Is a cheap range finder a waste of money?
- Thread starter Ridersfan
- Start date
I've had 2 rangefinders and neither one was over $200. That being said they are fine for what I use them for which is mainly bow. For rifle if I'm in unfamiliar territory I will range different distances around me as soon as i'm in stand so there is no need to range the animal. I spend much more on good scopes and binos.
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
We should leave all the bitter divorcee talk out of this thread 
Good thread as I was wanting RF binos but damn $3000 is insane. And I don't really want vortex binos (gonna sell my non RF vortex binos)
Is it worth it to have a good pair of binos and good RF at half the price but twice the things to carry or spend $3000 and only carry 1 thing?
Good thread as I was wanting RF binos but damn $3000 is insane. And I don't really want vortex binos (gonna sell my non RF vortex binos)
Is it worth it to have a good pair of binos and good RF at half the price but twice the things to carry or spend $3000 and only carry 1 thing?
just out of interest,what distance was your buddy looking at taking the shot?
i have a leica 1200 and only use it for setting up targets in fields.most of my shots are within 150 yards or less,therefore no RF needed
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
uh no
My uncle gave me a cheap bushnell rangefinder and it does exactly what I need it to do. It measures distance from 0-300m, which is what I need it for, and works just fine.
Its 18 years old and wasnt an expensive model to begin with. Its works just fine for what I need. It bounces off my gongs in the field, bounces off trees and rocks that I range when sitting in a treestand.
Another downside to the Rangefinding Binos, is if the RF component has a problem- like my friend’s Leicas- and have to be sent in for repair. The owner is out the use of bino and RF for the duration. I much prefer your solution, jjohnwm.
All depends on what performance a guy is expecting or needing. In a lot of ways, the “midrange” RFs can be a waste of money too. A guy definitely needs to do his research. My elk hunting partner is on his 3rd Leupold 1200TBRi. Good warranty, but that’s pretty much useless when you’re hiked way into the backcountry and just want a range on that bull elk in front of you.
I use my range finder a lot when I'm hunting. I do a lot of ambush hunting though so as soon as I pick my hide, I range find the area so I have a good lay of the area and distances if an animal appears. My scope is all set up and I've got my click values for elevation so the range finder helps me complete the picture.
I have a Nikon 7I
I have a Nikon 7I
Well, if I buy a rangefinder, $3,000 won't be in the cards, or else I will be on that divorce topic... and I've already done that once in this lifetime, I ain't signing up for a round 2.
I would like a rangefinder for the 3 days a year that I hunt. I see deer out to 1,000 yards but I'd never want to attempt a shot over 400 yards. So it would range 12-15 deer over 3 days every year and it would probably range the targets once or twice at my local shooting range that are at 100, 200, 300, and 500 yards just because I have a range finder lol. I already own reasonable binoculars and a reasonable spotting scope for the weeks leading up to hunting season and trips to the range, I'd just want to know before taking the shot... is that buck 350 yards or is he 500 yards? This years buck was 350 yards (figured out after the shot) and I shoulder shot him instead of hitting the boiler room. I missed my mark by 2" which isn't real bad considering, but I still want to do better.
That's why I was considering one of those less expensive amazon choices.
I would like a rangefinder for the 3 days a year that I hunt. I see deer out to 1,000 yards but I'd never want to attempt a shot over 400 yards. So it would range 12-15 deer over 3 days every year and it would probably range the targets once or twice at my local shooting range that are at 100, 200, 300, and 500 yards just because I have a range finder lol. I already own reasonable binoculars and a reasonable spotting scope for the weeks leading up to hunting season and trips to the range, I'd just want to know before taking the shot... is that buck 350 yards or is he 500 yards? This years buck was 350 yards (figured out after the shot) and I shoulder shot him instead of hitting the boiler room. I missed my mark by 2" which isn't real bad considering, but I still want to do better.
That's why I was considering one of those less expensive amazon choices.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Same here, Nikon 7i has worked great. I do a mix of sitting and hiking and use my 7i a lot, compared it side by side with a buddy’s vortex 1300 ranger and they were dead on for ranging. His had an illuminated aiming point and was a tad faster but the Nikon is quick enough for my use.
Exactly the same for me, except I have only bought one rangefinder and I use it for rifle hunts.
For binos and scopes, excellent optics are worth the money. For a rangefinder, all I need it to do is range fairly accurately and reliably to around 400 yards.
I bought the least expensive Tasco rangefinder at Canadian Tire, on sale, for less than $200. It is supposed to range to 600y, and it doesn't. I knew that going in and I didn't care.
It DOES range reliably, quickly and consistently up to 400y and I don't shoot any farther than that so it suits me just fine. Been using it for 3 seasons now on the same battery. Sometimes I need to be creative with my ranging (find rocks, trees, etc. to hit) in order to get a good read - but I've "figured out what it needs" to work reliably and - so it does.
The optics are a joke, but I don't use it to look at stuff, I use it to tell me how far away something is. If the Tasco can't range it, I'm not shooting that far.
Way better than no rangefinder. However, if you need to shoot something at 800 yards, forget it.
- Location
- West Quebec
I feel the same way and it will be useful for many more activities than just the one
Cheap shyte is fine at the range or walking in to your treestand for a three hour hunt... but if you are packing in for a two week wilderness hunt, or flying in for a difficult and/or expensive hunt, you would have to be a fool to cheap-out on your equipment... especially equipment that comes into play with regard to the "moment of truth" (taking the shot on game) or when it comes to your survival... personally, I invest a lot of my thought, time and money on my outdoor/shooting sports and I believe it to be false economy to cheap out on equipment, particularly; firearms/bows, ammunition, electronics (limited), optics, footwear or clothing... just my two coppers.
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Well yes, if I was going on a more serious hunt then my local stuff, I would invest more into it. But for what I need (and truth be told, I really dont need it here) it does the job.
Not everyone can afford the best of everything. I cant. I can afford better in some places and in others I make do with lesser. I know im not the only one in that boat.
Not everyone can afford the best of everything. I cant. I can afford better in some places and in others I make do with lesser. I know im not the only one in that boat.
Maybe look for a used RF from one of the companies that offer Lifetime Warranty on the whole unit? Not many do- but Vortex does and Nikon is offering it on certain lines now I believe. At least then you’ll have something to fall back on if your inexpensive RF craps the bed? Gotta respect the budget and marriage.
Good luck in your search.
