Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Laser range finder puked, now what? So many choices!

The Leupold rangefinders are total POS. Period. I have tried a dozen of them and they are worse than nothing at all. I am amazed that they continue to sell them.

I am interested in the newer 1200-1500 yd stuff as well. I was looking through my latest Graf & Sons catalog and they list quite a few:

Bushnell Elite 1500
Bushnell Legend 1200
Fusion 1600
Fusion 1600 binocular

Leuplod does not make on in that yardage range (probably because they haven't figured out the 400 yd thing yet)

leica CRF 1200 and 1600

Nikon Monarch Gold 1200

Swarovski Laser Guide (1500)

and a few others that are rated to 1000 yds.

I kinda look at range finder ratings like sleeping bag ratings. They are never gonna give you the top distance. Whomever rates these things is an eternal optimist!

Anyone used any of the above mentioned ones other than the Leica and Swarovski? I would buy the Zeiss before either of those two. Would like to try one of the $350-$350 ones before springing for the $600-$900 ones as my kids are always "borrowing them" and leaving me the old junkers. The best one I currently have is a Nikon 800 which is an awesome bow hunting range finder and works pretty good where I hunt prairie dogs as we seldom shoot beyond 400 yds.

I bought the Nikon Gold Laser1200, when they first came out. IT IS waterproof anf fog proof. This thing has been thru hell in swamps, high altitude, rain, snow, heat. It always does what its supposed to. Just be sure and keep fresh batteries in it (don't ask how I know this)
G

I would second Mule Deer's recommendation for consideration at least. The Bush Fusion retails ~ $ 900 and it's LRF is as good as my Leica Geovid's and the "glass" is not bad.

VA, I also purchased a Bushnell 6500 Elite scope, 4.5-30 for a 223AI, and while I had a bias like you, these two products, particularly the scope, have changed my mind about Bushnell products; at least, I'm willing to try some again.

I've had my Nikon Riflehunter 1000 for about 4months now and I am very happy with it. I used it on a depredation deer hunt back in June and it performed extremely well. The display is bold and the light sensing display works as advertised. I ranged longhorn cattle at just over 900 yards and it acquired the target quickly, even though my I only used the side of a tree to steady the rangefinder. I'll know more when I bring it along on a CO elk hunt in a couple of months, but so far so good.

Considering that my Leicas are puked (cold fades out the display) I might be trying the Bushnell Fusion here PDQ.

Need something for CO this fall.

I've used and hunted with the Leica LRF and CRF 1200 yd models and, honestly, the newer Bushnell's are better to my eyes. I no longer own any Leica rangefinders anymore. Bushnell, I do...

+1 Simple, cheap, and works good enough for me.

I sold my Leica 1200 crf, which was working fine, and just bought a Leupold TBR 1000i with DNA. (that is all the right letters, perhaps not in the right order). So far I am good with the new Leupold. It ranges consistently out to 800 yds, and is small and light. I don't miss my Leica yet. I tried the Fusion 1600 binoculars, and just couldn't get used to the blue tint. I can only shoot to 750 yds (best case conditions) so the Leupold makes the cut, and I like the TBR function. When given the choice of giving up my Leicas, for some extra range finding performance I couldn't use, verses having to deal with the super blue tint of Bushnells, I still think great binoculars, and a good rangefinder is a better deal than OK binoculars, and a great rangefinder. (at least for as far as I can shoot).

I cant complain about the optics. I havent used it a whole lot though. Time will tell when I get to try it out this fall in low light and bad weather.

I would go with the Bushnell Fusion binocular.

You running a pair? If so, give us the lowdown.

I just bought the Elite 1500 Bushnell. We will see how she works. All the reviews on here and on the net show it as the superior product to some of the other brands. I am not a Bushnell fan, but they seem to be dialed in on lasers. Flinch

+5 on the Fusion binocular. I've had mine for over a year now. I found them to be clear, sharp, and accurate to 1600 yards. Took them on a sheep hunt last August and I had nothing to complain about. Highly recommended.

+1 on the Monarch 800

I've had the Leica 1600, Bushnell ARC 1500 and Swaro. Still own the Bushnell ARC and the Swaro. MOA bullet drop function on the Leica was not my thing - I like the ARC that shows inches of drop which I'm much more familiar with.

Best glass - Swaro (but this is probably to be expected).

I have an 800 yd Nikon that I use for bowhunting and I like it better than my Leica LRF 800. Both were equally accurate but the Nikon is easier to use.

I will likely get a Fusion binocular or the Elite 1600 rangefinder real soon.

I have that Nikon as well, it does a good job but I would like to try those binoculars that Muledeer talks about, 31 ounces, 10 power and 1600 yard ranging! For under $700 bucks..

You have a link to the under $700 site?

I had a Leupold RX III, it was trash. I sent it back to Leupold with a description of all my problems/complaints and they sent me the RX 1000 TBR as a replacement. I can tell ya that the new RX 1000 is a very good. It blows the other Leupolds out of the water and is comparable to the Leica in size and function. I think Leupold finally got it right with the Rx 1000 TBR. Now I would actually highly recommend the RX 1000, where I completely hated my old, useless RX III.