Thegrayghost Report post Posted October 17, 2011 Hey guys got my rifle hunt coming up in 36a this Friday. The thing is I don't have a range finder. Hoping to get one but doesn't look like I'll get it in time. I've herd people go with out them so my question is it critical to take a range finder when rifle hunting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted October 17, 2011 It takes the guesswork out of a lot of situations. Even if you are keeping your shots limited to 300 yards, depending on where you have you rifle zeroed, dictates what your point blank range is. This is the maximum range where you can still hold on target and be in the kill zone. So, it's important to know if in fact you are shooting at something within that distance. 300 yards and 400 yards look VERY similar when looking across a canyon at a good buck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azslim Report post Posted October 17, 2011 hunted a long time before range finders were even made, I like having one but it is not mandatory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vegasjeep Report post Posted October 17, 2011 hunted a long time before range finders were even made, I like having one but it is not mandatory. exactly! If you zero in your rifle at 200 yards your fine from 50-300. the difference is not to big of deal. if you are guessing it may be a hair farther than 300 yards holding over about 12 inches will be completely fine! most rifles with a 18-20 inch drop at 400 yards or so. not completely necessary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pwrguy Report post Posted October 18, 2011 What did we ever do without them. Not necessary but sure a handy tool to own. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted October 18, 2011 I've never felt the need for one, but I try to keep my shots under 200 yards whenever possible. The cow elk I shot in August may have been 350 yards out, however, and I couldn't get closer. So I held at the top of its spine with my 7 RM. Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted October 18, 2011 only reason i even use a gun is because it's against the law to stab em and i can't shoot a bow anymore because i wore my shoulder out. i'm so sneaky i can just slide right in and stab em with a big knife, especially midget deer. and when i use a gun i use my .270 with my special handloads that fly perfectly straight for over a mile before they start to drop any. but i still have a range finder and use it often. mainly for when i'm with someone with an inferior weapon, which is anything other than "MY" .270. and to prove to em that i can estimate ranges with my nekked eyeball to the nearest yard at any range. just tellin' em how far it is don't work, i hafta show em electronically. stinkin' technology. Lark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted October 18, 2011 hunted a long time before range finders were even made, I like having one but it is not mandatory. exactly! If you zero in your rifle at 200 yards your fine from 50-300. the difference is not to big of deal. if you are guessing it may be a hair farther than 300 yards holding over about 12 inches will be completely fine! most rifles with a 18-20 inch drop at 400 yards or so. not completely necessary. But the drops you mention mean nothing unless you actually know the distance. What if you think it's a hair over 300, but its a hair over 4? I hunted a long time without one also, but I missed deer because of it. I got off lucky as I could have wounded deer instead of just clean misses. Obvioulsy its not COMPLETELY necessary, but I darn sure wouldn't hunt without one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oz31p Report post Posted October 18, 2011 How good can you guess yardages? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THOR Report post Posted October 18, 2011 How good can you guess yardages? Thats a good point! i have been on hunts when they didnt have a rangefinder or it didnt work and they wounded an animal. i should have had mine but they said they had one. if you can guess yardage well....then that falls on your shoulders. since that trip i always bring mine. if your not good at judging then you, out of respect for the animal, should get one. just my 2 cents....Good luck on your hunt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted October 18, 2011 Hey guys got my rifle hunt coming up in 36a this Friday. The thing is I don't have a range finder. Hoping to get one but doesn't look like I'll get it in time. I've herd people go with out them so my question is it critical to take a range finder when rifle hunting? I have one you can borrow if you want. I won one at the AZ Deer Association banquet and so I have my old one that I won't be taking hunting with me this weekend. email me your address and I can send it out to you if you want. It's an older bushnell, but it works fine. email me: amanda@coueswhitetail.com If I mail it today, you would probably have it tomorrow (wed). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewHunter Report post Posted October 18, 2011 How good can you guess yardages? Thats a good point! i have been on hunts when they didnt have a rangefinder or it didnt work and they wounded an animal. i should have had mine but they said they had one. if you can guess yardage well....then that falls on your shoulders. since that trip i always bring mine. if your not good at judging then you, out of respect for the animal, should get one. just my 2 cents....Good luck on your hunt. +1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bstpeter Report post Posted October 19, 2011 Give this article a try and see if it helps you. It helped me out a bit but you need to practice taking shots at different ranges and then practice, practice, practice some more. This is simple works pretty good from my experience. Good luck hunting:-) http://www.deerhuntersclub.com/tips/long-range-shooting/distance-of-long-range-shots/ My link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chef Report post Posted October 19, 2011 http://www.deerhuntersclub.com/tips/long-range-shooting/distance-of-long-range-shots/ My link This is kind of the Shepherd Scopes' concept except they have circles on the reticles of their scopes. If the animal "fits" in the corresponding circle, that's the holdover. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
308Nut Report post Posted October 19, 2011 Its one of those things that we have come to rely on in the past few years and I rely on them heavily for a lot of reasons and for various circumstances. If I broke, lost or forgot or heaven forbid, had to sell mine to make ends meet, I would not let that stop me from going hunting. I know that having one greatly increases my odds of success and greatly decreases the odds of a wounded loss. That said, I would try and have one at all costs but I would also be happy just to have a tag and be hunting. A good hunter will do the best he can with what he has. Yes there maybe times that a LRF will be the difference between pot roast and tag soup but there are no guarrantees even with an LRF. If I were you, I would not loose any sleep over it. Get out there, have fun and put your skills to the test. Keep us posted in regards your hunt. Happy hunting!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
