Comparing The Best Hunting Rangefinders (2025 Buying Guide)

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Last Updated on February 2, 2025 by Jason Tome

I conducted in-depth research on the best hunting rangefinders available at various price points. To ensure a well-rounded analysis, I gathered information from multiple sources, including blogs, YouTube reviews, forums, product ratings, and user feedback. I then cross-referenced these insights to identify the overall consensus on each product. Additionally, I applied my personal experience with rangefinders to refine my selections further.

To make comparisons easier, I created a detailed spreadsheet outlining key specifications for each rangefinder. This includes weight, angle compensation and ballistics, range, optics, display type, battery life, waterproofing, and warranty. The spreadsheet was useful for adding important but repetitive specs that didn’t need to take up space in the article.

The post is affiliate link-free. However, the free Excel spreadsheet includes Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through those links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. [Learn more here.]

2025 Rangefinder Spec Comparison Spreadsheet
Download the Excel file to get access to the links and the ability to copy-paste

By evaluating real-world user experiences alongside technical specifications, you can determine whether these rangefinders truly perform as well as they appear on paper.

Sig Sauer KILO 1000 BDX

Range: Sig Sauer Kilo 1000 BDX Product Photo
Best Budget Long-Range: Sig Sauer Kilo 1000 BDX

Summary

The Sig Sauer KILO 1000 is tied for the least expensive rangefinder on this list. Even though it is one of the least expensive rangefinders, it is still one of the best rangefinders for the money. It’s one of the best hunting rangefinders for long-range shooting because of its Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) system.

Angle Compensation & Ballistics

What sets this rangefinder apart from the other rangefinders in its class is the Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX). Using a free phone app you can enter your ballistics which then BlueTooth’s the information to your rangefinder. At this point, your rangefinder will provide distance, elevation holdovers, and windage adjustments.

There are three ways to use BDX:

  • BDX Rangefinder With Regular Scope
  • BDX Rangefinder Bluetooth To Sig Sauer BDX Scope
  • Or you can use a BDX Scope by itself

The BDX system is very useful for precise shooting at long ranges because it is a more accurate calculation than using standard angle compensation. BDX will work out to 800 yards, which is as far as the majority of hunters will be shooting, especially with the capabilities of this rangefinder.

For shorter ranges, BDX may not be necessary. In this case, you can use Angle Modified Range (AMR) which is Sig Sauer’s angle compensation mode. This works great for short-range shooting and bowhunters.

Range

This rangefinder can pick up deer out to 600 yards on deer in good conditions. For most hunters, which is more than enough for the vast majority of hunters. This is why this rangefinder earns the title of the best budget long-range rangefinder.

The 1000BDX can also range trees at 800 yards and reflective targets (like targets) out to 1200 yards. So if you’re looking to do long-range shooting practice in addition to long-range hunting, this rangefinder may cover all your bases.

Optics

This is a 5x magnification rangefinder with a 7.5º field of view (not sure why Sig Sauer uses degrees and not FOV @ 1000 yards). Because of the low magnification, the field of view is wide which helps you to find animals faster in the optic, especially at closer ranges.

Because it is a 5x zoom it has a wide field of view which allows you to find animals faster than higher magnification alternatives. This zoom option makes it a good option for those short to medium ranges.

Display

The display is called HT-LCD or High-Intensity Liquid Crystal Display. This display is bright enough for all conditions but does not have a Lumatic Display which auto-adjusts brightness depending on the light (which the other Sig Sauer Rangefinders on this list do have).

Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W

Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Product Photo
Best Value: Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W

Summary

There is a lot to like about the Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W. First, it is tied for the most affordable rangefinders on this list. This rangefinder model is one of the best hunting rangefinders for the money because of the price and its ability to be used by both rifle hunters and bowhunters.

Angle Compensation & Ballistics

The 1400i is small and light for carry-ability and offers bow angle compensation (Bow-Mode) and rifle angle compensation (True Ballistic Range – Wind (TBR-W)), and has options to view either the line of sight (LOS) or true distance.

You can also enter up to 25 cartridges into the TBR settings making it easy to change between different cartridges for different hunts. TBR/W mode works up to 800 yards for most cartridges.

Range

The minimum range distance is about 6 yards with the maximum being 900 to 950 yards when ranging animals. This means the Leupold RX-1400i would make a great rangefinder for both rifle hunters and bow hunters because of its ability to range accurately at close and far distances and has dedicated modes for both rifle hunters and bowhunters.

