Hunter vs. Golf Laser Range Finders

[propman]

First and foremost, I am a golfer and not a hunter. Rumor has it that golf and hunter range finders are pretty much the same product and that the hunter ones are cheaper in price. Can someone provide some examples of some quality ones which are relatively cheap (approx. $200 or less).

 

Thanks,

Propman

[nbg352]

There was a thread about this a few weeks ago....if you can find it, there were some pretty good explanations and prices as well, I believe.

[avgjoe]

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/744409-laser-range-findersgolf-versus-hunting-which-one-to-buy/
and/or search...

[propman]

Guys,

I utilized the search function prior to posting. Thanks anyway. Just would like some suggestions for a hunter range finder to be used for golf.

[hbear]

all the same technology....just different "names" for the modes.

Think about how they work....they do the same thing to find distance.

[theonlybfc]

I tried using a hunting scope that my uncle had lying around. I was having problems with getting it to hit the flagstick instead of the trees and other scenery behind it. It kept giving me the yardage of the background instead of the pin. It was a nikon of some sort. Maybe i just had a bad experience?

[Stuart_G]

No, not a bad experience. The technology might be the same but the logic for determining what range to show is completely different. All golf rangefinders use logic that will pick out a closer lower signal distance (small pin in front of background objects). The inexpensive hunting rangefinders will do the opposite so you can get the correct range to the animal behind small brush. These are less expensive in part because the signal processing circuit is much simpler and doesn't require as accurate or precise a sensor. Yes the target market might have something to do with the higher prices for the golf units but not as much as some might think.

Some of the more advanced (expensive) hunting rangefinders are switchable between the two modes. Those dual mode hunting lasers can be used for golf but if you use the cheaper ones, you can have a hard time getting accurate results to the pin.

[hbear]

I still remember when Bushnell came out with their 1500 series rangefinder....golf vs. hunting versions were IDENTICAL (optics/case/internals/etc.) except for golf they used the term Pinseeker, and for hunting they used Bullseye. Hunting version was $75-100 cheaper.

What you are describing is a functional difference. Hunting models that allow you to range the "closer" target operate in the exact same manner as golf models that do the same....and subsequently will be cheaper as well.

[Stuart_G]

The 1500 series hardly falls under the category of a low cost hunting rangefinder. When people want to save money they usually end up going for something more along the lines of the "sport" models - which doesn't have the "bullseye" mode despite looking identical to the golf tour model.

EDIT:
Did a little research so let's look at some facts. I stuck to Bushnell and used BHPhoto for current pricing

Entry golf rangefinder
Tour v2 ~ $244.95

Hunting rangefinders
Sport 450 $134.95 - no bullseye mode
Sport 850 $159.95 - still no bullseye mode
scout 1000 $249.95 - now we get the bullseye mode and appears to be comparable to the tour v2 although maybe more so with the tour v2 slope model.

[theonlybfc]

Thanks for the insight. I have used a bushnell v2 side by side with the hunting range finder and it had no problem finding the pin so i figured it was more machine than human error.

[PhillyMac]

[quote name='Stuart G.' timestamp='1357808360' post='6202369']
The 1500 series hardly falls under the category of a low cost hunting rangefinder. When people want to save money they usually end up going for something more along the lines of the "sport" models - which doesn't have the "bullseye" mode despite looking identical to the golf tour model.

EDIT:
Did a little research so let's look at some facts. I stuck to Bushnell and used BHPhoto for current pricing

Entry golf rangefinder
Tour v2 ~ $244.95

Hunting rangefinders
Sport 450 $134.95 - no bullseye mode
Sport 850 $159.95 - still no bullseye mode
scout 1000 $249.95 - now we get the bullseye mode and appears to be comparable to the tour v2 although maybe more so with the tour v2 slope model.
[/quote]

I was doing some research on them as well. I would like to know where they are getting the hunting versions cheaper than the golf version. From the prices i was seeing, both types of rangefinders were priced about the same.

[hbear]

Lots of threads about the price difference back during the Pinseeker 1500 vs Elite 1500 days (msrp $50 difference I believe....real life closer to $75-100)

Don't follow Bushnell much anymore but Scout 1000 arc goes for $265 and the Tour V2 Slope goes for $315. Now in this case it's not EXACTLY the same, but would think it's pretty darn close. (didn't shop around, did a quick amazon search)