Using rangefinder as binoculars while scouting for deers?

[Saltyfish FI]

So in Finland it is almost time for roe deer spring buck hunt. I need to do some optics investment and was wondering if anyone is using rangefinder to spot deers? I have option to buy used Leica rangefinder with ballistics or Steiner binoculars with rangefinder. Steiner is almost 900€ used and Leica is like half of that. I was wondering if optics in that Leica is good enough to use as binoculars? So if anyone has experience of using rangefinder i would like to hear.

 

[HonestJohn]

That’s a firm ‘no’ in my book. Stick with glass binoculars and a compact laser range finder in your pocket. LRF binoculars really need to go into the 2000 -3000 euro range to be any good, again, in my book..

 

[deerstalker.308]

If money is the limiting factor go for the best binoculars you can afford, you can estimate range (certainly well enough for every day shooting) but you can’t make up for poor optics and spotting in low light.

 

[Saltyfish FI]

I actually have good pair of 8x56 but probaply going to sell those. 1,3 kg is too much for moving hunt. Was wondering if that Leica 2800 would be enough or do i still need pair of bino. Steiner is military model and is roughly 2k€ new so i guess those might work also.

 

[Saltyfish FI]

If money is the limiting factor go for the best binoculars you can afford, you can estimate range (certainly well enough for every day shooting) but you can’t make up for poor optics and spotting in low light.

Well i have good 8x56 bino but most likely will sell those. Weight is too much to carry around when hunting. I want to get rid of all extra weight and go as light as possible. Maybe i will get something like 8x30 bino and that rangefinder. Weight will be less if you compare to my old ones.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Well i have good 8x56 bino but most likely will sell those. Weight is too much to carry around when hunting. I want to get rid of all extra weight and go as light as possible. Maybe i will get something like 8x30 bino and that rangefinder. Weight will be less if you compare to my old ones.

my Leica range finder bins may be heavy compared to a smaller pocket set, but I’d gladly carry them all day long, id sooner shift a pound or two off the waist than forgo quality optics designed for a purpose.

 

[deerstalker.308]

(But I do appreciate you are coming from Finland, which generally means above average levels of fitness and significantly more rugged terrain than here in the uk as a rule, so totally prepared to retract the previous advice, my stalking is very local and I never need to hike miles with all my hunting gear!)

 

[Cyres]

Get a cheap thermal. Buy the SH Leica monocular rangefinder. I use one all the time. I never use my Geovids for deer stalking.
Look at Pixfar Mile 2 thermal will do all you need an about £500.
You will spot more deer with a thermal than your bins.

Caveat are thermals legal in your country.?
D

 

[Saltyfish FI]

Get a cheap thermal. Buy the SH Leica monocular rangefinder. I use one all the time. I never use my Geovids for deer stalking.
Look at Pixfar Mile 2 thermal will do all you need an about £500.
You will spot more deer with a thermal than your bins.

Caveat are thermals legal in your country.?
D

They are but with limitations. I will get one in few years when they improve a little and prices for decent units will go down.

 

[VSS]

Is a range finder really necessary?
I've never used one, so can't really comment either way, but it seems to me to be a superfluous bit of kit if you're shooting at normal stalking distances (eg, sub 250m). Anything up to that distance is just "point and press" anyway.
(I measure my distances afterwards, in paces, when I'm walking to the deer!).

 

[sh1kar]

Is a range finder really necessary?
I've never used one, so can't really comment either way, but it seems to me to be a superfluous bit of kit if you're shooting at normal stalking distances (eg, sub 250m). Anything up to that distance is just "point and press" anyway.
(I measure my distances afterwards, in paces, when I'm walking to the deer!).

Not sure what Finland terrain is like but when hunting for chamois in Macedonian mountains shots were 300-400 yards

 

[Stalker62]

I've never used one, so can't really comment either way, but it seems to me to be a superfluous bit of kit if you're shooting at normal stalking distances (eg, sub 250m).

Irony followed and parochialism in one sentence.

Well played.

 

[Acm]

So in Finland it is almost time for roe deer spring buck hunt. I need to do some optics investment and was wondering if anyone is using rangefinder to spot deers? I have option to buy used Leica rangefinder with ballistics or Steiner binoculars with rangefinder. Steiner is almost 900€ used and Leica is like half of that. I was wondering if optics in that Leica is good enough to use as binoculars? So if anyone has experience of using rangefinder i would like to hear.

I’m sure you could make it work, but I’d rather the bino’s with the range finder built in. Cheaper in the long run, as you’ll almost certainly want bins again at some point.

 

[Cyres]

Thermals are cheaper now than ever. Hik Falcon is about £1.6k and concensus is it is the best thermal for the money market wide. Thermals and hand held rangefinder is all you need.. If your on a 200m zero you don't really need a RF anyway.
D

 

[old 30-06]

Cyres, "Thermals are CHEAPER now than ever. Hik Falcoln is about £1.6k". I do not live in your world.

 

[.270s202]

I have leica geovid r 10x42, wouldn't be without them now.

 

[Saltyfish FI]

Well i not sure if i want thermal scope or other thermals. Would prefer traditional optics for hunting. Might buy one at some point but just to spot animals at night, not for hunting. The only thing I would use a thermal sight for hunting ethically is a raccoon dog. It is an invasive species here and causes problems with native species.

 

[Kalahari]

I have a little Leica rangefinder which is very clear and would certainly bail me out if I forgot my bins.

David.

 

[2-dead-in-the-air]

I have Leica geovids rangefinder, they are excellent, a great tool.

 

[Heym SR20]

Get decent binoculars.

Any scope with a duplex, 4A or similar reticle has a built in range finder. You just need to look up how far the thick bars are apart at 100 and 200m, and a Roe or Red deer looks compared to the reticle at max comfortable shooting range. If it is smaller get closer.

I know on my scope that if a roe is longer than the verticle to the thick horizontal its in range.