Which Laser Range Finder?

[Darkarcher159]

I am in the market for a new laser range finder. Use it for bow hunting, but it will dual purpose for mule deer hunting. Any suggestions on which one or which ones to stay away from?

I have had a Leupold RX that worked well and I have used a lower end Bushnell that worked great for bow hunting, but not so for 300+ yards.

I like the Vortex 1000, but trying to justify the cost.

Thanks!

[WTX]

Currently I'm using the Leupold RX1200i TBR with DNA and don't have any complaints.

[dc1986]

I use a Leica CRF-1000R with equivilant horizontal range that I really like.Great for bow and gun hunting.

[jcd49]

Nikon's are hard to beat

[txfireguy2003]

I just bought a Leica 1600 that I'm really impressed with. It's also highly regarded among long range shooters. It's basically the only sub $1000 unit that's recommended by most of the experienced guys on Snipers Hide. I've also heard good things about a Canadian brand called Newcon, but the reviews are few and far between. There is also the newer G7 from Long Range Hunting, but it's pricey, like 1700 bucks.

It is my opinion that for bow hunting, unless you are shooting almost straight up or down, the angle compensating units are pointless. For my bow hunting, anything that will give me a line of sight distance is sufficient, because the angles don't make that big of a difference over a range of 20-30 yards. Therefore, I'd much rather invest my money in a rangefinder that's capable at longer ranges for rifle hunting.

[txagyotebuster]

I just bought a Leica 1600 that I'm really impressed with. It's also highly regarded among long range shooters. It's basically the only sub $1000 unit that's recommended by most of the experienced guys on Snipers Hide. I've also heard good things about a Canadian brand called Newcon, but the reviews are few and far between. There is also the newer G7 from Long Range Hunting, but it's pricey, like 1700 bucks.

It is my opinion that for bow hunting, unless you are shooting almost straight up or down, the angle compensating units are pointless. For my bow hunting, anything that will give me a line of sight distance is sufficient, because the angles don't make that big of a difference over a range of 20-30 yards. Therefore, I'd much rather invest my money in a rangefinder that's capable at longer ranges for rifle hunting.

How does the Leica do at short ranges (bow range) i have an older leupold that works great out to about 400 but I want to be able to range at at a minimum 1000 and would still like to have just 1 rangefinder that works for bowhunting and rifle hunting.

[txfireguy2003]

The Leica works down to 10 yards, and I've heard of people getting accurate ranges out beyond 1600 yards, but you'll have to have some means of stabilizing it. Chad Dixon of Long Rifles Inc. makes a bracket that clamps onto it so you can mount it on a tripod. That's the only complaint I've really heard about it, it doesn't have a tripod mount hole, but it's a non issue to me since I don't carry a tripod out in the field. It's small and light enough to fit in a shirt pocket, great glass, accurate and has one of the best lasers out there. It's one of the FEW that will do what it says it will. My Bushnell 1000 would do buildings and billboards out to 6-800 no more, critters, I was lucky to get a 400 yard return. Most are rated on a "reflective target" in exactly perfect conditions, which is low to moderate light, overcast but clear at ground level, no fog, no dust, etc. Those conditions almost never exist, and I've yet to see a reflective deer! I walked outside at my old man's house with the Leica a couple months ago, heat of the day, blue bird sky, BRIGHT sun overhead, with a breeze stirring up a tiny bit of dust and ranged a pile of black shingles (black is the least reflective color) on the neighbors property at 789 yards, first push of the button. Could never have done that with my old one. It's a VERY solid unit for long range, and like I said, plenty capable for anything over 10 yards. Honestly, for me, if they are less than 20 yards, I'm not using a range finder. I find something that is close to 20, 30, 40 from my stand and remember those ranges to those items, if there isn't anything already there, I'll move logs and rocks into my shooting lane at those ranges, then I hunt using those landmarks instead of wasting time ranging. Might be different if you're spot and stalk hunting with a bow, but for stand hunting, that's what I do.

[gumbl3]

Vectronics terapin

Buy once, cry once

[txfireguy2003]

You'll have to buy a used terapin, as Vectronics has exited the civilian marketplace, plus they are quite pricey, even used. By all accounts, worth the money if you need the capability, but realistically, few people need that level of performance.

