A question about range finders

[Huntbear]

How do you know a rangefinder will actually range an animal at 500 yds?  They all say they will read reflective items at that range, but is an animal reflective? 

What is the best, most inexpensive model for reading animal ranges to 500 yds?

Never owned a range finder before, but thinking I might want to try one.  My brother swears by his.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have two of them
Bushnell 800 neve had an issue with it ranging an animal at 500 yards.

Also have the Arc 1250. That lets you know if you are up hill or downhill the arc to the animal and where you should be aiming. I know you said inexpenisve but if you get one with a little of the addons you can put in your weapon and bullet and it tells you how many inches to add up or down.

I primarily bowhunt but I still want that feature about every 6-8 years I take a rifle out of the safe and knock the dust off of it.


Joe

[bearhunter99]

I love my ARC and carry it with me every time I go out.  I don't always get the time to actually range the animal but it has helped in many other ways.  I prefer to stillhunt or spot and stalk so at the right moment I usually don't have time to range before the shot.  It works great if you are in a stand and can range various landmarks around you so when an animal does appear you can get pretty close.  Probably the greatest asset to having a rangefinder is making you a better judge of distance.  I am constantly judging distance and then testing myself with the rangefinder and it has immenely helped me in that way.

[Curly]

I have an "inexpensive" Nikon Monarch 800 that works well.  I've ranged deer at 500 before.  A lot of people will recommend the Leica models, and they may be the best but they were just out of my price range at a couple hundred more $, but the Nikon seems to work just fine for me.  I've had it about 6 years now.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rangefinder_roundup.htm

[tony04]

ive been wanting one also. i'm terrible at judging distances.

[Tony 270]

You can get several around $200 that will range animals to 500 yards. Past that it starts getting more expensive.

[stumprat]

I have had 3 raangefinders over the years. Leupold with ARC feature. Bushnell, Nikon. My present rangefinder is the Nikon Prostaff 550. And by far my favorite.
Fast, accurate, uncluttered screen, and very small size. Low price was just a bonus.

I looked through a Leica a couple of times. They are a very nice unit. But I am red/green colorblind. And the red LCD readouts won't work for me.

[270Shooter]

I need a new one. I have an old bushnell yardage pro that has only like 2x magnification and is incredibly blurry. I cannot range a deer past 325 yards, last year I shot my deer at 475 yards, didnt need the rangefinder though as the batteries were dead. If I had it at the time I wouldnt have shot that far.

[high country]

my leica can grab a 500yd deer just about instantly 99% of the time

[tpcollins]

my leica can grab a 500yd deer just about instantly 99% of the time

I have the Leica CRF900 as well. It will range off of animals, bushes, trees, spots in the filed, and probably even poop on the ground accurately. But it's hard to use "best" and "most inexpensive" in the same sentence when describing a good rangefinder.

[high country]

I would take a used leica over a new lesser quality unit. they flat work and the optics actually allow you a chance to see what you are ranging at 900yds, try that with a bushnell or nikon, then look through the leica.

[VarmintVentilator]

I have the leica 1200.  Maximum range that I have grabbed with it is 1339 yds.  It works really nice.   

[carpsniperg2]

i have a leica as well the, 1200 model. i have ranged deer 500+yards with it they are hard to range because they are very small at that range  reflective targets are pretty easy

[whacker1]

How do you know a rangefinder will actually range an animal at 500 yds?  They all say they will read reflective items at that range, but is an animal reflective?  

What is the best, most inexpensive model for reading animal ranges to 500 yds?

Never owned a range finder before, but thinking I might want to try one.  My brother swears by his.

At one of the ranges I shoot at occassionally it is not uncommon to see deer walk through the range.  It so happens that they have all the distances marked at the range out to 1000 meters both in Meters and Yards.   Well I happened to have my Rangefinder with me on one day where the deer were feeding through the range.  So I thought I would verify the accuracy of said rangefinder.  The deer (several of them) were between the 440 yard target and the 700 yard target.  The rangefinder an older Leica 800, roughly 10 years old that I bought used in 2004ish from a friend.  The range finder picked up every deer and appeared to be extremely accurate in relationship to their location and that of the target.  

Part of the issues with rangefinders at long distances is the ability to hold still as the operator.  It is best if you can use a rest to improve your ability to pick up the target.  As Carp said it is not uncommon to find a rock or stump neerest and animal if you are having a hard time picking the animal up.

[Bofire]

 :)couple years ago I bought a Nikon 550 (I think550) anyway, early morn, Dusk or snow it would not work at all. You ahd to ahve somethign like a house or car to reflect from in day light or it would not work. paid 200 sold for 150.
the thing sucked.
Carl