Decent hunting rangefinder on a budget??

[reloadyour9]

Hey guys, I have no experience with rangefinders, and am looking for your experience with rangefinders on hunting trips. What brand/model do you recommend and why. Looking to spend <300 if possible. Also, if anyone has one laying around they want to sell, let me know.

Thanks in advance

[Vtec44]

I have a Nikon Riflehunter 550 and it has been good to me. You can get it new for around $250. I don't shoot beyond 500 yards so it's more than good enough for me.

[pdugan6]

leupold rx750 for 250

[duckman1]

I have a Swaorski, the Bushnell, Nikon and Leupold all get excellent reviews. Save up and but the best one you can afford, you don't use it often but when you do it needs to work.

[CSACANNONEER]

Just learn to measure by stadia and use your thumb. Once you are good at it, it'll be close enough for hunting. Stadia is the principle that many range finding optics from $10 golf range finders to Nightforce's NP-1RR retical. Every time someone uses the ticks on a mil-dot scope to judge distance, they are using stadia. So, if you want the cheapest rangefinder possible, just learn to use your arm, thumb and a little math. It's pretty simple to do and you will (hopefully) never be without it.

If you insist on buying a laser rangefinder, get one which is capable of measuring reflective surfaces (this is how they rate them) which are at least TWICE as far as you want to measure. Sometimes, my Leica 1200 can't read more than 500 yards in dense brush. But, playing around and ranging a large freeway sign, I once was able to get a reading at ove 1600 yards with it. Normally, I can not get a 1000 yard reading on dirt but, I can get it to read 1050ish yards off the number boards of the 1000 yard range t the Palimino Valley range.

[PatriotnMore]

Unfortunately, if you want to range up to and over 1k yards, don't get the Leupold. I have the RX IV, and I am lucky to get 800 yards with it. I understand the Leica,s and some other high ends work fine at those distances.

If you are not concerned with long range, Leupold is fine.

[Butthead]

Just take my cousin with you. He doesn't cost much and he sure is accurate. He is usually within +/- 10 yards out to 300 or 400 yards. I require the use a laser to do my bidding. I have an inexpensive Nikon that is just fine for hunting.