Author Topic: Rangefinders (Read 1214 times)

lefty_red · « **on:** March 24, 2013, 03:02:50 PM »

What is a good rangefinder for out to 200 yards and around $250?
Thanks,
Jerry

lefty_red · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2013, 03:03:25 PM »

Didn't state, but for hunting from the ground.
Jerry

Oldshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2013, 04:31:38 PM »

Hard to beat the nikon like I have, good to 500 yds and maybe less than $250 CRS prevents me from telling exactly how much I paid.

lefty_red · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2013, 04:37:58 PM »

Do you have the model number?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2013, 04:42:24 PM »

Quote from: lefty_red on March 24, 2013, 04:37:58 PM

Do you have the model number?

Nikon 550, had to go look.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #5 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:21:25 PM »

My Bushnell 450 works easy out to 200 and picks up small things. When I am in a blind or sitting on a hill top. I pull out my range finder and hit proment trees, big rocks, telephone poles, fence posts, what have you.
That way as anything walks by them or with in that I will know that I can hit the deer, the turkey is with in range or the ducks are close enough or the decoys are not too far out.
The down side of the unit are it takes 9V batteries (the rectangle ones that have the two poles on the top) and it is not water proof.
I wish some company would make a Range finder, Flash light , and GPS / Radio that all takes the same batteries.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:33:24 PM »

the nikon 550 is waterproof (if that is possible) and takes a cr2 batt. funny thing is I have had that one for three years and not changed the first battery. Now it might be dead right now but it has lasted a while.
OH, and its camo

when I have it around my neck I'm invisable!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #7 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:37:16 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 24, 2013, 05:33:24 PM

takes a cr2 batt. funny thing is I have had that one for three years and not changed the first battery. I like the idea of being able to walk into any 7-11 or gas station and get a battery for anything I own if I forget spares.
OH, and its camo when I have it around my neck I'm invisable! And if it gets set down at dusk, you get to replace it, what are you going to get next?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:41:19 PM »

Err..... maybe one in dayglo orange. Wife bought it as a present, the camo thing is kinda a family joke around here.

lefty_red · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:41:34 PM »

Thanks!
Looks like Dick's and Amazon has some good deals.

lefty_red · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:44:32 PM »

Think I will make sure its blaze orange! LOL

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:47:57 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 24, 2013, 05:41:19 PM

Err..... maybe one in dayglo orange. Wife bought it as a present, the camo thing is kinda a family joke around here.

I had a cousin that Camo'd up his 10/22 scope and all. Leaned it up agaisnt a tree to answer the call of nature and lost it. He did too good of a job. Since then I have added a strip of bright yellow tape to the top and bottom of the stock of any camo gun. So if I lean one against a tree I cna find it. Although I have thought of adding the orange target dots to some items.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2013, 06:00:54 PM »

Yea, we give the wife a lot of grief about the camo rangefinder. She really thought it was a good idea. Dont think I have a camo rifle except the Remy R25 and my son has custody of that.

I have nothing against camo but basic black for things like rangefinders is adequate. Bless her heart!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2013, 02:29:56 AM »

I guess i never could see the use in a range finder with a yardage rating under 600 yards unless its one of the dedicated bow rangefinders. Even a real good 600 yard range finder is going to read reliably out to about 400 yards max and at those ranges i dont need a calculator to figure out where to hold on a deer sized animal. Its when the range gets out out past 400 that i need the help.

ole 5 hole group · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2013, 07:36:48 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on March 27, 2013, 02:29:56 AM

I guess i never could see the use in a range finder with a yardage rating under 600 yards unless its one of the dedicated bow rangefinders. Even a real good 600 yard range finder is going to read reliably out to about 400 yards max and at those ranges i dont need a calculator to figure out where to hold on a deer sized animal. Its when the range gets out out past 400 that i need the help.

