Good Afternoon Gentlemen,

New member here and my first post.

Does anyone have any advice on which range finder it good or bad? Hunt Groundhogs here on the farm with .17 Hornady and my 22/250. From what I read they talk about reflections from a deer size game. Will they work well on hogs? Looking in the $300 to $450 price range max.
Regards, Bill

The only experience I've had has been with a few sets of Bushnell's - compact and regular size and in 400 yd and 1000 yd ability. They seem work work OK as long as you pick out some particular thing to reference on. Naturally, the more reflection, the better the read. Would imagine they would meet your requirements if there is something besides the varmit to target. A bush, burrow, tree, etc.

In fact, I've got a brand new set of 1000 yd Bushnell's that are redundant to the pair I've had for some time (gift from family trying to figure out what to get the hunter that has everything, already!) that I'd work out a good deal with you on.

Welcome to the board. Hope you enjoy the forums.

Kdub, if Bill doesn't want it, send me a PM with the specifics. Been tempted to get a rangefinder for a while.

PM sent, Mike.

Conditions are definitely an issue. A friend brought one to work one day, back when we both worked in a big office building. It would read far beyond what it was rated, if we were shooting at the reflective glass surface of another building. At the same distances, trees etc. might not get a reading although to be fair this was pushing half a mile. I forget the brand, but truthfully, like most electronics (computers, TV, etc.) they are probably all about the same inside.

Hazy, overcast days don't help either. They sure are neat though.

I'm beginning to see more and more of these used in the mountains, especially for sheep hunting. They do add another thing to worry about and one more thing to carry, adding weight. I have noticed that Bushnell has started offering a pair of their binoculars with a built in rangefinder. While I've never been a fan of Bushnell, I do own a Baush & Lomb Elite spotting scope and it is of very high quality. One owns the other (I'm not sure which). The range-finder/binocular combo seems like an excellent idea to me. A spotting scope/rangefinder would be interesting also. I guess I'm waiting for the technology to bring the weight down and for Leupold or other to introduce something similar.

I bought a Bushy 400 when they first came out. From what I have read, things are pretty much still the same. Regardless of what they are rated for (mine 400 yards) on game they will give readings to about half that depending on conditions. On reflective things, the sky's the limit and even my first gen 400 will range trucks and signs to 999 yards, but when I was shooting one cloudy day at the 200 yard berm, and looked behind me, right at half way between the 300 and 500 yard berm a doe was crossing (she knew the season wasn't in ;) ) so I got the rangefinder and ranged her. I know she had to be real close to being 200 yards away from me, but the Bushy would not range her. It would range a telephone pole about 20 yards past the 500 yard berm, or about 320 yards away, but not the deer standing broadside right there in front of God and everybody. Other times, I have ranged turkeys out to about 200 yards in the field next to the range, and have ranged a couple of deer in the sunlight with it at about 250 yards, but I would say that is its limit. Even with their limitations, they are real handy devices. They come in real good in training yourself on estimating distances. I always knew I was bad at it, but the Bushy showed me just how bad I was. I know a lot of groudhogs that are thankful I didn't have one of these 25 years ago!

I have been using a Leica 800 yard/meter version for 3 years now, It's awsome! I like to get set up then plot my yardages to the farthest tree I could shoot to, then work back twards me. Mine has not failed me, trees, dence bushes, rocks, and even clumps of dirt. It is a worthwhile tool! Good luck.

Thanks Guys for the info. I do not agree with "Big Bore" who said "I bought a Bushy 400 when they first came out. From what I have read, things are pretty much still the same" They have been on the market for some time and constantly improving technology on products. Heck, my first VCR almost 20 years ago had a price tag of $900.00 now they can be had for $60. Perhaps that is why Big Bore was not impressed with his early model?

Regards, Bill Bob