The Importance of a Rangefinder

“98 yards away. Fire when ready,” 3…2…1…BANG! Down went the beautiful buck that we had been stalking all morning! The adrenaline rushed through my veins like lightning! It was one of the most powerful moments of my life. I just dropped my first buck! The excitement roared inside me as I walked the distance to my very first big game animal. Field dressing the meat was a great experience, and I was able to take home my first set of antlers.

Hey there friends, I’m Stephen, a certified Sheepdog Man.

In the story above, I described the exhilaration of my first successful hunt, but why? Because the story has relevance to what I want to discuss in this article — the importance of and need for a “Rangefinder.”

I intend to explain the reasons why I think a rangefinder is a crucial tool for every good sportsman. As well as, present to you the pros, and cons of particular units.

Most importantly I want to articulate Three Reasons Why You Need a Rangefinder, and Three Reasons Why You Don’t Want Just Any Rangefinder!

Three reasons why using a rangefinder will help you be a better sportsman when bow or rifle hunting:

1) Improved accuracy for a clean, humane shot.

Considering that you are taking the life of an animal, you should put forth your best effort to ensure that it is a quick and easy kill. You owe it to the animal to make a good shot. It is not sportsman like to take a shot and guess or assume that it is within range when it is not. Hitting the vital zone of your desired target is your responsibility. While this is possible without a rangefinder to estimate distance, it is much easier with one. (see – the known-distance comparison, bracketing, map method, and short-distance method. Source: gundigest.com https://gundigest.com/how-to/range-estimation-methods-rifle-shooting)

2) Using a rangefinder sets you up to make a habit of forced mechanical slowdown.

Instead of being “gung ho” and shooting anything that moves, using a rangefinder can help you make the time to take a clean, and accurate shot!

3) Confidence. A rangefinder can give you the confidence you need to make the shot count. If you practice taking shots at similar distances that you would while in the hunt, a rangefinder will give you the confidence to make a good humane shot.

Ok, so we just talked about why we all should use a rangefinder, but now let’s discuss,

3 Reasons You Don’t Want Just Any Rangefinder!

1. PURPOSE! Not all rangefinders are intended for the same purpose.

When it comes to purchasing a rangefinder, you need to make sure it’s the right kind of rangefinder.

Many optics manufacturers make several different kinds of rangefinders for diverse audiences. While that’s a good thing for the manufacturer, make sure it doesn’t confuse you, and that you get the right one for the job.

Commonly, there are golfing, hunting, and long distance rangefinders, as well as others.

While they all measure distance, only one is purpose-built by manufacturers for the sole purpose of hunting.

2) CLARITY! Not all rangefinders are equal in clarity and viewfinder object visibility.

Make sure the lens and optics that you choose are clear, and that objects are highly visible.

If you can’t accurately discern objects in your rangefinder, you have the ability to misread the target. If that’s the case, why bother using a rangefinder at all?

3) SPEED! Next, make sure it has a fast shutter speed.

What I mean is, make sure you can accurately scan for targets without waiting for your equipment to reset.

While some optics claim “true-distance” and have amazingly accurate laser pinpoint over very long distances, sometimes they do not have fast image update. Being able to pinpoint multiple targets in a moment is essential when stalking prey.

So now that you know why you want a rangefinder, which one should you get? That’s easy! I did the hard part for you. Below is a list of,

3 of the most comparable sub $400 Rangefinders

Vortex Ranger 1000

• Range: 500yd non-reflective 1000yd reflective
• 6×22 objective lens
• Weight: 7.7oz
• Illuminated red reticle
• Built-in tripod insert
• True ballistics compensation
• Completely waterproof
• User-friendly settings
• Ambidextrous clip
• Lifetime warranty

Sig Sauer Kilo 1250

• Range: 750yd moving 950yd still 1600yd reflective
• 6×20 objective lens
• Weight: 5oz
• Dark black reticle
• True ballistics compensation
• Four range update/second shutter speed
• Water-resistant
• 5-year electronic warranty
• Lifetime component warranty

Leupold RX 1200i

• Range: 800yds non-reflective 1200yds reflective
• 6×22 objective lens
• Weight: 7.8oz
• Red illuminated reticle
• Changeable reticle
• True ballistics compensation
• Completely waterproof
• User-friendly mode settings
• Lifetime warranty

Wrapping Things Up

In conclusion, the list above is the select rangefinders that aren’t just any rangefinder. They are the best comparable rangefinders that will help you be a better sportsman and hunter. Please comment and let us know if you use a rangefinder and which one you prefer.

My personal favorite is the Vortex. Completely waterproof, unlimited lifetime warranty and extremely user-friendly. While you have more customization with the Leupold, it is too tacky for my liking. And while the Sig is super fast with good range, it doesn’t have a red illuminated reticle. This is important in low lighting settings.

Talk to us!

Well, that concludes the topic on rangefinders for today. Be sure to let me know what your favorite rangefinder is in the comments section.

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