Today we’re looking at the best rangefinder for long range shooting. I’ve lined up a few candidates for you, so let’s see which one offers you the best performance.
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Choosing the Best Long Range Rangefinder under $1,000
Successful long range shooting requires absolute accuracy. Many rangefinders that claim to be able to range beyond 1,000 yards fall well short of the mark in practice, while too large a beam divergence will have you struggling to hit precise targets at long ranges.
Here are the top models you should consider for long range hunting and shooting. There is very little between these units and your choice will ultimately depend on quite a few personal factors and preferences.
Sig Sauer Kilo 2200MR
Max Rated Range: 3,400 yards (reflective), 1200 yards (deer)
Accuracy: 1/2 yard
Beam Divergence: 1.4 MRAD
Optics: 7×25
Weight: 7.5 oz
Ballistics: AMR (Angle Modified Range for accurate ballistic range)
Highlights:
- Lumatic OLED
- 4x per second scan refresh
- extreme range
- accuracy and speed
- angle compensation with AMR
- adjustable eyecup
- light and compact
- price
How on earth did Sig Sauer produce a rangefinder as good as this for almost half of what competing units cost? That’s the question still buzzing through my head as this magnificent piece of equipment keeps blowing the minds of those who are fortunate enough to hold it and use it.
This is an old school unit, without the sophisticated ballistic computers of more advanced rangefinders, but simply giving you the data you want: angle compensated true ballistic range, farther than you’d probably ever want to shoot.
Yes, this really does range beyond 2,000 yards without batting an eye, and don’t be surprised when you get results on a reflective target over 3,000 yards. Under top conditions you’ll range over 1,000 on animals as well.
The display is excellent, and Sig’s Lumatic OLED technology automatically adjusts the intensity of the display to whatever light conditions you find yourself in. It works really well, and removes the need to fiddle with brightness settings while you’re trying to range.
The 4x per second refresh in scan mode gives you a great chance to get an accurate first result. One of my complaints on the old Kilo 2000 was the size of the aiming reticle – that thing was too big, man. This has been addressed on the 2200, with about a 50% smaller reticle. Beam divergence is excellent for this price range.
At almost 5 ounces lighter and more compact than the Bushnell 1 Mile CONX (discussed below), this unit is easy to handle and store. The adjustable eyecup is a winner as well, helping you find a pleasant eye relief even if you wear glasses.
You don’t get ballistic calculators or other gimmicks, but terrific fast and accurate long range performance.
If you want fast, precise ranging, the Sig Sauer Kilo 2200MR is hard to beat. Whether it improves in true field performance on the Kilo 2000 is not clear though. If you already have a Kilo 2000, I’d say stick with it.
For those who like to keep it simple and not fiddle with tech, look no further. This is your rangefinder for long range shooting, and you sure as heck can’t beat the price for this performance.
The lack of a tripod mount is slightly disappointing and battery life could have been better, but this is still a beast of a unit. And it is made in the USA, even better.
Get reviews and great pricing for the Kilo 2200MR on Amazon.*paid link
See the Kilo 2200MR in action in this video.
Bushnell Hunting Series Elite 1 Mile CONX
Max Rated Range: 1,760 yards (reflective), 600 yards (deer)
Accuracy: 1/2 yard
Optics: 7×26
Weight: 12.1 oz
Ballistics: bullet-drop/holdover in CM, IN, MOA & MIL.
Highlights:
- CONX technology to set up custom ballistic curves via your phone
- Extreme Speed Precision tech (ESP)
- VSI (Variable Sight-in)
- Rifle mode
- Bullseye, Brush and Scan modes
- Waterproof
- Tripod mount
Bushnell’s Elite 1 Mile CONX is a solid entry into the long range shooting segment.
If offers you a host of ballistic options, including bullet drop/holdover displayed in CM, IN, MOA and MIL, while the CONX tech allows you to load up to three custom ballistic curves via your phone. This is excellent, as you can use proper ballistic apps to generate a profile for your rifle and ammo and load that data straight into the rangefinder via bluetooth.
This functionality goes even further as, with the use of Kestrel Windmeters, you can incorporate that additional environmental data into the existing holdover values. This offers you a whole new level of accurate ballistic data, but at a price of course.
