I am thinking of buying a rangefinder. Anyone have any favorite brands to suggest?

What is the usefulness of a spotting scope?
Can a rangefinder double as a spotting scope?

Thanks
DH

There are some rangefinding binoculars on the market today, but haven't heard of a rangefinding spotting scope.

A spotting scope helps immensely at the shooting range to help find those pesky little holes in the targets at far ranges. When hunting, they serve to get up close and personal looks at far away places to spot game. The higher the power setting, the more solid the scope must be anchored. Trying to hand hold a scope over 15 power is a difficult thing.

Depending on the type of hunting (close in or far away) a range finder is useful if the target is out past 100 yds or so and standing still. Close in brush hunting, it doesn't add all that much to a successful hunt.

Ditto the spotting scope. Works well for distances out past 400yds or so for scoping landscapes and picking brush apart for hiding game, with lots of time to do it and a steady rest for the scope. Otherwise, plain old binoculars will work best.

Welcome to the forum Harry. kdub gave you an excellent description of how rangefinders and spotting scopes differ.

Of the rangefinders I've used I've found the Nikons and Liecas tend to be the best.

Most range finders have the same magnification as binocs, but not the field of view. So they are very different than a high powered spotting scope.

Here in Idaho I've found that I don't use the rangefinder much for big game hunting as I tend to jump game in the field it's moving fast and the need to shoot overrides most other things.

Where I do use it a lot is hunting coyotes. When I've set up to call I use the rangefinder to find out how far away skylines, selected points and brushy patches are. Then when mr. coyote comes in I have a good idea where to hold pretty much to the limits I can shoot.

In my opinion, Leica is tops for rangefinders. They have a 900 yard/meters model and a 1200 yard/meters model. Either will set you back over $400 now I believe. Leica does also put out a combo binoc/rangefinder....Trinovid I think they call it. Used to be painfully expensive (over $3,000) but I think they've come down in price considerably.

I think the rangefinders are useful in unfamiliar country. I think we all to some extent gage distance by the features around the landscape such as how tall trees are, etc. The downside is that the same species of trees look different in different regions, and grow to very different heights, for example. Playing with a rangefinder really opens your eyes to judging distances.

In my hunting out in Colorado, mostly on horseback,I find that I need to have a range finder and binoculars that are light weight and compact. Heavier equipment tends to be put in your backpack, not available for use until you dismount. My Bushnell compact 800 rangefinder comes with a case that you can wear on your belt. My 8x32 binoculars only weigh 21 oz. A harness that keeps them tight against your chest is very helpful in keeping them from bouncing around as you ride.

Fortunately there are a lot of choices today. Select the best optics that you can afford, but keep light weight and compactness at the head of your selection criteria.