Thread: Things to look for in a range finder.

I went for a hunt the last few days.

Saw 4 sika. Which was exciting. I also saw the biggest stag I've ever seen. (he had at least 8 points) he's also the only stga I've ever seen so not too hard ha.

We watched him for 10 minutes but he appeared to be at least 500 M away according to our maps. So we let him go.

I know I need terminal ballistic range and glass that will help at dusk.

What else will I need?

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I went for a hunt the last few days.

Saw 4 sika. Which was exciting. I also saw the biggest stag I've ever seen. (he had at least 8 points) he's also the only stga I've ever seen so not too hard ha.

We watched him for 10 minutes but he appeared to be at least 500 M away according to our maps. So we let him go.

I know I need terminal ballistic range and glass that will help at dusk.

What else will I need?

at that estimated range definitely need a range finder.....or preferably get closer. flycamp where the deer are but dont light a fire
8 points as good as it get for sika (pretty sure) unless its a red hybrid.....
your 308 /redfield combo is capable of taking an animal out to 400m but better glass and range specific reloads would improve odds , my young nephew tipped over a yearling at over 400m with it using factory ammo he had the crosshairs at least a foot above its back. many years ago flycamped next to the tikitiki and woke up to a 6 pointer standing in the stream less than 20m from us we had hiked in overnight stopping regularly just to listen to the hee hawing and whistling going off all round us still one of my favorite trips

All you need in a rangefinder is actual range. Angle is handy. You can then plug the info; Station pressure, temperature, actual range, angle, wind strength and direction into a ballistic app on your phone and it will do the rest for you.
True ballistic range means you can leave out the angle, unless it is also correcting for pressure.

Originally Posted by scotty

at that estimated range definitely need a range finder.....or preferably get closer. flycamp where the deer are but dont light a fire
8 points as good as it get for sika (pretty sure) unless its a red hybrid.....
your 308 /redfield combo is capable of taking an animal out to 400m but better glass and range specific reloads would improve odds , my young nephew tipped over a yearling at over 400m with it using factory ammo he had the crosshairs at least a foot above its back. many years ago flycamped next to the tikitiki and woke up to a 6 pointer standing in the stream less than 20m from us we had hiked in overnight stopping regularly just to listen to the hee hawing and whistling going off all round us still one of my favorite trips

I had my mate with a bipod on his t3x and a clearidge x5.

good to know the mauser is good to 400 with practice.

Is that stag in those pics? Buggeredif I can see him

Originally Posted by stug

All you need in a rangefinder is actual range. Angle is handy. You can then plug the info; Station pressure, temperature, actual range, angle, wind strength and direction into a ballistic app on your phone and it will do the rest for you.
True ballistic range means you can leave out the angle, unless it is also correcting for pressure.

Cheers!!!

i have been saving up for one so hopefully someone is upgrading.

should have also said the yearling was quite small 35kg gutted wouldnt have let him have a go on a big stag might have been ok but wasnt too sure it would drop a big animal on the spot....and it was his first deer

Originally Posted by Sideshow

Is that stag in those pics? Buggeredif I can see him

sadly not. we watched him on a slip for probably 5 minutes at around 7pm or so. My phone camera is not the greatest and i want a range finder before i get something like an sx50.

Originally Posted by scotty

should have also said the yearling was quite small 35kg gutted wouldnt have let him have a go on a big stag might have been ok but wasnt too sure it would drop a big animal on the spot....and it was his first deer

I have a mate who would lend me a 7mm rem mag so should be ok.

definitely ok just remember you still have to put in the yard to find and recover the animal so you do need to think about the surround terrain and where it might be when it does drop

Originally Posted by scotty

definitely ok just remember you still have to put in the yard to find and recover the animal so you do need to think about the surround terrain and where it might be when it does drop

that's the other issue. He was across to the next spur as per the photos. it was quite steep so to get to him we may have had to go down to 900m elevation from 1300 odd. go to the next spur and climb up it. then drop down the slip and then try and find him in the scrub. big mission.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

sadly not. we watched him on a slip for probably 5 minutes at around 7pm or so. My phone camera is not the greatest and i want a range finder before i get something like an sx50.

Bugger just sold a SX500 for $80 would have been perfect for you on a budget, great little cameras


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Buy a leupold rx-1300i with tbr. Reloaders, in Auckland, sell them for 479 and they are epic. I ranged a car the day I got it at 1232yds so works well

I bought a Sndway 800m one for about $175. It works well and displays horizontal distance as well which is basically TBR. I expect it may not be terribly waterproof and may not perform as well as more expensive ones under less than ideal conditions but so far so good.

Have you considered buying a Sig BDX Combo. If its purely for hunting then the 800m limit should be not an issue.