Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: Young Buck on May 10, 2010, 03:11:09 PM

Title: Rangefinder
Post by: Young Buck on May 10, 2010, 03:11:09 PM: I am looking for a solid rangefinder for mule deer (rifle) hunting. So far the nikon riflehunter 550 seems to be the frontrunner: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601609&id=0054150712997a&navCount=4&podId=0054150&parentId=cat601609&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601609&id=0054150712997a&navCount=4&podId=0054150&parentId=cat601609&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true)

Does anyone suggest looking at any other models? $300 dollars would probably be the most I would want to spend. Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 10, 2010, 03:18:50 PM: I have heard a lot of good things about the Nikon riflehunter. Sounds like a good choice to me..
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: uplandhunter870 on May 12, 2010, 05:51:16 PM: i picked up a leupold rx-II last summer from opticsplanet.com for 275. i use it for all my hunting. used it for archery deer last season and it fit the bill well. i also used if for coyote hunting all winter and didnt have any problems. they claim that its rated to 650 on highly reflective stuff like rocks and trees but i found that on coyotes it was only good for about 400ish and the few deer that i ranged while coyote hunting it was good to about 450. ive gotten 790 out of it, that was ranging a metal sided shop.

i have heard great things for the nikon rangefinders but they are rifle or bow specific, the rx-II swaps between both thats the only reason i got it over the nikon and i am a nikon fan.

hope this helps
Steve
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: littlemac on May 12, 2010, 06:13:07 PM: I have a Leica that I have had for some time (expensive).

I bought a Bushnell for golf and let my son use it for hunting. We have compared them and the Bushnell hits the yardage ever bit as well as the Leica.

I see Cabelas has one on sale now:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601604-cat601606&id=0065993713219a&navCount=2&podId=0065993713219&parentId=cat601606&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601604-cat601606&id=0065993713219a&navCount=2&podId=0065993713219&parentId=cat601606&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true)
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: mazama on May 13, 2010, 12:17:53 PM: Leica is coming out with a new one good out to 1600yds,i tried mine on a tree in the dark and it ranged accurately, most people like the leica after thet have tried others.
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: littlemac on May 13, 2010, 12:43:25 PM: Agree on the Leica for performance, I could range an oryx at any yardage out to 900 with mine and my partner couldn't get a bounce with his cheaper one even at 350yds.

But Your Buck has a budget of $300 so its the less expensive ones he will be looking at in this case I imagine.
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: Young Buck on May 13, 2010, 02:06:50 PM: Yeah I have looked at the leica's. I know they are superior but I am in the market for a spotting scope as well so I have to budget myself a bit. Thanks for your input!
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: wastickslinger on May 13, 2010, 02:30:14 PM: Quote from: littlemac on May 12, 2010, 06:13:07 PM
I have a Leica that I have had for some time (expensive).

I bought a Bushnell for golf and let my son use it for hunting. We have compared them and the Bushnell hits the yardage ever bit as well as the Leica.

I see Cabelas has one on sale now:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601604-cat601606&id=0065993713219a&navCount=2&podId=0065993713219&parentId=cat601606&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602006-cat601604-cat601606&id=0065993713219a&navCount=2&podId=0065993713219&parentId=cat601606&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true)

Crazy, I have never seen a Bushnell hit half the distance it says it will. I had a 600 that I was luck to get 250 out of. You must have got lucky. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: littlemac on May 13, 2010, 02:39:57 PM: Quote from: wastickslinger on May 13, 2010, 02:30:14 PM
Crazy, I have never seen a Bushnell hit half the distance it says it will. I had a 600 that I was luck to get 250 out of. You must have got lucky. :chuckle:

This one is only a year old, not sure if the technology has improved from when you may have had yours.

Regardless, the Leica is in my gear when I hunt.
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: MooseStock on May 16, 2010, 09:50:28 AM: Check out the leica lrf"s on ebay. I got a 900 lrf for 246$ and it is in perfect condition and works awesome. Mine was a great deal but I have seen some of the 800 lrf's in the "Buy it Now" for $300 if you don't want to bid. Just check to make sure the seller has at least a 99-100% rating. The leicas are tough to beat and will range out to what they say for the most part..............Les
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 16, 2010, 10:15:35 AM: leica is for me, one of the few range finders that i can tust use it for bow hunting-muzzle loader-rifle. great in all conditions rain/snow etc i have a bushnell yardagepro and it has worked fine for years but in fog or rain it doesn't read well past about 300 yards
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: MooseStock on May 16, 2010, 11:52:05 AM: There is a leica lrf 800 currently on ebay for buy it now $300 with $15 shipping and the seller has a 100% rating. Hope that helps....just type in leica lrf on ebay.....you could also bid lower if you want to see what happens. Hope that helps............Les
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: Special T on May 16, 2010, 07:55:04 PM: I have a Nikon rifle hunter... Most people can't shoot past 550 yards i know i can't with my 06 even tho i try at coyotes. :chuckle: great bang for your buck and i use it for both yotes and archery deer. :twocents:
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: Copperwood on May 16, 2010, 08:03:47 PM: Nothing against anyone else but I wouldn't buy anything bushnell. The Nikon is the way to go for your price range, but if you find a leica... grab it.
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: Special T on May 16, 2010, 08:14:30 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: Rangefinder
Post by: tpcollins on May 17, 2010, 05:03:21 AM: When it comes to optics, I think one should avoid settling for something when a few dollars more could mean getting something really, really better - but I understand everyone has limits. However, I got my Leica CRF 900 from Doug at Cameralandny.com last year for $429 and I hadn't expected to spend that much either. But I checked everyone under the counter one day and the Leupold came in second but the Leica blew everything away. The single optic on the Leica CRF is better than what most people carry for binoculars. I would check Ebay and Craigslist - you can always get a bargain once in awhile.

My second piece of advice would be not to look thru a Leica if you don't want to pay for one. Mine reads off bushes, weeds, shrubs, spots in the field - really amazing what it will do. Good luck.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/site.pl?page=leicacrf900 (http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/site.pl?page=leicacrf900)