Keep These 3 Things In Mind When Buying Your Next Rangefinder

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

So, you’re in the market for a rangefinder. Rangefinders might possibly be the most important hunting accessory for those hunters who prefer to eliminate the uncertainty that comes with every shot. It can be rather daunting trying to find the perfect one for your own personal preferences, and hunting needs.

It gets even more intimidating when you realize just how many different Rangefinder brands are out there, along with how their functions vary between different models and manufacturers. The goal today is to ease the burden that comes with finding the ideal rangefinder for you.

Here’s three important things to keep in mind while rangefinder shopping!

What Sort of Hunting do you Plan on Using Your Rangefinder for?

First of all, it’s important to note that there are a couple different categories that most hunting rangefinders fall into – each serves a vastly different purpose and are meant to service different sorts of hunting methods.

The majority of rangefinders will be meant for either rifle-hunting, archery, and precision shooting. Now if you’re interested in taking a look at some of the most popular and well regarded models, consider taking a look at a blog post online to help find the Best Rangefinder for you. All of the info is up-to-date with accurate breakdowns of the best features and specs of each model. 

If you’re planning on hunting with a rifle, you’ll probably want to go with a laser rangefinder that will accurately detect reflective targets from up to 1500 yards. You probably won’t need to spot targets from such a distance, but it’ll assist you in taking precision shots from 500-1000 yards away – depending on what you’re hunting, that is.

For the bow-hunters, you obviously won’t be looking to hit distant targets, so you don’t need a laser rangefinder, rather you want something that has software meant to help you take those shots that require you to compensate for more extreme angle shots that may prove awkward to hit otherwise.

How far do you Plan on Shooting?

Now it starts to get a bit more complicated when you need to take precision shots at much longer distances. Stability is key, and you’ll want to look for a rangefinder with a tightly focused laser that can identify more distant targets without getting confused by the landscape.

Models that come with steadier tripods are another important thing to look for, you’ll want to take into account the exact distance you want to shoot for. So look for each rangefinder’s maximum shooting distance while browsing to narrow down your selection.

Understanding how Rangefinders Work

Lastly, it’s important to have an understanding of how these things work. Laser rangefinders function by pointing a laser at your target which then returns to your device. The distance between you and your desired target is then measured by the time it takes your device to hit the respective target then return to your rangefinder. 

Sounds relatively simple, I know, but there’s a lot more going on, depending on which model and brand you’ve chosen.

See, it’s not nearly as complicated as you might think! Rangefinders will continue to be a vital asset for hunters of all kinds, and it’s worth knowing exactly what to look for.

Thanks for reading, and happy hunting, folks!