Laser Rangefinder - Which One?

Ladies and Gents,

I am in the market for a laser rangefinder primarily for deer hunting here in Kentucky.

I own several Nikon products and love them, but the Bushnell's are a bit cheaper.

I would like some recommendations on what you all like and don't like about Laser Rangefinders and which one you'd recommend. And I am not limited to those two brands. Just don't want to pay an arm and a leg for the unit.

Thanks

I've been using a Bushnell Yardage Pro 600 compact for four years now. Since there is no place where I hunt that I can even *see* 800-1000 yds I saw no reason to go for one of the more expensive ones. I've found the Pro 600 will range on foliage and rough tree trunks if I hold it steady and give it a couple seconds. Bill Van Houten (USA Ret)

Thermopylae had it's messenger of defeat, COME AND GET THEM ! The Alamo had none.

I guess it depends on what you use it for. I bought mine primarily for dog training (knowing how far to set a blind or marks). As such, I bought a Bushnell 500 Pro.

Then last year we had a goose go down 3 rice fields away (incl. the irrigation ditches). My old dog picked the goose up using only 3 whistles (it was a blind, we were back at the trucks and she was already in her kennel).

The range finder could not get a distance on it. I suspect the range was between 850-1100 yards.

I had a Bushnell 800 Pro and left the batteries in it and they leaked and the unit did not work after I cleaned it up. It was out of warranty so I returned the unit to Bushnell for repair and they claimed it could not be repaired but offered to exchange it for a refurbished unit for the same price I could buy a new one. The unit worked great but beware you may not get any support if anything happens. Sadly many companies are trying to turn their customer service departments into profit centers. Bushnell used to have decent customer support but I think those days are over.

Randy Wakeman

I suggest that you look at the bino/rangefinder combos first. When I hunt I have a rifle, pistols, ammo, binoculars and a laser rangefinder. The rangefinder generally just stays in the truck or pack. I use the binoculars to find game and it would be good to to determine the range right when I see game.