Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Best Value Rangefinder for Hunting

Looking to buy a rangefinder for hunting. Shots will be under 500yds. I sometimes find it helpful to range objects (rocks, hillsides, tree lines, etc) farther than that. Just want one that's easy to use and read. The Vortex warranty is tempting in case I want to resell and upgrade later. I just wonder what is the current best option. I'm thinking $200-300 range. I'd spend more if needed, or less if there was a value option. Thanks for your input.

I bought the new GPO rangefinder from Cameraland mostly because it has a black reticle (coloredblindness) and have been extremely pleased.

Sig Kilo has worked well for me.

As a long standing supporting vendor here on the forum it is our pleasure to discuss this with you to assist you in deciding which is the correct option. Please feel free to give us a call, 516-217-1000

I got a 2700B from Doug on sale for $499. It’s amazing. Way better than my old Nikon 800

I have a little Bushnell Prime rangefinder, quite inexpensive and it doe every thing I ask from ranging 3D archery targets to to ranging topographic features to get an idea of ranges before I start a calling stand. I've never tried to use it to range critters.

I’ve had a Leica 900 for more than 10 years. It’s been flawless.

Thanks for the info so far. I see old threads on this topic but as technology changes so much, I wondered if a new favorite has emerged.

My input will be dated and would be worthless for guys into long range hunting. Having said that, I have an old Leupold RX-1000 that is dead nuts simple and serves my purposes well. It's easy on batteries and has been totally reliable in spite of lots of rough treatment hunting horseback. It does not range well past 600 yds or so. I'm sure the technology and products have improved dramatically in recent years but if I found one of these used, I'd not be afraid to give it a try for basic range finding within 600 or so yards.

Don’t get the Athlon from Doug.
It’s good for your range but the Midas 1200 model won’t really read past 800 yards on a Man silhouette gong. It would range a giant Boulder but not the gong. Sent it to Athlon and got questioned if I had on a tri pod. I said no but my sig doesn’t need to go on tri pod. They sent me a new one , so they are a good company that stand behind their products.now was same as the previous. Sent it down the road .
I would just pay the piper and get a sig.

I've been using a Leica 1600 for several years. It works very well but is not the cheapest option.

Which SIG model do you like? I was going to order a kilo2000 but it appears they are discontinued and sold out. I haven’t researched the newer models much yet.

Leica of any recent model.

Current, in stock, Sig Rangefinders are:

Sig Sauer KILO1800BDX Laser Range Finding Monocular 6x22mm - Black

Sig Sauer KILO2200BDX Laser Range finding Monocular 7x25mm - Milling Reticle - Graphite

If you can get the Leica for $500+/-, you'll never be lacking.

If you really want to stay sub $300, get the Vortex. It has a pretty good reputation from what I've gathered and it has a warranty.

Whatever you do, get a red reticle, as it shows up way better in the shadows of early and late day.

It was way more rangefinder than I needed but for that price there was no way I wasn’t buying it.

I can’t recommend it enough. Doug and the guys at Camerland are great.

Buy once and cry once. Save for the Leica and you'll never be needing anything else.

I bought Lecia for the two guys I hunt with and myself. [Those cheapskates would not have bought them if I did not.]

While hunting, the Lecia rangefinders seem to be the only thing working right.