500 yard rangefinder - Nikon Prostaff or Nikon/Callaway LR 1200

[dust]

I have emailed swfa and cameralandny for suggestions. They have recommended the Nikon Prostaff 550, and CLNY suggested the Nikon LR 1200 demos they have. There is not much of a price difference, and quite a bit of distance difference. the 50 is 6x and the lr 1200 is at 7x. Has anyone used either of these? Doug asked if I wanted 500 on steel or on game, and I don't know if I will ever get animals at 500 yards here in North/Central Texas hill country

[edge]

I have not used either one, but the range the manufacturer claims is often under optimal conditions with good backgrounds.

I have a Bushnell 400 that I am LUCKY to get 300+ in field conditions and that would be against a cedar tree and not a hardwood without leaves. I can range a car at around 700 yards or more, but a deer in the field maybe 250 max.

I would probably err toward the 1200 based on my LIMITED range finder usage.

edge.

[jimbires]

I had a nikon 800 . it had trouble on a caribou at just shy of 400 yards , it was a sunny , 60* day in the tundra . at the shooting range it would sometimes range a rusty steel ram at 550 yards . give the ram a fresh coat of white paint and it would range it every time .
my gut feeling is the nikon550 will range on fur out to 200 - 300 yards . my advice is to go bigger . Jim

[dust]

Jim, after reading alot about rangefinders, it seems that if I want 500, I need to buy 1000.

[jimbires]

Originally Posted by dust

Jim, after reading alot about rangefinders, it seems that if I want 500, I need to buy 1000.

yes sir , that is my thoughts too . there is a big difference between ranging fur or a reflective target . here is a short , very old article I saved on photobucket . it answers a lot of newb questions , and gives you an idea of what your looking for . I hope it helps . Jim

[trebark]

My cousin has a nikon range finder (unsure of the model). Although I can tell you that it is quality glass.

Personally, I have Bushnell 800. In good conditions, I was able to range a hay bail at 600. I was impressed with that. but it wouldn't do that consistantly. So I took the plunge and just acquired a Swarovski.

Moral of the story....when in doubt, go with the best you can get.

How much will the Nikons cost? Swarovskis can be bought on ebay and gunbroker for ~$700

[dust]

The 550 is $199, and the 1200 is $229, hence the why should I go 550 feeling I am getting. it's just that the 1200 seems like a golf ranger, and the 550 is a hunting ranger