This is also would make a great long-range shooting rangefinder because it can reach longer distances of 1200 yards on trees, and 1400 yards on more reflective surfaces, like reflective targets.

Optics

This is a 5x magnification rangefinder with a 368-foot Field of View (FOV) at 1000 yards. This is a wide field of view which helps you to find animals faster in the optic, especially at closer ranges.

Because it is a 5x zoom it has a wide field of view which allows you to find animals faster than rangefinders with a higher zoom. This zoom option makes it a good option for those short to medium ranges.

Display

The red-illuminated TOLED (Transmissive Organic LED) display is nice compared to a non-illuminated rangefinder because it allows you to see better in lower-light situations which is when a lot can happen for hunters.

I could not determine if the 1400i had a dimmable display from looking online or in the manual so I called Leupold and confirmed that the TOLED has 3 adjustable brightness settings for optimal viewing in low-light and bright light.

Leupold RX-4 Full Draw

Leupold RX-4 Full Draw Bow Hunting Rangefinder Product Photo
Leupold RX-4 Full Draw: Best Bow Hunting Rangefinder

Summary

The Leupold RX-4 Full Draw was specifically designed for bowhunters which makes it one of the best bowhunting rangefinders. Although most of the rangefinders on this list would make great rangefinders for bow hunting because of their angle compensation modes, the RX-4 takes archery accuracy and ballistics one step further.

Angle Compensation & Ballistics

The RX-4 Full Draw uses Trig-H mode to calculate regular angle compensation. In addition to Trig-H Mode, you can also enter your bow setup information into the Archers Advantage software in the RX-4 to calculate your arrow ballistics. To do this all you need is arrow speed, total arrow weight, and peep height. This calculation will work out to 175 yards.

With your ballistic information entered, the RX4 rangefinder uses FlightPath technology to show you the highest arc of your arrow at any given range. This is represented by a line and lets you know if there is any obstructions in your way at the peak of your arrow flight. This is handy for shooting over and under obstacles, like sticks, when hunting

For rifle hunters, you have the option to use Line of Sight (LOS) mode. When LOS is used in combination with a ballistics calculator you will be able to accurately shoot long-range.

Range

The minimum range distance is about 6-yards with the maximum being 900-yards when ranging animals. The Archers Advantage ballistic information works up to 175 yards. As you can see it can range plenty far for a bowhunter.

As mentioned, the rangefinder has angle compensation for short to medium-range rifle shooting. It also has Line of Sight mode for long-range shooting so this rangefinder can be used by both even though it was designed with the archer in mind.

The RX-4 Full Draw can also range to 1100 yards on trees and up to 1200 yards on more reflective surfaces. To get the most out of this rangefinder at longer distances past 400 yards you will need to use line of sight (LOS) mode in combination with a ballistics calculator.

For even further ranges you can put the Razor in Extended Laser Range (ELR) mode but it can take longer to get a reading, so it is best if it is placed on a tripod to get reading in this mode. However, in ELR mode you can range deer at 2,200 yards, trees at 2500 yards, and reflective surfaces at 4000 yards. This can be helpful to determine if a stalk is worth making with the amount of daylight left.

Optics

This is a 6×22 rangefinder with a 315-foot Field of View (FOV) at 1000 yards. This is a FOV you would expect from a 6x magnification. This rangefinder has the perfect middle-ground magnification for both close-range bowhunting and long-distance scenarios.

Display

The red-illuminated OLED display is nice compared to non-illuminated displays because it allows you to see better in lower-light situations which is when a lot can happen for hunters. The OLED has adjustable brightness settings for optimal viewing in low-light and bright light.

This rangefinder also has the option to choose reticles for customizable viewing and ranging.

Vortex Razor HD 4000

Vortex Razor HD 4000 Product Photo
Vortex Razor HD 4000: Excellent Quality with Best Warranty

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Summary

The Vortex Razor 4000 is the next step up from the Ranger 1800. It can range deer up to 1600 yards which is almost double the range compared to the Ranger 1800. The best features of this rangefinder are its illuminated LCD screen, angle compensation, durability, and Lifetime VIP warranty. This is one of the best hunting rangefinders because of its reliability, optic quality, and outstanding warranty.

The Vortex Razor is a great rangefinder for hunters with shakey hands because it also comes with 1/4″- 20 threads for mounting on a tripod.

