Looking to get a range finder, but which one?

[Evoac05]

So I'm getting into archery and figured I would get a range finder, but I'm not quite sure which one to get. What are key features you look for in a range finder? What ranger finder do you suggest to get or to stay away from? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[buck man]

Nikon "archers choice" best one I have used. Had three and it is the best for the money.

[archerE]

I have the Bushnell ARC 1000. The display in sometimes hard to read in low light. Black numbers and crosshairs in dark timber in hard to makeout.

[RS]

Look at the Nikon Rifle 550, with angle compensation. Its the same as the Nikon Archers Choice, but goes out past 100 yards. (not so you can shoot a 500 yard arrow, but you can range a bedded animal and judge your stalk and landmarks) and you could use it for rifle hunting if the need arises (but once you go archery you probably wont go back )

The angle compensation yardage has worked great on my Nikon when target shooting up or downhill out past 100 yards.

IMHO its the best.
RS

[rebal69972]

I have the Bushnell ARC 1000. The display in sometimes hard to read in low light. Black numbers and crosshairs in dark timber in hard to makeout.

 i have a leupold RX-600. i have the same problem in low light or in dark timber its hard to see

[hoytem]

Look at the Nikon Rifle 550, with angle compensation. Its the same as the Nikon Archers Choice, but goes out past 100 yards. (not so you can shoot a 500 yard arrow, but you can range a bedded animal and judge your stalk and landmarks) and you could use it for rifle hunting if the need arises (but once you go archery you probably wont go back )

The angle compensation yardage has worked great on my Nikon when target shooting up or downhill out past 100 yards.

IMHO its the best.
RS

 

[JBR]

Look at the Nikon Rifle 550, with angle compensation. Its the same as the Nikon Archers Choice, but goes out past 100 yards. (not so you can shoot a 500 yard arrow, but you can range a bedded animal and judge your stalk and landmarks) and you could use it for rifle hunting if the need arises (but once you go archery you probably wont go back )

The angle compensation yardage has worked great on my Nikon when target shooting up or downhill out past 100 yards.

IMHO its the best.
RS

 

[bwhntr2819]

The two most important features IMO are angle compensation and reticle color for bowhunting. Get one that has TBR (true ballistic ranging) or ARC (angle range compensation). Each manufacturer has there own name for it. My older Leupold Rx-II has black letters that are difficult to see against a dark backdrop. A buddy got the new Leupold RX 1000 this season and it has red led display. Huge difference.

[TheHunt]

I archery hunt and rifle hunt.  So I go with one that has the distance for the rifle.  I also like the luminated range numbers that show up when just before hunting light.  Leica does that for our type of hunting. 

[jager]

I lost my older Bushnell rangefinder that I've had for maybe 7 or 8 years while coyote hunting this past winter...
I purchased a Leupold RX 1000? I sent it back, It didn't seem to range fast enough for my liking.
So... last week I bought a Leica crf 1600. A little on the spendy side but I'm always looking for good equipment so I don't have to replace it in a year or two.
I've got it to range out to about 1100 in the neighborhood. Thats the farthest I can see!
I can only get it to range down to about 12 yards.. not sure what the specs are.
Its lightning fast, small, got a bright red led readout and lots of cool features I haven't played with yet.
I bow and rifle hunt so I'm sure this little gem is going to work great!

[sirmissalot]

You can't beat the Leica crf. Hands down the best range finder I've used.

[gaddy]

any consideration to the reflective-vs-non reflective ranges on these units ?

[jager]

I discount the advertised reflective target ranges....I don't shoot at cars or buildings too often  I only range the organic stuff!

[carpsniperg2]

I have a Leica crf it has never let me down and helped me take a lot of great animals. I would look into the leupold line up as well. With the built in angle adjustment. Its killer for bow hunting

[gaddy]

only reason i brought up the reflective issue is im also considering getting a range finder. the salesman at wholesale warned me that the general range advertised was reflective & that the actual nonreflective (animal) range could be dramatically reduced.

[bigpaw 77]

I have a Nikon archers choice I will sell you for $125: it has only been used twice. Pm me if you are interested. 

[hucklebeary]

My Nikon 550 is way better than the leopold that I had.  Neither these units can hold a candle to the leica line-up, the red read out and the quality and clarity of the glass is best on the market IMO.  You will pay more for it but it is way worth it,  by the way I am going to sell the Nikon 550.

[Elkslayer]

I have the Leupold RX-II, other than the black led read out that is hard to see sometimes i cant complain. I mostly hunt out of treestands so my range is usually figured out before the animals come in.

[halflife65]

I have a Leica 1600 and was easily able to get my neighbors house at about 1450 and I've hit things out to about 1590, too.

As a bowhunter, I need all that distance.    Well, I have it in case I decide to pick up my rifle.  And shoot no more than 400 yards.  It's still a cool rangefinder even it is more than I'll ever need.

[sirmissalot]

I had the leupold RX-III and it was garbage. The newer ones are better I think, but I just don't think you can beat the Leica. Its small and compact, gives really fast and accurate readings, the readings are in red so you can actually read them in low light, and Leica has about the best warranty in the business (my opinion of course).

The TBR deal that compensates for angle is neat, and can easily make the difference in a dead animal or a wounded one, but my experience is that the time it takes to calculate the compensated reading is just too much, I want a fast respsonse, many times you don't have time to range let alone sit there and let it think. Now obviously technology is always changing and getting better, so this may not be an issue anymore, but with practice and a little knowledge of how a bow or gun shoots when it comes to shooting steep uphill or down hill shots, I think a hunter can do without the fancy stuff and just get a fast and accurate yardage reading. My  anyway

[Elkrunner]

Nikons Archers Choice Max is what i use.  I love it.

[KenPCPilot]

I purchased the Bushnell Arc 1,000 and am quite happy with it.  I works well in both bow and rifle modes.  It is fairly simple and small.  I like the "brush" mode which seems to work better in more realistic timber or brushy hunting situations.  The normal mode seems more suited for on the archery or shooting range.  I got it for a good deal on The SportsmansGuide.com and you can do 4 pay plan on items over $150.00.  I have only owned it for about 8 months so that is the real test for me how long will it last in this apparent disposible high end electronic age.  It also has a tripod mounting tread.  I have a dual mounting port for my tripods that is normally used for cameras that you can attach this side by side with your nice binoculars or spotting scope if you are scanning a large area and can quickly glance over for a quick range on your target.  The angleometer function really is necessary especially in mountain terrain.  The true distance vs shots like distance can be a lot differnet I have found especially with archery that is where the ranging including the angle really helps the hunter. 

[dadada]

Leupold rx1000 tbr has red optic so you can see in any light I love  it is also caliber specific for any rifle you just have to program it its range is 600 for non reflective and 1000 yrds for reflective

[BULLBLASTER]

+1 for the leica. Mine is the 800 and I can consistently range trees to 950+ mine is older though and lacks angle compensation. Pretty easy to guesstimate that though.

[throttlejocky20]

I have the RX-1000 and love it I have been able to range stumps in the right conditions out to 830 yards. If you have the money you cant beat the leica's. My buddy has the leica 10x42 range fining binos  . Very nice glasses they do not have a TBR option. But its a sacrafice I would make for those glasses. When I shot my best blacktail all I could tell through my luepohlds was that it was leagle and besides two points my buddy was able to tell me the hieght and width and that it looked like a 2x3 at over 300+ yards it ended up being a 3x4

[Evoac05]

Thanks everyone for all your help.