range finders ??

[kidoggy]

hey folks.

I am looking to buy a rangefinder . just something good out to, say 600 yards or so.

don't want anything fancy and looking for something around $200 or so.


been looking online at the RX -650 leupold.

anybody have one?
or any suggestions on a good one in that price range?

 

[Catahoula12]

I recently purchased a Vortex Ranger 1300. I bought the unit to replace my old Nikon Prostaff 3. I believe I paid $260 for the Vortex at Optics Planet on sale. Great little unit. Good luck.

 

[Hilltop]

I just bought to Vortex Ranger 1800 and really like it. I had planned on buying the 1300 but the 1800 was on sale. I know 2 others that have the 1300 and they say it ranges on an animal out to 600 yards. They typically retail for $299 but I am betting you can catch a sale over the next month or so and pick it up close to your budget. The main reason to go vortex on rangefinders is they warranty the electronics for life. Most other brands aren't currently offering that.

 

[hunter25]

Years ago rangefinders in that price range didn't cut it. I stepped up to Leica with angle compensation and couldn't be happier.
But everything I've heard says the newer ones far out perform those of the past.
Hear a lot of great things about the sig kilo

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Tim McCoy]

The Leupolds I’ve been around are the TBR DNA branded models and they are good ones. No angle comp on the Leupold 650. If you don’t hunt out of tree stands or shoot in steep country much past 300, not a deal breaker. Not branded with DNA so unsure about it.

I’d look hard at the SIG KILO850 in that price range. VORTEX too if I could find one in that price range.

 

[tim]

I will sell you my leupold rx800 tbr. I have not been impressed and picked up a leica.

 

[kidoggy]

I will sell you my leupold rx800 tbr. I have not been impressed and picked up a leica.

not impressed huh? so you wouldn't recommend the rx 650?

I don't mind paying more for quality, if I have to. but I really doubt I will use it much. from time to time when hunting ,I see elk at a distance and think ,I should buy a rangefinder. I am fairly good at judging distances but occasionally it would be nice to know for certain. angle compensator is irrelevant to my needs.


really don't want to buy a piece of junk but don't need to go high end either.

 

[tim]

200 it is yours. I don't know if it is junk, I just did not like it and bought the leica.

 

[kidoggy]

200 it is yours. I don't know if it is junk, I just did not like it and bought the leica.

no ,I think I will pass. BUT THANKS.

I don't buy used off the net

 

[Hilltop]

Keep in mind that a range finder listing is on reflective surfaces and not animal hair. From my experience, you need to subtract about 40% off that number to see the range finders field capability on an animal. A 650 will likely only range on animal hair out to 400 yards or so in good conditions. If your goal is to range on animal hair out to 600 yards, you should probably buy a 1000 model or higher.

 

[hunter25]

I've owned 2 bushnells a zeiss and now the leica. I actually think the zeiss is faster and easier to use but the leica is half the size.
Plus I was shocked how much the angle compensation can change the range at long distance on some animals I thought were basically level with me.
But the actual shots proved true to the rangefinder

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I don’t know if they still offer the Vortex Ranger 1000 but I have been happy with it from 15 yards in a tree stand in Mississippi on Whitetails to 800 yards in Utah on Elk. Actually went to Academy to purchase the Leupold and it was out of stock. Looked at the Ranger and it was really small. I have been satisfied.

 

[kidoggy]

went with the vortex ranger 1300 for $269.

thanks for all the input

 

[JimP]

I was just going to tell you that Optics Planet has a pretty good sale on them right now

https://www.opticsplanet.com/rangefinders1.html

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

I will sell you my leupold rx800 tbr. I have not been impressed and picked up a leica.

That is my opinion of Leupold as well. They have so many features, modes, and options but in the end all you need is the distance. They don't work at advertised distances even in perfect conditions. I will never buy one again.

Next I had a nikon. It worked good but did not compensate for angles. Worked at the advertised ranges.

Next was Vortex. It was terrible. Never seemed to work at advertised distances and started acting up earlier this year. Sent it in for repairs and in the mean time purchased a Lieica 2000 for $399.

Sold the voretex when it arrived.

The Leica blows them all away period. I will never even consider going back to a Leupold or Vortex and will put that Leica up against any model from either, even those that cost a lot more than $399, and it will blow them away.

 

[rammont]

Keep in mind that a range finder listing is on reflective surfaces and not animal hair. From my experience, you need to subtract about 40% off that number to see the range finders field capability on an animal. A 650 will likely only range on animal hair out to 400 yards or so in good conditions. If your goal is to range on animal hair out to 600 yards, you should probably buy a 1000 model or higher.

That pretty much depends on the brand and what generation of range finder you're using. I've got a Sig Sauer Kilo2200MR and I've ranged elk out to 1550 yards successfully, that's about 70% of the advertised reflective range. Some of the high grade military range finders will range non-reflective targets almost as well as reflective targets. But in general, yes, all of the commercial range finders I've used wont do much better than 30 - 40 percent of their reflective capability.

Oh, and one more thing to remember, max range capability is only possible with a fresh battery, as the battery gets weaker it gets harder to get a range lock.

 

[kidoggy]

That pretty much depends on the brand and what generation of range finder you're using. I've got a Sig Sauer Kilo2200MR and I've ranged elk out to 1550 yards successfully, that's about 70% of the advertised reflective range. Some of the high grade military range finders will range non-reflective targets almost as well as reflective targets. But in general, yes, all of the commercial range finders I've used wont do much better than 30 - 40 percent of their reflective capability.

Oh, and one more thing to remember, max range capability is only possible with a fresh battery, as the battery gets weaker it gets harder to get a range lock.

good to know.

 

[Rich M]

I picked up a leupold RX-1200i in 2017.

It would range a speed goat at 600 yards. Highly recommend it.

 

[Bonecollector]

A friend of mine just picked up the Nikon Monarch Stabilization Range Finder. I played with it a bit. It ranged out to as far as I could go given my location (700 yards). I was very impressed with the stabilization feature.
I understand no model will perform to 100% of the advertised distance, but he said he was easily getting 1,800 yards the other day. He also stated it would be great on raining days or near dark due to the laser function. He has played with it for about a week and has been very impressed. My initial thoughts were that it may be worth looking into.

Does any one have any input based on personal usage?

 

[Timr245]

I have an RX-1000 with TBR and love it. I?ve had it nearly 10 years now and have had zero complaints with it. I swear by Leupold products and this one is no different. I will say it is a 1000yd model but the target has to be reflective at that distance. It will however hit deer, bear, elk, trees etc at 650ish although it?s advertised range is 600 on non-reflective items.