Hunting rangefinders are an invaluable tool to any hunter because knowing the exact distance to your target gives you the extra confidence to know you can make the shot.
While they're primarily thought of as a bowhunting tool, laser rangefinders can be useful for all hunters. Especially if you're shooting a rifle at long-range distances.
With that in mind, we decided to garner up some of the top rangefinders on the market today.
We'll run down some of the key features of each. But you can be sure, whether you're archery or rifle hunting, these devices will give you an accurate distance measurement you can trust.
SIG SAUER Kilo 2400 BDX
If you hunt in the American west or anywhere else where you've got wide open plains, you'll need a rangefinder that can cover long distance. The Kilo from SIG is a little on the expensive side at $799, but the reviews for this rangefinder are all positive. This device will range a reflective target out to 3,400 yards.
One thing to keep in mind with laser rangefinders is that the range they can measure on a reflective target and an animal is going to be quite different, and in some cases about half. In this situation, the Kilo ranges deer to 1,400, which should be more than adequate for most hunters. It does have a maximum range of 1,800 yards on trees according to SIG's specs, so you can get a little more distance there.
This rangefinder has anti-reflective coatings and a ballistics calculator and reticle to help you determine bullet drop over the distance. The BDX stands for "Ballistics Data Xchange." That means you can synchronize this rangefinder and that drop data with your riflescope via Bluetooth, as long as it's BDX-compatible. That's an undeniably helpful feature.
It weighs just 7.5 ounces, making it a lightweight addition to your heavy hunting pack.
Vortex Optics Ranger
For something a little more budget-friendly, the Vortex Ranger is a great option for hunters looking for quick data in a compact and reliable package. This high-quality rangefinder will range targets out to 1,300 yards, making it a good choice for Midwestern hunters who generally don't shoot long distances, but may be thinking about hunts in the west someday.
This one has a few different modes including line of sight mode that will according to Vortex, "display the actual line-of-sight range." It also has HCD or Horizontal Component Distance mode. This feature provides a distance reading with angle compensation. Helpful if you're sitting in a high tree stand.
The Vortex also has a scan mode that allows you to range a moving animal continuously. The Ranger has multicoated lenses and is waterproof thanks to some O-ring seals. Something to think about if you hunt in an area that gets a lot of rain. Rangefinder reviews on Cabela's accumulate in this device getting nearly all five-star reviews. Not bad for a unit that costs just $299.
Nikon Prostaff 3i with iD Technology
We've always appreciated Nikon products. They're great quality and very reliable. This Prostaff 3i rangefinder comes at an awesome price point of just $229 and is good out to 650 yards.
That distance is perfect as an archery rangefinder, but if you're like me and often hunt in thick, swampy areas where you're not going to get many long shots, it'll do well too.
The 3i doubles as a monocular and features 6x magnification. That "iD" technology they're talking about allows this rangefinder to accurately range your target from high in a treestand or up steep hillsides. This device is also rainproof and can either give you a single measurement or a continuous measurement through a single button press. That's helpful for bow hunters when that big buck is coming in on you fast.
This device also has a "First Target Priority Mode" and "Distant Target Priority Mode" that allow you to cycle between showing the range to the nearest and furthest targets you're ranging. It could be a helpful feature in getting that new rifle scope dialed in.
Leupold Marksman 1000
At $229, this Leupold Marksman 1000 is a good entry-level rangefinder and it can often be found on sale if the timing is right. This is another rangefinder that doubles as a monocular with 6x magnification and an effective range out to 1,000 yards. It features multicoated lenses to help with brightness in low light. Because as we all know, that big buck always seems to be the one you see right at last light.
The Leupold Marksman 1000 features modes that allow you to track a moving animal, line-of-sight and angle distances. It features a polymer, waterproof housing with a rubberized coating. That should make this rangefinding unit easier to handle if extremely wet or cold conditions.
Bushnell Prime 1700
If you're looking for something that can range extreme distances at a great price, the Bushnell Prime 1700 is a great option at just $200. This monocular/rangefinder can measure out to 1,700 and reviews rave about the exceptional clarity and quality of the unit's enlarged objective lens.
The Bushnell uses "Exclusive Angle Range Compensation" or ARC technology to calculate horizontal distance or at angles such as from the top of a ridge or your tree stand. This unit features two other useful modes. One is bush mode, which allows you to range an animal past small limbs and tree branches. The other mode, called "bullseye" allows you to range a smaller target.
This rangefinder offers three reticle choices that you can select from and has coatings on the lens to repel water, snow and other debris. It also weighs just 5.64 ounces, meaning this is a super lightweight option perfect for someone planning to do a lot of spot and stalking.
ATN Laser Ballistics 1500
ATN touts that this device is "more than just a rangefinder." The ATN 1500 is a digital rangefinder that you can synch up with your Android or Apple smartphone via Bluetooth. This sends an output of scope adjustments directly to your phone to help you hit that long distance buck or bull.
This rangefinder also ahs the ability to synch up with ATN's line of Smart HD scopes generation two and higher to make the adjustments directly in your rifle scope. The Ballistics 1500 has maximum ranges out to 1,500 yards and is waterproof and features 6x magnification.
For the amount of smart features this rangefinder offers, it is not a bad price at $350.
TecTecTec ProWild Hunting Rangefinder
This TecTecTec Prowild camo rangefinder is a steal at just $99 on Amazon. Perfect for the hunter on a budget who wants to make more precise shots right away rather than saving for a more expensive device. This rangefinder features modes found on many more expensive models. Things like continuous measurement of a moving target and one button operation.
The maximum distance for this water resistant rangefinder is 540 yards, which isn't as far as some of the others on this list. But we've decided to list this one because this rangefinder maintains a 4.5 star rating over 600 user reviews on Amazon with nearly 71 percent of them being positive. They also offer a two-year warranty, so this is a cheaper option that may be worth taking a chance on.
Simmons 801405 4x20LRF 600
We've always associated the Simmons name with quality hunting products and most hunters agree on this one. The Simmons LRF maintains a four-star rating on Amazon over more than 500 reviews. This rangefinder features an LCD display with 4x magnification that ranges out to 600 yards away.
Many rangefinders on the market require odd or specialized batteries, but the Simmons uses a standard 9-volt. The sleek design is water resistant features single button operation to quickly range your target. This one sells for about $200, making it a good mid-priced option.
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