I am looking to by a new range finder. The old one I have is too large and bulky. Since I get a free pass to buy my own Christmas present from my wife, I elected to get a range finder.

I was looking at the new Bushnell Legend 1200 ARC. It is around $350. I like the rifle and Bow modes it offers along with other features. The few reviews I have read have been mixed...4 out of 5 stars to 3.5 out of 5.
As much as I hate to admit it, ranging with my eyes in the woods is way off. I missed a nice buck that I thought was 40yds out....turned out it was only 26 yards once I pulled the clunker out of my bag. Did not have time to pull it out to pre-range. Might have had a better chance if it was small enough to fit in my vest pocket.
I can judge distance better over fields out to 200yds but in the woods is another matter.

The small size and arc are nice features that I would like to have, considering I hunt at different heights and angles that I have not practiced at much. Any insight would be helpful and if anyone has used the Legend 1200, let me know what you think of it.

I have an older bushnell yardage pro 800. I love it. Never let me down. Oh, BTW I've heard less than stellar reviews on the leupolds. I'd stick with the bushnell.

This past summer I looked into buying one, after talking with numerous guys using them I noticed a trend. Most had bought a cheaper unit and later moved up to the Leica. All stated they should have spent the money the first time around. Can’t say that any were that disappointed with their first choice it’s just that the Leicas are that good.

Guys I talked to that bought the Leupolds found them hard to operate and figure out.

I should note that most I talked with were mostly long-range hunters/shooters.
Only a few were die hard archery hunters who still switched to the Leica.

Eventually I’ll get one too !!!

I've got a Leupold RX-III and so far I like it. I particularly like the "True Ballistic Range" feature that measures the angle up/down and gives you the actual horizontal distance to the target.

I use a Nikon 1200 & am happy with it.

Realistic maximum range on an elk is over 700yds hand held & I've ranged flat surfaces ot to 1,100yds.



Hey! This post gives me paws four thought.

I've decided that a laser range finder is a necessity also. Leupold was not very popular with their original models but have just come out with a new one, the RX-1000. It is very compact, had a much brighter image than the Nikon, and has a new red LED reticle that is very easy to see in all conditions. Leupold has also simplified it. This is the one that I'm going to get.

Leupold Range Finder

I got the new Leopuld Laser Range Finder. I really like it. Very accurate, I'm getting ranges out to 700 yards so far on trees. Its very clear with a bright image. I may not take my binocs and use these instead. You do have to adjust the reticle brightness. Its generated by a red OLED and unless its on dim its difficult to use at dawn. You have to turn the brightness up during the middle of the day ... or I just take a range then cover with my hand to read the results.

Its light, small, provides reliable readings, and didn't break the bank.

yes a range finder would be nice but my bush stalking doesnt warrent using one. the times I venture out on to the tops it would be handy though. I have seen a rather clever way of doing the range game with a lazer aimer. the scope was as normal and the lazer was mounted under the barrel if the red dot was below the cross hair the range was less than sighted in range if it was above the range was more. now a real clever fella (or felless cant forget the likes of Suz) with a balistic plex crosshair could tell pretty darn close to how far by which dot matched the red one. just food for thought.

Elvis, I don't think you could see the laser's dot at extended distances in daylight. Anyway, that would be illegal where I live.

Pumpkinslinger you sure do have lots of rules over there. the lazer aimer have been common place here for about 10 years they show up well on most surfaces . but are really great in poor light I have used 1 on a .22 magnum shooting hares with a spotlight and the thing that stood out the most was that once the range got out past 125ish the red beam lit the target very well and the hares were clear to see through the scope. these things are common place and even get used in paintball!!!!

I looked at several makes and prefered the Zeiss 8x26T PRF
have not regretted it

I do believe lasers (as an aiming system) are illegal to hunt with anywhere in the States !!!

Elvis, I did mean that it would be illegal for hunting, not to have one. I plan to get one for defensive handguns when I get some more important stuff paid for.

ok pumpkinslinger. I was just putting out a maybe cheap suggestion. I guess your rules are strict for good reason. I have a $2 shop lazer that we use when spotlighting varmits. the guy with the light uses it to point out the targets his semi blind mates cant see. man we arent allowed a defensive anything over here !!! if the dog bites a burgler the dog gets put down!!! guess we are controlled in different ways:-)