Rangefinder?

ToddNE

Member
Looking for input on a new rangefinder I bow and rifle hunt so I want it to have slope compensation for shooting up or downhill. Max range i would ever need is maybe 800 yards, would like to keep it under $400. Thanks
 
Animal at 800 means you need a 1600 or better if you want to consistently hit animals at 800. Under $400 means the Bushnell arc 1600.

Had one, it'll hit trees at 1600 with no problems too, it was an overachiever in my book. Looking to get a pair of the new one miles.
 
I have one of these and I really, really like it. It does really well out to around 600 yards but conditions have to be good for it to shoot reliably to 700-800 yards .......

Leupold RX-1000i
 
Last edited:
I've been searching for a good rangefinder and I also just ordered the Leupold RX 1000i TBR. I don't have it yet, so I can't give first hand opinions, but the best deal I found was at B&H Photo & Video. I've ordered camera equipment from them before and always had a good experience. Oddly enough, they also had the best price on this rangefinder, by far. Must be a sale or something.

It's not obvious right away that it's the TBR version, but it is. They had the non TBR version for even cheaper recently, but that one is back up last time I checked.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/982889-REG/leupold_112179_6x22_rx_1000i_laser_rangefinder.html
 
For $400 I saw the the Leica 1000 I couldn't believe they were that cheap but it's the one without the tbr stuff I can't remember where it was at just do a google search and you'll find it
 
Originally Posted By: bignastyVORTEX the only manufacture with a life time warranty

That's a great warranty. I have a Leopold RXII and it only had a one year Warranty.

The RX1000i has a two year warranty. I've been looking at this one as I like the way it's lighted and you can see better in low light. My RXII is hard to see when the sun goes down. And it's limited to 600 yards max range on reflective targets where the newer one goes out to 1000 yards.

I've had my Leopold RXII for several years now and was not sure how to really use the TB thing to adjust my scope turrents. I shoot a 222 and a 223 rifle and none of the bullets in the manual were similar to what I shoot. They had some 223 Winchester data but the bullet weight was 40 gr instead of 55 gr and the muzzle velocity was way up there at 3700 fps where my 55 gr bullets only go 3200 fps. So I was not sure which of the ballistics's coefficient things to choose. I finally decided to go by the bullet drop at 500 yards which according to the information on the Hornady Max V box is about 46" at 500 yards. That's the AC option. And I saw a video the other day that explains how to adjust the MOA on the rifle scope for your rifle if you know the range to the target and the bullet drop for your rifle/bullet combination. So know I can figure how to adjust the scope elevation to compensate for bullet drop at various ranges.

Man I've been trying to figure out how to use the range finder for a long time. I have another scope that has a BDC reticle and that confused me. While my Nikon also has a BDC reticle I can just ignore the extra tick marks and cirlces on the reticle and concentrate on the cross hair intersection as an aimp point and turn the dials on the elevation knob as I know that it's four clicks per each Minute of Angle. After watching the video and knowing the bullet drops of my ammo at various ranges I think I can do the math and figure out how to change the scope elevation for different ranges.

But I don't have a range to shoot farther than 200 yards yet. So I just zeroed the AR15 at 50 and 200 yards and it's good out to about 250 yards without any adjustments. It will shoot a little low under 50 yards and a little high at 100 yards but from up close to 250 yard it should be within a few inches up or down from the 200 yard zero point. And that's using a EOTECH HWS system not the Nikon or other scope with the BDC reticles. Actually the EOTECH EXPS3-4 has a BDC reticle in it for the 223 55 gr round at 3200 fps.
 
I've always used a Leica 900.I gave it to my grandson a couple of weeks ago.Just bought a Vortex have not been in the field.Super warrenty.

Randy
 
Originally Posted By: ToddNELooking for input on a new rangefinder I bow and rifle hunt so I want it to have slope compensation for shooting up or downhill. Max range i would ever need is maybe 800 yards, would like to keep it under $400. Thanks

If I were going to buy a range finder for shooting I would get one with the TBR true ballistic range functions on it.

Why is that you might ask?

