Questions about rangefinders

Kermit

Kermit

New member
I'm considering the purchase of a Nikon 550 rangefinder. I'm going on an antelope hunt this fall in Wyoming and would like to use it. I've been told that a rangefinder may say that it has a range of 550 yards, but when used on animals such as antelope or deer that range that it will read them is only about 1/4 of that stated by the company. I was told that to get the full amount of yardage stated by the company you must be ranging off of very reflective targets such as vehicles, etc..

On a 550 yard unit such as the Nikon 550 how much true distance could expect from it on animals like antelope or deer? Have any of you used the Nikon 550, and if so how do you like it?

Thank you for your time.
 
I have the Nikon 800. I think it is very good. Don't know how much more the cost of the 800 is over the cost of the 550, but it can't be much.
 
with the nikons and bushy's that I've tried and used, you can normaly range a deer sized soft target just over half the rated range.
I now use a leica 1200 and it is the lower end of the decent range finders that is suitable for med/long range hunting use, I have ranged whitails to just over 1K, groundhogs to 800-900 yards. if you want to range for extended ranges, start with a leica and go up.
RR
 
I also have had great luck with the Nikons. I had a 440 that would get me readings all day on rockchucks and deer at 350+.

Stay away from Bushnell though not so good of luck with this brand.
 
I've got a bushnell and haven't had any problems with it. It says it will range out to 900 yds. I've had it range to about 850 but that was on a big grain silo. I've been able to range big cedars or cliffs at about 600 yards. Anything closer is a breeze other than a grass field or a prarie dog mound. It's a bit on the bulky side but that's the only thing I'd change about it. And that's why if I had to do it over I'd go with a Nikon.
 
+1 for the Leica.


Quote:
I now use a leica 1200 and it is the lower end of the decent range finders that is suitable for med/long range hunting use, I have ranged whitails to just over 1K, groundhogs to 800-900 yards. if you want to range for extended ranges, start with a leica and go up.
RR



Just curious, aside from the Swaro, what other practical range finders are you using for long range? I would consider the Leica a high end product for medium range and long range out to 1k. The Swaro would be the best bet if you are going to go out to 1500yds. Beyond that, rangefinders start getting impractical (ie, extremely expensive and big and heavy) for hunting purposes.
 
Leica gets consistantly excellent ratings, and will range an animal well over 1/4 of its rated range. The 1200 will range an antelope farther than you'll be able to shoot, unless you're packing a 50 BMG.

The Leica 1200 is ~$300 more than the Nikon Monarch 800 and $260 more than the Monarch 1200, so it may well be worth your time to try and test how well the Nikon works, if you're on a budget.

Cabelas has it on sale for $400 and there are user reviews here:

Nikon Monarch 1200

(The Optic Zone has a better price)
 
Evil,

I have the Elite 1500 from Bushnell. It has the ARC function and I believe it was about $449.00 I ranged a bull elk last at 990 yds across 4 canyons (draws) but decided not to try for him. Cause we were 4 miles from the truck already and I am way old. LOL.

I have been very pleased with the results. The lower end
ones are not much good for long range though.

Dave
 


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