#2481374 - 10/06/08 03:07 PM
Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
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Sakoluvr
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Registered: 01/08/05
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Curious as to which of the less expensive (<$300) range finders were a "best value". Thanks.
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#2481418 - 10/06/08 03:30 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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Mule Deer
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Yeah, I have, but it was several years ago so I'd hate to use those results when things have probably changed.
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"New opinions are always suspect, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common." -John Locke
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#2481512 - 10/06/08 04:16 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Mule Deer]
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Sakoluvr
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Thanks John.
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Shoot your TV. Do it for yourself, do it for your family.
.350 Rem Mag, THE original short mag.
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#2481991 - 10/06/08 07:00 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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dennisinaz
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I recently tried to buy a Bushnell Scout from CLNY and they were back ordered. I opted for the Nikon instead- I wanted a "one-handed" rangefinder to use for bow hunting etc as opposed to my Leica LRF. I am favorably impressed with the Nikon. My only complaint is that it isn't backlit (apparently none of the LCD ones are) and so you can't use it at night. I can and have used my Leica at night. I would have bought a CRF but I didn't have an extra $600 laying around!
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#2485166 - 10/08/08 07:07 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: dennisinaz]
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panhandle
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Last spring on our P-dog shoot, two of the shooters are from Michigan and work for a sporting chain there. Their boss let them bring a Bushnell yardage pro and the Leupold to compare.
The Bushnell won by a big margin, both were easy to use but the Bushnell was so much clearer.
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#2485177 - 10/08/08 07:11 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: panhandle]
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Mule Deer
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I wasn't going to mention it, for reason stated earlier, but there seems to be no reason not to now. In the tests my wife and made maybe 3 years ago, on actual pronghorns out on flat pastures, Bushnell and Nikon rangefinders were the best of the lower-price brands as well. The Nikon did a little better than the Bushnell, but not a whole lot.
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"New opinions are always suspect, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common." -John Locke
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#2485573 - 10/08/08 10:26 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Mule Deer]
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Sakoluvr
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Well, I am glad to hear that even though it was a few years ago that you made the comparison. I sent off for a Nikon 800 (which I believe has been around a few years), and I think I made a good choice in the price range that I wanted to pay. Thanks all.
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Shoot your TV. Do it for yourself, do it for your family.
.350 Rem Mag, THE original short mag.
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#2485634 - 10/08/08 11:08 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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jds44
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I think you'll be happy with the Nikon. I've got an older 400 yard model. It's seems to work out to about 400 even in not so great conditions and I've been able to range stuff at 500 under perfect conditions.
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#2485848 - 10/08/08 01:54 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: jds44]
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oldotter
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Some good info here that I'm sure more than a few will appreciate.
Jerry
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#2485892 - 10/08/08 02:16 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: oldotter]
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Sakoluvr
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For those interested, I paid $259 for the brand new current model Nikon 800 in camo, delivered. The black model was a few bucks less. The dealer mailed it out within hours of the purchase via priority mail. It seemed to be one of the better prices that I found.
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Shoot your TV. Do it for yourself, do it for your family.
.350 Rem Mag, THE original short mag.
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#2486849 - 10/08/08 09:24 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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dennisinaz
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I ranged a nice 6x6 bull with my Nikon 800 this morning at 813 yds. It took a few tries to get a reading but I finally did. So far no complaints. The Leupolds I have looked at have been beyond disappointing!
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#2487521 - 10/09/08 07:49 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Mule Deer]
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cole_k
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John apparently not much has changed.
Last year I wanted a LRF to range deer out to about 600 yards.
I tried out a Bushnell Scout 1000 and a Nikon Monarch 800. These 2 didn’t get out as far as I wanted. The Nikon was the clear of the two but not by much.
I then compared a Bushnell Elite 1500, Nikon Monarch Gold 1200, Leopold RX IV (1500), and for good measure I threw in my son’s Leopold RX III (1200).
The Nikon Gold did not beat the Elite by much but and they beat the Leopolds.
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#2487738 - 10/09/08 09:36 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: cole_k]
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martinbns
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I have had the nikon 800 for a few years and I have a really hard time measuring anything at long ranges. I find it very difficult to laser a cow much past 400 yards, so I generally use it to measure to certain landmarks at then adjust from there.
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#2487848 - 10/09/08 10:30 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: dennisinaz]
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FVA
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I recently tried to buy a Bushnell Scout from CLNY and they were back ordered. I opted for the Nikon instead- I wanted a "one-handed" rangefinder to use for bow hunting etc as opposed to my Leica LRF. I am favorably impressed with the Nikon. My only complaint is that it isn't backlit (apparently none of the LCD ones are) and so you can't use it at night. I can and have used my Leica at night. I would have bought a CRF but I didn't have an extra $600 laying around!
I had a Nikon 800 that served me well for a number of years and semi recently upgraded to the Leica 1200 LRF. I ran both for a while just to compare.
I always read about the advantage of the bright red numbers of the Leica for dark conditions and for reading the numbers in the dark there is an advantage but a very small one.
By time you can't read the numbers on the Nikon, as they are so bold/large, you might as well forget about aiming at anything with but a lit reticle.
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#2488653 - 10/09/08 05:28 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: FVA]
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dennisinaz
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If I can see something through the viewfinder but not the LCD it's not bold enough. I tried it again last night. Definitely not for the nightstalker!
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Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
The man on the top of the mountain didn't fall there.
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#2488690 - 10/09/08 05:44 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: dennisinaz]
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Sakoluvr
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The Nikon I just got has a backlight feature when you push the mode button for a second. I have not tried it outside yet. is that feature any good? Did you guys have it?
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Shoot your TV. Do it for yourself, do it for your family.
.350 Rem Mag, THE original short mag.
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#2488744 - 10/09/08 06:16 PM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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huntsman22
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My bushnell elite has a black readout that is hard to pick up near dawn or dusk. It does have a backlite feature that sucks....
I've found, if you shine one of the little keychain led's up past the objective, you can see it great. Ya don't have to shine it in the objective, just kinda angle it past. Don
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#2491759 - 10/11/08 05:45 AM
Re: Mule Deer- have you ever compared the "less expensive" range finders?
[Re: Sakoluvr]
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35WhelenNut
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Sakoluvr I decided I wanted a rangefinder for this years elk hunt. Everyone recommended the Leica CRF 1200, but there's just no way I was going to pay $600 +/- for a rangefinder.
I bought a new Nikon Monarch Laser 800 for < $250.00 shipped from a fellow on ebay. Took it to NM on my annual elk hunt and loved it. Mine will easily and consistently range out to 450-475 yds. and can usually be coaxed into readings out to 550 to almost 600 yds. Other than for conversations sake, I have no interest in ranging animals much over 400 yds.
All the readings I took were highly repeatable and I never once got what I thought was a questionable reading. I never actually ranged an animal as my habit is to range objects such as spruce and aspen trees when I sit down to watch an area then put the rangefinder in my pocket. Oh yeah, and it will fit in a shirt pocket.
35WN
Edited by 35WhelenNut (10/11/08 05:47 AM)
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