Rangfinder Help Wanted.....Needed

17 October 2012, 05:52

ted thorn

This past week I used my Nikon Monarch 800 with no confidence.....

I ranged several Antelope and just got a blank reading....over and over

Even holding down the "range" button to scan did nothing to fix my problems

It is 7 years young with hardly any use and a new battery just days before we left for Colorado...what give here?

17 October 2012, 06:01

kudu56

Have you disconnected and reconnected the battery a couple of times? Reboot so to speak. Worked for me a few years back.

17 October 2012, 06:08

p dog shooter

My bushnell 1600 works very well

17 October 2012, 06:24

ted thorn

Thanks Kudu.....I will hold the two buttons to reset

Todd and p dog.....thanks but I don't want to buy a new unit at this time

17 October 2012, 06:50

RMiller

I have a heck of a time with my Leupold 750. It is so finicky about giving readings. My old Bushnell yardage pro 800 was great for 15 years until it finally wents under.

17 October 2012, 07:20

Solo

I've had zero problems out of my 5 year old Nikon Monarch 800. Hopefully you can get it working.

17 October 2012, 08:18

AnotherAZWriter

Make sure the sending and receiving lenses are hot covered with dust.

17 October 2012, 08:56

graybird

Hey, it's probably operator malfunction.

17 October 2012, 16:48

ted thorn

With just two buttons it's should be a snap buy hey

18 October 2012, 03:23

taylorce1

Ted,

I've tried a lot of range finders over the years with different guys out there chasing pronghorn. The best I ever saw at ranging and being accurate was my buddy Trick's Leica 1200 IIRC worked very well on pronghorn out to 600+ yards. Nikon was decent another guy had but can't remember the model, but my Leupold RB800's binos flat out sucked past 200 yards on a clear day but if it was overcast it would work out to 400 yards very well.

I don't know if it is the light color or what of pronghorn but I feel that they are one of the hardest animals to range. I'm currently in the market for another range finder and I'm hoping to work out a trade on the Leica CRF 1000 really wanted the 1600-B but I'm sure the 1000 will be good enough. I'm sure all the mid range models are far better than what my Leupold's were in 06 when I bought them probably the same can be said for your Nikon.

18 October 2012, 04:50

graybird

Well, it's funny you brought this up Ted. Rick, Dave and myself had a serious discussion about how far some cows were on Friday. Rick ranged them and said whatever number. Dave and I said, "absolutely no way they are that far." So, Dave busted out his range finder, said basically the same thing. I still couldn't believe it, so I got mine out of my pack, it was 2 yards off what Rick originally said. That old red cow was over 200 yards away!

I agree with what Chad says though. The color of antelope has something to do with it. I think it is mainly due to the tan color on the top of their back blending in with the grass color in the distance.

18 October 2012, 07:00

JGRaider

quote:
Originally posted by just-a-hunter:
Ted,

I got a Leupold RX-1000 TBR DNA a few months ago and LOVE it.

On my antelope hunt a couple days ago I first ranged the antelope at 670 yards. I have had no trouble at all with this finder to 800 yards.

Good luck,

Todd

I agree. Been using the RX1000i for about 1 1/2 yrs now and it's excellent.

18 October 2012, 07:08

pagosawingnut

I finally bought a Swarovski. It has ranged all the way out to 1920 yards and it is only supposed to be rated to 1600. Seems to be very accurate. Expensive but worth it.

18 October 2012, 07:21

Geedubya

quote:
Originally posted by taylorce1:
Ted,

I've tried a lot of range finders over the years with different guys out there chasing pronghorn. The best I ever saw at ranging and being accurate was my buddy Trick's Leica 1200 IIRC worked very well on pronghorn out to 600+ yards. Nikon was decent another guy had but can't remember the model, but my Leupold RB800's binos flat out sucked past 200 yards on a clear day but if it was overcast it would work out to 400 yards very well.

I don't know if it is the light color or what of pronghorn but I feel that they are one of the hardest animals to range. I'm currently in the market for another range finder and I'm hoping to work out a trade on the Leica CRF 1000 really wanted the 1600-B but I'm sure the 1000 will be good enough. I'm sure all the mid range models are far better than what my Leupold's were in 06 when I bought them probably the same can be said for your Nikon.

I've had excellent luck with my Leica LRF 1200 scan. I've had them for six years and changed the batteries twice. One button, push twice to range.

In fact, to date, I've not been disappointed with anything "Leica".

Best

GWB

23 October 2012, 00:22

Brice

Yup. After using 3 or four rangefinders, including Leoupold's best, I bought a Leica. Love it.

23 October 2012, 05:49

Aaron Neilson

I would consider losing the range-finder all together, and getting a pair of binos with an internal range-finder. I prefer the Leica Geovids myself, as it just simplifies the whole process. Why carry two items (binos/range-finder), when you can carry just one? Something to consider anyway!

23 October 2012, 05:55

ted thorn

Yea.....not on my wage.....more or diferent equipment is not in the budget

Turns out I had my unit set up for distant target priority
It seems I should of had it on first target priority

23 October 2012, 06:10

graybird

quote:
Originally posted by ted thorn:

Turns out I had my unit set up for distant target priority
It seems I should of had it on first target priority

Hmmm, re-read my first post!!

23 October 2012, 06:51

ted thorn

23 October 2012, 07:13

Doc

quote:
Originally posted by Geedubya:
In fact, to date, I've not been disappointed with anything "Leica".

Best

GWB

Same here! Leica is the best I've used for ranging.

24 October 2012, 02:25

JBoutfishn

When hunting with rifle I use a Leica Rangemaster 1200 with excellent results. When bow hunting I really like the Leupold RX11 True Ballistic Range Finder when different elevations make a huge difference.

I think Aaron is right on with the Geovids. My friend has them and is extremely happy. Only downside I have heard is big $$$.

24 October 2012, 05:04

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by ted thorn:
Yea.....not on my wage.....more or diferent equipment is not in the budget

Yep, I totally get that - it was a suggestion to consider, if the budget allowed for it. Sounds like you've got the problem figured out anyway, good luck!

24 October 2012, 05:14

ztreh

it's called--reflective surface and can cause big problems

24 October 2012, 05:16

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
I think Aaron is right on with the Geovids. My friend has them and is extremely happy. Only downside I have heard is big $$$.

Yep, that's correct. I just bought a new pair of the Leica 10x42 Geovids about 4 weeks ago, and I believe they were $2,300.00 as I recall - ordered from Cabela's. Its painful to spend that much money no doubt, but nothing is more important than good optics IMO.

My previous pair was the same, bought in 2007 - and still worked perfectly. The only reason I bought a new pair was, a client of mine had a BRAND NEW pair of the 15x56 Geovids, and was willing to trade them straight across, for my 5 yr old - used, 10x42's?? I didn't complain, but it did seem like I got the better side of that deal!