How to Choose a Hunting Rangefinder
Hunting Rangefinder FAQ
Look for reliable readings at your practiced archery distances, angle compensation, a readable display, and a size you can handle comfortably. Check the minimum ranging distance as well as the maximum. Triumph HD 850, Crossfire HD 1400, Diamondback HD 2000, and Razor HD 4000 all offer HCD angle-compensated ranging.
HCD means Horizontal Component Distance and displays an angle-compensated horizontal distance for uphill or downhill ranging. LOS means Line of Sight and displays the straight-line distance to the target. Follow your model's instructions and verify your setup during practice.
Maximum reflective-target range and maximum deer range are different specifications. Vortex rates Triumph HD 850 for deer up to 350 yards, Crossfire HD 1400 up to 750 yards, and Diamondback HD 2000 up to 1,400 yards. Razor HD 4000 is rated up to 2,200 yards on deer in ELR mode under favorable conditions. Actual ranging performance varies, and these ratings are not recommended shooting distances.
Crossfire HD 1400, Diamondback HD 2000, and Razor HD 4000 have illuminated displays. Triumph HD 850 uses a black LCD display. Display illumination can help you read the distance against a dark background, but visibility and ranging performance still depend on conditions.
First prioritizes the nearest detected target, Last prioritizes the farthest, and Scan updates distance readings as you move the rangefinder. Available target modes vary by model: Diamondback HD 2000 has Normal and Last, while Triumph HD 850, Crossfire HD 1400, and Razor HD 4000 also have First. A range reading does not confirm that a shooting path is clear.
A rangefinder measures distance to a target. Binoculars are better suited to prolonged two-eye observation and scanning for animals. Carrying both lets you glass with binoculars and check distance with a rangefinder.