Angle Compensation & Ballistics

The Razor 4000 does not have built-in sophisticated long-range ballistic capabilities but it does have angle compensation which is what the majority of hunters are looking for, especially within 400 yards.

To get the most out of this rangefinder at longer distances past 400 yards you will need to use line of sight (LOS) mode in combination with a ballistics calculator.

Range

The minimum range distance is about 5-yards with the maximum being 1600-yards when ranging animals. The Vortex Razor 4000 is a great rangefinder for both rifle hunters and bow hunters because it can range accurately at both short and long ranges with angle compensation.

In Normal Mode, the Razor can range to 1800 yards on trees, and up to 2400 yards on more reflective surfaces. At long distances, you can use the Line of Sight mode combined with a ballistics calculator for better accuracy.

For even further ranges you can put the Razor in Extended Laser Range (ELR) mode but it can take longer to get a reading, so it is best if it is placed on a tripod to get reading in this mode. However, in ELR mode you can range deer at 2,200 yards, trees at 2500 yards, and reflective surfaces at 4000 yards. This can be helpful to determine if a stalk is worth making with the amount of daylight left.

Optics

This is a 7×25 rangefinder with a 341-foot Field of View (FOV) at 1000 yards. This is a wide FOV for a 7x magnification which is great for acquiring targets faster.

Display

The display is a red illuminated LCD screen with five brightness settings which is an improvement over the Ranger 1800 which only had 3 settings. The ability to see better in lower-light situations is important for hunters because this is often when the action happens.

Sig Sauer KILO5K

Sig Sauer Kilo5K Product Photo
Sig Sauer Kilo5K: Best Long Range Hunting Rangefinder

Summary

The Sig Sauer KILO 5K is awarded the best long-range hunting rangefinder in this review because it can range out to 2000 yards on deer and because it has the Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX) system which allows inputs for precise long-range shooting.

Another great aspect of this rangefinder is that you can sync it with GPS apps on your phone and it will drop a waypoint when you take a range. This is incredibly handy when you need to walk somewhere specific, like during animal recovery when you need to easily find the exact spot you hit the animal.

Angle Compensation & Ballistics

The biggest benefit of this rangefinder is that it uses Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX). Using a free phone app you can enter your ballistics which then BlueTooth’s the information to your rangefinder. At this point, your rangefinder will provide distance, elevation holdovers, and windage adjustments.

There are three ways to use BDX:

  • BDX Rangefinder With Regular Scope
  • BDX Rangefinder Bluetooth To Sig Sauer BDX Scope
  • Or you can use a BDX Scope by itself

The BDX system is very useful for precise shooting at long ranges because it is a more accurate calculation than using standard angle compensation at long distances.

BDX will work out to 800 yards, which is as far as the majority of hunters will be shooting. After this point, more detailed ballistic information is needed if you want to shoot accurately. You can connect the Kilo5k to a Kestrel or Garmin for top-notch applied ballistics information which will allow you to shoot past 800 yards.

For shorter ranges, BDX may not be necessary. In this case, you can use Angle Modified Range (AMR) which is Sig Sauer’s angle compensation mode. This works great for short-range shooting and bowhunters as well.

Additionally, this rangefinder has built-in detectors that provide real-time environmental conditions which are needed for accurate long-range shooting.

Range

This rangefinder can pick up deer out to 2000 yards on deer in good conditions.

The Kilo 5K can also range trees at 2500 yards and reflective targets (like targets) out to 5000 yards. So if you’re looking to do long-range shooting practice in addition to long-range hunting, this rangefinder will cover all your bases.

Optics

This is a 7×25 rangefinder with a 6.78º field of view. A higher 7x magnification is needed for ranging distant targets accurately, making it great for long-range shooting and hunting.

Display

The Kilo 5K has an auto-brightness setting which changes automatically depending on the ambient light settings. This is awesome so you don’t have too bright of a display in low-light settings or too dim of a display in bright settings. This is a handy and unique feature that further establishes it as one of the best hunting rangefinders.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hunting rangefinder can make all the difference in accuracy, efficiency, confidence, and overall success in the field. After thoroughly researching and comparing a variety of rangefinders across different price points, it’s clear that each model has unique strengths suited to specific hunting needs.

By evaluating real-world user experiences alongside key technical specifications, this guide ensures that you’re making an informed decision rather than relying solely on marketing claims. If you want a quick and easy comparison, be sure to download the spreadsheet with all the specifications and links to each product.

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