Rangefinder Binos, which ones?

gpr

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 21, 2017
119
18
I have started looking around at getting a set of rangefinder binos since I lost my sig kilo 2000, and I need a better set of binoculars.

I was looking at the Nikon Laserforce and the Vortex Fury. Has anyone compared these two? Price is similar, wondering how the ranging ability would be on either? Would they be up to par on with the Sig Kilo 2000? The only issue with the 2000 was when cold it wouldn't range past 600-700 yards, and that drove me nuts. Nice and warm I could range really far away, and it seemed accurate and repeatable.

If i could get similar ranging performance out of a set of rangefinding binos I think this would work much better for me.
 
Consider Zeiss RF Binoculars. They are outstanding (crystal clarity) binos. Mine have ranged to 1800 yards. You can sometimes find a used set here on the hide at a great price. They also come with a transferable warranty.
 
I have owned most of the current models except the Fury, Steiner and bushnell. The one I have always kept is the Swarovski EL Range. True, it only ranges 1500-1700 yards, but I does so very consistently, great glass and unbeatable CS, 1.5x.5 mrad beam divergence. For me, beam divergence is a big factor.

Leica 2200 HDR 2.7x1.0, makes it difficult for me to determine exact range in the terrain in which I hunt/shoot. Great glass! However my particular unit was very inconsistent ranging targets large targets 600-1000 yards (held steady on my RRS tripod) clear weather 65 degrees, etc. Called the dealer, 2 options, return to Leica and they become a refurb or sell them back to the dealer as used. I took option 2. My other RF’s had zero issues on those targets. I am sure Leica was an exception to the majority, unfortunately I had a 2000 HDB previous to the 2200 HDR and it did the same thing to me after a year.

My Sig 2400 although round @ 1.3x1.3 (4.4 moa) is a better beam to determine a specific target than Leica. Great range solutions, very reliable. Decent glass. Nice, small, light format.

My PLRF10 is .3 high by 1.5 wide, which makes for very easy target acquisition (10.8”x54” wide @ 1000 yds) Plus I can range deer/elk through snow/rain/fog 1000-1200 yards easily, Fabulous reticle that makes ranging a piece of cake. No warranty of course, but I have never had a problem with any of the Vectronix units I have owned. Vectronix products are expensive to repair, but there are no other competitors.

Other than the very expensive Vectronix RF Binoculars, I like the EL Range, love PLRF10 - but if $$ became an issue I would be very content with the SIG2400AB and use a separate Binocular.

So I look at 3 things primarily in any RF:
1) hard and soft target ranging distance in all conditions
2) beam divergence
3) reliability

Not science ^^^ simply my opinion
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mpk1996
Recently acquired the Rudolph RF binoculars. IMO, the best value by far. Very accurate to 950 yards with nice glass. They are not Leica's and are priced accordingly.
 
I went to take a look at the Nikon Laserforce and vortex fury and wanted to like the vortex but the Nikon read out for the yardage was much brighter. I was looking through a window into sunlight and the vortex was washed out and couldn’t really see the display.