How to Buy a Laser Rangefinder

Determining how your laser rangefinder will be used is the first step in ensuring that you choose the most useful model for your application. There are rangefinders that can be used for hunting, golf, or surveying. This article will focus on hunting rangefinders.

When a rangefinder reads the first object in its line of view and ignores further objects, the rangefinder is said to be in a first priority mode. If it ignores the first object and sees past it to a more distant object the unit is said to be in a second priority mode.

Priority differences

The First Priority Rangefinder is extremely useful on the course. There is generally nothing between you and the flag, assuming the flag is not hidden. All rangefinders have the first priority mode. If you want to range at a flag located about 100 yards away, the flag will display 100 and not 130 which could be due to the trees behind the flag.

Second priority rangefinders are more useful for hunting. A second priority rangefinder used as in the previous paragraph would certainly read the trees at 130 yards and ignore the flag 30 yards closer. Hunting situations often require you to be in a blind, or partially covered by leaves or limbs. The hunting rangefinder or second priority rangefinder would ignore any object within its line of sight, such as branches, and instead read the closest object, which could be a deer.

Can you use a golf rangefinder (first priority) for hunting? Absolutely. Can you use a hunting rangefinder (second priority) for golf? Certainly. But the product most closely designed for your intended purpose would be more user-friendly and not require multiple readings or switching modes to ensure the correct distance. Some laser rangefinders allow you to switch between second priority modes temporarily using a "bullseye", "pinpoint" button, or semi-permanently by switching priorities semi-permanently.

Distance

Rangefinders are sold and marketed under names that imply the maximum readable distance capable with that unit. This is the biggest misconception consumers have about these units. One unit might be described as a 1500 yard rangefinder. However, it is only possible under ideal atmospheric conditions and reflective large surfaces.

For instance, without a lot of glare and air pollution and heat waves on a cool day under a cloudy sky, you may be able to range a smooth white metal pole barn at 1500 yards. If you add sun, rain, snow, heat mirage, or reduce the target's size, or darken or increase the color or texture, then NO! Maybe many hundreds of yards less. In ideal conditions, you might see your pole barn at 1500 feet, a dark, rocky hill at an angle of 1100 yards, and a truck at This Site 900 yard. A tree can be seen at 700 yards. A deer can be seen at 450 yards and a flag at green at even lower distances. A deer can usually be seen at a distance of around one-third the maximum range and nearly always within half the distance. Make sure to check the specifications of your manufacturer.

Reticles and Aiming Points

A reticle is the crosshair (or aiming point or circle) you see when looking through your rangefinder. Some reticles have black lines you can superimpose on the object you wish to range. These reticles can be difficult to see against dark backgrounds or low light conditions, such as shadows. Some reticles (or aiming points or circles) appear illuminated because they are actually LED lights. The brightness of these LEDs is invariably adjustable. There are two problems with LED reticles: in bright light they can be drowned by the ambient lighting so they are difficult to see. In the evening when your eyes adjust to nighttime, the reticles (or circles) are bright enough that they ruin your night vision, even at the lowest settings. You are not able to see past the bright reticle. These issues are not limited to reticles. They also affect other information on your screen, such as yardage numbers or modes.

The best of both worlds, in my opinion, is a black reticle and information with a button for backlighting. The backlighting is much less intense than in an LED, and gives you the capability to view your information in all light conditions.