What’s your pick for “best bang for your buck” RF ?

[HunterGatherer]

I currently have a Vortex Ranger 1300 (old). It has proven to be pretty inadequate at getting readings beyond 400yds. I need one that is good out to 800 minimum. What do you guys recommend?

 

[woods89]

Think about going the RF bino route. It makes so much sense for rifle hunting once you use them a bit. I have a pair of Leica Geovid HD-B that I bought used on here. I will not go back to handhelds for rifle hunting.

My buddy watched me use mine one season and went out and bought a new pair of Leicas. He feels the same way.

The basic principle is that it cuts your shot sequence time significantly.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Swaro EL Range.

Great glass with a good RF and accurate on-board ballistics.

Buy once, cry once.

 

[doverpack12]

Maven RF.1 laser puts all others to shame. Ryan did a review/comparison and the Leica 3800.com might have come close but once adverse conditions set In the Maven is far and away better.

I can verify from my own experience it shoots through pretty much any environmental elements. If I can see what I want a range for I get it. Free hand 2500-3000 is easy with a little support 3800-4000 is easy.

 

[Flatgo]

Just get the br4 and be done with it. Way better than anything else and worth the money. When you’re trying to get a range on a cold day it pays for it’s self

 

[Mountainrancher]

Maven Rf.1 is incredible for the price highly recommend

 

[bmart2622]

BR4

 

[CodyAK]

Get into binos if you can.

 

[TaperPin]

I currently have a Vortex Ranger 1300 (old). It has proven to be pretty inadequate at getting readings beyond 400yds. I need one that is good out to 800 minimum. What do you guys recommend?

About a year ago I needed to upgrade a basic rangefinder and I just wanted a basic model that would read reliably to 1,000 yards and was willing to spend whatever it takes. Someone turned me onto one of the basic Sig models and after using it most of the year I have no complaints. It’s not going to win any awards for being the best, but it’s good enough. At this price a guy can afford a backup.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

About a year ago I needed to upgrade a basic rangefinder and I just wanted a basic model that would read reliably to 1,000 yards and was willing to spend whatever it takes. Someone turned me onto one of the basic Sig models and after using it most of the year I have no complaints. It’s not going to win any awards for being the best, but it’s good enough. At this price a guy can afford a backup.

View attachment 963881

How far out can you reliably get a range with this model?

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Leica have always served me well.

 

[TaperPin]

How far out can you reliably get a range with this model?

In normal sparse sage or typical mountain vegetation it will read pretty darn reliably to 1,500 yards, but I normally tell people it’s good to 1,000 or they think I’m full of it. It works so well for under $200 that I don’t know how it could be any better for what it is. There aren’t any bells or whistles, or ballistic software, or Bluetooth to your phone, just reads the distance and shooting angle (or calculates horizontal distance instead of angle).

I’ve heard others complain the Sig models are hard to read in poor light, but that must be older models, this one has a bright red display. I’ve also heard they are tough on batteries, but I haven’t changed them once yet in almost a year. I can see how someone could take a ton of readings and go through batteries faster, but it gives such good readings I get a distance, double check it and call it good.

Not specific to this model, but important to any of the long distance models, is “sighting in” your aiming point so you know which side of the aiming point is the true laser point of impact.

 

[nobody]

I’ll catch heat for this, but the new vortex models are pretty awesome. I own almost zero vortex optics except for a couple select pieces, but I have been genuinely impressed with my viper 3000. I’ve owned it for a few years now and it has performed handsomely. I’ve ranged vegetation beyond 3000 yards and elk at almost 2000, so it performs beyond advertised ranges. My dad has the razor and it also out performs its advertised distances, as do the 3 diamondback rangefinders in our camp.

Cold, wet, hot, dry, snowy, they perform across the board. Great options period, not just for the price.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Thanks for the replies guys. In the past I just used one RF for archery and rifle but maybe I need to think about RF binos for rifle and just a basic/cheap RF for archery. I don’t like using RF binos for archery as it’s just not as discrete, ranging when animals are in real close…

 

[BLJ]

I’ll catch heat for this, but the new vortex models are pretty awesome. I own almost zero vortex optics except for a couple select pieces, but I have been genuinely impressed with my viper 3000. I’ve owned it for a few years now and it has performed handsomely. I’ve ranged vegetation beyond 3000 yards and elk at almost 2000, so it performs beyond advertised ranges. My dad has the razor and it also out performs its advertised distances, as do the 3 diamondback rangefinders in our camp.

Cold, wet, hot, dry, snowy, they perform across the board. Great options period, not just for the price.

https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-viper-hd-3000-laser-rangefinder-lrf-vp3000

Around $300 through tomorrow.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Range finding binos are by far the best. I don’t have them though because they are like 4K.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Range finding binos are by far the best. I don’t have them though because they are like 4K.

Not true. Along with my EL Range binos, I have a pair of Leica Geovid R binos which can be had for $1500ish retail. While they don’t have on-board ballistics, they give you corrected range when shooting at an angle. The glass is acceptable as well. I took a cow elk at 600 last year using them. They work great.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Not true. Along with my EL Range binos, I have a pair of Leica Geovid R binos which can be had for $1500ish retail. While they don’t have on-board ballistics, they give you corrected range when shooting at an angle. The glass is acceptable as well. I took a cow elk at 600 last year using them. They work great.

I tried those cheaper leicas, I don’t want them. Swaro EL range is what I’m after.

 

[Schmo]

I tried those cheaper leicas, I don’t want them. Swaro EL range is what I’m after.

Good glass, but poor ranging performance.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Good glass, but poor ranging performance.

If I got them I’d spent the 1800 dollars and end up buying what I really want shortly after. It would cost me more.