Rifle Scopes Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

[jimurphy]

I am posting here to inform anyone considering buying the Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder to think twice. I have had the Bushnell Yardage Pro 1000 for 3 years and was satisfied with it's performance. I have since started competing in Long Range competitions and found that the Y.P. 1000 would only range to 900 yards on the 6'x6' target backers, which was not unexpected. I purchased the Elite 1500 assuming it would reach the 1000 yard mark on the same targets. I have struggled with it for over a year, it's performance was only slightly better than than the 1000 yard model. Last month it refused to range beyond 550 yards. I sent it to the warranty service center and they "reprogrammed" it. It now performs exactly as well as the 1000 yard model. Yesterday I contacted the customer service department and asked if 1000 yards was all the Elite was capable of ranging. I tested both units against a perpendicular white industrial warehouse wall out to the point where neither would range, 1000 yards for both.
The Bushnell customer service representative E mailed me today, saying that the Elite 1500 was performing within specs. I have wasted $400 for a unit that under performs their 1000 yard, older model. I will be buying a better range finder from a non U.S. manufacturer, with better customer service. I can't honestly even sell this to anyone.

 

[264win]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

The old bushnell 1500 is not even close to the new 1600 arc model . The 1600 will hit a mile + on large targets with ease . and well over 1k on the smallest targets i can aim it at.

 

[jtb33]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

The manual for the 1500 states very clearly that "The maximum distance for most objects is 1000 yards / 914 meters while for highly reflective objects the maximum is 1500 yards / 1373 meters."

Are you expecting it to perform beyond what's in the manual?

I have a 1500 and have had no problems ranging things up to 1200Y (haven't tried longer).

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 264win</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The old bushnell 1500 is not even close to the new 1600 arc model . <span style="color: #FF0000">The 1600 will hit a mile + on large targets with ease</span> . and well over 1k on the smallest targets i can aim it at. </div></div>

Huh? You've ranged 1760+ yards with a Bushnell 1600? Are you talking about the Elite 1600 ARC or Fusion 1600 ARC? - very different.

 

[ORD]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

Well...I must have been very lucky with the Elite 1500 ARC units that I have used in the past because I happen to think they are a great value for the money (when you can find them since they are d/c now by Bushy).

The ones I have used in the past (and I still have one that is basically NIB that works this well) will hit trees out to 1100 yards, reflective targets to roughly 1600, and deer/medium game-size targets out to 6-650 (all depending on envir. conditions). I don't usually range 6' target backers since I know the range they are located at from positions on the range from 100-1000, but I have never had an issue regardless of conditions ranging objects of that size/nature out to and beyond 1,000.

 

[gugubica]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

I have gotten a reliable return on a grey cinder block building at 1736 yards with my Bushnell Elite 1500.

Been pretty happy with mine for over two years.

 

[sousa]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

I picked one up off eBay a few weeks back. Took it to work and played with it all day. Ranged numerous houses at over 900 yards. Stop sign at 600. Horses at 550. All in all I was very happy with my purchase. Especially since it cost me $185

 

[MDM]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

I too bought a new one off of Ebay for about $185 last Christmas. It has been great for me. It maxes out on trees and brush at about 950yds. I've ranged buildings at 1250 and that is the farthest I've tried. Can't beat it for $185.

 

[craigp40]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

I've had mine for several years now and have been very happy with it. Glass in it isn't the best compared to the more expensive models, but then again I don't use it for spotting. I've been in a few situations where it actually picked up ranges when 2 other Leica 1200's couldn't. I've found no reason to buy something else at this point. It has always performed well for me. Sell it and get something you're happy with.

 

[cap2031]

Re: Bushnell Elite 1500 Range Finder

+1 on the Bushnell 12x50 Fusion 1600 ARC!

I used it extensively this past weekend. I ranged 1700+ on a couple of trees, 1200+ on some cows (I couldn't find any farther than that so I might go more), and 1000 to my target (held it steady so that I could hold it on my 4"x6" steel target) and no problems. The only down side that I could find is just what others have mentioned here and that is the brightness of the numbers in full daylight. Its not that big of a deal, I just ended up closing my left eye (as the display is in the right eye), and that made it bright enough to see the numbers.

I'm really happy happy with my new 12x 1600!

CAP