Since the vast majority of my deer hunting over the last several decades has been blind/feeders with rifles and bows at known distances, I've never had the use for a rangefinder.

But in December my 16 year old son will have the opportunity to hunt Trans Pecos mule deer so I'm considering purchasing a rangefinder so that we don't grossly misjudge distances if we happen to see a shooter. We'll use it for this trip and in the future for mostly ****s and giggles.

Since there's no need to spend $300-$400 on one, I'm looking at the Bushnell Bone Collector 4X at around $110 or the Nikon Aculon 6X for $140. I'm leaning toward the Nikon based on interweb reviews.

Chime in OB, I'm all ears. And be safe out there.

I'd take a look at the Vortex rangefinder. It's right at 400.

dr_boogs said:

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I'd take a look at the Vortex rangefinder. It's right at 400.

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Don't go changing OB

I like my Bushnell, but I'm always nervous to go with Bone Collector branded great because it's aimed at a price point for people who like to go "YeeHaw, hoodie Doo I SMOKED him!". I would suggest you avoid that one and go with the Nikon.

I do my best to not upset Sean (this topic and black rifle threads are trigger words and drive him to his safe space) and actually stay within the price point that the OPs of these threads put out in the actual OP! I know, totally against the OB but it's what the poster actually wants to spend.

I'm pretty sure you can get one of the Sig Kilo models in that price range (I think there's a 1250 or 1850 or something). If so, I'd recommend that.

I have the Kilo 2000 and it's great.


Edit: Oops. It appears I didn't read the OP thoroughly enough either. My recommendation is probably over your budget. Sorry OP.

I have a cheaper nikon, and it has worked fine for hunting/golf. I would warn that you might want one that compensate/calculate for slopes as well though.

Reread the OP good buddy

Oops! You got me! Thanks for pointing out that I went full out OB on the OP.

OP - deepest apologies I did what a do my best to avoid. In my defense it was an honest mistake.

I have had one of the base model Nikons for several years. It does just fine out to 600. I got it when I had a deer lease in Childress with lots of open spaces and I found out the hard way that I was a poor judge of distance past 200-250 yards. I'd buy it again if I had to.

my nikon prostaff has been great. Would buy again.

I match the price point pretty well. I had the Bone Collector range finder for my elk hunt last Fall. Why? It was cheap. It was typically within a couple yards of my cousin's fancy Lieca binos.

Let me check prices on tues... I have some rudolph ones in store that are good and I think pretty good on price.

Thanks all!

dr_boogs said:

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Oops! You got me! Thanks for pointing out that I went full out OB on the OP.

OP - deepest apologies I did what a do my best to avoid. In my defense it was an honest mistake.

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#LaughCry

I'd be interested in Knowing your price on a Rudolph rangefinder.

My 2 cents:
The cheap range finders are good to about 300 yards on a good day. The sig kilo 2000 will range as far as a mile in my experience, on rainy days. And it does it faster with less required skill. If a mule deer is inside 200 yards, you dont need the range finder at all, since youre likely zeroed at that distance. Point and shoot. If it looks to be just past that (2-300 yds) aim at the top of the kill zone, dead deer with most cartridges.

If you really want to accurately shoot past that range, your options he sig, at $350 or the only truly comparable models at $600+ all the way to $1500 and up. The sig is the best option available for less than 600. I have a cheap range finder as well, but it is really only useful to memorize my bow hunting shooting lanes.

Interested in the Rudolph price too.

Also curious about performance... Anyone have any experience?

At most, I think they would be $250... I think Texags price is $200 or $225.... I just don't know without getting my pricelist (at the store)....

As to accuracy, they seem pretty good out to a 1000 yards. Haven't gotten to mess with them out past that. I have their rangefinding binos myself and love them.

The Aculon is a good rangefinder but for your trip I think you might need more then a 550 yard rangefinder. That being said, I have used rangefinders for years going back to one that had a max distance of 400 yards and I never thought it was much of a problem. If the target I ranged was to far there was just not a reading. Now I have moved up to Nikon's 7iVR. This rangefinder has a Vibration Reduction and reads to 1000 yards. I used mine in KS last year. The windy condition's had no affect on this RF. The VR kicked in and ranging stationary or deer was easy. Right at $400 I thin this first of it's kind RF is one heck of a deal. I have showed it to 2 freinds and now they both own one as well. Definitely worth taking a look at if you decide to spend more $.

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/IMG_7448_1.jpg

Which model was it again?

http://rudolphoptics.com/optics/rangefinders/

The micro

If you have any color blindness be careful and not buy one with red numbers. I had to sell my vortex due to not being able to clearly see the numbers. Nikon models work for me.

Bump for price on the Rudolph.

I know Shag mentioned the sig range finders and I saw that Camofire has the Sig Kilo 1250 on sale for $210.

Rangefinder price is $225 from Rudolph

Sean beat me to it - Camofire has two right now they are offering:

SIG SAUER KILO 1250 LASER RANGEFINDER - $209.99 $299.99
NIKON ARROW ID 5000 RANGE FINDER - $189.99 $389.95

Vortex is apparently releasing their budget Rangefinder now, just saw it on TFB this morning.

Vortex Impact 850

MSRP is $269. Haven't found it in stock anywhere yet, but it's listed a couple of places for $199.

Are the redfield ones good?

For bow hunting, mine works fine. Ive had it read as far as 200 yds or so, so kind of useless for a rifle