 21, 2006, 10:49 AM

I've owned the Bushnells but am partial to Leica. Currently have the 1200 LRF.

Regardless of brand the greatest service and price I've found for optics is at http://www.swfa.com/

If you can find what you need on their Sample List, it's always a bargain:
http://www.samplelist.com/
They have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 4X at $149.95 and Leicas from $299-$400+

I have never been disappointed with the stuff from the SWFA'a Sample List.....much of it is simply a display model that's been handled at a few trade shows.
Rich

Hook686 · July 21, 2006, 01:21 PM

I'd not have a problem recommending the Nikon Laser 800, 11-800 yards.

MEDDAC19 · July 21, 2006, 05:01 PM

The rangefinders mentioned are all good, just remember that some of the ones that will register all the way out to 800-1000 yds don't always give you the short distances that are needed for archery. Make sure that the one you get will also be accurate at 15-30 yds.

bill k · July 21, 2006, 05:24 PM

Bushnell yardage pro compact 800. The down side in the lower ranges, if you bow hunt I'd say the 400.
Bill

Anthony Terry · July 21, 2006, 08:55 PM

i just bought a leupold wind river RF bino for 350! new in box. they work within 13yds out to like 600 i think, maybe more on inanimate objects. very clear and have alot of features.

youp · July 22, 2006, 05:25 AM

I asked the same question at a different forum and the undisputed recommendation was Leica. I was told to save for it as the optics were far superior to Bushnell or Nikon.

Va GF, That binocular combinaton does intrigue me. Do you really like it? How does it stack up to other Binoculars? Do you wear eyeglasses? Please tell me as much as you can about it.

FirstFreedom · July 22, 2006, 10:02 AM

Yeah, VA, where'd you get it for $350? It's $500 at opticzone. How does it work for ya; any complaints?

Fat White Boy · July 29, 2006, 10:13 PM

+1 for the Bushnell Yardage Pro- My friend has a Leica and the Bushnell has been just as accurate as the Leica. I have also started using mine for golf...When you're as far off the fairway that I usually am, it comes in handy...

Anthony Terry · July 29, 2006, 11:30 PM

i lucked up on ebay. guy got the wind river 800 binos for fathers day. never used them just opened them for pics. the info i gave below is only what ive read, they havent came in yet. but ill let you guys know how they are. i had to jump on it for 350 though.

July 21, 2006, 08:21 AM	#1
sparkysteve Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2005 Location: Byron Center, Michigan Posts: 418	Need a rangefinder I'm looking for a rangefinder to use for everything from bowhunting to gun hunting. Any one have one to reccomend? I don't know much about them. I've been saving my Cabela's Card points to buy one. Any input would be great. __________________ I have ADHD........Attention, Defficit, Hey there goes a squirrel! Dont tread on me.

July 21, 2006, 10:40 AM	#6
sparkysteve Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2005 Location: Byron Center, Michigan Posts: 418	Thanks for the input. My dad has a Bushnell too. I'll have to look into them. I don't need the rangefinder/binoc combo. It sounds cool though. I just bought new binocs before my trip to Wyoming last fall. Thanks guys. __________________ I have ADHD........Attention, Defficit, Hey there goes a squirrel! Dont tread on me.

July 21, 2006, 10:49 AM	#7
Rich Lucibella Staff Join Date: October 6, 1998 Location: South Florida Posts: 10,229	I've owned the Bushnells but am partial to Leica. Currently have the 1200 LRF. Regardless of brand the greatest service and price I've found for optics is at http://www.swfa.com/ If you can find what you need on their Sample List, it's always a bargain: http://www.samplelist.com/ They have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 4X at $149.95 and Leicas from $299-$400+ I have never been disappointed with the stuff from the SWFA'a Sample List.....much of it is simply a display model that's been handled at a few trade shows. Rich __________________ S.W.A.T. Magazine Weapons, Training and Tactics for the Real World Join us at TFL or at AR15.com or on Facebook

July 21, 2006, 01:21 PM	#8
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	I'd not have a problem recommending the Nikon Laser 800, 11-800 yards. __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.

July 21, 2006, 05:24 PM	#10
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	Bushnell yardage pro compact 800. The down side in the lower ranges, if you bow hunt I'd say the 400. Bill __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

July 21, 2006, 08:47 AM	#2
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	I can just tell you which one I am saving to get, that I think will be neat, and save space & weight by combining 2 gadgets into one - the Leupold Wind River rangefinder/binoc combo: http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=2872 Currently I have a Bushnell Yardage Pro 400, and it works quite well, but I want to combine with a high-quality binoc, which I need anyway.

July 21, 2006, 08:49 AM	#3
bclark1 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,531	ah i can't remember what the specific model of mine is, i know it's a bushnell 1000yd one. i got it as a gift. i don't see it on cabela's though. from my experiences, though, i'd give the thumbs-up to bushnell. i haven't used it very aggressively, mostly just seeing what i can hit where when i'm plinking in the woods and fields, as well as just playing with it. it'll range anything i can see, and can supposedly do 2000yd on highly reflective objects... granted, that would have to be like the world's largest mirror in order for you to actually know that's what your reticle is on at that distance... edit: figured it out, it's the yardage pro 1000. i forgot its features too. weatherproof, yards or meters, and it's got 4 settings depending on the environment you're ranging in, like rain.

July 21, 2006, 08:57 AM	#4
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I bought a Bushnell 800 not long after they first came out. The alleged distances correlate well with topo map measurements. With good reflectivity, it's accurate out at 800 yards and a bit more. It does okay on rocks and clumps of brush in the 400/500/600 range. So, I'm quite happy with it. Art

July 21, 2006, 09:06 AM	#5
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	I thought that the old-timers could measure instinctively up to 1,000 yards, with 1/2-yard accuracy. Something they learned as a kid, while walking to school in the snow, uphill both ways.

July 21, 2006, 05:01 PM	#9
MEDDAC19 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: Endless Mts,NEPA Posts: 379	The rangefinders mentioned are all good, just remember that some of the ones that will register all the way out to 800-1000 yds don't always give you the short distances that are needed for archery. Make sure that the one you get will also be accurate at 15-30 yds.

July 21, 2006, 08:55 PM	#11
Anthony Terry Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2006 Location: Virginia. Posts: 673	i just bought a leupold wind river RF bino for 350! new in box. they work within 13yds out to like 600 i think, maybe more on inanimate objects. very clear and have alot of features.

July 22, 2006, 05:25 AM	#12
youp Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: south of Canada, eh? Posts: 438	I asked the same question at a different forum and the undisputed recommendation was Leica. I was told to save for it as the optics were far superior to Bushnell or Nikon. Va GF, That binocular combinaton does intrigue me. Do you really like it? How does it stack up to other Binoculars? Do you wear eyeglasses? Please tell me as much as you can about it. __________________ Use enough gun.

July 22, 2006, 10:02 AM	#13
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Yeah, VA, where'd you get it for $350? It's $500 at opticzone. How does it work for ya; any complaints?

July 29, 2006, 10:13 PM	#14
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	+1 for the Bushnell Yardage Pro- My friend has a Leica and the Bushnell has been just as accurate as the Leica. I have also started using mine for golf...When you're as far off the fairway that I usually am, it comes in handy...

July 29, 2006, 11:30 PM	#15
Anthony Terry Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2006 Location: Virginia. Posts: 673	firstfreedom. i lucked up on ebay. guy got the wind river 800 binos for fathers day. never used them just opened them for pics. the info i gave below is only what ive read, they havent came in yet. but ill let you guys know how they are. i had to jump on it for 350 though. __________________ Anthony...