Range Finders

[lwh723]

I'm pretty sure all the Leicas are 7X. Sorry no help on the RF, Binocs, and Camera all in one. I can do two of three, but it'll cost you.

I paid $300 shipped for my LRF900 scan about a month ago and feel like I got a good deal. That being said, I wouldn't pay more than $300 for an LRF900. I kind of decided I needed a RF right then and wasn't very patient. I think if a person had time to do some hunting, they could find an LRF800 for $200.

I paid $350 for my LRF1200 last fall and sold it for $485 on Ebay (so my $150 is a slight exaggeration in my previous post, the profit had gotten bigger in my mind with time ). I made out ok on that one.

As far as I know, the ones without the scan option work just as well those that have the scan option (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). I personally never use the scan option, so if you can find a non-scan version for cheap, I would jump at it.

[artjr338wm]

I think I can offer a fair factual, experienced evaluation and opinion of my range finder.

Waaaaay back in 1995 I got drawn for a LE ML Bull elk hunt in NM. I decided for many good reasons to invest in a laser range finder.

Bought a Japanese made Bushnell LRF. It was advertised as good out to 600 yards. I have used it under almost all possible conditions and it will range deer or elk as the target out to 400-450 yrds in all conditions except extremely bright sun light. Ranging in extremely bright sun light is the only week spot I have experienced while actually hunting, as it does not work that well it will still range, but you must hit your target several times and hold quite steady as you do so.

I'm talking the type of bright sun light you encounter in a totally cloud free day when the sun is highest in the sky.

Under most other conditions encountered during the best hunting times, first few hours and the last few, it worked quite well even in light rain.

The best I could get it to range consistently under good conditions (anything other than bright sun shine or heavy fog) was around 570 or so yards on highly reflective targets such as rocks or buildings. It would not consistently range deer sized game much past 450yrds, I did get it to work on elk in good conditions out to IIRC about 480 yrds, but that was it.

To range out to 500-570yrds required I hit a highly reflective target that stood at a near vertical angle to wards me, like a good sized rock. It would not range trees or bushes much beyond 280-300yrds.

After having used it a great deal on elk trips to NM, and WY and endless times deer hunting, I would say it is a good LRF for that times tech and for the price I paid on sale of roughly $189.00
It is compact and LT/WT and will fit in my hip pocket of my 6 pocket hunting pants, and it is dirt simple to use.

Some day I honestly would like to upgrade to a better more capable model, but until I get drawn again for elk I will use the one I have. I also believe it is silly to by expensive hunting equipment who's technology is constantly improving until you actually have a need for it. That is why I have not bought a GPS yet.

There are undoubtedly much better LRF out now, but for deer hunting in IL and IN its as good as I will ever need.