Are laser rangefinders needed?

alsatian

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I have been thinking very seriously about buying a laser rangefinder. I have about persuaded myself that a laser rangefinder would be very useful for my first time 2004 pronghorn hunt and may be useful in the future for Elk hunting.

Is a laser rangefinder a needed tool for open country hunting or can you "just say no!" to these gadgets and get along fine?

I would like to hear arguments pro and con from people who have used these devices. I'm looking at buying a good one -- a Leica 1200 -- if I buy one at all. This isn't cheap, about $500. I've got other things to spend $500 on if this really is just a gadget and won't improve my hunting by any distinct margin.

How do other hunters who don't have a laser rangefinder get along?
 
I wish I had one, and probably will invest in one someday. For now I try to keep my shots reasonable (under 300 yards, past that my eyball distance judging gets a little shaky). In the long run I think you would be well served to get one and use it regularly in the field. It will not only improve your shots, but get you used to judging long distances on your own. I am a land surveyor, so I get to play the distance judging game all the time and see how close I can get by guessing. I think it would pay for itself when taking a poke at a once in a lifetime animal and having it run off instead of downing it, just one time. It isnt probably the end all be all gadjit, but definately a tool that if used properly can make all the difference in making a shot or blowing a hole in the dirt behind your target, with a muzzleloader or bow, exponentially more so.
 
there are a lot to choose from on e-bay right know.
I did'nt realise that after a critical distance say 3 or 400 yds.
most of them are usless on small objects like elk.
so in big sky country they are prety much usless on goats and such at any big distance.
or is the just hearsay.
I was looking at the pro 1000 series made by bushnell
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-24-04 AT 03:44PM (MST)[p]A question that only you can answer. Do you have faith in your ability to judge distance? Have you hunted much open country before? A range finder can be a pretty humbling experience, for even the best proclaimed judge of distance...

I've had great luck w/ the bushnell, and have used one for about 7 years now. They work great. However they are not full proof. There are times in the field, when you are better off not to "whip it out", and other times, that it has been worth it's weight X's 10 in gold.

If you're a rifle hunter don't plan on shooting beyond 300 yards, and feel pretty confident in your yardage estimating abilities to that distance, then I would say no. It isn't totally necessary.

IMO, it's one of the better $300 dollars a guy can spend. Next to my weapon and binocs, it's the next most important piece of hunting gear for me to confidently get the job done. And that's what gets you animals...
 
I've had one for 3 years now (Bushnell Yardage PRO Scout) and think it's great. If you know your ballistics, and more importantly, how your rifle shoots, it's an invaluable tool, and can really help you while shooting. The model I have is small (fits in a pouch on your belt) and the costs on them have really come down over the years. I recommend getting one.
 
Never have needed one yet since 98% of my shots have been under 100 yards. I suppose the day I need one I will regret it even though I am decent at yardage estimation.
If it looks too far away I just get closer. If I cannot I will try getting closer another day.
I think it is wise also to know how to hold for slope angles as well and the rangfinder does not do that. Know the trajectory of your round and practice shooting in field type situations. I believe this helps more than anything.
Besides I am turning into a muzz hunter and will not try a shot past 120 yards anyway now.

I feel many (not all) who use rangefinders never even practice shooting at longer range. The same amount or more only do it at a range with a steady bag and rest. Do you think they will get the same accuracy kneeling, prone or standing when excited at the same time? I do not think so.
The guys who actually practice shooting in field situations and are great shots could benefit from a rangefinder....(Not)the guy that tapes a trajectory chart to the rifle stock but has never fired at those distances.
My opinion.
Jerry
 
YA

THE LEICA'S FOR SURE!!!

BEFORE I GOT MINE I WAS GUESSTIMATING DISTANCES OUT OF MY CHUTE PLANE!!!

NOW,IT'S NATS A$$ ACCURACY!!!

MIGHT EVEN BE ANOTHER ITEM RELATED TO THE DECLINE OF TROPHY MULE DEER!!!

AS SOON AS I GET THE NEW HEAT SEEKING SLUGS FOR MY .50 CALIBER WITH THE NIGHT VISION SCOPE MOUNTED ON MY CHUTE PLANE,TROPHY HUNTING I WILL GO!!!

THE ONLY bobcat THINKING:THIS OUGHT TO BE MORE DAMN FUN THAN I CAN STAND!!!
 
If you do decide to get one make sure it is a quality set that has a good distance. I've had my bushnell yardage pro 400 for a few years and I still haven't actually used them for a shot. Althought I usually hunt archery. I am lucky if I can get a distance over 300 yards. At home I have been able to get distances of close to 500 yards but in the field where everything is neutral colors you need a good quality rangefinder.
 
I have had my Nikon 800 for a couple years and just love it. I hunt archery most of the time and find it most useful. Its always nice to have rifle hunting too when there is a shot that you are questioning yourself. I use mine year around while golfing too, it will get you used to acuratly judging distances so after a while you wont need it.......................rf
 
For me, absolutely. I bought a Bushnell compact 800 a little over a year ago, and it has worked well. The season before I had it, I spotted a nice buck bedded in the bottom of a canyon. My brother and I both estimated it to be 700 yards - way too far for me to shoot (I won't shoot over 325 yards). So I began a stalk. Just before I got within sight of the buck again, the wind swirled and it ran. After I got the rangefinder, I went back to that spot - it was only 415 yards. Instead of stalking around, I could have moved up 100 yards and comfortably shot it.

This season, I spotted a buck feeding in the sage across a creek from me. My first though was to sneak a little closer, but it would have been difficult to get a shot from the creek bottom. I decided to range the buck first. 268 yards. Dead deer. I would not have taken that shot without the rangefinder.

I'm sure there are people whose ranging skills are much better than mine that don't need one. However, without it, I did not feel comfortable guessing at distances. Now that I have it, my range estimation has improved substantially, and I feel very comfortable taking shots that I would not have taken otherwise.

And FYI - in response to what others have said about problems with ranging long distances, mine consistently does fine at 600 yards on brush, dirt, rocks, or animals.
 
a rangefinder is a must for me because i do a lot of archery hunting. Also it helps when your shooting over 300 yards with a rifle because if you guess wrong by more than 75 yards you wont hit where you want. I have a bushnell that goes to 1000 yards works great
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-25-04 AT 02:04PM (MST)[p]Anything that makes you a better shot and gives you more confidence should be a part of your equipement....
 
Don't need those rangefinders.

I'm excellent at judging distances and I've yet to miss an animal.

The time you spend using your range finder ... might be the only critical time you have to shoot your game.
 

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