range finders

Where to find good unbiased data about these? I have almost no experience with them, want a good on, and want to buy once and cry once. I need to research, can you guide me?

So, you don't trust me.

I see.

I just spend hours researching every review I can find on the products that meet my criteria. I’ve done it with rangefinders. My research has led me to Leica being the best that’s affordable. The only company I’ve found that is better is Vectronix, and the only half-way affordable unit they have is not getting great reviews. Their other units are absolutely top tier, but with astronomical price tags. So, Leica is your best bet. I went that route, and I’ve been very pleased.

I’ll give you what info I have. I recently bought a couple of new ones. For years I had a Nikon 600 RF. It worked fine, and still does, but the max distance it would range a coyote, deer, or pig was 400 yards. I wanted to range at least to 500 yards, which is as far as I can shoot on our place. So, after some extensive research, it appeared that the Sig Kilo 1250, which wasn’t very expensive, would do what I needed. So I bought one. Hunted with it for a week or so, but it just didn’t range that well. I did range some deer at 600ish yards, but it wasn’t repeatable and/or consistent as to what range it would work. Again and again I got no range at all. On the hay field, where I wanted the 500 yard ranging, mostly it wouldn’t range deer that I knew were at 500 yards. I sent that RF back. More research. Decided on the Leica 2000B. Love that thing, and it’s far from the best and most expensive one Leica offers. No problem ranging critters at distance.

When I was doing all of my research, I found that everyone was talking about ranging targets, trucks, signs, and such as that. That was of no use to me. There was a real shortage of people with hard data on ranging distant mud covered pigs, or small coyotes. There is a significant difference in reflectivity of what they were ranging and what I wanted to range.

That’s all I’ve got.

Thanks for the insight guys. Yes, JG, I do trust you or I wouldn't ask the way I did, and you know that. I'm just collecting info into my pea brain.

MERRY CHRISTMAS