Laser rangefinders have been a popular choice for many people for good reasons. This is because they can give you accurate readings of up to a mile or even more. Even at the very least, you can find very few rangefinders in the market that range accurately to about 300 or 400 yards.
This is the distance that many hunters may ever hit a target. No wonder, a budget rangefinder is becoming increasingly popular, though it can be tricky to get the one that suits you. This page discusses what to consider before buying laser rangefinders.
Magnification
One of the important considerations when choosing a rangefinder is magnification. This is a critical factor because many hunters find the animals long distances away. And, it’s almost impossible to view them without magnification.
For example, an x rangefinder allows you to see the object that will appear six-times bigger than it usually looks when you use normal vision. As a result, it’s easier to put the aiming point on the target.
Remember that you can find some companies that are now making binoculars featuring built-in rangefinders. These can be handy because they may have a higher magnification of about 10x or even more. Therefore, magnification has allowed getting the range of the target that is far away much easier. These optic devices can sometimes be expensive, but it’s worth the investment because they stand for two tools.
Reticle
The aiming point is also called the reticle refers to the feature that is in the center of the viewfinder. This is where you put on anything you are attempting to range on so that you can have an accurate and safe shot.
For most rangefinders, you need to hold the reticle on the target and press a button so that you can activate the laser. When you do this, the laser beam gets to the object and then bounces to get back to the rangefinder. This can divide the distance to the target and back by two and shows the range on your screen.
Some reticles can be easy to hold steady on the target to be ranger compared to others. Because choosing the best reticle usually depends on your preferences, so you need to try a couple of rangefinders out before you decide to buy one.
Weapon of choice
Rangefinders are essential pieces of equipment you need regardless of the type of weapon you intend to use to hunt. However, different types of hunting need different capabilities from the rangefinder, so you need to be careful when choosing a rangefinder.
If you want to rifle hunt somewhere in a wide-open country, perhaps a rangefinder featuring an extended range can be useful for distances of up to 1,000 yards or more. But if you bow hunt regularly, distance ceases to be important because there are features that can help you.
These features deal with the distance to a target and a tree stand’s height to offer you an extra distance. Note that if you usually use archery equipment to hunt but decide to use a rifle to hunt occasionally in open country, then you need to get a rangefinder that can range up to 600 yards because it can work well for both applications.
Long-range shooting
There is an increasing popularity in long-range target shooting, making it important to find the right equipment. Rangefinders are now reaching out to this growing shooting sport to provide accurate reading. This is because when you are further away from the muzzle, the bullet falls faster. So when the bullet is falling a couple of feet more than 100 yards, you need to figure out the exact range to shoot accurately.
If this is your favorite sport, then you need to find a rangefinder that has great magnification. This is because more power is always needed at longer distances. Besides, some companies are manufacturing rangefinders that work with scopes to automatically adjust the reticle of the scope and read the distance. If you prefer long-range shooting, you need to research before purchasing a rangefinder because several companies are offering appealing features to cater to your needs.
Lens coatings
Lens coatings also play a huge role in rangefinders as they can affect how clearly you see the target you are attempting to range. If it’s impossible to see the target clearly, it can be hard for you to hold the rangefinder to get the distance. Also, if you can find the distance, it’s unlikely that you can make a perfect hit.
While you can’t find many rangefinders that have fully-coated lenses, there are still various models that are multi-coated or at a minimum coated. It’s worth noting that the lens coating assists to break the glare as well as increasing light transmission via the lens. This makes it easier for you to see clearly through your rangefinder, especially in low-light conditions.
Size
Size is another crucial factor you need to consider before buying a rangefinder. You see, when rangefinders came into the market, most of them were large and bulky. They were still effective, but it was challenging to carry them around when hunting. Today, you can find many laser rangefinders that are pretty small, and some of them can even be regarded to be tiny.
Regardless of your choice, it’s important to make sure that the rangefinder fits your hand perfectly. It should also place your finger next to the button to activate the laser. However, if your hands are large, then the smallest devices may not be suitable for you.
If you purchase a tiny rangefinder, make sure that you choose a part in your pack, or anywhere you keep the gear, and be sure to put it back in the same place. If you forget to do this, there are good chances that you may spend a lot of time searching for the rangefinder instead of focusing on other necessary issues while hunting in the field.
