What Is The Best Rangefinder??????

Jack_Bauer · 09-24-2008, 09:20 AM

Looking at buying my first rangefinder for mostly rifle hunting, Nikon Rifle Hunter 550 & Monarch 800. From what reviews I've read they seem to be the best but want more info. What do you think.

tempehunter · 09-26-2008, 10:59 PM

Like mostoptics you get what you pay for. Swarovskiand Leica are probaly the BEST
However I own the Nikon 1200 and am VERY pleased with it

skeeter 7MM · 09-27-2008, 01:10 AM

No regrets buy a Lieca. If you want the "best" in the consumer range look at the Swaroviski.

hometheaterman · 09-29-2008, 09:18 AM

I know with optics it's usually you get what you pay for but honestly who wants to spend that much money on something like that? I guess some guys do but to me I'd go with a nice Nikon. I used a buddies and that thing worked great and did all I'd need it to do. I see no reason to spend a ton on one when you can get one for a couple hundred bucks that do most what everyone would need.

Ridge Runner · 09-29-2008, 02:24 PM

what do you intend to do with it? range deer? how far?
the bushy's and nikons will range a soft non-reflective target (deer) to just over half they're max published range on a good day.
the starting point for long range ranging is the leica 1200, next step up is the swuaro. take things into perspective, for bowhunting any of them will work, you don't need the arc features for shooting 30 yards, for rifle hunting you can easily with most rifles sight in for max point blank range and then use holdover to make 400 yards with average rifles, 500 with the hot mags. so why buy a rangefinder that can't range farther than you can shoot?
I've ranged deer with my leica 1200 to 1079 yards, have killed them at over 800 so I'm soon to be buying a new model, probably a newcon 2500 yard model with computer interface.
RR

nksmfamjp · 09-30-2008, 12:29 PM

IMO best value,
1) Leica LRF 1200
2) Nikon MG 1200
3) Who cares. . .

The Leica CRF is more money, but is not quite as good IMO. The Swaro is more, and supposedly better at range, but IMO, it was way too slow to be handheld. I own the Nikon MG 1200 and I can make it range a Deer or an Elk to 900+ yards. I forget my max. At dusk is or difficult earth contour is where I see the LEica would be much better.