Rangefinder Dilemma & Fun

pancuronium

Ok so here goes........I’ve decided that I want to buy a rangefinder to go with all the other stuff I bought and don’t use but am unsure of what to buy but thing is I want to but something in the cheap range aprox €150 - €200 max but something that will do the job at the same time............... I’m well aware that I can buy a really good quality Leica rangefinder and will last the rest of my shooting days and spot fly’s @ 2500m but I’m shooting a .22 CZ at rabbits to a max of 150m on a good year not day year!!! Was looking at a Deben Hawke LRF 400 OR 600 for a crappy £99 not worth talking about really and can’t see too much wrong with it my question is if you were going to buy for this same amount let’s say €150 what would you buy and why?

Vegeta

Well I did the same when I got my first range finder. I bought cheap, a Bushnell Yardage Pro and it would work once every 50-60 attempts. :mad:

So while I can't recommend a cheap model to buy, I can recommend a cheap model to avoid.

pancuronium

hhhmmmmmm well that was one of the ones i was looking at......... out of interest have you bought a different one since and how did it fair in relation to the Bushnell Yardage Pro? just from reading up on them they seem to take a bit of getting used to so was hoping with abit of practice it might come right. also how much was it out by 2-3m or was it 20-30 just wondering?

Comeraghshooter

If i was in your position id have a look for a good secondhand RF, I picked up a second hand Leica 1200 for 250 euro on eBay.
Ive had a Bushnell Yardage Pro and i would NOT recommend them!

Just my opinion

CS

steyrprohunter

I bought a bushnell yardage pro 6 years ago and its still working fine.It will and has ranged deer to 180-200 yards but like Vegatta said not all the time. The image seen through the viewfinder isnt great either, very blurry. Ive since got a leica and its the bees kness!!!:) Try cabelas.com in America.

Vegeta

It's not that the Bushnell was "out" or inaccurate it simply would return no reading at all. At any distance. As I said it would if you tried over and over but it was a pain in the hole.

Thing is there are good and bad Bushnell range finders, know a guy with a bigger more expensive model and it is excellent. Better at ranging than my current Leica even (Leica wins out for optical quality though)

Read as many reviews of the Deben Hawke LRF as possible and even better if there is a firearms dealer or optics dealer near you where you could try before you buy, that'd be perfect.

clivej

Get yourself a secondhand Leica they are the same money as your talking about spending. You'll have the best of both that way

Constab2

If you like I will send you a Bushnell yardage free of charge as I recently purchased a Leica,So its lying around taking up space pm if you want it.

Constab2

But be warned as already stated before on here it is extremely frustrating to be firing a laser over & over again instead of your firearm,When it did fire & return a reading found it accurate enough,Might save you a few quid

johngalway

All the important stuff has been said, I'll also echo the 2nd hand Leica.

Another one to avoid is the Nikon ProStaff Laser 440, probably an old model by now but the one I owned was fine by day but utter junk at dawn/dusk/under the lamp.

shane32819

i have a bushnell elite 1600. got it about three years ago from cabelas. i cant fault it. it cost 364e delivered. only changed the battery for the first time last month! but i have read that bushnell can be hit and miss

ormondprop

Constab if the op doesnt take you up on your offer and will collect or cover postage costs

pancuronium

Constab2 wrote: »

If you like I will send you a Bushnell yardage free of charge as I recently purchased a Leica,So its lying around taking up space pm if you want it.

Hi constab2,

PM SENT but couldn't take it from you but am willing to buy it

Thanks again

Constab2

got the pm will post in morning don't want money, fairly recently i got mounts for a Sako 75 posted to me for nil cost thought it was a incredibly decent gesture just paying it forward(as the movie goes).In these tough times every little helps.

pancuronium

Hi Constab2 I have sent you another PM & again many thanks for your very kind gesture.

Kind Regards
Pancuronium.

Constab2

Its in the post let me know if you get it should be Mon or Tue the latest enjoy

pancuronium

Constab2 wrote: »

Its in the post let me know if you get it should be Mon or Tue the latest enjoy

Hay Thanks a million Constab2 will do!!

pancuronium

Constab2 wrote: »

Its in the post let me know if you get it should be Mon or Tue the latest enjoy

Hay Constab,

Just a quick note to let you know package arrived yesterday, again many thanks & can't wait to give it a try this weekend!

Pancuronium.

Constab2

Not a problem hope you have luck with it