I once again this last weekend had the opportunity to use my LRF for long distance ranging. I'm at the point now where I rarely ever venture into the field without the thing in my hunting/shooting kit.
I've had several of the Bushnell models beginning with the first released 400 then the upgraded 800 and onto the compact 600 and now I'm on my second compact 800. The reason I'm on my second compact 800 is that I traded away the first one to a fella that fell in love with the thing and had to have it. He too had had several LRF and was impressed with the capability of the little compact 800.
I ranged to 964 yards this last weekend with the unit. This was done while using a rest for the unit, I don't think it would have read that far on an off-hand unsupported attempt. I've ranged distances in excess of the rated 800 yards many times.
This little unit will fit in a shirt pocket providing there's nothing else in there because it'll take all the space available. This is nice because on warm summer days varminting I don't like to carry any extra packs, I prefer to just grab a rifle and some bullets, loop my bino's around my neck and stuff the rangefinder in the pocket and wander around.
The lanyard that attaches directly to the unit is more of a hindrance than help but it's handy every once in a while so I keep it on the unit.
The one feature that I've found most troublesome is the battery compartment cover and latch system. This compartment cover seems to have an automatic open feature that operates at the worst possible time. I twice spent many frantic minutes looking for a wayward cover just after getting my first compact 800 and vowed to never do that again. I true 'Red and Green' tradition I duct taped that baby shut, Olive Drab duct tape of course to keep with the outdoors motif.
The only ranging problems I've had as far a distance limitation below the stated 800 yards is when there is snow on the ground. I haven't found a civilian unit that functions well in snow covered areas so I'll say this unit is no worse than any other in this area.
One thing I learned the hard way about LRF's is that the lenses are delicate. I scratched the lenses on my second Bushnell LRF, a large 800 yard unit (the version with two filter lenses). With scratched lenses the ranging capabilities are greatly deminished. I'm very careful nowadays about keeping those lenses well protected and shielded from anything that will scratch them.
I've had several of the Bushnell models beginning with the first released 400 then the upgraded 800 and onto the compact 600 and now I'm on my second compact 800. The reason I'm on my second compact 800 is that I traded away the first one to a fella that fell in love with the thing and had to have it. He too had had several LRF and was impressed with the capability of the little compact 800.
I ranged to 964 yards this last weekend with the unit. This was done while using a rest for the unit, I don't think it would have read that far on an off-hand unsupported attempt. I've ranged distances in excess of the rated 800 yards many times.
This little unit will fit in a shirt pocket providing there's nothing else in there because it'll take all the space available. This is nice because on warm summer days varminting I don't like to carry any extra packs, I prefer to just grab a rifle and some bullets, loop my bino's around my neck and stuff the rangefinder in the pocket and wander around.
The lanyard that attaches directly to the unit is more of a hindrance than help but it's handy every once in a while so I keep it on the unit.
The one feature that I've found most troublesome is the battery compartment cover and latch system. This compartment cover seems to have an automatic open feature that operates at the worst possible time. I twice spent many frantic minutes looking for a wayward cover just after getting my first compact 800 and vowed to never do that again. I true 'Red and Green' tradition I duct taped that baby shut, Olive Drab duct tape of course to keep with the outdoors motif.
The only ranging problems I've had as far a distance limitation below the stated 800 yards is when there is snow on the ground. I haven't found a civilian unit that functions well in snow covered areas so I'll say this unit is no worse than any other in this area.
One thing I learned the hard way about LRF's is that the lenses are delicate. I scratched the lenses on my second Bushnell LRF, a large 800 yard unit (the version with two filter lenses). With scratched lenses the ranging capabilities are greatly deminished. I'm very careful nowadays about keeping those lenses well protected and shielded from anything that will scratch them.