Range finder suggestion

[HOOfan_1]

My dad and I have been talking about getting a ranger finder for quite some time now, and that is the only thing he has told me so far that he would like for Christmas. (although it is basically for both of us)

We mostly want to use it for groundhog hunting, and I doubt we really need ranging over 600 yards. Really 300 yards or less is what we would be ranging, but the extra range would be nice.

I am looking for a good value. I am thinking of spending in the $150-$250 range, but if there is are no quality units in that price range, I am willing to go up to $300.

 

[HOOfan_1]

The Nikon Aculon seems to be the best reviewed value unit on Amazon, does anyone have experience with it? The only bad reviews I can find on the unit were posted by golfers.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8397-AC...ords=range+finder&refinements=p_72:1248957011

 

[X-Rap]

I have a Nikon that's quite a few years old, to me the optics are really poor and pinpointing a ground hog could be an issue plus it is hit and miss past 600.
My dad and I have also pair up on a Vortex and it will reliably read out to 900 and has far superior optics to either of our Nikons or ancient Bushnell.
I have friends that have Leica's and Swarovski that will read out to 1500 and in the case of the Swarovski Bino/Rangefinder combo 2200.
If I really get serious about LR shooting I'll probably go with the Leica 1200 but for now I'd recommend the Vortex, you'll get more for your money with them than the Nikon IMO.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Cheapest I am seeing the Vortex is $340. More than 2.5 times as much as the Nikon. It would be nice to range the groundhogs, I am plenty happy to shoot one, walk out to it and have my dad range me as a much bigger target.

I can't really justify spending nearly $350 on something that won't get used that often, and is more of a curiosity quencher than a dispense-less tool.

 

[X-Rap]

Understand, just offering my observations and opinion from buying three before finding one that is suitable for my uses.
I realize others may be different. I also have had cause to use them for work so they become depreciable tools so that softens the blow some.
My use now is almost exclusively for BG hunting in mountainous terrain so we are quite different in our needs.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Another unit I am considering is the Redfield Raider 600

The preponderance of decent review for these lower priced rangefinders leads me to believe that they are not cheap useless junk.

 

[MtnCreek]

I have a older leopold that's supposed to be good for 600 yds. In order to range a target at ~400 yds+ I have to park my truck beside it, go back to the firing position and range the truck. I have a bushnell ARC that's a decent range finder for targets ~1,200 yds. It's supposed to be a 1,700 yd range finder. Just mentioning that to say the advertised range may be a lot further than what you're likely to get.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I have a older leopold that's supposed to be good for 600 yds. In order to range a target at ~400 yds+ I have to park my truck beside it, go back to the firing position and range the truck. I have a bushnell ARC that's a decent range finder for targets ~1,200 yds. It's supposed to be a 1,700 yd range finder. Just mentioning that to say the advertised range may be a lot further than what you're likely to get.

From what I understand, the reflectivity of the object determines the range. Darker objects like game animals will only give you approximately half the advertised range, while highly reflective items like a light colored rock will give you basically the advertised range.

It would be nice to get more than I ask of the unit, but as I said above, this is more to sate our curiosity. After I shoot a groundhog, I can walk out to it, stand over it and hold up a white poster board if I need to and then my dad can range off of that.

If I were using this to actually range targets, I would go ahead and buy the Vortex.


Amazon is running a $89 deal on a Simmons Volt 600 right now, in addition there is a $30 rebate. Very tempting, but although this will be more of a toy for us, I still don't want to buy something that is absolute junk.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Keep in mind that the advertised range of the device is going to be under ideal conditions. Ranging fur is not an ideal condition. The better the reflector (such as the pickup mentioned above) the longer successful results you're going to get. The size & shape of the target to be ranged also matters; small and round being more difficult to get a good reflection off of than large & relatively flat. Basically the difference between a groundhog and a broadside mulie buck.

The laser beam has to not only bounce back off the target, the return has to be strong enough to register on the receiving electronics. A stronger laser and more sensitive receivers cost more money. IMHO if you can possibly afford the Leica, that's the way to go given your stated objectives.

900F

 

[HOOfan_1]

Already bought the Simmons for $90

A $800 Leica is total overkill for my objective.