Rangefinder?

The Bushnell Nitro 1800 gets my vote, especially with the 29% mail in rebate right now. They're OOS on the Bushnell site, but the rebate applies if you buy from a different retailer.
The Leupold 2800 is another option.
no compatibility with other devices but I was getting readings on trees/rocks at 2300 Sunday and reads at a mile are a snap.

OP’s budget is pretty decent and if he wants device compatibility he’s got options as well.
 
Does that model allow you to Bluetooth a kestrel with this rangefinder?

Nope, there is no connectivity to other devices other than the one curve solution provided via the removable data card.

To get any kind of real-time connectivity you have to step up to either the 2800.com or 3500.com, which of course bumps the price up significantly. I use the 2700B as a very accurate manual rangefinder and then input the data into a phone app manually. You will pay Leica dearly for the automation provided by the later .com models.
 
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If you want it to be ideal at 1200m then I'd get one rated for 2000-2400m. Better accuracy on smaller, less reflective targets.

In general they go for about $1 per meter but I guess they're able to make less powerful units cheaper now so that's a plus.

You usually get what you pay for with this stuff. That ConX was out a couple years ago and I think one package even came with a Kestrel for $1k or less and it was supposed to read out to a mile and it had bluetooth coupling to the Kestrel IIRC. Now I don't know how those panned out, you'd have to ask these guys.

I'd like an accurate but compact one for the field, I got a Mk5 off ebay that's good to +/-10m@10km using a class 3 or 4 IR laser (so definitely NOT eyesafe) but I got it for $300, no shit. If patient, they pop up from time to time and for $300 it's a damn good deal given they were $10,000+ new. Not stolen stuff, went "obsolete" same year they came out, 99-00, when Mk7 and MELIOS came out with eyesafe IR lasers and more features. But good for us. If patient.
 
Another vote for the Vortex HD 4000. Really nice glass in a monocular rangefinder, and fantastic performance. Since your budget pretty much rules out binos, I think the vortex is really one of the nicest if not the nicest monocular that I’ve seen.
 
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