Best Long Range Laser Range Finder sub $600?

X-man

X-man

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
249   0   0
Location
Newfoundland
I've been thinking about picking up a laser range finder for long-range work. At least 500-1000 yards.

I like the ARC feature on the Bushnell line, as most of my shooting will be done from atop hills.


My max price range is $500-$600. I'd consider anything in the $350-$600 range. I like Leica, but not budgeted for it. So, Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold are the more likely candidates.

Please chime in with your recommendations, thoughts, experiences, etc... Thanks!:)
 
The Bushnell Fusion 1600 bino/RF is amazing for the price. You can often pick one up used, LNIB out of the US for around $600.

John Barsness, who has used and tested all sorts of popular RF's, including products from Swaro, Leica, and Zeiss, said that the Fusion 1600 has as good a RF as anything currently on the market. My experience mirrors that. It is better than most, and equal to the best. I've posted about the Fusion on this forum before. A quick search should bring up some of my observations.
 
The Bushnell Elite 1600 is the same rangefinder as is in the Fusion Binoculars, but retails for $579.

I've used one to range 1200 yards easy, but never had the opportunity to push it out farther.
 
The Bushnell Fusion 1600 easily beats the Leica 1200 by about 600 yards. When I owned the Leica 1200, I could routinely range trees out to about 1150-1200 yards. Exactly twice I ranged trees at a few yards beyond 1300. The Fusion 1600 ranges trees, hay bales, and other large objects out to beyond 1800 yards with ease, and I've gotten readings beyond 1900 yards before. The farthest that I've ranged deer so far was over 1300 yards, and it spit out a reading on the first try with little effort. It does better in fog/rain than the Leica 1200 did, too.

In my mind there is no question which RF works better, and the Bushnell is within a few bucks of the Leica, too.
 
I've ranged objects with my Leica 1200 just shy of 1200 yards. I now have a Leica 1600 and have ranged objects out past 1800 yards (1875).

My shooting buddy bought a Bushnell 1500 arc the same time I bought my Leica 1200. The Bushnell was a piece of crap (ranging & glass quality) and he now also has a Leica. I've read good things about the ranging ability of the Bushnell Fusion, but in the end I wanted something more compact and with better quality glass.

Go to a store and try them both out, then see if you can snag a used one.
 
I have had the bushnell 1600 side by side with a swarovski and they gave readings within a couple yards of each out to about 900 yards. The optics don't compare but for the money and what you want to do a used 1600 would be a great choice. The bushnell doesn't give a true ballistic range at those distances but it does give you the angle so you could easily figure it out for yourself. FWIW the swarovski doesn't give you either. I will be keeping my bushnell.
 
I got a bushnell 1200 for Christmas. Range trees and rocks to 1000yds. Almost every time. Consistent to about 950yds, it gets a little flakely after that. For $380 at wholesale, it does way more than I expected. Way farther than I'm ever gonna shoot.

My $0.02
 
Leupold rangefinders get a bad rap in most circles. I think they did a great job on the new RX-1000i though. $450 bucks and you get a great illuminated display. I'm not fan of ARC/TBR type stuff so I got the model without TBR and I really like it. Simple, you can change between yards and meters (handy for targets), ranges trees and big rocks out to 1000 quite easily. I haven't had the chance to range a deer at longer than 300 yards, but it ranged an elk at 720 with no issue at all. It's compact and the optic is pretty good. It doesn't compare to the $800+ rangefinders, but I think it is definitly the best in the sub $500 class.

In the higher $$$$ rangefinder game I was a Leica fanboy and I still think geovids are the cream of the crop for a rangefinder (even compared to Zeiss Victory rangefinding Binos), however, after some convincing I have taken a liking to the Bushnell Fusion 1600s after playing around with them some more. Certainly at less than half the price of geovids they are impressive.
 
TV-PressPass said:
Comfortably? I'd put the Leica 1200 at a 1400 yard mark, the Fusion 1600 would probably do 1500-1600 yards okay, Leica 1600 will do 1800 yards for sure.
Click to expand...

So are you guessing, or is this based on actual field experience? My actual field experience says that the Fusion will range large objects to about 1850 yards all day.
 
cam1936 said:
In the higher $$$$ rangefinder game I was a Leica fanboy and I still think geovids are the cream of the crop for a rangefinder (even compared to Zeiss Victory rangefinding Binos), however, after some convincing I have taken a liking to the Bushnell Fusion 1600s after playing around with them some more. Certainly at less than half the price of geovids they are impressive.
Click to expand...

So you had the chance to play around with one some more, hey?

Bushnell rangefinders were always a huge POS, but ever since they came out with the Elite 1500, they've been a serious contender.
 
.284 said:
I have had the bushnell 1600 side by side with a swarovski and they gave readings within a couple yards of each out to about 900 yards. The optics don't compare but for the money and what you want to do a used 1600 would be a great choice. The bushnell doesn't give a true ballistic range at those distances but it does give you the angle so you could easily figure it out for yourself. FWIW the swarovski doesn't give you either. I will be keeping my bushnell.
Click to expand...

If you input your ballistic profile, the Fusion is also capable of spitting out your elevation correction in MOA out to a certain distance (I think it's around 1300-1400 yards, IIRC).
 
My first rangefinder was a Sport 450, then upgraded to leica LRF 1200, then Elite 1500. I then went to a Leica CRF 900 because I wanted something more compact, but I was not impressed with its performance in overcast/rainy weather. So now I have Bushnell Fusion Binos inbound, and I'm looking forward to trying them out soon.
 
I would highly reccomend the Leica 1600, I have one and love it, my price range was the same but some things are worth going for.

On Monday I ranged one of my ODPL steel targets at 1605m, and i had confirmed hits on target in two shots so I know its accurate.

If it only gave wind reading................................

I also ranged a deer at 1440m, one thing I hate about it is that it does not have a tripod adapter, its a pain in the As* to stay steady enough to range free hand at those distances, anyone that disagrees is full of H:S:

you can find a leica 1600 for 835US shipped.

If you cant PM me and I'll help you out.

Happy shooting

MM
 
Fusion

Jordan Smith said:
The Bushnell Fusion 1600 bino/RF is amazing for the price. You can often pick one up used, LNIB out of the US for around $600.

John Barsness, who has used and tested all sorts of popular RF's, including products from Swaro, Leica, and Zeiss, said that the Fusion 1600 has as good a RF as anything currently on the market. My experience mirrors that. It is better than most, and equal to the best. I've posted about the Fusion on this forum before. A quick search should bring up some of my observations.
Click to expand...

Do they have this technology in a rangefinder only platform? My understanding is that the Fusion is the RF/bino combo. While I'm interested in the RF capabilities, I'd have zero interest in Bushnell binocs.

EDIT: Just checked website, The Elite 1600 ARC is the RF only model. I guess Bushnell is into self-deprication. They claim 500 yards on deer and 1000 for trees on Fusion and Elite 1600 :confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom