Wapiti Talk | Elk Hunting Forum | Elk Hunting Tips
 

Rangefinder

Moderators: Swede, Tigger, Lefty, Indian Summer, WapitiTalk1

Rangefinder

Postby GoGriz1234 » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 1]

I am hoping to pickup a rangefinder from a 4th of July sale. After reading through here and looking at all the options, it seems a little overwhelming. I am looking to spend between $180-300 and would use it for both rifle and archery hunting. Any suggestions or wisdom for me?

Thanks!
GoGriz1234
Rank: Spike
 
Posts: 157
Joined: 09 29, 2014
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Marshall

Re: Rangefinder

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 2]

Jeff, I picked up one of these before my Idaho rifle boom stick hunt two years ago. Like you, I was in the market for something that would work for rifle hunting as well as archery. I'd always had a rangefinder for my bow hunts, but, the model(s) I owned had limited range and certainly weren't optimal for rifle hunting. The little Sig is rated at 1200. With decent weather conditions (no heavy rain or fog), I'm able to accurately range distances out to around 700-800 if I remember correctly (farther than I'd be shooting with a rifle. Worth a look while you're shopping. Oh, price point is pretty decent I think.

https://www.amazon.com/Sig-Sauer-Findin ... B07DX2WMD1
User avatar
WapitiTalk1
 
Posts: 8732
Joined: 06 10, 2012
Location: WA State
First Name: RJ

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 3]

I went with the sig 1600, their lowest cost unit to have a red lighted display. So far no complaints!
User avatar
Trumkin the Dwarf
Rank: An Elk Nut
 
Posts: 675
Joined: 06 14, 2013
Location: Montana
First Name: Malachi
Last Name: C

Re: Rangefinder

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 4]

Trumkin the Dwarf wrote:I went with the sig 1600, their lowest cost unit to have a red lighted display. So far no complaints!


The red light is certainly a nice feature.
User avatar
WapitiTalk1
 
Posts: 8732
Joined: 06 10, 2012
Location: WA State
First Name: RJ

Re: Rangefinder

Postby GoGriz1234 » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 5]

Thanks for the super quick feedback guys! Two votes Sig - great to know - I’ll see what sort of deals come up for this weekend!
GoGriz1234
Rank: Spike
 
Posts: 157
Joined: 09 29, 2014
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Marshall

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Tigger » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 6]

Vortex Ranger 1800. Love it. reads out past 1,000 easily.
User avatar
Tigger
Rank: An Elk Nut
 
Posts: 2420
Joined: 01 12, 2015
Location: Minnesota

Re: Rangefinder

Postby ishy » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 7]

Three for sig.
User avatar
ishy
Rank: An Elk Nut
 
Posts: 1062
Joined: 08 18, 2013
First Name: Bryan
Last Name: L

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Swede » 06 29, 2020 •  [Post 8]

I am very satisfied with my Vortex. I know nothing about the Sig, but considering the cast of characters who are promoting it here, I would be skeptical. :lol:
Swede
Wapiti Hunting - Tree Stand Tactics
 
Posts: 10215
Joined: 06 16, 2012

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Lefty » 07 01, 2020 •  [Post 9]

My daughter has a Vortex and works fine for archery rifle and at the range

I have a 7,8 , year old less than $100 Bushnell works for what We need
The biggest drawback is in low light the glass seems poor quality
The magnification is 1.5 , fine for archery. The crosshairs are not accurate and another point needs to be selected on distant small targets
User avatar
Lefty
Wapiti Hunting - Strategy and Tactics
 
Posts: 6926
Joined: 06 25, 2012
Location: Pocatello Idaho
First Name: Dennis
Last Name: H

Re: Rangefinder

Postby phall » 07 03, 2020 •  [Post 10]

Have sig and vortex recommend both. Although i did have to return the vortex for replacement twice. But rarely use the sig. vortex is smaller lighter and more compact so i use it more often
phall
Rank: Calf
 
Posts: 66
Joined: 03 31, 2014
First Name: patrick
Last Name: hall

Re: Rangefinder

Postby GoGriz1234 » 07 05, 2020 •  [Post 11]

Thanks for all the input! As always, there is a wealth of knowledge here. I ordered a Sig and it comes tomorrow! I’ll report back on this thread at the end of the season just to have another boots on the ground review for the archives.
GoGriz1234
Rank: Spike
 
Posts: 157
Joined: 09 29, 2014
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Marshall

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Ubrerer » 09 16, 2020 •  [Post 12]

Canon/Minolta/Olympus/Mamiya fixed lens camera, most are shutter priority though - not that it matters, just change the shutter speed if you don't like the aperture selected by the camera.
I use a Canonet QL19, shutter priority, excellent lens and viewfinder, very good build quality.
Ubrerer
Rank: New User
 
Posts: 3
Joined: 10 16, 2019
Location: Boston

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Swede » 09 23, 2020 •  [Post 13]

Ubrerer: I don't know if you just misread the thread title or are not familiar with range finders. Range Finders are an instrument used to tell you the yards or meters to an object such as an elk. They are mostly used by bow hunters, and gun hunters shooting at long ranges.
Swede
Wapiti Hunting - Tree Stand Tactics
 
Posts: 10215
Joined: 06 16, 2012

Re: Rangefinder

Postby wawhitey » 09 23, 2020 •  [Post 14]

Sig rangefinders are where its at. Top quality stuff, super quick, crazy long ranging capability, just awesome. Unbelievable what you get for the price. My vortex is just a spare that rides in my truck now for emergency purposes. Not to crap on vortex, i use quite a few of their products, but sig just has the rangefinder thing nailed. All the other companies will have to step it up big time to compete. I dont think anybody out there can touch sigs performance vs cost ratio on rangefinders.
Real eyes realize real lies
User avatar
wawhitey
Rank: An Elk Nut
 
Posts: 3572
Joined: 02 21, 2013
Location: Stevens co, WA

Re: Rangefinder

Postby DaviddsD » 03 18, 2021 •  [Post 15]

One more for SIG.
I didn’t have a chance to use Vortex but experts say the Ranger 1800 is better than SIG Kilo series.
https://wildproofgear.com/best-rangefinders/
My only complain about SIG is poor vision against a dark background. Anyway, overall experience is very positive.
DaviddsD
Rank: New User
 
Posts: 1
Joined: 03 09, 2021

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Indian Summer » 03 18, 2021 •  [Post 16]

Welcome aboard Dave! How about a quick intro?
User avatar
Indian Summer
Wapiti Hunting Consultant
 
Posts: 5247
Joined: 06 14, 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
First Name: Joe
Last Name: Ferraro

Re: Rangefinder

Postby Swede » 03 18, 2021 •  [Post 17]

I will second I.S's. welcome. Join in the discussions and hit WapitiTalk1 up for a WapitiTalk bumper sticker. Not only will people recognize you as a hunter, but also a persons of distinction.
Swede
Wapiti Hunting - Tree Stand Tactics
 
Posts: 10215
Joined: 06 16, 2012


cron