The app still seems to need some fine tuning and sometimes have trouble connecting, but there’s certainly a lot of potential here. Out on a hunt though, you’re still best off loading three profiles for your weapon to cover whatever weather or conditions you expect to encounter.
For the rest, you have all the technologies and performance you’ve come to expect from Bushnell. The second generation E.S.P. technology gives fast, accurate readings up to 1/10th yard display precision and 1/2 yard accuracy.
The Bullseye (for first target priority) and Brush (for background objects) modes, as well as a continuous scan mode help you to fix and range the right targets.
The unit is completely waterproof to handle those sudden rainstorms or an unplanned dunk into a puddle, and the tripod mount is always handy.
Overall, the Bushnell 1 Mile CONX offers a lot of exciting technology that still needs to grow into itself, and it will definitely become more valuable should Bushnell offer integration with a wider range of ballistic apps as time goes by. Hopefully that happens, as it feels a little gimmicky at the moment.
Optics and performance are all excellent on this unit, but it does struggle to range out to a mile. Up to the rated range of 600 yards for deer and similar animals it does a fine job though, which is good news for hunters.
This is a unit for hunters and shooters who love technology and toying with all the intricacies of ballistics calculators and data. If you just want a rangefinder that can angle compensate to give you true ballistic range without all the bells and whistles, look elsewhere.
Get reviews and pricing for the Bushnell Elite 1 Mile CONX on Amazon.*paid link
See the 1 Mile CONX in action:
Leica Crf 2700-B
Max Rated Range: 2700 yards
Optics: 7×24
Beam divergence: 0.5 x 1.2 MRAD
Weight: 6.5 oz
Inclinometer: EHR (Equivalent Horizontal Range) up to 1,200 yards
Ballistics: ABC (angle, temperature, barometric pressure & ammunition) up to 1,000 yards
Highlights:
- Small, precise aiming point
- Light and compact
- EHR inclinometer & ballistics engine
- Excellent optics
- Accurate
- Great range
The Leica 1600-B was one of my favorite rangefinders. Hard to come by now in 2019, I will instead point you towards the new 2700-B.
This is a light, compact unit. If that’s the type of rangefinder you like to use, add some points on your sheet in favor of the Leica right away. A slight indent at the top fits the hand perfectly and makes this a very comfortable rangefinder to hold.
The compactness can, however, be a drawback, as two-handed operation is not possible or at least not too comfortable with this unit. It all depends on how you like to shoot.
The 2700-B features the EHR inclinometer to help you find true horizontal range on those inclined shots, providing holdover corrections as click values. You also get Leica’s advanced ballistics engine, which measures air pressure, temperature and angle. A new addition to this model is the ability to program ballistics profiles via a microSD card.
The major drawback of the Leica is the eyepiece, which isn’t particularly comfortable, but fortunately this is a fast rangefinder and it’s probably not going to bother you much. Measurements appear in 0.3 seconds, which is damn near immediate.
If you like your rangefinders lightweight and compact, but with excellent performance, lots of data and optics, the Leica will not disappoint. It is a fast, highly accurate rangefinder with a small beam divergence for hitting those tiny targets at extreme range.
Get Leica 2700-B pricing on Amazon.*paid link
See this video review of the Leica 1600-B (it explains a lot of the features still present in the 2700-B):
See this video from Leica as a highlight reel of the 2700-B:
Best Rangefinder for Long Range Shooting: The Choice
These are all excellent rangefinders. Your choice will ultimately depend on your budget, personal preference and what distance you propose to shoot. Let’s try to summarize to help you decide.
Get the Sig Sauer Kilo 2200MR *paid link if:
– you don’t need ballistics calculators
– you want the best technology and performance available under $500
– you want extreme ranging capacity
Strongest points: Price, range, performance, optics, accuracy
Get the Bushnell Elite 1 Mile CONX *paid link if:
– you need advanced custom ballistics
– you love technology
– you don’t need distances beyond a mile
Strongest points: Promising technology, lots of ballistics data, great performance, variable sight-in
Get the Leica 2700-B *paid link if:
– you like a small, compact rangefinder
– you need ballistic and environmental data
– you want to range small animals at long range
– you’re willing to take the time to set the unit up on the firing range
Strongest points: Optics clarity, range, ballistic and environmental info, fast readouts
Hopefully this information will help you pick the best rangefinder for long range shooting for your personal needs.