Rangefinders, Leica or Bushnell 1600?

204 AR

204 AR

Well-known member
I'm considering a new rangefinder, my old bushnell 1000 has some serious shortcomings past 500 yards.

The new bushnells, the rangefinder and the fusion binos, have great reviews. I know the Leica 1600 would be superb also, just wondering if it's worth $300 more than the Bushnell 1600.

Anyone have experience with either or both?

Thanks
 
Maybe I shouldn't even comment on this since I have not used the bushnell but I don't even think you can compare the two. Leica is in a entirely different league than bushnell. If you have the extra $300 then spend it.
 
I like my Leupold, I can use it for rifle or Bow. I have had mine for five years and it still works. It show the angle of my shot.
 
Thanks for the comments guys, I know I'd like the Leica. I just want something that will stretch the field reliably. I know a couple of people with Leupolds also, just not sure how far they can range.
 
I don't own either but I spend literally dozens of hours studying and reading about rangefinders every week. I have not read one negative word about the Leica. Can't say that about any other brand.
 
I know you didn't mention it, but I bought a zeiss prf and it works awesome, probably in the same price range as the leica, I've had the leicas exclusively before I bought the zeiss, and like the zeiss better, just another option I thought I would throw out there
 
The zeiss looks good too, what's it's range? The one I see at opticsplanet is 1200. Does it have angle technology?

Thanks
 
No I don't believe it has angle technology, the reason I like it is because it is the only rangefinder I've had that consistently ranges coyotes and fox at 500+ yards in the snow, my leicas always seemed spotty in the snow on targets of that size
 
Lieca...hands down. Wish I would have spent my money on the Lieca first...oh well, I have had the lrf 800 for about 5 years now and will never go back.
 
Choices choices....I let a Zeiss go on Gunbroker yesterday, it brought $540, dang it should have sprung for it probably.
 
I bought a Leica 1000 3 weeks ago, could range on great targets out past 1k yds, but couldn't range consistently on anything. Compared a friends rangefinder with mine and the much less $$ rangefinder could pick up signs and other objects at
 
I know your comparing high dollar rangefinders here...but... a friend and I were comparing our cheapy bushnell and nikon rangefinders... that would do well on trees...but not on sloped landscape... as in pretending there was a yote out there... BUUUUTTT... his daughter had a $400.00 Bushnell Tour Golf Slope rangefinder that picked up the barren grassy slope at 437 yds... I thought that was good... but don't have anything to compare it with. Do Leicas do that...?
 
I've had the Leica 900 for about 3 years, and I love it.
I got the 900 cause I don't plan on shooting past that distance. ha ha...never had a problem with it and the original battery is still in there.
 
Originally Posted By: dan brothersI know your comparing high dollar rangefinders here...but... a friend and I were comparing our cheapy bushnell and nikon rangefinders... that would do well on trees...but not on sloped landscape... as in pretending there was a yote out there... BUUUUTTT... his daughter had a $400.00 Bushnell Tour Golf Slope rangefinder that picked up the barren grassy slope at 437 yds... I thought that was good... but don't have anything to compare it with. Do Leicas do that...?

i've had 3 leicas and they would all do that. i was fortunate on my first and had a buddy selling his for cheap. i've upgraded for distance but i've been spoiled as they've all worked on demand.
 
Hey guys I'll update you I did buy one, actually found 2 Swaro's in the bargain cave at Cabelas and bought them both, then sold one to a gentleman from PA through the classifieds. I think they're amazing, but haven't compared them to a Leica. I was out the other day ranging pdogs (or their mounds, either way) out past 500 yards. Those were the farthest dogs or it may have ranged farther. And the glass is simply amazing like you'd expect.

So I recommend the Swaros, just look around for a deal on a used one. BTW Cabelas is overpriced on a lot of stuff, ok most of it. BUT great deals can be had on used optics through the bargain cave. The longer it sits in there, the more they'll mark it down. People abuse their return policy by buying stuff on their way to a hunt, then returning it on their way home. Then it ends up in the bargain cave where I snag a good deal!
 
Thanks Gentlemen,

I've had a less expensive Bushnell and actually loved it, would get me well past 500 yds on tough reads... lost it somewhere in TX (along with some other stuff). I was out today and the Leica did a fantastic job, it was a little cloudy and I was hitting deer at 450yds and I hit a coyote at 475yds . . . so they may be a little more finicky to conditions . . . they say Leica has the smallest beam and because of that you will get less inaccurate readings, but along with that you will also get less readings. I am going to buy a Nikon 1200 tomorrow and test the 2 against each oher this week, send back the one that I don't like. I will check out the bargain cave and look for a Swaro, which I know are excellent . . . and I've also want to check out Zeiss, which I haven't read a lot about but know they deliver good products.

I don't mind spending the $$ if it is exactly what I want and it will last me a lifetime (if I dont' lose it in TX!).
 
Another update, I took the Swaro's calling today and used them like binos. They worked very well in that role I thought. I was impressed with the ranging capabilities, cows at 1000 was no problem, hillsides at 1600 and beyond was easy. I will say at first light it was tougher to get long readings, but after a few minutes it started reading everything in sight.
 
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