Budget Rangefinders - 5 Top Models Compared
Some hunters aren’t looking for anything fancy, they just want a good reliable rangefinder that tells the distance to the target; linear distance is fine and target priority and angle compensation are luxuries they can do without. Some people use rangefinders more for practice than actual hunting, and these easy on the wallet budget rangefinders are great way for a hunter to practice judging distance, which is an important skill to have when there isn’t time to range an animal.
What to look for:
Price: People looking for a budget rangefinder are obviously looking for a economical rangefinder. Fortunately, many manufactures have a simple entry level rangefinder in their product line. Recently there have been several new entrants into the budget rangefinder category. Most rangefinders in this category will fall in the $100 to $200 price range, but to get a decent quality one expect to stay in the $150+ range as there is some real junk out there.
Magnification: The intended use of these rangefinders will determine what magnification is best. However the six power models seem to be popular as it is a compromise for a rangefinder that might be used at close or distant ranges.
Small size: Many people who purchase a budget rangefinder will use it for hunting purposes, or take it along on hikes and practice estimating distances; therefore; a compact rangefinder is generally preferred.
Quality: As mentioned above these are entry level rangefinders, so look for the units that give you the most value for the money not necessarily the cheapest rangefinder on the market.
Budget Rangefinder Comparison Chart
| Model | Redfield Raider | Leupold RX-600 | Nikon Prostaff 550 | Bushnell Sport 450 | Bushnell Sport 600 |
| Picture |
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| 98(19) | 94(23) | 90(73) | 74(94) | 71(9) | |
| Estimated Price | $170 | $200 | $200 | $150 | $200 |
| Mag. | 6x | 6x | 6x | 4x | 4x |
| Weight | 5oz | 6.8oz | 6.3oz | 7.4oz | 5.3oz |
| L x W x H | 3.7 x 2.2 x 2.8 | 4.2 x 1.6 x 3.0 | 5.1 x 1.5 x 2.7 | 3.9 x 1.7 x 3.1 | 3.8 x 1.4 x 2.9 |
| Reflective | 550 yds | 600 yds | 550 yds | 999 yds | 800 yds |
| Angle Comp | N | N | N | N | N |
Editors Choice: Redfield Raider
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This was basically a two way race between the Leupold RX-600 and the Redfield Raider. Both ultra compact, lightweight, and under $200 made for a tough call. Basically, the only feature these two rangefinders have is a scan feature which allows the operator to hold the range button down and move from target to target while the screen updates the distance, a nice feature but leaves little to compare each other against. The Redfield is smaller in length and height than the Leupold; however the RX-600 is narrower than the Raider. From the reviews, the apparent quality of the two units seems to be comparable so ultimately the price in a budget range finder category seemed to be a logical way to pick a winner between the two; therefore, the Redfield Raider is our pick for top budget rangefinder. |
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