Vortex ranger 1000

[Deleted]

Has anyone purchased or had a chance to use the Vortex rangefinder? I'm looking at getting this rangefinder and wondered how well it worked in the field and ranging deer sized game?

I've been looking at range fibers hard because my Nikon prostaff 550 isn't living up to 550 for deer size game and I'd like to have a range finder that works at least to 600 yards for deer size gave consistently.

Any recommendation for around $300-$450 would be great, kind of stuck on vortex warranty you can't beat it.

Thanks.

[rossman40]

It is a nice small unit and pretty much one button once you set it up. Vortex kinda dropped the bomb on the industry offering it with their lifetime VIP warranty which to me is worth an extra $100. Everybody was shocked when Bushnell upped theirs to two years a while back. Somebody said Weaver is offering a lifetime also on their 1000yd model.

[hankinsrfls]

Remember.. The ratings on the range finders are usually based off a solid target. Hair is not real solid, so a 600 yard finder will work great if shooting a solid such as barns, houses or rocks, but when going for that deer in the horizon it's a little harder.. I have an old Bushnell yardage pro 1000 and it will pick up deer at 600 plus yards and even give me good estimates of reflective targets such as barn roofs at over 1200 yards. Hope this helps some.. . Jeff..

[rossman40]

Jeff is right, the claimed max range is judged by a "reflective" target and deer are probly the least reflective thing in the woods. So you can cut the ranging capabilities on deer by half or 2/3rds (older units). What is neat is that the hunting rangefinders are limited in output power of the laser diode to meet government safety regs. The newer 1000 or 1600yd models have the same laser power of the older 450yd models. Where they get the range improvements is better (more focused) laser diodes and the controlling software or chips. Laser diodes are graded like diamonds or lenses nowadays with better ones getting higher prices. The laser pulse is actually a burst of pulses. It can shoot like 9 pulses in groups of three and the chip will measure not just the time but the signal strength of each pulse and then average everything out and say it is a good range or not.

If you can't get a range on a deer just go for a tree trunk or something next to it.

Atmospheric conditions like fog/mist and even dust can limit your range. We used a handheld rangefinder in the Army that was good for 10,000 meters but sometimes at Ft. Sill (Oklahoma) the dust would get kicked up to the point where you could still see your target at 5,000 or 7,000 meters but the rangefinder wouldn't range past 3,000.

We had a survey theodolite that had a laser rangefinder built in. By itself it was good for 300' if you were lucky. But when used with a prism target on the pole it was good for a mile.

[Deleted]

The range finder I have is a Nikon prostaff 550. From what I remember the 550 was suppose to be deer sized have and 800 reflective. The other day I could range a terrace at 400 yards and that was it. I was able to read antelope early in the morning at 450 something but it wasn't consistent and even though there was no wind I didn't feel comfortable making the shot because I couldn't get a consistent reading. I feel my rangefinder is more suitable for archery not rifle. Now I wonder if I cleaned my lenses and put a new battery in the unit if it would read better. The battery indicator shows full charge but I don't remember when I changed it last.

I've been looking hard at rangefinders and reading lots of reviews however we really know how reviews can get. So what I've been looking at is the Vortex (simplicity) Bushnell elite 1 mile Leopold 1200 tbr. The Bushnell is on the higher end of $ I want to spend and kinda bully. Leopold is a little more complicated and reviews haven't been to great for their rangefinders. Vortex price is decent but the warranty is hard to beat. So this is where I'm at.

Ant advice is greatly appreciated. I do want scanning abilities and angle adjustment hold over or moa adjustment. Vortex has what I want yet I want to make sure it works on deer at 600 yards. My max shooting ability is going to be 450 yards.

Thanks again for your help.

[biddler2]

I originally bought the vortex and tried it out around the area on cows and other I lefts and couldn't get reliable readings past 450 yards unless it was a tree or larger object like a house. I returns it for the Luepold and it is better but still not getting the full range. A tripod is realistically needed for the longer ranges for any of the units.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I ended up with a Leupold TBR 1000i from Scheels on sale for $299. I talked to the guy at Scheels and he said it was a better unit than the Vortex and the price being what it was I figured I would go with it. The only thing I don't like is it doesn't have a tripod mount for it. So far seems good but I haven't had a chance to test long range ranging.

Thanks again everyone I will give an update when I have a chance to really test it.

[kralik4jr]

I have a TBR1000 and really like it. Have ranged deer at dusk out past 600 and a machine shed at 900. It has meet my expectations. It ranges as far as I can shoot.
Good luck.
Jr

[Deleted]

The Leupold tbr 1000i has been working great. Out to and past 900 yards. My mule deer hunt comes in November find out on deer then.

[vpimine]

I have a Leica 1000 Rangemaster and I am able to range deer out to about 600 yards across a field and I get range reading of trees to the ~800 yards in most instances. It is small and very compact and has very good glass in it... I never carry Bino's any more in the woods... I just used the rangefinder....

[squeeze]

I have a leupold tbr 100i also. I havent found a limitation yet, and am always impressed with it. BUT I also havent used it to its max ranges yet. Its more than I really need