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704
Guest
What is the best range finder for out to 1000 yards and the best price; I currently use the Bushnell 1000 range finder but find that it is hard to range silhouette targets past 600.
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baldeagle713
Well-Known Member
LEICA! 1200 Worth every penny
sscoyote
Well-Known Member
Just got my Leica 1200 Scan-- oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Best thing since high heels and short skirts. BUT, it's still not perfect, just the closest AFFORDABLE thing to it. See Bob Jourdan's excellent writeup on lasers in PS magazine (a few issues ago).
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Hate to disagree, but...........
I have owned the Bushnell 400yd, 800yd and currently have a 1000yd Yardage Pro. I ordered a Leica 1200 to replace the Bushnell 1000yd Yardage Pro. When the Leica arrived I was very impressed with its tiny size and exceptional clarity for a rangefinder.
Since I had not sold the Bushnell yet I decided to conduct a direct comparison of the two. Naturally, I expected the Leica to be much better at ranging, which is the primary function of a rangefinder.
At short range both rangfinders gave readings within 1 yard of each other.
At medium range they also performed similarily.
At long range, the Bushnell was better at picking up small targets.
At ranges over 1,000yds, the Leica had a hard time reading the side of a huge building that was made of brick and glass. The Bushnell gave consistent readings on this target every time even when I extended the range to over 1,200yards. The Leica failed to read here at all.
When ranging pilings which protruded out of the water on an open bay, the Bushnell gave consistent readings at 300+ yards. The Leica was unable to read the pilings at all.
In the end, I kept the Bushnell 1,000 Yardage Pro and sold the Leica to a friend who was aware of my test results but wanted the Leica anyway.
We hunt varmints together and have occasion to range the same target from time to time. More often than not, the Bushnell proves to be a better unit.
While comparing only two units does not really prove anything, the results are interesting and it does show that actual comparasions can be more revealing than just reading a bunch of opinions on the internet.
VH
I have owned the Bushnell 400yd, 800yd and currently have a 1000yd Yardage Pro. I ordered a Leica 1200 to replace the Bushnell 1000yd Yardage Pro. When the Leica arrived I was very impressed with its tiny size and exceptional clarity for a rangefinder.
Since I had not sold the Bushnell yet I decided to conduct a direct comparison of the two. Naturally, I expected the Leica to be much better at ranging, which is the primary function of a rangefinder.
At short range both rangfinders gave readings within 1 yard of each other.
At medium range they also performed similarily.
At long range, the Bushnell was better at picking up small targets.
At ranges over 1,000yds, the Leica had a hard time reading the side of a huge building that was made of brick and glass. The Bushnell gave consistent readings on this target every time even when I extended the range to over 1,200yards. The Leica failed to read here at all.
When ranging pilings which protruded out of the water on an open bay, the Bushnell gave consistent readings at 300+ yards. The Leica was unable to read the pilings at all.
In the end, I kept the Bushnell 1,000 Yardage Pro and sold the Leica to a friend who was aware of my test results but wanted the Leica anyway.
We hunt varmints together and have occasion to range the same target from time to time. More often than not, the Bushnell proves to be a better unit.
While comparing only two units does not really prove anything, the results are interesting and it does show that actual comparasions can be more revealing than just reading a bunch of opinions on the internet.
VH
sscoyote
Well-Known Member
understand where you're coming from VH, but i've also tested both, though not together, and have had better results from the Leica's i've owned-- generally. According to Jourdan's article the Leica has a smaller beam dispersion than the other offerings out there, among other design features that i can't recall now, but his conclusion was that the Leica's offered a better unit. And most (though probably not all) of the opinions on this board are from a lot of experience afield (including yours), and i think if you took a poll you'd find that that collective experience would be Leica favorable-- probably by a good margin. Now, that being said, a good friend of mine was out hunting with me last coyote season. He had an 800 Bushnell, and i had my Leica 1200, and his Bushnell was keeping right up with the 1200 every shot, so... I think that it's like all other products available to the consumer-- get as much info. as you can before you buy, and hopefully everything will work out-- what else can we go by??
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
SS,
Agreed. I bought the Leica based on Leica's reputation and the recomendation of the few shooters who actually owned one at the time.
Had I not had the opportunity to conduct the comparison, I would have kept the Leica and lived happily ever after. It is a very nice unit.
However, once the comparison was completed, I just couldn't justify keeping a more expensive rangefinder that did not range as well as the one that I already had.
I would like to do the same comparison with one of the newest Leica 1200's and see if the results would be the same. Who knows???
