I need a rangefinder that will range deer/big game animal out to around 400+ yrds.I live on the Canadian Prairies where longer shots might occur. Are there any out there in the $350-$500 price range? I would like to buy a Nikon.
My nikon is awesome, its one of the 1st models to my knowledge, also have a newer leupold, would take the nikon hands down. I've ranged 600 pretty easily I believe, and its rated for 1000yds I think.
Usually a solid object near an animal will be much easier to range, ie a rock, tree, but I'd get a nikon for sure, less you're talking leica money....then I'd consider a leica, but a range finder is something I don't forsee needing to spend that kind of cash for.
My nikon is simple too, has a rain mode, over 150yds mode, normal mode, very simple,
If it were my choice, I'd save $100 more and get a Leica CRF 900. They are very accurate, lightweight and at about $600 are one of the best out there. Or, better yet, for another $100 or so get the CRF 1200. Now your talking quality here. Just my $.02.
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If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
yep, for the best bet go leica or farther up the scale, but the leica is the cheapest way if you want to range a deer to 1000 yards, I've ranged a deer in an open field with mine to 1018 yards. the bushy's (think they also make nikon) from my experience will range a deer or other soft targets to just over 1/2 they're rated range. swauro's will range hard targets to right at 1 mile, and have read reports of ranging deer to 1400 yards.
RR
I ranged a huge white steel building at 1492 with my Bushnell 1500's but that was right at dusk under perfect conditions. For deer/elk the furthest I've got a read was right around 600 yards. When the critter is on a hill of nothing but sage and dirt there is nothing else close by that will range any better so buy one that is rated about double the range you need. Since you said 400+ yards make sure to buy one that is rated to 800-900 at least, with a 1,000 yard model better.
The Leica are very sweet, the red LED display is way better than any of the LCD displays I've seen and I think they are now waterproof (when I bought my Bushnell it was one of the few that were waterproof and I ONLY buy waterproof gear these days after having too many binos/equipment ruined due to rain/snow). I would have bought the Leica if it was waterproof at the time of my purchase. The Bushnell 1500 is pretty good albiet a little larger than I like, but I do like the fact it uses a 9v standard battery instead of the special batteries of others. And the slope indicator available in the new 1500 is pretty handy too if you hunt in mountain country like I do where the angle of the shot comes into play past 200 yards. Wish I'd held out a year or two since mine doesn't have that feature.
You have the right info already. Go up the scale as far as you can afford for long distance accuracy. I have a Swarovski that I bought for a rediculously low price in a silent auction. It is superb ... even at long distances. The better ones can handlelow powerreflected signals better.Crisp lenses, precisionelectronics and ruggednes count if you are ranging out to 400-500 yards.
Rangefinder capability on animals?
