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Rangefinder Question

Texas Hunter
Fellow hunters i am interested in getting a laser rangefinder and would like some suggetions and answers if possible.
Recently i was told that just because a rangefinder model claims it is good out to oh say 800 yards on a reflective object it might only give a target subject such as a deer a reading of only up to 250-300 yards.
Is that true??
So what types are out there that will give a true deer reading out to my maximum shooting comfort zone of 400 yards??
I would like to stay in a price range of 250-350 bucks tops.
Any help gladly appreciated.



mike
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • JustC
    The Leica is the best I have used. The 900yd unit should fall within your price range. They have better glass and a more concentrated beam than most others,...making them more accurate and able to get the readings at longer range. My 1200yd model was able to read antelope out to 850+yds in WY last week.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • Ray Boone
    Since a lot of my hunting is from one of several stands that I have developed over the years, rather than using a rangefinder, what I have done is well before the season, I take by GPS and go to various landmarks viewed from the stand. I can get the position of each within 3 yards, then it's easy to calculate the distance, as well as vertical change. I'll post an indicator of what the distance is so that when I come back later in the year, I can use it as a reference point for estimating how far away an animal is. It may not be as accurate as a rangefinder, but it gets me out of the house and into the mountains during the Summer, and it's one less thing to do when I see the animal.
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  • ern98
    Unless you have a real unusual situation I generally figure that if you can see the deer it is too late to do any rangefinding expect that which you can suss out looking through your scope and comparing the chest size of the critter to the step down in you reticule. I use my Bushnell rangefinder, 400yd, much like the gent with the tree stand. I previst my spots and get aquainted with the ranges so I know what is what. It has been invaluble that way.....
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  • BigBarn
    THunter,JustC hit the proverbial nail on the head. I have used at least five different range finders over the years, and the Leica is by far and away the best of the bunch, when taking cost into account. They are the easiest to use, the most accurate, and the most reliable on the market.
    And to answer your question, yes most of the lower powered range finders will range on a very reflctive target, out to their amaximum range, but only under exact conditions! Which are very hard to come by, under the best of conditions. So the best thing to keep in mind, use a 1200 yard range finder out to the maximum range of 800 yards. That way you are relative safe in employing the data produced by that particular range finder. Anything past that scenario, is at best an educated guess!
    "IMHO"!

    BigBarn[:o)]

    "Respect the land, and it will respect you"
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  • dustinn3
    I used my father-in-laws bushnell 800 this last weekend quite a bit and found that I couldn't range anything out past 400 yards. Even then, I had had to find a bright green leaved tree that really stood out. I didn't have any reflective targets to test where we were hunting. I was able to range a coyote at around 225 yards, but there has to be a pretty good contrast between what you are trying to range and the background. Mostly I had to use small bright green shrubs to get any reading at all. I stepped off a few of the shorter ranges and it was pretty accurate, but I'm not sure on the longer ranges. I would agree with the others that by the time you try to get a range on a deer with it, you've probably already missed your shot. Best to get approximate ranges from different landmarks for reference as you start or before your hunt.
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  • raskil
    Ditto on the Leica. I use it on deer grazing in food plots and when scouting. I also use it to range trees while bow hunting. That way I don't have to jack around with the range finder if I already know the distance of to several key entry points to my field of fire. Because the glass is so clear, I often use it instead in binoculars.
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  • Texas Hunter
    Thanks for the info guys.
    Guess i will check out the Leica.
    Oh yea,Ern and Dustin,where i hunt which is in the hill country of Texas as well as a ranch in south Texas i generally have lots of time to watch a deer.
    Sure at times one will step of into the brush but a lot of the hunting is looking down a sendero that might be a half a mile in length by 50 yards wide.
    Thus it is getting necessary to know the range of the deer.
    I aint getting any younger and neither are my eyes.[8D]

    mike
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  • Travis Hallam
    Smart choice going with the Leica. I have the LRF 800 and the 800 is for meters not yards so it actually reads further than implied. I have read rocks out to 940 yards. There is a setting where you can adjust to yards or meters. The optics are amazing. I also have stress tested mine (accidently) and it never has had a problem. The last test was my kids took it from my room and left it on the deck and it was rained and snowed on. Still works great. Saved the kids a serious buttchewing too[;)].

    Mad Dog
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  • bigdog1
    my vote also goes for the the Leica. I have a LRF900 that I have used since last year and it is top quality. Great glass and very simple operation. Should cost you around $400. Good luck...
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