VH
Agreed. I bought the Leica based on Leica's reputation and the recomendation of the few shooters who actually owned one at the time.
Had I not had the opportunity to conduct the comparison, I would have kept the Leica and lived happily ever after. It is a very nice unit.
However, once the comparison was completed, I just couldn't justify keeping a more expensive rangefinder that did not range as well as the one that I already had.
I would like to do the same comparison with one of the newest Leica 1200's and see if the results would be the same. Who knows???
VH
Ian M
Well-Known Member
VH,
I have both the Bushnell and Leica and agree with your statement. Perhaps the bottom line is that given the constraints (restrictions by the gov't for eye-safety) these instruments must work within as far as the transmittion "power", they just don't have the ability to range reliably out past 5-600 yards in some light conditions. There are times when they are quick and accurate and times when they let a person down. Frustrating but that is the way it is.
I have both the Bushnell and Leica and agree with your statement. Perhaps the bottom line is that given the constraints (restrictions by the gov't for eye-safety) these instruments must work within as far as the transmittion "power", they just don't have the ability to range reliably out past 5-600 yards in some light conditions. There are times when they are quick and accurate and times when they let a person down. Frustrating but that is the way it is.
jb1000br
Official LRH Sponsor
I have a leica 800, yes 800 and tested it beside a buddy's bushnell 1000 at the williamsport 1k range one day. Side by side in sun and shade the leica 800 outperformed the bushnell. at the range there are a few rock/brush piles at over 800yds from the firing line. the leica consistantly read 829-830 to the piles and the bushnell failed to read at all, full sun and full shade. that was enough to make me love my leica. also one somewhat cloudy evening the leica consistantly ranged a 4'X2' tree stump at 972 yards--not bad for an 800yd rangefinder. i'll stick with my leica.
jason
jason
I've had a pile of the Bushnell models and over the years I've learned that it is VERY IMPORTANT to keep the filter lense(s) dust free and protect it/them from scratches. My first Bushnell was a "try to break it" toy...I baked the thing in the hot sun (it wouldn't function when overheated) and generally abused it. I buffed the filter lense myself once the unit was degraded to the point it'd only range a couple hundred yards at best. The buffing cleared it up some but I've come to believe (after about three (3) trial units) that it is fairly important to take care of the lense(s).
I have a Bushnell Compact 800 now and keep it safely tucked in it's soft case and clean it often...it works remarkable well ranging to over 900 yards (on trees, shrubs and grasses....(I'm an avid tree, shrub and grass shooter
) in bright daylight.
Conditions I've found that produce problems: Ranging into/toward the sun (the sun is 163,680,000,000 yards...I'd suggest using holdover(s)
). Ranging in snow on bright days (sorry elk hunters). Ranging distant objects without a very steady hand or solid rest.
Some of the best objects to range? Reflectors, licenses plates (or pieces thereof), other rangefinders (must be a sympathetic circuit or something such...immediate reading)!!! (Keep your eyes covered around me...I range everything!)
I have a Bushnell Compact 800 now and keep it safely tucked in it's soft case and clean it often...it works remarkable well ranging to over 900 yards (on trees, shrubs and grasses....(I'm an avid tree, shrub and grass shooter
Conditions I've found that produce problems: Ranging into/toward the sun (the sun is 163,680,000,000 yards...I'd suggest using holdover(s)
Some of the best objects to range? Reflectors, licenses plates (or pieces thereof), other rangefinders (must be a sympathetic circuit or something such...immediate reading)!!! (Keep your eyes covered around me...I range everything!)
Ian M
Well-Known Member
VH,
I have both the Bushnell and Leica and agree with your statement. Perhaps the bottom line is that given the constraints (restrictions by the gov't for eye-safety) these instruments must work within as far as the transmittion "power", they just don't have the ability to range reliably out past 5-600 yards in some light conditions. There are times when they are quick and accurate and times when they let a person down. Frustrating but that is the way it is.
I have both the Bushnell and Leica and agree with your statement. Perhaps the bottom line is that given the constraints (restrictions by the gov't for eye-safety) these instruments must work within as far as the transmittion "power", they just don't have the ability to range reliably out past 5-600 yards in some light conditions. There are times when they are quick and accurate and times when they let a person down. Frustrating but that is the way it is.
7
704
Guest
thanks for the info
I take it the Newcom is not in the running???
[ 08-06-2003: Message edited by: fmsniper ]
I take it the Newcom is not in the running???
[ 08-06-2003: Message edited by: fmsniper ]
HighLander
Member
I just got Newcon 1200 and found it to be superior to my buddy's Bushnell 800. I am very pleased with mine. FYI
