Hunting & Fishing Laser Range Finders

[Cbmax]

Hi all,

I am going on my first Prairie Dog hunt in Montana this coming June.

I think I should buy a range finder. What do you guys think? Will I be able to effectively range Prairie Dogs seeing as they are relatively small targets?

My budget is no more than $750. Choices thus far are Leica, Zeiss and Bushnell Elite. The ballistic programs are not really a selling point for me as I will use my own click chart. Important features are ease of use, optics, compactness etc.

CB

 

[Sendero_Man]

Re: Laser Range Finders

go look in the optics or the accessories for sale...

some good deals there !

 

[Fisky]

Re: Laser Range Finders

If compactness is of high importance to you, I would rule out the Zeiss right now. It's not very compact.

 

[Cbmax]

Re: Laser Range Finders

How would you rate the Zeiss otherwise?

 

[Fisky]

Re: Laser Range Finders

Awesome!!!!!

If they could put the glass and laser abilities of the Zeiss into the size of a Leica CRF, they'd have a real winner for sure.

 

[BigNoise]

Re: Laser Range Finders

I have the Bushnell Elite 1600 ARC, and am quite happy with it. Glass isn't anything special, but given the price, it's fine.

I am EXTREMELY impressed with the range it has...I got it to read over 1700 yards on some fir tree tops.

Depending on what you're ranging, it might take a couple "hits" to get a reading, or you may not get one at all...depends on how dark/reflective/etc the object is.

I also need to get a tripod for it...even a little wobble can make hitting the longer stuff difficult.

 

[Cbmax]

Re: Laser Range Finders

Thanks for the input thus far.

So do you think it will be possible to range prairie dogs or at least the mounds? I dont think there will be many trees in the area to bounce the laser off of.

CB

 

[blksno]

Re: Laser Range Finders

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cbmax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the input thus far.

So do you think it will be possible to range prairie dogs or at least the mounds? I dont think there will be many trees in the area to bounce the laser off of.

CB </div></div>

How far are you planning to send lead? I've ranged mounds at 1500+ yards and the farthest on a non-reflective hill side was 1681 meters I believe, but like everything...depends on the weather. I have been very happy, but for some reason...ULTRA BRIGHT DAYS make it tough to get a reading. Not sure why.

If you want to take a poke between 12-1500, I don't think you will have any trouble hitting a mound, but you'll want a tripod to set it on.

 

[boudin]

Re: Laser Range Finders

+1 for the Bushnell Elite 1600. My dad just got one and we've been very impressed with it. Good glass, ability to focus ocular, very fast readings, and dim-able display. It also has a brush mode that works amazingly well, allowing you to shoot the LRF through fairly thick cover and it will give you the range of the farthest object it picks up.

 

[teamr2]

Re: Laser Range Finders

Have been toting around one of the Leicas for several years. In hunting conditions, I've never got it to read any non reflective objects over 800 yards. If you are level to the PD mounds, I'd imagine it would be difficult to get out past 600 yards unless it is some giant mound. Where we hunt PD's the mounds might be 12 inches higher than the surrounding ground. If you get to hunt from a "hill" and are shooting down at the PD's it will probably be easier to range. When I get the Leica to read it is very accurate, battery life is excellent, and it is as durable as any gear I've ever owned.