Vortex Ranger 1000

juice1304

I recently bought a vortex ranger 1000 thought i would give my thoughts on it in the event any of you are looking for a good cheap enough rangefinder. I picked it up on amazon.co.uk for £249 or €311.46 which i thought was a great bargain there are only 4 left it works out cheaper than they are in the us etc..
Anyway it is a good unit i have ranged a tree out to 973 meters and today sheep at 453m and some deer at 300m
When i first got it it was a pain in the arse getting it to range to be fair it wouldn't range much past 300m for the first few hours i don't know if it was the weather or me shaking. But anyway it is working very well now. The optical clarity is good although with such a small objective it is noting to write home about. I have seen people saying that it is good enough to spot etc.. now maybe my opinion is skewed as i have a decent set of binos. Anyway you would have no problem ranging deer out to 500m if the laser was up to it i don't know if it is or not i am sure it will depend on the day etc... I was impressed by being able to range the tree at 973m (1064Y) though it was not a once off i could consistently hit it which is marginally past the maximum advertised range. There are sevral features i like about it.
1. Being able to switch between yards and meters.
2. The HCD mode which calculates for the angular adjustment as well as being able to switch to LOS mode (Line of sight)
3. The pocket clip and lanyard loop make for easy and versatile carrying methods.
4. The red illuminated reticle makes for easy ranging even in low light (which has three brightness settings.)
Anyway all in all it is a nice unit there isn't anything i don't like about it to be honest it seems like a steal for the price i got it and am looking forward to really putting it to the test this season.
I tried to take some pictures ranging deer etc... today it was a complete pain in the hole doing it with the camera on my phone but you get the idea. You can see the arse of a sika in the center of the cross hairs. The image would have been clearer if i had adjusted the eye piece but it was too much of a pain as it was, maybe the next day i am out and have more time.


Thought i would stick up a pic or two or my new hunting companion we not new but first time out today. (He is a Norwegian elkhound.) Ten minutes on the hill and he drags me over to the carcase of a sheep. I was just trying to get him used to being out on the hill and trying to go over some basic commands. He is very intelligent and doesn't like to listen at times, that all seemed to change once we were on the hill. For the most part he was very obedient and it went much better than expected.
[IMG][/img] image hosting

Stopping for a snack
[IMG][/img]

Tech specs for rangefinder from vortex site....
Ranger 1000 Rangefinder with HCD — Horizontal Component Distance

Capable of ranging targets to 1,000 yards, the Ranger 1000 gives hunters and shooters the distance data needed to make accurate shots. Primary HCD (Horizontal Component Distance) mode displays an angle-compensated distance reading. Easy to use with a clean display and highly intuitive menu, the Ranger 1000 keeps things simple, yet provides a high level of performance.

Fully multi-coated lenses deliver optimal light transmission and o-rings seal the Ranger 1000 for waterproof performance. Can be set to read in yards or meters to accommodate user preference. Ideal for gun hunters, target shooters and bowhunters, the Vortex Ranger 1000 is sure to be a hit—and ensure hits.

Note
Compact, ergonomic and lightweight, the Ranger 1000 is easy to pack or hang around your neck using the included lanyard. The adjustable, utility clip mounted to the body offers an innovative way to clip the unit to a belt, pocket, or other flat edged surface for easy access. Clip can be mounted to right or left side of the unit or completely removed. Runs on common CR2 battery.

VIP Warranty Waterproof
Range Reflective 11-1000 yards
Range Deer 11-500 yards
Accuracy + / - 3 yards @ 1000 yards
Max Angle Reading +/- 60 degrees (INC 50)
Magnification 6 x
Objective Lens Diameter 22 mm
Linear Field of View 315 feet/1000 yards
Angular Field of View 6 degrees
Eye Relief 17 mm
Length 3.9 inches
Width 3 inches
Weight 7.7 ounces
Product Manual (PDF) Download
Product Manual 2 (PDF) Download

Cass

Great review and gorgeous dog. Probably in his element on the hills, and instinct kicks in. Probably why he listened a bit more.


Might turn out to be a good deer hound. Best of luck with both of them.