Laser Range Finders Buying Guide

Range Finders Buying Guide

With Pricing and technology improvements in recent years, range finders have become a much more common tool in the toolbox for many hunters and golfers. If you aren't quite sure what is involved with buying a laser rangefinder or what the best laser range finder is then kick back and check out our Rangefinder Buying Guide. This is meant to give you a brief introduction to rangefinders and what to look for when purchasing a laser rangefinder.

RangeFinder Buying Guide Step 1

The first thing you need to do is understand exactly how your laser range finder will be used because some of them are very application specific and you will get best results if you buy a rangefinder that is designed for your intended purpose. The two main types of rangefinders that you will be looking at designed either for Golf or for Hunting and each type of rangefinder offers specific features that will make it a good choice for that application.

The main difference between a Golf rangefinder and a hunting rangefinder is something called Priority mode. A golf type range finder will usually be measuring distance in a wide open space, meaning you won't be in the trees or bushes and have an obstructed view to the target, at least you hope not right. If you golf like me, then you might consider buying a hunting based range finder. These golf rangefinders are what are called a Priority one rangefinder, they will focus on the first object in the line of sight that they encounter, so if you are in the trees, this type of rangefinder will pick up trees and branches and leaves, not the best setup.

A hunting rangefinder is a priority two rangefinder. This rangefinder will ignore the first series of objects it encounters and focus on the object that you are pointing it at. This type of rangefinder works great in the woods and is much more appropriate for that intended application.

This doesn't mean you can't use one type of laser rangefinder in the other application, we are just saying that depending on your priorities, you will likely be much happier starting with a rangefinder that is most closely designed for your application. Depending on the make and model, some rangefinders can be switched from one mode to the other, meaning you can actually choose which priority mode you are set on.

Laser Rangefinders Features

A reticle or an aiming point, is the little set of crosshairs that you see when you gaze through the range finder. These can vary by make and model but they will all be some form of targeting device that you use to zero in on the intended target. Some will be small black crosshairs, which can be tough to distinguish if you are in low light or have a dark background. Many rangefinders will illuminate the reticle to accomodate low light and make it easier to pinpoint on the target. Caution needs to be taken with some of these illuminated reticles in that they can be washed out in bright light conditions.

Much of these same cautions need to be considered with the rest of the illuminated features of your laser rangefinder such as the yardage indicators or any info displayed on the screen. This is typically not a problem with the better quality laser rangefinders. Our favorite is a black reticle that also offers optional backlighting and fortunately this is a common option on the better quality rangefinders.

Laser Range Finders Distance

Many rangefinders are marketed as such that it is obvious what the maximum readable distance is for that particular rangefinder. For instance a XJ1200 rangefinder will have a maximum readable distance of 1200 yards. You want to make sure that you select a rangefinder with a suitable range for your particular needs. Typically Golf rangefinders can be lower powered as when you are more than a few hundred yards out, range isn't so critical because you are just going to hit it as far as you can. Hunting rangefinders will often be rated for longer distances and you want to make sure you match to your particular needs.

The thing you want to be cautious with regarding this issue is that the rating is under ideal conditions. If you think you are going to realistically need an 800 yard rangefinder, then I would buy at least a 1200 yard rangefinder in order to allow for overcast conditions or other unfavorable lighting issues where you need a little extra horsepower. You also want to consider the size of the object you are ranging on as well. Trying to range a deer sized target at 700 yards would be rough with an 800 yard range finder as a good rule of thumb for hunters is that a deer sized target can almost always be ranged at around 1/3 to 1/2 of the maximum rated distance.

Buy the most powerful rangefinder you can afford and if you can't afford the one you really need, then wait and save your money.

Laser Rangefinder Magnification

Typically for most useage a 6x or 7x magnification level will work just fine, and most rangefinders will meet this standard. The 6x simply means that the ranged object will appear 6 times closer looking through the rangefinder than with the naked eye. Bear in mind that the magnification does not play as important of a role in being able to range long range objects as the power of the rangefinder. It only makes it easier for YOU to see the object, not your rangefinder.

Magnification levels are not that critical to your happiness with the rangefinder but they do play a part. It also makes it handy to utilize them as binoculars at the same time and allow you to carry less equipment so keep that in mind depending on your useage.

Rangefinder Picture Quality

One of the things that you do need to consider is the quality of the optical glass. This will dramatically impact the quality of your picture and therefore your satisfaction with your rangefinder selection. Good quality glass is expensive and so are the special coatings applied over it to enhance the glass but many users swear it is worth it. This is much more critical of a feature to a hunter than it is to a golfer as you definitely need to clearly be able to identify what you are about to shoot at. Leica or Swarovski are two great examples of excellent quality rangefinder glass and will offer outstanding pictures. Other brands like Bushnell and Leupold will also offer high quality glass as well.

Rangefinder Size and Weight

The size and weight of your rangefinder is very personal but I can tell you from experience that this is pretty important in a hunting rangefinder. The smaller and more compact laser rangefinders are small and handy and easy to tuck into a pocket or pack and you can reach easily and handle with one hand when necessary.

The smaller compact rangefinders are more expensive typically but in my opinion, they are worth the extra expense as I don't know many hunters that want to lug around a big lunky rangefinder. The opposite is true of golf, many golfers will pack their rangefinder in the cart or in the bag until needed and size and weight is not that critical to a golfer.

Laser Rangefinder Modes

Horizontal Mode - Horizontal mode is particularly handy in that it will take into account elevation changes. The true distance to an object can change dramatically depending on elevation change so this can be invaluable to a golfer or hunter that experiences frequent elevation changes. This can be called a variety of things depending on the manufacturer but they are just a fancy way of saying it accomodates elevation changes.

Scan Mode - Scan mode allows you to hold down the ranging button and scan the terrain quickly. This mode will give you a reading that changes continuously as you scan around the terrain but quickly gives you an outline of what you are looking at. This can be handy when golfing to range the flag, hills, sand bunkers and make it easier to determine whether you need to layup or pull a tin cup on it and rip it. I find this feature to be MUCH more handy than the horizontal mode but your mileage may vary.

Specialized Modes - Some rangefinders have a number of other modes that are too numerous to get inot but you can find rangefinders that will accomodate windspeed and direction, bullet drop and much much more. These are typically purpose built and specialized rangefinders but if you want to maximize your experience with your choice of laser rangefinder then spend some time thinking about whether you would realistically use this or if it's important. Sometimes manufacturers pack too much into a product making it confusing or cumbersome to use. It all depends on what is important to you.

Laser RangeFinder Buying Guide Summary

In summary, the best thing you can do before buying a laser rangefinder is to simply understand how you will be using it and what's important to you. I would prioritize the issues you want to consider in this order: Power, size and weight, feature list and then of course cost. The price of some ultra high quality rangefinders has really come down to affordable and you can find some amazing deals online. I can tell you from experience, that you want to make sure you match your rangefinder with your actual needs. For most users a 12-1500 yard rangefinder will fit the bill but make sure you buy one that is from a quality company like Bushnell, Leupold, Nikon or Leica. There are more but those are the best rangefinder brands that come to mind.

Good Luck and if you are reading this to buy someone a Christmas present then cudos to you because he'll love it.