[Lungbustr]

You'll have to buy a used terapin, as Vectronics has exited the civilian marketplace, plus they are quite pricey, even used. By all accounts, worth the money if you need the capability, but realistically, few people need that level of performance.

Yep, they are insane!!!


G7 BR2, anybody have extensive experience with them?

[WyoBull]

I have the Leica LRF 800 range finder and they are excellent. I don's use mine a lot now because I got a pair of Leica's range finding binoculars but they are a great range finder.

[splitbeam145]

Yep, they are insane!!!


G7 BR2, anybody have extensive experience with them?

I do have some experience with them. Have used the original model to shoot distances on steel out to 1100yds no issues. Have used it in thick snow blizzard and ranged deer out to 650yds no issues. The BDC info it gives you when you range a target is very accurate with the Nightforce G7 scope turrets.
The new model is even better. It has a little smaller square box when ranging targets. It now has Mil, Moa, BDC. It has 3 different parameters you can set for 3 different loads. It also has a near distance and far distance feature which is pretty cool. Ex. You're shooting a antelope on flat land and there a small rise 100yds in front of antelope and you only see part of him. You can shoot a near distance and it will read close distance within the box and you can shoot a far distance and it will read a far distance within the box. Basically put the antelope in top of box on far distance and antelope in bottom of box for near distance. They are pricey but really good for long range shooting. With all the weather and elevation parameters you have in the rangefinder it'll calculate distance based on angle, elevation, temp, etc accurately.
I'm saving money up to buy one soon, as I've been playing with my buddy's G7

[Team Roper]

Yep, they are insane!!!


G7 BR2, anybody have extensive experience with them?

Never used a Terrapin but the G7 is leaps and bounds above any Leica I have ever used.

[Ag 96]

I've bought my G7 last year and have used it extensively. As far as function is concerned, I don't know that there is a better range finder on the market that we can actually buy. I've got it programmed for multiple calibers and have used it out to 850 yards in actual hunting situations. It has always performed flawlessly.

The question that I still have though is whether it's better to have a separate RF vs. your binoculars. I find that it's a pain to switch between binos and RF in the field, particularly if you're stalking. I carry primarily binos around my neck cause I want the superior optics, but then have to dig in my pack for the RF, which takes time. I really considered buying some Swaro EL Range RF binos, but I already have a pair of non-RF EL's, and didn't feel like dropping yet another $3,300.

There's no doubt that, with the ballistic profiles that you can set up in the G7, it's a more accurate tool than the RF binos. This is especially true if you hunt in varied environmental conditions that effect ballistics, ie. drastically different elevations, temps, vertical hunts, etc. However, for most Texas flat land hunting at or near sea level with mild temps and moderate ranges (<750), a good pair of RF binos will serve just as well and be more convenient.

[WyoBull]

I've bought my G7 last year and have used it extensively. As far as function is concerned, I don't know that there is a better range finder on the market that we can actually buy. I've got it programmed for multiple calibers and have used it out to 850 yards in actual hunting situations. It has always performed flawlessly.

The question that I still have though is whether it's better to have a separate RF vs. your binoculars. I find that it's a pain to switch between binos and RF in the field, particularly if you're stalking. I carry primarily binos around my neck cause I want the superior optics, but then have to dig in my pack for the RF, which takes time. I really considered buying some Swaro EL Range RF binos, but I already have a pair of non-RF EL's, and didn't feel like dropping yet another $3,300.

There's no doubt that, with the ballistic profiles that you can set up in the G7, it's a more accurate tool than the RF binos. This is especially true if you hunt in varied environmental conditions that effect ballistics, ie. drastically different elevations, temps, vertical hunts, etc. However, for most Texas flat land hunting at or near sea level with mild temps and moderate ranges (<750), a good pair of RF binos will serve just as well and be more convenient.

Have you looked at the Leica Geovid 10x42 HD-B rangefinding binoculars? They have the ability to program the ballistics into them through a microSD card. I have always been a Swarovski fan but last Christmas my wife surprised me with a pair of these and I have never looked back. They are well worth looking at if you want to combine your binoculars and range finder into one piece of equipment. I never use my Leica LRF 800's any more becaus of them.
If you are in the market for a binocular or a rangefinder, you would be doing yourself a favor to look at these Leica's. I know Swarovski has them as well but my wife bought me the Leica's and I was not about to tell her I would rather have the Swaro's. Now after using them for almost a year, I would not even think about trading them.