Rangefinder?

[Big Bo]

I want to buy a rangefinder. What can I buy that works for $250 or less?

Do you use a rangefinder?

[ollie]

You cant go wrong with a nikon.

[James Staggs]

depends on what ya want from it, for bowhunting any of them will suffice, for ranging small targets or for max distance the leica 1200 is the least expensive you can get buy with. mine has ranged a deer at 985 yards, the swuaro 1500 will exceed this some, after that you get into major bucks, with the newcom 2200 at the bottom end.
RR

[OrneryCuss]

depends on how far you want to range.
Probably the only one that is at the $250 price point that will hit 1K yards most of the time would be the Newcon. I have tested dozens of Newcons and some just plain don't work well, others will hit 1300+.

For me, if it won't hit beyond 1000 yards I am not interested in it.

The Leica 1200 craps out around 1100 yards
The Bushnell Elite will hit 1600 yards
The Swarovski will hit 2100 yards

[Catfish]

As was already said, unless you what it for bow hunting save your money. I have owned Bushnell, Nicon and Leupold and can tell you that on a coyote they will all range about 1/2 the the range they say at best, and you have to hold them very still to get a reading then.

[xring]

My experience is that the Leica 1200 ( I had the 1200 Scan ) is your best bet if you are happy with 900 ...maybe 950 Yards . There is always some variation in these LRFs . Probably poor Quality Control in the IR Diode Emitters . I preferred the way the Leica felt in my hands , the pressure required to trigger the Laser Beam Switch , and the "reticle"/ finder view thru the optics . The Busnells are a bargain , but they have tremendous differences in their Ranging capabilities . If you can test them out before buying , and you happen to find a good one , that will be your best buy , but I don't know their recent price. The Swaro will way -outrange the Leica . I have Ranged out to somewhere around 1650 Yards , and have not tried for an absolute Maximum Range ( although I think my unit is close to that limit ) since I was happy with anything which would Range roughly 1400 Yards . I think the Leicas are Roughly $500 and the Swaro $850 , but I have not kept track of prices lately . I have to also mention that I got 2 Bad Swaros before I got a good one . My Leica was good out of the box . Make sure you test yours out before going on a hunting trip . Luck !