What is the cheapest and best 1000yd range finder?
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C.O. Shooter
Well-Known Member
I have the Maven RF.1 and really like it. Can hardly beat it for $450. Supposed to be able to range out to 4500 yards. I personally have range over 2000 yards resting off a solid surface. My buddy has a Leica and id put this up against it any day. When we tested side by side the units brought back ranges very close to each other. For me the price difference wouldn't be worth it to get the Lecia. Obviously it has more capabilities with ballistics and such but that's unnecessary for my situation.
Maven also has a little cheaper version that maxes out at 2500, CRF.1. I never used or handled one of these, but I'd be confident it's every bit as nice as the RF.1 that I have.
Rangefinders
Built on a foundation of Maven’s award-winning glass, the Maven RF Rangefinder is driven by technology specifically developed for brightness, clarity, and accuracy.mavenbuilt.com
All true!
Same here. I don't know where they max out but I've ranged a water tower at 2100' with no problem.
I've been giving this topic some thought for some time. I keep putting off the purchase of a new/better RF as I really want range finding binoculars. Realistically, I don't need or want to spend big $$$ on top of the line RF's or binoculars. If I lived out west, I would bite the bullet and invest the $$$. It seems that new developments and offerings are coming out every couple of years. I am waiting on something new to hit the market that drives existing models to fire sale prices. I learned this recently when I bought a Lab Radar before Garmin introduced their new product.
Yup you were there!
I will say, if I'm remembering correctly, the Lecia was quicker at distance and more forgiving on aiming as well. It's a sweet device.
nksmfamjp
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2004
- Messages
- 3,200
The issue I find is I basically only need the features of:
Show me line of sight distance
Don't die when I drop, drop in water or mud, or use in weather below 0.
Don't kill the battery with one day in the field of heavy use.
Attach to tripod stud
Maybe give me adjusted distance based on angle.
Don't break or at least warranty it when it does.
Honestly, the way I use mine, 15-20x would be a better magnification. I'm not bow hunting!
I have the Leupold 1600. It has too much crap. Optics are meh. No tripod attachment.
That Maven looks interesting. Vortex is likely a good choice too.
In the rifle or in the binos is a better form factor as long as optics are not messed up by it….which they usually are.
Show me line of sight distance
Don't die when I drop, drop in water or mud, or use in weather below 0.
Don't kill the battery with one day in the field of heavy use.
Attach to tripod stud
Maybe give me adjusted distance based on angle.
Don't break or at least warranty it when it does.
Honestly, the way I use mine, 15-20x would be a better magnification. I'm not bow hunting!
I have the Leupold 1600. It has too much crap. Optics are meh. No tripod attachment.
That Maven looks interesting. Vortex is likely a good choice too.
In the rifle or in the binos is a better form factor as long as optics are not messed up by it….which they usually are.
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I'm obviously a fan boy, but I'm serious it's a really good/simple unit. Does all you asked for.
Don't be scared off by the knob, it's not that big of a deal. At first I was on the fence because of it but I figured I'd give it a shot and I'm happy I did.
NSP64
Member
I have a sig buckmaster I got in a combo deal with a 3-9 scope for $149 for both! Rangefinder goes to 1500 on hard objects. And it does angle adjustment if you want. I work at an airport so I have ranged it to 1500.
Allen Lone wolf
Well-Known Member
I've got a Leica 1000 I've used for over 10 yrs. and I have ranged non-reflective targets a bit over 1200yds.
azsugarbear
Well-Known Member
So much goes into selecting a rangefinder. Like some said, hunting out west is different than hunting in the south and east. Distances and conditions both impact the ability to range an object. I don't care how far a rangefinder can range an object in perfect weather. My trophy never seems to show itself in those kinds of conditions. I want to know how far and accurately will it range in snow, fog, rain in low light conditions. Do you want just the range, or do you want one with an onboard computer with a great ballistics program that will take all factors into account and give you a firing solution within a second or two?
We all spend a lot of money on gear, time off from work, scouting trips, food & gas, points etc. What if you are unable to take an accurate shot when our trophy shows up on the last day of the hunt in less than desirable conditions at 1000 yds? That is not the time to have your moderately-priced rangefinder crap out on you. So if you are tree stand hunting for deer with max shots of 200 yds - then any reasonable rangefinder should work for you. If you are hunting out west and find yourself trying to get an accurate reading on a 80+" buck pronghorn standing in waist-high sage on a perfectly flat prarie a long ways out there, then you will need the higher-end rangefinders. Even then, they will miss a reading or get no reading at all every once in a while.