You got that right Lloyd - you basically get what you pay for in a rangefinder as the cost is reflected in the quality of the lens and unit durability. Unless you use the unit in perfect atmospheric conditions you can use the rule of 1/3 to 1/2 as being very accurate, meaning if your rangefinder is rated at 1,200 yards it'll be on the money at 400 to 600 yards under harse conditions which includes heavy cloud cover, rain, snow, a dark target, glare, mirage etc. - In great conditions you'll range 1,200 yards if your intended target is large enough and has a bright shiny surface. Leica is pretty hard to beat, as their lazer beam is one of the smallest when compared to Zeiss and Swaro. [font=] [/font]

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2013, 08:17:45 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 24, 2013, 05:33:24 PM

the nikon 550 is waterproof (if that is possible) and takes a cr2 batt. funny thing is I have had that one for three years and not changed the first battery. Now it might be dead right now but it has lasted a while.
OH, and its camo when I have it around my neck I'm invisable!

I have one not cammo though and it works well.

lefty_red · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2013, 04:41:34 PM »

I really like the Nikon's but thinking of settling for the Bushnell 450, Gander Mt has them $100 and free shipping. They are good enough for what I am using it for.

Jerry

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2013, 03:15:00 AM »

a use you might enjoy is to range things by eye then check with the range finder. I do it from time to time now but when I got it I did it alot. I carried it while driving , pull up to a stop sign and guess a distance then range it. Walk in the woods / field do the same thing. Before long you get good at ranging with your eye. And you get quick with the RF.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2013, 03:45:04 AM »

my bushnell 1000 yard unit has never ranged past 600 yards even under ideal conditions on a deer sized target. Ive got out to 800 yards on trees at the edge of a clearing but even on them to be honest 600 is more realistic.

Quote from: ole 5 hole group on March 27, 2013, 07:36:48 AM

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on March 27, 2013, 02:29:56 AM
I guess i never could see the use in a range finder with a yardage rating under 600 yards unless its one of the dedicated bow rangefinders. Even a real good 600 yard range finder is going to read reliably out to about 400 yards max and at those ranges i dont need a calculator to figure out where to hold on a deer sized animal. Its when the range gets out out past 400 that i need the help.

You got that right Lloyd - you basically get what you pay for in a rangefinder as the cost is reflected in the quality of the lens and unit durability. Unless you use the unit in perfect atmospheric conditions you can use the rule of 1/3 to 1/2 as being very accurate, meaning if your rangefinder is rated at 1,200 yards it'll be on the money at 400 to 600 yards under harse conditions which includes heavy cloud cover, rain, snow, a dark target, glare, mirage etc. - In great conditions you'll range 1,200 yards if your intended target is large enough and has a bright shiny surface. Leica is pretty hard to beat, as their lazer beam is one of the smallest when compared to Zeiss and Swaro.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2013, 03:47:57 AM »

I do that alot while sitting in a field waiting for deer. Just look at a spot and guess how far then range it. After a while you do get much better at ranging without it. What i use mine for most is when hunting a new field i range it in a few places to get an idea of how far things are in case a deer would come out there and then again after a few days of hunting there when i know where there comming out i range those spots and keep a small notebook with a drawing of that field and where deer come out and the ranges. I dont think i ever used one to check the range before i shot.

Quote from: SHOOTALL on March 28, 2013, 03:15:00 AM

a use you might enjoy is to range things by eye then check with the range finder. I do it from time to time now but when I got it I did it alot. I carried it while driving , pull up to a stop sign and guess a distance then range it. Walk in the woods / field do the same thing. Before long you get good at ranging with your eye. And you get quick with the RF.

lefty_red · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2013, 06:23:36 AM »

That is what I attend to do, get my "deer eyes" back in shape.

Jerry

Oldshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2013, 12:49:46 PM »

I really only use mine at a new spot or stand to range the various distances from my vantage point. Once I have done that 25 or 30 yds makes no difference. I have taken a few 300 yd shots and everthing under that. Sometimes when I am in West Texas the various elevations can trick ya, so I use it at that time.