Because the rifle scope is setup up and zeroed to shoot over flat ground with gravity pulling on the bullet directly downward the entire flight path. But, if you shoot up hill or downhill then gravity is pulling on the bullet at an angle.

Say you are shooting at a target that's 500 yds away but it's straight down below you. The horizontal distance that the bullet travels would be zero feet. The distance to the target is still 500 yards away but it's below you not our away from you. So you bullet travels straight downward and gravity is not affecting it's flight path. Gravity may be pulling the bullet down but it's still dropping in a straight line. Horizontally it's like the target is right at the barrel not 500 yard out at a horizontal distance from you.

Say the target animal is 500 ft away from you (line of sight) but at a 30 deg angle down a hill side form you. Your line of sight distance is 500 yards but the true horizontal distance from you is the cosine of 30 deg times the 500 yards. So it's shorter horizontal distance from you. Normally you might adjust your scope 12 moa up wards to shoot at a target that's 500 yards away when you are zeroed in at 100 yards with your scope. But that would make you shoot over the top of the target when shooting at it downhill 30 deg. You either have to dial in a differnet MOA adjustment for something line 433.01 yards instead of 500 yards.

Using the TBR function in your range finder will tell you the actual true HORIZONTAL distance that the bullet travels. In other words the bullet drop won't be a much as the horizontal distance to the target is less than when shooting at angles as when shooting over a perfectly level horizontal distance.

Get the TBR one unless you just want to know the actual line of sight distance of things for some other reason.

I got the one with the TBR but at the time I didn't really understand how to use it properly. I just recently learned how to adjust for MOA and use it properly. So now I'm really glad that I spend the extra money to get the one with the TBR on it. In fact now I wish I had bought a better one that's illuminated so that I could use it in lower light situations.

Look at the other range finders and check out the features of each one and compare them to each other. Then you will find something that best for you and your situation.
 
I have had one of the Bushnell 1600 arc's for a couple of years. Pretty happy with it so far, farthest soft target read so far 879 yards.
 
I have 2 rangefinders. Both are Leupolds. One is a vx3 for up to 1500 yards. I can get maybe 600 yards with it. Its a piece of crap and I hate it. Should have sent it back after the first time I used it. My second range finder is believe it or not a Leupold made for golf. I had it out one day messing around with it and found I could easily get ranges on anything from a rock, tree or hillside out to 750 yards. It surprised the heck outta me since its suppose to be for golf and no one can hit a golfball much past 400 yrds. Its 3 times the rangefinder as my vx3 and at a 3rd of the price. My vx3 is now a dust collector.
 
I have found it hard to find a set of LRF under $500 that will do 600yds all the time. The Bushnell have done good for the lower cost ones and so have the Zeiss. Hands down the Swarovski have be the best for me. We have the SWAROVSKI Laser Guides on sale I know the are out of your price range but they are worth every penny.


cstactical




Mike @ CSTACTICAL
 
While that's a nice optic if I were to want another range finder I'd rather have it mounted inside my Rifle Scope instead of in the binoculars.

What about the new Rifle Scopes that have the laser ranger built into the scope and they do the BDC thing in a computer chip inside the rifle scope.

That way you can kill two birds with one stone.

I was looking at one rifle scope that was around $1000 at the time. I think it was a Burris Eliminator but it may also have been a Nikon Scope. I think I looked at two different scopes that had build in laser range finders in them.

I'm not really planning on doing any long range shooting right now. Most all my hunting shots will be well within 200 yards. 500 yards for me is a very long shot. The terrain that I hunt is not going to offer too many very long range shots. Which is why I went with the EOTECH HHS1 system. BTW: I finally got my $60 rebate check. Which I need to cash before it expires. LOL


Originally Posted By: CS TACTICALI have found it hard to find a set of LRF under $500 that will do 600yds all the time. The Bushnell have done good for the lower cost ones and so have the Zeiss. Hands down the Swarovski have be the best for me. We have the SWAROVSKI Laser Guides on sale I know the are out of your price range but they are worth every penny.


cstactical




Mike @ CSTACTICAL
 
Back
Top