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Are rangefinders necessary for long range shooting?
- Thread starter ueb_30
- Start date
If you already know the distances then no. You could also use geoballistics satellite dope card feature. Or if you can see what adjustments you need for the unknown range via shooting that can work.
So no, it’s not “necessary.” But it is useful to know how far if you don’t.
So no, it’s not “necessary.” But it is useful to know how far if you don’t.
it is a good idea to be able to range objects without one, but it sure helps.
Since you are starting out, you may want to share your goals and plan for advice. Depending on what you are doing the answers change.
If you are wanting to walk your shots onto a steel plate at 800 ish you may not need a range finder. If you want to make first round hits on deer at that range your expectations may be unrealistic to start.
If you are wanting to walk your shots onto a steel plate at 800 ish you may not need a range finder. If you want to make first round hits on deer at that range your expectations may be unrealistic to start.
I vote yes. So easy to get a cheap ballistic LRF that also does AMR distance. The gps fonction on geoballostics is awesome and I love it but what if you don’t shoot on flat terrain ? +\- 5 deg of pitch will definitely add up over 800 yards. I’d probably get a SIG BDX to get started and pair it via Bluetooth.
That being said, if you already know your distance, 500$ of ammo or reloading components and time behind the gun will absolutely be a better use of your hard earned dollars. I know when I first started I focuses too much on the gizmos and not enough time on the fundamentals. Somehow I had this idea that if I could group 3/4 1 1” at 100, it would be linear and all I needed was my environmentals, velocity, wind and applied ballistic and I should be able hit a 8” steel at 800 yards all day long. I was wrong and I spent too much time fucking with the apps rather than time collecting dope, improving my groups at distance and focusing on NPA fundamentals, especially trigger pull.
That being said, if you already know your distance, 500$ of ammo or reloading components and time behind the gun will absolutely be a better use of your hard earned dollars. I know when I first started I focuses too much on the gizmos and not enough time on the fundamentals. Somehow I had this idea that if I could group 3/4 1 1” at 100, it would be linear and all I needed was my environmentals, velocity, wind and applied ballistic and I should be able hit a 8” steel at 800 yards all day long. I was wrong and I spent too much time fucking with the apps rather than time collecting dope, improving my groups at distance and focusing on NPA fundamentals, especially trigger pull.
The horizontal distance is what you need to dial which is what it figures out. You can also alter the angle in a range card as well if you want to do it the manual way
In my opinion a range finder is a nice to have item.
Reiterating what was already said, it depends on what you are looking to do. I've walked shots in using several types of rifles at various distances.
There are ways to measure the distance using your reticle but there is a margin of error to that method.
For situations where you want to be exactly on from the get go a range finder will be great. That's assuming you are shooting at unfamiliar places.
The people that I've seen that are really really good will basically survey the battle field before ever getting a rifle out of the case. The top of the hill is X meters. That tree is Y meters. They will even go through the topography to try and identify how the wind will act. For example at one of the areas I shoot at there is a hill and a tree line that abruptly stops. It basically causes a J hook in the wind. If you are going by just a chart you will get gray hair with that.
In other words figure out how to master your terrain. How you do that is up to you. Take notes and build on the understanding of the area and pretty soon you can just make things happen.
Reiterating what was already said, it depends on what you are looking to do. I've walked shots in using several types of rifles at various distances.
There are ways to measure the distance using your reticle but there is a margin of error to that method.
For situations where you want to be exactly on from the get go a range finder will be great. That's assuming you are shooting at unfamiliar places.
The people that I've seen that are really really good will basically survey the battle field before ever getting a rifle out of the case. The top of the hill is X meters. That tree is Y meters. They will even go through the topography to try and identify how the wind will act. For example at one of the areas I shoot at there is a hill and a tree line that abruptly stops. It basically causes a J hook in the wind. If you are going by just a chart you will get gray hair with that.
In other words figure out how to master your terrain. How you do that is up to you. Take notes and build on the understanding of the area and pretty soon you can just make things happen.
Me too. Works well for what I need.
as @spife7980 said, what you want is horizontal distance and most decent LRF will do that incl the Vortex.
Was in PA a couple of weeks ago for a clinic and from about 700 yd targets and on they went up a fairly steep hill which kind of fucked our weaponized math (showed “corrupted data when looking at the difference between ranges) thereas the horizontal was certainly less than slant range.
Not sure I would trust “known distance” at all clubs. But, I’m a natural skeptic. Haha
Yes. This. It goes back to mastering the terrain. Steep up hill or down hill shots will definitely need to be accounted for.
There are all kinds of terrain features that might take some experience to overcome.
If you can't swing the $400 for a 2k capable (but really only 1200), keep saving.
I can hit 1200 offhand with my sig 2200, and targets at 2000 in a tripod mount. The Maven has been a proven performer to get close to it's yardage also.
Remember, there's a reason they sell the 400 yard units to bowhunters.
I can hit 1200 offhand with my sig 2200, and targets at 2000 in a tripod mount. The Maven has been a proven performer to get close to it's yardage also.
Remember, there's a reason they sell the 400 yard units to bowhunters.
I think it's good to learn how to range a target using your scope, then confirm with RF if you need to.
I'm also "that guy" who thinks people need to learn how to read a map and use a compass.
I'm also "that guy" who thinks people need to learn how to read a map and use a compass.
I use mine on any shot that looks farther than about 25 yds. I shoot fairly heavy arrows so my pins are kind of far apart. Rangefinders last a long dang time if you don't drop them out of a treestand.
Look hard at the Leica line. I have a 2000b and have ranged stuff on a sunny day out to beyond 1800m. It also cost me 300 bucks from Eurooptic.
you got this for $300? Ill keep this and the VOrtex on my radar for black friday/cyber monday and see if there's any deals between the 2...those seem to be the best bang for the buck...spending $100 extra for quality is the way to go
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I am a copious user of both. I have had range finders and gps fail in the field. Carrying a compass and learning to use mils as backup is SOP for me.
You can also use electronic tools like onX hunt or acme planimeter if budget constraints are holding you back
i learned to use a mildot master to make sure i could calculate range and solutions without electronics
this is of course while i am keeping a log book for real dope, because nothing is more accurate than real life.
but having the rf helped me verify what i was getting, before sending it...saving ammo and money. (i can justify anything).
the tables for fgmm in the databook are almost spot on for my gun, lol.
this is of course while i am keeping a log book for real dope, because nothing is more accurate than real life.
but having the rf helped me verify what i was getting, before sending it...saving ammo and money. (i can justify anything).
the tables for fgmm in the databook are almost spot on for my gun, lol.
I went without one for almost a decade ranging targets with my reticle.
Once you get to 1200ish reticle ranging is not precise enough.
Once you get to 1200ish reticle ranging is not precise enough.
Also depends on where you plan on shooting. If you frequent the same public range or shooting spot, they are not needed as once you get your data, not much is going to change. There are many tools that make shooting easier and take some of the guess work out of it to some extent but few are actually needed.
Depends on what you are doing I guess. Good luck ranging with your reticle when you are on a private range or hunting with no known size objects in view
Game is fairly easy to range and most private ranges have well known target sizes
Good luck with all that when you have groundhogs etc at 700+
If you shoot Rimfire past 100, the proper range is critical for hits. The difference in 10-15 meters at 700 with a centerfire is critical too. You will make better hits at long range with a $700 savage and a functional rangefinder, that a $2000 something and no rangefinder. Neither will help with reading wind effectively though.
