nikon or busnell or simmons rangefinder----which one???????

[30-06 boy]

i'm looking at the nikon monarch1200,the bushnell yardage pro elite1500,and the new simmons 1000 yard model.which one would you pic.or what do you have.jason

[Ian M]

Nasty question. I would go with either the Nikon or Bushnell, they are excellent performers. The Nikon is a bit smaller if size is important. I use them both a lot, tough choice!

I paid about $350 for my Bushnell Elite 1500 a year ago. I can range over 1,400 yards. That's about double the longest shot I've ever taken at a critter - so I'm very happy with it. I bought the range finder from our own UT Don at longrangesupply . Don personally tests each unit. He also sold me a backup unit for much cheaper that would only range to 1,200 yards.

Laser range finders get better/cheaper every year - so why buy more than you need?

[30-06 boy]

how well does these models pick up deer in wooded terain?i will be using one in the nothcentral pa mountains.rangining the sides of steep wooded mountains up to around 900 yards?

[davewilson]

i bought a bushnell last year and used it probably not far from where you'll be hunting.couldn't realy get any readings on the mountains over 1k. others on here said they could get readings a little past 1k. under that it usually gave me a number and was very consistant at repeating a distance.i'm looking to get one that will go farther, might let this one go for a fair price if you're interested.

[remingtonman_25_06]

I would go for the nikon 1200. I have the nikon 800 and it will range on nice days out to 850 on deer and elk. I believe the nikon 1200 would range to a legit 1200 yards. I will also say that my nikon has gone through some very hard falls (including falling off the truck at 45 mph) and is still working like the first day I got it.

[zingdingo]

I've got the Bushnell 1500 elite, had it for over a year. I've had it range 1500+ under ideal circumstances, can almost always get 1000 if I demonstrate a little tenacity (even on a pretty shallow grass hillside, hardly an ideal reflector), and get a reading every time at 800.

I don't believe anything out there is dramatically better until you get to the Swaro $ range. I haven't used the Nikon although I don't doubt it could do what you ask as well.