Preparing for my second season hunting deer in north Texas and looking for a rangefinder. Borrowed a basic one last year and looking to purchase something solid. Thoughts?

I have a Vortex Diamondback I picked up at Academy last fall. Works great.

I like my Vortex Razor. Leica is supposed to be the standard for a hunting rangefinder and is what I would get today if I didn't have one. The technology is moving VERY fast though so that may have changed.

One thing you need to consider, make sure you get one with a lighted reticle. You need to be able to range at dusk and dawn and a cheaper rangefinder usually won't come with a lighted and bright reticle.

I had a Leupold rangefinder prior to the Vortex, but after about 6 years the reticle started failing/fading and it became useless. I would not recommend a Leupold. Bushnell and Sig make good rangefinders, as does Leica mentioned above. For my needs, archery and medium range rifle shots the Diamondback is perfect. Plus the Vortex comes with a lifetime warranty. I thought the Leupold did but apparently the reticle wasn't covered.

maddiedou said:

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So Is Arch

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Perfect!

Buy the cheapest shooting vortex you can find and it will range just fine for the distances you'll need. Leica isn't really in the convo for top hunting rangefinders from an electronics standpoint, glass is fine.

I'd also recommend really looking at some furys, ranging binos are a huge convenience. You won't need any of the new ballistics etc. find some used or on clearance and you'll be good.

Great input! So $200 - $1,000, makes sense. I could always use new binoculars, Fury is a viable option.

For flat north texas rifle hunting you can go cheap. If you are going out west or tree stand hunting with bow you need an adjusted for angle rangefinder like the Leopold tbr. I think most have that these days, but you can go cheap.

I've regrettably become a glass snob and use Leica CRF Pro and Geovid Pro. They give a simple uncluttered display for archery and short to mid range rifle hunting. No blue tint.

(If you want instant EHR for archery, you have to go with the Pro model so they are a bit spendy. On older or R models you'll have a 2 second delay between LOS and EHR.)

Fury is on sale at Scheels for $799, regularly $999.

You could go big and get one with Applied Ballistics comps built in.

I have the sig kilo8k-abs.

I usually use it though the AB Quantum app, but it's not 100% necessary as any of your shooting profiles can be uploaded to the unit itself.

Makes pulling a rifle out, ranging a target at 700 (or much more), making the necessary dial or hold, and getting off the shot about a 10-15 second affair.
It pulls all the environmental data, minus wind value/direction, from itself. But it does allow you to input wind value and direction, and the built in compass will give you the proper wind holds upon pulling a range.

It's definitely a cheat code.