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Post by mission5 on Oct 26, 2014 22:38:49 GMT -5
I'm looking to get a range finder as I'm trying to get a little more precise with my shooting. I also feel like having a range finder will give me some more confidence before taking my shots, which never hurts. I'm looking for the one that is effective but doesn't put too big of a hole in my wallet!
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Post by esshup on Oct 27, 2014 0:24:23 GMT -5
What distance will you be using it, and will it be strictly for bow? Are you looking for a rangefinder that also calculates your true horizontal distance?
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Post by Russ Koon on Oct 27, 2014 9:39:42 GMT -5
I've owned three.
The Bushnell worked pretty well for a couple years, was a little hungry for batteries, and then I lost it.
The Nikon was a tremendous improvement over the Bushnell, in both battery life and performance, and I still use it. It's the 400 yard range model without angle compensation, and has been completely adequate to my needs.
It did hide from me for a while one season, and while I searched unsuccessfully for it I noticed a Wild Game Innovations one on sale for about a hundred dollars and looked at it. The view was clear and bright, the magnification seemed to be correct, and I bought it. It proved to be accurate and shortly after putting it into service I found where the Nikon had been hiding, and compared them. They seemed very close to being equal except in one area. The viewfinder reticle in the WGI used thin black lines that had a precision look when ranging things with lighter backgrounds, but which disappeared quickly and often when ranging trees in the woods, which was frustrating since that was my most common need. I loaned it my younger brother, and still use the Nikon.
I think the Nikon I have has since been upgraded to a model with longer range capacity and angle compensation, but otherwise similar construction and features. Can't say whether it would be the best choice available, but I can verify that mine has seen years of use and some abuse, and survived many bumpy rides in golf carts as well as a few falls in the woods, with no damages or glitches. I've been completely satisfied with it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2014 9:54:12 GMT -5
I use a cheap Simmons model. I think it was about $120. No bells and whistles, optics are not great, but it does what it's supposed to do. It gives accurate distance readings out to 400 yards. More than I'll ever need. Battery life has been outstanding.
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Post by mission5 on Oct 27, 2014 10:56:21 GMT -5
What distance will you be using it, and will it be strictly for bow? Are you looking for a rangefinder that also calculates your true horizontal distance? I'm gonna be using it for strictly bow hunting. Would it be wise for me to buy one that takes the angle from the stand into account? |
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Post by esshup on Oct 28, 2014 0:40:05 GMT -5
What distance will you be using it, and will it be strictly for bow? Are you looking for a rangefinder that also calculates your true horizontal distance? I'm gonna be using it for strictly bow hunting. Would it be wise for me to buy one that takes the angle from the stand into account? I've never needed to use one. I range various trees in a horizontal reading, and remember that number if a deer walks by the tree. I haven't found the distance to be off by more than a yard or 2 from 15' up in a tree. I had a Bushnell 800 that reliably worked to about 400 yds, and currently use a Swarovski 8x30 Laserguide that has outperformed it's rated specifications. MUCH further than you'd even think of flinging an arrow, and MUCH further than most people would even consider launching a bullet from a rifle. |
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Post by dbd870 on Oct 28, 2014 6:27:04 GMT -5
I'm gonna be using it for strictly bow hunting. Would it be wise for me to buy one that takes the angle from the stand into account? I had a Bushnell 800 that reliably worked to about 400 yds, and currently use a Swarovski 8x30 Laserguide that has outperformed it's rated specifications. MUCH further than you'd even think of flinging an arrow, and MUCH further than most people would even consider launching a bullet from a rifle. Yep |
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Post by ridgerunner on Jan 26, 2015 13:29:02 GMT -5
Leupold RX600 for me..great rangefinder, but overkill for bowhunting..for bowhunting only..I'd go with a Nikon Aculon
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