What range finder do I buy?

[BiGB808]

Hopefully this is a good forum for this


I need a range finder...atleast 500 yds would be nice

I really just want it to set my steel targets at known distances at new gun range im building


I searched but no threads were current..or had any great deal of detail..info

[Muggzy]

I have and use a Bushnell Yardage Pro ( it is an older model - 5 years old)

10 yard minimum 500 yard max. I have used it out to 600 yards before
the number in the scope start to bounce in and out ( meaning you have gone too far) it is easy to use one handed. I think at the time of purchase it was a
$250 purchase. Well worth it. I have a tuff time judging distance across an
open corn,bean field. I also use it bow hunting. After I get in my stand I sight-in at different land marks ( usually a tree) and set my shooting lanes and perimeter with the Range finder. I have also used it to measure a tall roof structure:biggrin: measure to the gutter edge then measure to the ridge cap
and some simple math to figure the distance between. ( lazy):devil:

Batteries? I have replaced the battery once. Don't rember the cost of the battery....I'm thinking in the $5 neighborhood.

A useful tool...easy to carry

This is a lazer ranger finder FYI

[Tick]

I bought a Leica 1200 (non-scan) LRF several years ago. Very precise, and easy to use. The limiting factor is me, trying to hold it steady long enough to range the target.

I think it was about $500.00 ATT. Completely takes the guess work out of the range to the target.

HTH.

Tick

[splattermatic]

i use the heck out of a bushnell yardage pro scout model.iirc what it is....
cheapest one they make, no bells and whistles.
works great, accurate,small, and light.
cost about 180 bucks give or take...

[randyj]

i've been using a bushnell yardage pro 500.
accurate, light, and fast in scan mode.
picked it up at a garage sale. the guy wanted $12.00 but i talked him down to $10.00 because the part of the case that covers the lens was missing. i dont think he knew what he had, but hey. the price was marked on it.
its an older model dated 10/00 never had to change the battery yet.
use it hunting, when i set up in my stand or blind i range landmarks and know when my game is in range for a good shot. also use it at our IPSC match set ups.
i'de buy another if i had to, and pay full price now that i know how well they work.
check out natchezss shooters supplies ( www.natchezss.com). they seem to have decent prices and a good selection.

randy

[BiGB808]

seems bushnell is making the least expensive 600 yd range


Dam..Im going to start cruisng the garage sales..

[GySgt D]

Originally posted by Tick
I bought a Leica 1200 (non-scan) LRF several years ago. Very precise, and easy to use. The limiting factor is me, trying to hold it steady long enough to range the target.

I think it was about $500.00 ATT. Completely takes the guess work out of the range to the target.

HTH.

Tick

This is what I have, and it works, but very very pricey.

A good rule of thumb, is that the practical range of a laser rangefinder is half of what the sales literature states.

[lysander6]

I think these are all great powered suggestions but if you want a mechanical one which requires no power, get this Swiss ARMY WILD beast:

See: http://texaswiss.tripod.com/id1.html

There is one on ebay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Swiss-WILD-Range-Finder_W0QQitemZ6626147281QQcategoryZ361QQcmdZView Item


My lads love it and it is accurate out to 20km.

[TapperMan]

There are also the Swedish Nife optical rangefinders available - they're a little smaller and only have a range of 100-1500 meters, but they can be had for around $200 with a nice hard case and small tripod.


http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SCP003-1027-1452.html

[BiGB808]

how do the mechanical range finders work?

[brownknees]

It's all done with mirrors (smoke optional)!
Inside the tube there are a set of mirrors, some reflect all the light, and one is semi-reflective.
What happens is that the distance between the mirrors is known, being created during manufacture.
The two parallell optical systems are set up so that they are overlaid on each other at the eyepiece, and one of the mirrors can be swung very slightly by the range ajustment wheel.
There are 2 ways of presenting the image, one is superimposed, where there is a double image in the rangefinding area, and the other is called "split image", in this system the view is cut in half, with the top image being from one window & the bottom half from the other.
You look into the eyepiece & turn the range knob untill the 2 images line up. Once this is done you can read the distance off of a wheel, or scale.
The accuracy depends on the distance between the 2 input windows, and the mechanical allignment.
The good thing about them is that they are very"stealthy", as they emit nothing at all, and never need batteries.
The disadvantages are that they are larger, need more tuning, as the temperature can effect readings, and are slower to use.
:beer:

[brownknees]

Here is a simplified diagram of how it works.

[BiGB808]

sweet..i understand...
whats the smallest version they have?

[brownknees]

I have a "Ranging 1000" that is good to 1000 yds.
It's about 8"long X 1" deep X 3" front to back.
It comes with a (I think) 6X magnifyer, but I modified mine to take an 8X for better seeing the windows.
It weighs about 1/3 Lb.
I'll take a pic & post it for you to see in the next day or so.
There are 2 smaller ones, but the max distance is sharply reduced because of this.

[brownknees]

Back view:
You can see the range scale & the eyepiece I modified with the mini-monocular.
The large screw just below & to the left of the scope is the ajustment for calibrating distance.

[brownknees]

Front view showing the 2 input windows.