Thread: Things to look for in a range finder.

people will get sick of hearing this maybe I should change my forum name to nikko stirling ive got a nikko stirling range finder it doesn't have the fancy angel shit on it but ive got an angel gauge I made and a trig app on my phone sure its not as fast as lighting like the fancy ones but the ones ive tried it against we both got the same reading I figure if you've got time to piss arse around with dialing and ballistic apps you've got time to figure out range with trig app oh the other thing I noticed as well is the bolts on the wrong side of rifle as well

Originally Posted by TianBotha

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


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Damn. I have heard good things about them and their Panasonic equivalent.

Originally Posted by superdiver

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

Thanks. I will save up and get it before Christmas

Originally Posted by berg243

tbr is good if you will only use it for one calibre load otherwise go for a distance only then you can adjust for what ever load / calibre you are using. I got a nikko sterling that will range to about 1100m for $350 I think so I can use it from my 22lr to my 45/70 and what ever else I am using and don't have to think about what calibre is programmed in as the drop at 300m will be a bit different from the 243 to the 45 sub loads.

Ah. I thought terminal ballistic range is the true distance it is away from me.

Originally Posted by Cigar

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.

I read the review gwen did. They seem really good for the money. I had a look through another members and it was nice

Originally Posted by mikee

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

No. I'll have a look. Cheers

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Saw 4 sika. Which was exciting. I also saw the biggest stag I've ever seen.

Sounds like you are getting closer

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I read the review gwen did. They seem really good for the money. I had a look through another members and it was nice

It is very good for the money, so much so, I’ve decided to hold off on buying binos as I’m bush and farm hunting. Where it does fall down is low light where it becomes almost unusable for spotting. Maybe this is common to all rangefinders?

Originally Posted by MB

Sounds like you are getting closer

Yes! It's exciting. Especially when it is all learnt the hard way or read online.

Originally Posted by MB

It is very good for the money, so much so, I’ve decided to hold off on buying binos as I’m bush and farm hunting. Where it does fall down is low light where it becomes almost unusable for spotting. Maybe this is common to all rangefinders?

I haven't looked through any others.

Originally Posted by berg243

tbr is for a single cartridge as it is set for drop of your round . when using 2 different calibres or 2 different weight projectiles drop varies over the same distance so you have to reset the tbr setting when changing calibre or weight of projectile.

Ah. Something to read up on then. Thanks for the clarification.

You can live without tbr, but angle can be useful either in the rangefinder or as northdude does. Simple rule of thumb for angles is 0-10° no change, 15° reduce measured distance 10%
35° reduce it by 20%
45° reduce it by 30%
Makes no difference if its up or down the same applies.
There are some excellent cheap rangefinders sold for golfers nowadays.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

You can live without tbr, but angle can be useful either in the rangefinder or as northdude does. Simple rule of thumb for angles is 0-10° no change, 15° reduce measured distance 10%
35° reduce it by 20%
45° reduce it by 30%
Makes no difference if its up or down the same applies.
There are some excellent cheap rangefinders sold for golfers nowadays.

Awesome! Thanks.

Originally Posted by berg243

tbr is for a single cartridge as it is set for drop of your round . when using 2 different calibres or 2 different weight projectiles drop varies over the same distance so you have to reset the tbr setting when changing calibre or weight of projectile.

Not really, tbr (true ballistic range) is the same for all projectiles, even arrows and paintballs and bricks. What you are talking about is the adjustment needed for that tbr, which is specific to a projectile and speed.
If line of sight is say 600m at a steep angle, tbr may only be 500m. That 500m tbr is the same, whatever the projectile. What does vary is the adjustment needed to the sights on your rifle, bow or brick launcher (which some rangefinders calculate for your specific load, while others just give you the tbr and you work it out yourself from there).

Having been roundly chastised for saying this every time I say it, I will say it again. There is no great difficulty in correcting your drop to 500m with a simple drop chart and some kind of reference reticle. Ballistics calculators are a recipe for disaster in the field which most people will disagree with. I have just seen way to many people go "oh hey, I made a data entry error" at the range.

When you miss a this range the tricky variable is wind. People miss plenty due to elevation but vastly more often due to windage. When you are shooting steel or rabbits, no one has an issue saying they missed due to windage.

People who shoot deer at longer ranges, in my humble opinion, are not mentioning the gut shot deer.

I'm not saying don't do it, but whenever I read one of these threads and people are shooting out to 500m and the only thing mentioned is ways to correct drop, then I wonder what the outcomes look like.

FWIW the only things I have shot at beyond 250m are targets - as far as I am aware. Now with a rangefinder I can tell if it’s 250m or actually 350m. After some practice at the range I’d be confident going to 300 maybe 350 in good conditions, and know how many clicks up for 300m.
My rangefinder goes to 800m. Other than shooting paper or steel, the benefit for me is knowing how much closer I need to get before taking the shot, e.g. deer is 500m away, need to get at least 250m closer.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Having been roundly chastised for saying this every time I say it, I will say it again. There is no great difficulty in correcting your drop to 500m with a simple drop chart and some kind of reference reticle. Ballistics calculators are a recipe for disaster in the field which most people will disagree with. I have just seen way to many people go "oh hey, I made a data entry error" at the range.

When you miss a this range the tricky variable is wind. People miss plenty due to elevation but vastly more often due to windage. When you are shooting steel or rabbits, no one has an issue saying they missed due to windage.

People who shoot deer at longer ranges, in my humble opinion, are not mentioning the gut shot deer.

I'm not saying don't do it, but whenever I read one of these threads and people are shooting out to 500m and the only thing mentioned is ways to correct drop, then I wonder what the outcomes look like.

Ah wind, everyone suffers from it in one form or another even at short range it can have a major influence and unlike elevation for distance which is "constant" the effect of wind varies with the cartridge. Drop charting 15 km wind deflection at 3 oclock can be useful you just adjust for wind speed and angle and its pretty good to go. At the longer ranges reading wind on terrain can be a real challenge.

Unless you are going to buy top of the line stuff then buy a rangefinder thats "rated" at twice the max distance you are going to be using it at. For example, if you are happy to shoot at 600yds then buy a 1200yd rangefinder because 600yds will be the maximum "reliable, reads every time" performance you will get from it

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Ah wind, everyone suffers from it in one form or another even at short range it can have a major influence and unlike elevation for distance which is "constant" the effect of wind varies with the cartridge. Drop charting 15 km wind deflection at 3 oclock can be useful you just adjust for wind speed and angle and its pretty good to go. At the longer ranges reading wind on terrain can be a real challenge.

A little wind meter should go alongside the cheap range finder so you can learn to put some numbers on it. Basically the same as @Cigar stated. Just learn when you don't want to shoot and when you will get away with it.

I mainly want one to know if its within range. I plan on doing some practice before I do any deer past 300m

Bushnell Conx are on sale at Hamills Tauranga. Amazing units and simple to use.