Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics $600 Range finder, which one?

I have the old Leica 1200 scan, They are good, but I'm thinkin of going to the next step up. Maybe the new Leica's, Zeiss or the 1 mile Bushnell.

Saw one thread on the Fusion but it ended up getting side tracked by a troll.

These will be used for long range hunting.

ive got one of the new Leicas. cr100-r. love it

Get a Zeiss demo from camera land and save a little more.

I thought Bushnell discontinued the one mile models because they were nearly 90% return rate on them??/

Sounds like a rumour. Bushnell still lists the 1 Mile on their website.

I don't know a lot about LRF....but it might be hard to upgrade what you have for $600..Not sure, but aren't those top notch?

easy, used CRF 1600

You're title statement said $600......

??

I've had great luck with the Leupold RX 1000i DNA. Great stuff so far (2 years).

JG

That one goes on sale at Bass Pro's one day only sale Aug 15th

It's on my list

Zeiss PRF is fast and works well enough in snow/rain.

I have owned and used a number of rangefinders and for my money the one I currently have is the best one I have used. Its made by Swarovski. You can find them used in mint condition for $600 or less. Buy one, use it. You won't regret it.

I've got a Bushnell 1300 ARC...I use it for both archery and rifle.

You will see some negative reviews about the display (the LED readout of the range, etc.)....the reviews are true, it could be better...but it works just fine all the same.

The thing ranges fast, and has been accurate so far (had it a year, played with it a lot...at known ranges)

Will range cattle, horses, deer, etc. to a little over 600 yards (rated for 600, it has worked to over 650 for me)

Trees (with leaves) to a little over 1,000 yards...trees (without leaves) to 900+

Anything reflective...its good for the rated 1,300 yards plus a few.

The optics are pretty darn good too...it will serve the purpose of binoculars too, as long as you don't need more than 6x.

Pretty nice rangefinder for the money....I have no regrets.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bush...tAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03416995&rid=40

I have tried four or five Leuplod range finders and all were complete turds. Haven't tried this model but I have been burned enough. They make good scopes but lousy range finders. Hard to beat the Leica models.

Leica

Never the Leica. Their CS is horrible, as is their warranty on the LRF. For the money, only Vortex has an unconditional guarantee. If you can find a Swaro for that money, grab it - they don't have the written guarantee, but their CS is legendary.

Don't fart around with any Leupy RF except this one, or the newer 1200i w/DNA. I've had the 1000i side by side with a crf 1200, and the Swaro (all mine) hunting mule deer. The Leupy did everything the Swaro did, faster and easier, out to 800 yards on deer. The leica wouldn't even get a reading in slight fog or haze. When I'm in flat antelope country the Swaro reticle (big circle) is far too big, giving numerous false readings before you get a good one. At least that's my experience using them. The Zeiss is the only one I haven't used or owned.

Do you have any concerns about it not being waterproof? That may not be an issue in your part of the country.

Not in West Texas really. It is rather water resistant though. I've had it in drizzle before no problems.

Zeiss PRF is your huckleberry.

After trying a number of Leuplod models and finding them to be complete jokes, I cannot bring myself to even consider another one.

A Vectronix PLRF 25C is where the good rangefinder start!

Here you go.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/zeiss.pl?page=zeiss524560

I've used a bunch of them and used to buy or trade for a different one every year or so. Until I bought a Leica CRF 1600-B when they came out a couple of years ago. I love it. I have no desire to trade for anything any different. It's a keeper.

It's performed flawlessly for me in all types of weather. Basically, if I can see it, I can range it, if whatever "it" is is within a mile or so.

Edited to say that I have NOT tried any Zeiss rangefinders, so I have absolutely no experience with that brand. They might be the cat's azz, but I've never touched one and have no friends that have one.

I found a Leica CRF 1200 used for quite a bit under $600 and have been very happy with it for the last 2-3 years.

I must have a bad Leupy 1000, won't range trees/hillsides/critters past 450yds or so...my Leica 1600 ($575 mint used) hits trees all day long to 1500yds and as far as 1950yds in perfect conditions.

Looks like the Leica or Zeiss, not many Zeiss reviews

Nope, your leupy works about as good as any of them I think. They really should have stayed out of the rangefinding business.

The Swarovski ranges good but has a terrible view finder. The Leica is the best of all the typical consumer rangefinders. The Vectronix is just, well a little spendy!

I have one of the Bushnell Elite, either a 1500 or 1600, it works fine for me, well over 1000 yards on game. It isn't small, most of the guides seem to like the Leica. I bought the Bushnell for $200 off ebay four or five years ago, so no complaints about it.

I agree, its my first LRF but last year I was able to range individual antelope at 700 yds, and anything more reflective out to 1000yds. The display has 3 brightness settings and the medium setting is plenty clear on bright days. A friend of mine has a new leica 1600 and the display is so dim its almost impossible to see on bright days. I'm sure it has settings for brightness but he hasnt found it yet;)

I need to check the lupy out my Leica is hard to see the tiny red rectangle on sunny days too.

The new rangefinders are amazingly small and sophisticated with good optics at the high end. But you aren't going to see a huge difference in performance from your old Leica. I bought the CRF 1000r last year for elk hunting in CO and am very pleased with it for my uses including archery. But if I had chosen the Zeiss or the Vortex I think they would be perfectly capable.

My decision to replace my trusty Nikon 800 was because I looked through a Leupold 1000 in foggy conditions and it worked where mine failed.

I don't know if it's luck, limited experience or good judgement, but the only rangefinder I've ever owned is the Leica CRF 1200 and it is fantastic. Cameraland of course.

Very impressed with my Zeiss PRF. Fast readings and clear.