The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting The rangefinder on safariGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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One of Us |
Is the rangefinder a useful device to have on safari? Or is it just another unnecessary trinket that takes up space in one's luggage and then sits in camp? I am not in the habit of using one for North American hunting, preferring to estimate range, and decline shots that I feel are beyond my and my rifle's ability. Is there anything about African hunting that would cause me to view rangefinders differently? | ||
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| One of Us |
We used one quite a bit in South Africa where shots can be long. I understand the same applies for Namibia. In Zimbabwe it would be a waste of space. | |||
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| One of Us |
I think it depends on where you are hunting and what you are hunting. I liked having on in Nambia where things are mostly wide open and we were hunting plains game, but it wasn't useful in Tanzania for buffalo. | |||
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One of Us |
They are fun in RSA. The best thing about them, is you can leave them with the PH as part of his "tip" | |||
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| One of Us |
I am only a one trip guy, so far, so for what it's worth, I took mine to Namibia, and after the first day, left it back at the ranch. I told the PH I came to hunt and have fun, not shoot long range targets, so we got close. For me, that was a few onces I won't take again. Bfly Work hard and be nice, you never have enough time or friends. | |||
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| one of us |
I've had a rangefinder on each of my safaries. His name is Glen Munger. Seriously, if your PH is worth his salt he'll give you range to your target. TerryR | |||
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One of Us |
I took my range finder not to range but to check after the shot how far.. However, when hunting crocodile they can be your best friend.. shots have to be made percisely and they give you what you need the exact distance... Mike | |||
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One of Us |
Bwanna and I found them useful in South Africa where some of the shots were quite long. And, I agree with Retreever that having one for croc might be very helpful. | |||
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| One of Us |
I plan on taking one to SA this July. Pictures I have seen indicate that there may be shots up or down hill. I use the new range finders that give you the amount of hold over up or down hill. Work very well. Used one on my elk hunt last fall. Have seen people miss terribly on these types of shots. | |||
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one of us |
It depends on wha where and how you hunt. Otherwise it is very usefull. Bowhunting it is very usefull. Hunting in mountainess terrain it is difficult to judge distances. And of course what are you hunting in mountainess terrain some small animals like Klipspringer, mountain reedbuck and vaal reebuck so it can come in very handy. It is a small instrument anyway so the last thing it will do is take up space. You have nothing to loose when bringing along but dont use it yourself you handle the rifle and the ph will handle the rangefinder. Maybe the ph will have one already so find out and then leave yours at home. Frederik Cocquyt I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good. | |||
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| One of Us |
I wondered about that too. I use when here when I sit on cutlines for whitetail, when I first sit down i range objects in each direction for points of reference. I have never time to actually range a nice animal. | |||
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| One of Us |
I had found that a rangefinder unit on it's own was seldom used here in Oz, despite the fact we do some very long range shooting, as it was a pain in the arse getting it out, etc etc. But the Leica Geovid, changes the equation COMPLETELY.......... You can have great glass and a rangefinder in one unit. I used a 10X42 Geovid, on my last hunt in Namibia, my PH loved the bloody thing, especially in the Kalahari and Khomas Hochlands  Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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| One of Us |
boy am i going to start something - i think they're useless. for other than things like steenbok or the like the killing area on the animal is large enough that with a little range practice (we all do that - right?) and a bit of confidence in the rifle you really don't need to know where the animal was at 100 or 125 yards. if you're setting up on croc. spots etc. you know the distance from the blind already. If you're hunting DG 30 or 50 yards really doesn't make much differance. another gadget to take along | |||
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| One of Us |
Here's where mine was really worthwhile. Once we had a leopard feeding and built a blind, I was able to range the exact distance to the bait tree and the limb the cat was going to be sitting on. I then went a few miles away and made sure the rifle I was going to use was spot on at that distance. For that purpose, it was very nice. | |||
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One of Us |
I did the same thing - for leopard - and it really puts your mind at ease to know that the distance from the blind to the tree is the same exact distance for which your rifle is zeroed. I highly recommend that approach. I have also used my rangefinder for the few long shots I have taken at plains game, and have found it very useful for purposes of determining the right amount of holdover for such shots. My advice would be to take your rangefinder along with you. They're small and fit in a pocket. Not a big deal. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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| one of us |
Hunting today is becoming too high tech and I am not sure I like that. I don't use range finders, hi tech scopes and or gimmicks like little red dots and stuff that works of batteries. The scope sight is the only advanced product I use today and its usually a fixed 3X or at best a 2x7... I figure it has to stop somewhere and that is my personal application, not to say that anyone else is bound by my stipulations, I have no problem with anyone using a Buck Rogers Lazer Zappo whatever, its just not for me. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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| One of Us |
I used mine a lot in Namibia last year and am taking it to Zim this year. ____________________________________________ "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett. | |||
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One of Us |
I use one most of the time, here and in Africa. I feel I owe it to the game I hunt to make the most accurate shot I possibly can. I've hunted many years without one, and became very proficient varmit hunting at long range. However, when in open areas of Africa, my PH uses mine. I know when I feel confident and when I need to get closer on spooky game by using my rangefinder. Sometimes, I find it helps me plot an approach on game. Example: if we spot a Kudu bull at 700 yards, I begin to search for objects I can hide behind during my approach. Say I see an acacia bush that is between the Kudu and my approach, I range the acacia and it's 450 yards from my current position. 700 yards minus 450 yards tells me that if I make it to the acacia, I'll be looking at a 250 yard shot, which is within my desired range. If you have one, take it. Good hunting, David Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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| <Hunter Formerly Known As Texas Hunter> |
At the risk of sounding like a reactionary old fart..........I agree with Ray 100%. | ||
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| one of us |
I have one and I took it to Tanzania last year. I did not use it while shooting game, eventhough I carried it every day. The best use on this safari was to take it out during lunch and estimate the distance, asking my PH to estimate also and then confirming the distance with the range finder. You will be supprised at your errors. As time went along, the margin of error lessened greatly. | |||
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