Best rangefinder?

[Vector32]

I am thinking I might upgrade mine this year. Right now I just have a cheap Redfield one. I was looking at the Vortex and the Leupold. What are your thoughts? Thanks

 

[Rucker61]

Leica. Had the Vortex, the Leica is much, much better.

 

[RockBridge]

I have the Vortex Ranger and I've been very happy with it.

 

[Ryan Avery]

What is the max range you are looking for?

 

[Vector32]

I really can't even see myself shooting over 600 yards and that's probably a stretch. It will be use mostly for archery hunting but I also have rifle tags sometimes. I was looking at the 1000 yard models but I would never need try and shoot that far.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I would buy the one you can get the cheapest. Both will get you to 600.

 

[stephen b]

Either one of those choices would work, along with the Leica obviously.

BTW- Right now Cabelas has the Leupold 1000i TBR DNA on sale for $299- which is $100 off their usual price. And I believe the Leupold is reviewed a little better than the Vortex one. But, it is certainly personal preference.

 

[rodney482]

Leica crf

 

[Outwest]

Have no experience with the leica or leupold except trying them out in the store. I own the vortex and I have really enjoyed it. I think my favorite part about it is the clip on the side, its awesome to be able to clip your rangefinder in without using a pouch.
Mine will read consistently out to about 700 yds. After that, It has to be a very good target, such as large rocks and even then it has to be a good day. I have had readings out to 1100yd before though. It also has the angle compensation and I am fairly sure that the Leica only does Line of Sight distance(correct me if Im wrong). If you are going to be hunting in the mountains, It's a pretty sweet feature to have, although not totally necessary.
One thing I will tell you, get one with a colored reticle, the vortex and one of the leupolds (and probably the leica, I forget) have the red reticles. It makes a huge difference, IMO. I looked through my friends rangefinder the other day with the black readings and reticle and you really had to focus to see it with a dark forest background.

 

[Slim Jim]

I've had the leupold 1000tbr, vortex ranger and now the Leica crf. The leupold was nice but the black readout was hard to read in low light. The vortex always seemed to not give a read when needed, just dash lines. I almost threw it across the basin a few times last year on my deer and elk hunts. The Leica is by far better than both with an immediate read, 7x magnification and clarity.

You get what you pay for

 

[WestDan]

please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the Leica 1600 will only give you ballistics information for angles and not just an angle-adjusted distance. The leica 1000 will give you a basic angle adjusted distance. This will matter if you intend to bowhunt as the leica 1600 wouldn't really work for that, so if you choose Leica probably go for the 1000 as you said you intend to bowhunt. Anyone know the situation between the two better?

 

[boom]

I'd get the Leica with angle adjust.

I plan on it. I have the vortex and archers choice right now. I am kinda anal with measuring things. The vortex is pretty sensitive to the item you are ranging. Distances are off sometimes. And I feel like I am always clicking the button to get a read. Three times usually.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I just went outside and shot both rangefinders to 600 yard into trees with no issues. Of the two I like the vortex better. If money is no object I would also look at a Leica. But like I said before either of the two you asked about will work to 600 yards.

 

[tipsntails7]

I just went outside and shot both rangefinders to 600 yard into trees with no issues. Of the two I like the vortex better. If money is no object I would also look at a Leica. But like I said before either of the two you asked about will work to 600 yards.

Ryan why do you like the vortex better?. I have a vortex and my fathe has the leupold, I can say the leupold to me is better. I love vortex optics but at times get very frustrated with the ranger. It seems you have to constantly be pressing the button. At this point I press it once to turn it on, once to bring up the reticle and I just hold it down after that to put it into scan mode to guarantee I'm ranging what I want. I find the vortex to be finicky as well.

 

[archery bum]

you said (best rangefinder) that would be leica 1000. Just bought it myself about a month ago. If you go to S&S archery,they did a comparison between vortex,leupold and leica. imo http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...and-Vortex&highlight=leica+vortex+rangefinder
found it here on rokslide

 

[Yoter]

I just bought a Leica today after looking at Cabelas. Better optics, fast simple readout.

 

[Vector32]

Thanks Ryan for the heads up test! I haven't decided yet. I need to try and see them both in person

 

[Trr15]

Going into my second season with the Vortex Ranger 1000 and am pleased with it so far.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Ryan why do you like the vortex better?. I have a vortex and my fathe has the leupold, I can say the leupold to me is better. I love vortex optics but at times get very frustrated with the ranger. It seems you have to constantly be pressing the button. At this point I press it once to turn it on, once to bring up the reticle and I just hold it down after that to put it into scan mode to guarantee I'm ranging what I want. I find the vortex to be finicky as well.

The Vortex I have works great. The Lupy just doesn't seem to always get a range. It's also 3 yard off of my other three rangefinders. The Leica is clearly the best, I have a 1600-B . But I also have a Bushnell 1200 arc that I would take over the Lupy and the vortex. Hope that clears it up. Haha

 

[tipsntails7]

The Vortex I have works great. The Lupy just doesn't seem to always get a range. It's also 3 yard off of my other three rangefinders. The Leica is clearly the best, I have a 1600-B . But I also have a Bushnell 1200 arc that I would take over the Lupy and the vortex. Hope that clears it up. Haha

Bushnell really that good?? Suprises me considering what their rangefinders used to be.