I lost my rangefinder and figured i might as well upgrade and I'm looking at getting either the Vortex ranger 1000, leupold RX-800i tbr, or the the Nikon archers choice max. What do you guys think about these do you have any bad experiences with any of them, or the pros and cons of them?
Angle Rangefinders
- Thread starter COLORADO
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Blockcaver
New Member
I like the Leupold RX-1000i TBR with DNA. I use it preferentially to my new Leica 1000R when bowhunting as it is much quicker on the readings and has a slightly smaller profile. The Leica does have better optics and reliably ranges to 1000 yds versus 800 for the Leupold which is no advantage when bowhunting. No comments on the Vortex or Nikon.
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
I have a Bushnell Chuck Adams edition for bow hunting that I bought quite a few years ago. I am using the vortex for my rifle hunting needs. It is a great range finder. I don't think you can go wrong with the Leupold or Vortex. If it were me and you go with the Leupold i would buy the 1000 instead of the 800. It is a little bit more but you get better performance.
Are the leupolds fairly easy to set for the angle compensation or are they difficult to use a lot of the videos on them look fairly complicated?
clacklin009
Active Member
Leupold RX 800i tbr - I like Leupolds optics. I'm a fan of LED readouts so I'm not a fan of the 800 when compared to the 1000 model. When compared to Nikon and Vortex, Leupolds are more difficult to setup but they do offer readouts that the others models don't offer (IMO these readouts are more valuable for rifle hunting than for archery.)
Nikon - I like the Archers Choice Max, even with the black display although, as you probably already know, it has the red LCD in low light. This rangefinder comes with (or use to come with) a nice fitted case. and is about the same size as the Leupold 800. The Archers Choice Max is archery specific, not crossing over to handle many riffle hunting distances.
Vortex - A simple unit to use. Nice bright LED. Comes with a reversible clip. Not as accurate as the other models.
Nikon - I like the Archers Choice Max, even with the black display although, as you probably already know, it has the red LCD in low light. This rangefinder comes with (or use to come with) a nice fitted case. and is about the same size as the Leupold 800. The Archers Choice Max is archery specific, not crossing over to handle many riffle hunting distances.
Vortex - A simple unit to use. Nice bright LED. Comes with a reversible clip. Not as accurate as the other models.
OK thanks for the reviews whats your opinion on the leupold RX- full draw? I will use it for rifle hunting and archery, so do you think one of the leupolds will be better.
okielite
Banned
Leupolds have too many things going on IMO. Lots of unnecessary options that can get really screwed up. I don't need the rangefinder to figure my ballistics, just tell me how far it is. From my experience they only work to about 1/2 the range animals.
I have a Nikon 1200 and the archers choice. They work good but the archers choice does not do well at longer distances.
The Zeiss, Swaro, and Leica are hand down better than the rest. I have done quite a bit of prairie dog hunting and that seems to really separate the good rangefinders from the bad trying to range small animals.
I just ordered a Vortex last week and am looking forward to seeing how it works.
I have a Nikon 1200 and the archers choice. They work good but the archers choice does not do well at longer distances.
The Zeiss, Swaro, and Leica are hand down better than the rest. I have done quite a bit of prairie dog hunting and that seems to really separate the good rangefinders from the bad trying to range small animals.
I just ordered a Vortex last week and am looking forward to seeing how it works.
Tried a few. Vortex was nice, but too slow and requires an extra click of the button compared to others. It was annoying when archery hunting and ranging multiple objects. Sent it back after comparing it in the field with my guides Leupold RX1000i with TBR. Later bought the same Leupold and very happy with it.
Blacktail53
New Member
- Aug 21, 2014
- 18
- 0
I like my Leupold RX-1000i TBR with DNA.
I downloaded the instructions onto my Iphone and have them with me all the time.
I recently changed from rifle mode to bow, while in my tree stand.
It's a great little unit, IMHO.
BT53
I downloaded the instructions onto my Iphone and have them with me all the time.
I recently changed from rifle mode to bow, while in my tree stand.
It's a great little unit, IMHO.
BT53
I have an older Leupold RX 1000 without DNA. It is ok, and should be fine for what you do. I can't reliably range a silo in front of my house at 710yds with it. I splurged and got the Leica Geovid HD-B in 10x42's and can't say enough good about it. I think I read something about it not ranging inside 33yds, so that may be a deal breaker for a bow hunter. I always hated having the extra time and movement required to get the separate rangefinder out and ended up not using it a lot of the time when rifle hunting. I don't think I'll ever go back to having separate units. The glass in the new Leica is significantly better then the Zeiss Victory FLT binos they replaced, and the rangefinder hits 1800yds real reliably and reaches to 2050 most times. I don't need near that much reach to range targets I may shoot but still find it nice. If I see a buck out at long range I can range objects around him and get an idea how close cover I can reach to shoot from may be. They are extremely expensive but after buying them I can see where the price tag comes from. I liked them better than the Swaro version and I'm a Swaro fan.
Bottom line I guess is that I'd look at the normal Leica rangefinders before buying. All the guys I know who have them swear by them. If they are anything like the ones in the binos they are significantly better than any of the Nikon, Leupold, or Bushnell ones I've tried.
Bottom line I guess is that I'd look at the normal Leica rangefinders before buying. All the guys I know who have them swear by them. If they are anything like the ones in the binos they are significantly better than any of the Nikon, Leupold, or Bushnell ones I've tried.
robie
Member
Another vote for the 1000i tbr. Great small frame unit. I was able to range antelope out to 800 yards, however it is tough unless you can rest it against a sturdy object.