Range Finder ?

M

MO

New member
As soon as Uncle Sam gives me back some of my money,I'm going to buy a range finder.I was trying to hold the cost down to around 300,but as I searced forum archives all I hear is " Leica's are best"I was trying to find more info on the Nikon Monarch 800 but all I see is the Buckmaster.Does anyone have any data on the Monarch? As I will be shooting ground squirrels while using it, there little in the way of tress , rocks etc to get reading off of.How large of an object does one need. My shots are between 200-500 yds.Does a higher power help. The Monarch comes with a tripod mount but is only 6X.Is 8X more along the lines of what I need, and do any others have tripod mounts.Leica's are not off the board as yet,but alittle pricey if they wont read any better off small objects.
 
MO, I have had a Bushnell yardage pro 500, Nikon Buckmaster 800 & now own a Leica 1200 Scan model. I like the scan feature of the Leica as you can keep ranging an object until it picks it up just by holding down the button. This is really handy when you are trying to range small objects @ long distances. The Nikon is a leg up in ergonomics dept. (fits better in the hand) but both work really well. I bought the Leica to get a 1200 yd. model. What ever you do DO NOT buy the bushnell IMO it was junk. Good Luck, Dean-o
 
I just recently sold my bushnell 500 and bought a lieca 900 scann and there is a world of difference. The Leica is much smaller, clearer and reads faster. The Leica will range trees at 5-600 yards on a bright day with snow on the ground and the bushnell would not range trees at much over 250 yards on an overcast day. The only drawback to the Leica is the lack of a way to mount it to a tripod.

If you go to huntingoptics.com they have the older model Leica 800 on a closeout special for $339.

I bought my Leica 900 @ Cabelas in theer return room for $378 and they said Leica was the best and if they had returns on them they rarely lasted mor than a day. I highly recommend the Leica.
 
I haven't had any experience with the Monarch, But I have had personal experience with the 500 yardage pro and the Leica. I have also looked at the others.

If you really like the Leica, and if it is only a small distance away from your price range, I would suggest you find a way to pick it up. The Leica 900 is 399. at bearbasin.com. (case and delivery included)

Try to buy what you really want once, instead of trying to save money-and end up regretting your decision.

Or much worse-buying what you wanted to begin with after!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif -MP
 
I have absolutly no idea of how these range finders work. When you talk of the scan feature on the Leica's,is it that the other makes,you have to actualy hold the rangefinder on the object as it feeds you the info( like taking a shot),while the Leica, it gives you absolute readings as you move the range finder.As for the price 'I did see that Bass Pro Shops had them aslo for $400, and the adapter for a tripod Mount for another ( apx.)$30.oo.
 
MO, Basically you are correct. On all the models (except the Leica scan model) you have to hold a dot that is inside the rangefinder on the object to be ranged & then you press a button then it flashes the yardage. If you don't hold steady or the object is far away you may have to go through this process several times. With the Leica scan model you can press & hold down the button & move the unit all around & get constant ranges to what ever is in the laser's path. I hope this helps. Later, Dean-o
 
M Paul I agree. Something to always remember its saved me a lot over time. "Only a rich guy can afford to buy cheap stuff" Words of wisdom. !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for the info,I'll go with the Leica.Since I'm already poor I can't afford to buy twice for what I can get once.
 
MO........The Leica is the "POT OF GOLD" at the end of the rainbow!

I have had the Bushnell 800 and that is a joke in comparison. My Bushnell would run down those little batteries so fast in cold weather. It had to big a window to suit me also.
 
Good idea going with the Leica. I have had a bushnell 800 for a while and had it crap out on me this fall. I would put new batteries in it and they would be dead by the next morning.

Sent it back to Bushnell and they just sent me a bill/estimate for $150 to fix it. I called Bushnells c/s to see if I could get a little help on the cost...but they didn't have a clue or desire to worry about a customer.
 
I just ordered the Leica 1200 from DR for 474.oo in Camo.I looked every where, never found one cheaper than that,guess I should have looked longer.I did try one out before buying.It would pick up a reading on telephone poles 675 yds out.
 
I've had the Leica and didn't like it. :eek: :eek: Oh it's probably OK for you people who live "In Town" But here in the GWN it ain't that great. A good deal of my winter is spent looking at stark white landscape. The Leica has an illuminated target acquisiton square. It disappears against the featureless white background, making it impossible to bracket the target or get a reading. If there is dark background it is fine. I contacted Leica about it, they basically said "Yah so what's your point."

I now have a Bushnell yardage pro 800 compact as does my brother. It works great.It has a different type of system for targetting and works in all conditions I've found so far. It is accurate {I compared it to my Leica}fast and I've had no problems in the cold.

Just as a side note, I have from time to time over the last hundred years /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif had Bushnell optics. As a result of hard use, I've had to use their service department. I've never been charged for repairs and I fully expected to pay as the damage had nothing to do with their workmanship. Their service was always fast and efficient.
 
I have a friend that is hooked up with Bushnell and is getting me some Yardage Pro 1000's demo's for real good price. Even though they are demo's they still have full warranty. I owned a Nikon and it wouldn't even range a cow at 100yds. Took it back to Cabela's and got my $300 back, then bought a Bushnell Scout that worked flawlessly. Selling it on ebay and already got more for it than what my yd1000 is costing me. Just hope it works as good. My 2 cents.
 


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