We all spend a lot of money on gear, time off from work, scouting trips, food & gas, points etc. What if you are unable to take an accurate shot when our trophy shows up on the last day of the hunt in less than desirable conditions at 1000 yds? That is not the time to have your moderately-priced rangefinder crap out on you. So if you are tree stand hunting for deer with max shots of 200 yds - then any reasonable rangefinder should work for you. If you are hunting out west and find yourself trying to get an accurate reading on a 80+" buck pronghorn standing in waist-high sage on a perfectly flat prarie a long ways out there, then you will need the higher-end rangefinders. Even then, they will miss a reading or get no reading at all every once in a while.
Bruce Hanson
Active Member
I have had over a dozen ranfinders. The first four or five were Bushnell, then two Lieca, at least three Nikons, a Swarovski, and now my third Sig and a Vortex Razor 4000. I Sent my Sig 2200 in because it was failing. They sent back a Sig Kilo5K. Of all the rangefinders the Swarovski still is so good I can leave my binos behind, but it's old and has no angle compensation. The new Kilo 5K are ballistic capable and that's nice, but it doesn't want to take a new reading in a timely manner. Take a reading and a coyote is going to be a real quarter mile further before it wants to read again. It's supposedly a 5000 yard rangefinder, but off white steel grain bins my furthest yardage has been 3800 yards. The field of view isn't great. The Vortex are a supposed 4000 yards and off the same white grain bins I have ranged 4100 yards. Both range trees at about 2600 yards. The Vortex optics are not as good as the Swarovski, but they beat everything else that I have looked through including all of the Leupolds.
Snow will affect all of the rangefinders. They use invisible infrared light. The dumbest thing is they used it for underwater cameras for fishing. Out of water they were good to 50ft, but infrared doesn't penatrate more than 3 ft of water and it will not penetrate glass. Turn on your light you use with night vision and try look through your house windows. Now your asking what does that have to do with snow and rangefinders. We think snow is white, but it's actually clear, but it's structure reflects as white. Many rangefinders will shoot through glass, some will not. Some will shoot up to 400 yards through glass. A rangefinder that shoots through glass will also penetrate a short distance into snow rather than reflect back to you leaving you little capability in a snowy landscape. Rangefinders work great off hard surface white, but not snow. On a snowy hillside my Vortex will do 1200 yards, but on a flat surface snow I'm limited to 400 yards. Put a coyote on that flat surface snow and the farthest I have had a chance to check it was just a few yards over 1000, so I dont know it's limits.
Snow will affect all of the rangefinders. They use invisible infrared light. The dumbest thing is they used it for underwater cameras for fishing. Out of water they were good to 50ft, but infrared doesn't penatrate more than 3 ft of water and it will not penetrate glass. Turn on your light you use with night vision and try look through your house windows. Now your asking what does that have to do with snow and rangefinders. We think snow is white, but it's actually clear, but it's structure reflects as white. Many rangefinders will shoot through glass, some will not. Some will shoot up to 400 yards through glass. A rangefinder that shoots through glass will also penetrate a short distance into snow rather than reflect back to you leaving you little capability in a snowy landscape. Rangefinders work great off hard surface white, but not snow. On a snowy hillside my Vortex will do 1200 yards, but on a flat surface snow I'm limited to 400 yards. Put a coyote on that flat surface snow and the farthest I have had a chance to check it was just a few yards over 1000, so I dont know it's limits.
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dm406
Well-Known Member
Hands down you won't beat the Maven RF 1I have the Maven RF.1 and really like it. Can hardly beat it for $450. Supposed to be able to range out to 4500 yards. I personally have range over 2000 yards resting off a solid surface. My buddy has a Leica and id put this up against it any day. When we tested side by side the units brought back ranges very close to each other. For me the price difference wouldn't be worth it to get the Lecia. Obviously it has more capabilities with ballistics and such but that's unnecessary for my situation.
Maven also has a little cheaper version that maxes out at 2500, CRF.1. I never used or handled one of these, but I'd be confident it's every bit as nice as the RF.1 that I have.
Rangefinders
Built on a foundation of Maven’s award-winning glass, the Maven RF Rangefinder is driven by technology specifically developed for brightness, clarity, and accuracy.
