Hand held Rangfinder

[CBB1]

Forgive me for putting this in the firearms forum but I’m looking for a do all hunting hand held rangefinder. I bow hunt eastern and western big game and also rifle hunt with realistically a 500 max distance. Is there a preferred handheld RF? I am not interested in a bino RF because of the amount of eastern whitetail bow hunting I do. I have look at the Leupold RX1400 gen2. Any other recommendations?


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[HandgunHTR]

Forgive me for putting this in the firearms forum but I’m looking for a do all hunting hand held rangefinder. I bow hunt eastern and western big game and also rifle hunt with realistically a 500 max distance. Is there a preferred handheld RF? I am not interested in a bino RF because of the amount of eastern whitetail bow hunting I do. I have look at the Leupold RX1400 gen2. Any other recommendations?


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You don't use binos when you are bowhunting? I have found that my RF binos work just fine, whether I am bowhunting or gun hunting.

 

[Tmac]

I've had excellent results with Leica. I've had some others not work well in the cold.

 

[2Stamp]

I picked up a Sig 4kilo last fall. I wanted to try the image stabilizer function. I like it so far. I feel like I can get a better range on something small, like antlers in sage brush for example, better. I didn't use it in really cold weather last year so time will tell on that.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I have the Leupold RX-1400I TBR/W Gen 2 w/Flightpath Rangefinder, Black/Gray. It works just fine for my walking around use. It doesn't work past 1500 yards, but it works well at shorter ranges. I have been very comfortable using it to confirm my eyeball estimates.

I do have a pair of Leica range finding binoculars on their way to me, but these are good for a quick, light option.

 

[WSMHNTR]

I have a Leupold RX1600 without any issues for eastern whiteail hunting. I prefer the handheld for bowhunting over my Vortex Fury RF binoculars but that's just personal preference. All my rifle hunting I use the RF binos. I think the RX1400 would do what you're wanting without spending an arm and a leg. Just be aware that the max distance it will read is likely 1/2 - 3/4 of what's advertised.

 

[rookieforever33]

I have not tried them but if I was in the market for a new rangefinder I would definitely check out the image stabilizing ones. Past 100 yards I need 2nd hand support for good ranging with a regular rangefinder. I honestly think rangefinders is where the image stabilition shines

 

[HandgunHTR]

I have not tried them but if I was in the market for a new rangefinder I would definitely check out the image stabilizing ones. Past 100 yards I need 2nd hand support for good ranging with a regular rangefinder. I honestly think rangefinders is where the image stabilition shines

Honest question here. I realize that image stabilization helps with the image, but it doesn't actually stop the movement of the rangefinder in the hand, so the beam is still moving around at the target. It may "look" stable, but it actually isn't, so wouldn't the accuracy of the actual rangefinder be about the same as non-image stabilizing?

 

[rookieforever33]

Honest question here. I realize that image stabilization helps with the image, but it doesn't actually stop the movement of the rangefinder in the hand, so the beam is still moving around at the target. It may "look" stable, but it actually isn't, so wouldn't the accuracy of the actual rangefinder be about the same as non-image stabilizing?

Next time I'm in the market for one I intend to find out.
Once upon a time a 7x rangefinder was my only optic in the woods. When holding my bow in one hand, and rangefinder in the other I would have been able to see more even if the ranging was still wonky.
I can see why rf binos vs image stabilizing binos is an argument with trade offs a person needs to decide for themselves. An argument of alpha glass for a rangefinder is lost on me, stabilize that sucker.

 

[TaperPin]

I picked up an Sig 2800 on sale last year for under $200 rated for a billion yards, so it actually works really well for normal ranges like you’re shooting. It’s so much better than what I was using that sometimes had a hard time reading at 500 when the surfaces or weather conditions weren’t ideal. If I were to do it again…wait and I’ll show you an Amazon trick….

So I went to Amazon and searched for Sig rangefinders and the only ones shown were at least $300 and only current top models. Searched again a slightly different way and same thing. Searched specifically for different models and nothing. Went back to the $300 model and down in suggested alternatives was this one. For $140 this a lot of bang for the buck and would great for the yardages you’re looking at. Many of the better deals on Amazon are somewhat hidden as they try to direct you to more expensive options.

 

[TaperPin]

I just googled the kilo 2800 and it’s still being sold for $200, but for $140 I’d buy the 2500, or buy two and have a backup.

Many of the models have confusing price points and sometimes a big jump in price have to do with compatibility with ballistic gizmos. If you don’t need that one of the basic models is hard to beat.

 

[Venom One]

Honest question here. I realize that image stabilization helps with the image, but it doesn't actually stop the movement of the rangefinder in the hand, so the beam is still moving around at the target. It may "look" stable, but it actually isn't, so wouldn't the accuracy of the actual rangefinder be about the same as non-image stabilizing?

I've used an image stabilized RF since about 2019 when Nikon introduced the concept and haven't used anything else since. Nikon uses gyro's to stabilize the image and it's amazing how much it smooths out the small "tremors" in your hands. It's not as noticeable at short ranges, but at longer ranges or if you're trying to get a range after physical exertion, it's a game changer.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I've used an image stabilized RF since about 2019 when Nikon introduced the concept and haven't used anything else since. Nikon uses gyro's to stabilize the image and it's amazing how much it smooths out the small "tremors" in your hands. It's not as noticeable at short ranges, but at longer ranges or if you're trying to get a range after physical exertion, it's a game changer.

I get that, but the point of my question was that the gyros are stabilizing the internal optical components to stabilize the image. Are the laser that sends out the beam and the components for reading that laser's reflection also being stabilized? If not, then while the image is stable the laser is not, so getting an accurate reading is no better than a non-stabilizing rangefinder. Great image quality isn't the top priority for a monocular rangefinder.

 

[Venom One]

I get that, but the point of my question was that the gyros are stabilizing the internal optical components to stabilize the image. Are the laser that sends out the beam and the components for reading that laser's reflection also being stabilized? If not, then while the image is stable the laser is not, so getting an accurate reading is no better than a non-stabilizing rangefinder. Great image quality isn't the top priority for a monocular rangefinder.

That's a fair question that I hadn't thought of. Google didn't provide any answers, so I decided to see if I could make any determination based on real world testing using stabilized and non-stabilized RFs. Ranging a "skinny" tree trunk at ~200yds, with a "smallish" window (where the RF would wonder off-target sometimes), I used each RF for ~30 second each, and did this 3x for each RF.

The non-stabilized had more inconsistent readings - nothing drastic, but noticeable. However, this could be due to the quality of the lasers themselves so I can't answer definitively whether a stabilized RF provides more accurate ranges. What I can say without any doubt is that a stabilized image is so superior and eliminates eye fatigue so much, that even if the ranges aren't improved with stabilization, it's still worth having a stabilized RF.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

If i was buying a handheld rangefinder it would be this one

RF.1 - 7x25 | 5-4500 YD

The Maven RF.1 represents our elite range finder, delivered for a fraction of comparable rangefinders’ costs.

mavenbuilt.com