Todays my b-day, wife says I can get a range finder

Bushnell 1600 is the gold standard. But any of their products are excellent. There are other good options too. Clean versions of the Nikon 500G come up on ebay now and then, that's a terrific unit.

Bushnell Tour V2

Bushnell Pro 1600 Tournament if you are a tournament golfer or the slope if you're not. Best on the market.

If she's got you on a budget the V2 is very nice as well.

You can get a Bushnell 1500 (older one) that works great as well for a discount. Prob run you abt $300.

Leupold better optics.

Most of the pro caddies use Bushnell 1600. They could use whatever they want and this is what they choose. I have had a 1500 for 4 years. It broke once and they sent me a new one with no questions asked.

I just got a Leupold GX-4. A few of the guys that I play with have Bushnells (1600, V2) and one has a Callaway/Nikon one. The OLED and reported better optics of the Leupolds had me considering the GX-2 or GX-4. I don't play in any tournaments, so no issue with the slope feature. I thought the 1600 was a little bulky, but some have reported that they have an easier time with it because you handle it like binoculars. I didn't mind that the V2 or the Nikon is in a vertical position, which is the same for the Leupolds. If you search around, you can find the GX-2 for around $300.

I don't think you could go wrong between Bushnell and Leupold. Probably will come down to the little features each model has.

For that price point, you're pretty much into either the bushnell 1600 (288 on amazon) or the leupold gx1 (280 on amazon). The OLED leupolds are a bit pricier.

From there it's pretty much up to you if you like a binocular style (1600) or upright single hand unit (gx 1). Both are excellent rangefinders. The biggest knock on the leupold is the distance being way up at the top and kind of hard to read against trees. The 1600 is kind of bulkier. I like the binocular style and own a 1500.

[quote name='Dr. Bombay' timestamp='1298650930' post='3008252']
Bushnell 1600 is the gold standard. But any of their products are excellent. There are other good options too. Clean versions of the Nikon 500G come up on ebay now and then, that's a terrific unit.
[/quote]

Bushnell 1600 is absolutely the best I've used.

I agree the bushel is awesome

what about the nikon monarch 800 hunting ones?

Also, Ive got a $50 off coupon that expires today for golfsmith.

They have the V2 for 299, minus 50, and the leupold gx3 for 399, and the gx1 for 299, plus 50 off of each.

I would like one that is tournament legal, and also, my home course does not have the crystals on the flags, but I know the yardages from everywhere on the course by heart lol so it'd be used mostly for new courses/travel rounds.



Im kind of torn as to if I really need one or if I should use the $$ for something else?

Get the new bushnell hyrbid laser rangefinder with the built in GPS. Best of both worlds. It retails for $500, I think, but I'm sure it's must cheaper on ebay.

500 doesnt fit my budget, and if Im gonna get something, I'd prefer for it to have a warranty/in person with receipt in case of any issues

I have had a 1500 a while now and never a bit of trouble. I'm not sure about the optics comment, it's not ED glass from Nikon and I have always felt it was money well spent. Also, most better ones have a pin seeker function, no crystal needed.

Bushnell Medalist

Same engine/optics and warranty as the other Bushnells at a much friendlier pricepoint. Plus it uses a 9 volt battery ou can replace at the 7-11 on the way to the course!

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1298667035' post='3008730']
500 doesnt fit my budget, and if Im gonna get something, I'd prefer for it to have a warranty/in person with receipt in case of any issues
[/quote]

Just checked on ebay. Not much of a discount on it yet since it is so new. They're still going for about $470. Yeah, having the warranty (peace of mind) is a plus.
BTW, I have a GX-1 and it works great. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but it does the job nicely. Small and compact. My only gripe is the non-standard battery (ie, not AAA or AA) which, BTW, I have yet to replace after a year.

so the medalist and the v2 are pretty much one in the same?????

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1298667427' post='3008756']
so the medalist and the v2 are pretty much one in the same?????
[/quote]

Externally, no. Internally, damn close.

You hold the medalist like binoculars, and hold the v2 like sideways binoculars.

The Medalist is slightly larger and uses a 9 volt battery, I'm not sure but I think the v2 uses a smaller cr sized battery.

I can get pins and "numbers" as fast and effectively as ANY rangefinder on the market.

I once shot a flag in a second at 1150 yards. Bushnell w/pinseeker is no brainer. Have fun!

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1298670242' post='3008855']
I can't help it ... wife says??? OK..... Bushnell Pro Tournament Ed 1600
[/quote]


Yeah, thats what I wrote. Im not going to buy myself a birthday gift, plus Im a full time student, so a 300 dollar birthday gift is nothing to shake a stick at. Also, the 1600 is out of the price range, but thanks for reading the thread!

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1298670242' post='3008855']
I can't help it ... wife says??? OK..... Bushnell Pro Tournament Ed 1600
[/quote]
What is so funny about that?

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1298678391' post='3009184']
[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1298670242' post='3008855']
I can't help it ... wife says??? OK..... Bushnell Pro Tournament Ed 1600
[/quote]
What is so funny about that?
[/quote]

Pepper always has something positive to say!!!

Sorry, I should have titled the thread "I told my wife she's buying me a rangefinder, and dinner better be ready for me when I get home or else she can sleep in the yard."

Being a d**khead doesn't make you a man, pepper.

[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1298683166' post='3009377']
Sorry, I should have titled the thread "I told my wife she's buying me a rangefinder, and dinner better be ready for me when I get home or else she can sleep in the yard."

Being a d**khead doesn't make you a man, pepper.
[/quote]

you're awfully sensitive .. no sense of humor do you feel like a man calling me a name online... I hope so...

Leupold. I just order my GX-3. Called Discount Dans and got one on the way to me.

[quote name='Pepperturbo' timestamp='1298683421' post='3009388']
[quote name='fore_life' timestamp='1298683166' post='3009377']
Sorry, I should have titled the thread "I told my wife she's buying me a rangefinder, and dinner better be ready for me when I get home or else she can sleep in the yard."

Being a d**khead doesn't make you a man, pepper.
[/quote]

you're awfully sensitive .. no sense of humor do you feel like a man calling me a name online... I hope so...
[/quote]

Im not sensitive nor am I trying to be an internet tough guy, its just that I swear, everything you post is negative. Anyways.

Leupold GX3 from Ebay...