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Just spent a week elk hunting in the Bighorns.
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I was just in area 38 last week for the opening of the season. We got one, but it was tough hunting. Too **** warm!
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Maybe someday an affordable bino/ranger with be available .
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I'm not sure what you consider affordable, but Newcon/Burris 7X40's are around $650 and I think you'd be very happy with them. I am. Give them a try before giving up--most places you buy allow returns in 30 days...try one out, see if you like it. If not send them back for a pair of binocs and a different rangefinder. I couldn't be happier with mine given their price is such a small fraction of the Geovids.
They will reach out to 1500 yds on large objects and deer/elk much farther than you're saying you need. I haven't compared them side-by-side, but from other users' reports I'd say their ranging capability is as good or better than the Leica 1200's.
Hell, for quite a bit less than the Geovids Newcon offers a 3KM version of the 7X40's with a built in compass. That thing must be incredible. Both of the LRB's I've had ranged right up to their advertised distances no problem and I'd be surprised if this thing didn't make it to 3 KM on large objects.
In short, there are affordable bino/rangefinder combos available. I have them, they work great. I'm not sure why more people here don't give them a chance--I think they're missing out. I absolutely love having the rangefinder combined with binocs and couldn't see ever going back.
I don't think I'd recommend the Leupold, just based on its specs--it must have a much wimpier laser than the 7X40's. Like the Bushnell's, a major limiting factor on those is using a separate (and much smaller) lense for the laser. 900 yds on big rocks and trees just doesn't cut it for me.
Give them a try before dismissing them since that's what you really want. You may be very glad you did.
