mick miller Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Ok, cue another dumb-*** question. Can I use a laser range finder at night? I was thinking about a Nikon 550 to use with the air rifle for those longer shots (it's an FAC), but there's no point if it won't work at night as most of my shooting is in the dark hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theosmith Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 set up a laser on your rile, zero say 50yd same place as you pellet and use that as range finder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Thanks for that suggestion, I want to keep the clutter on the rifle to a minimum so if I don't want the laser on the rifle could I still use a laser range finder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mangled99 Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 They do work but you would have to be able to see the view finder. I'm not sure if there are any with illuminated ret and you would have to be able to see what you are trying to range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 if you can see your target, then yes, but I found the red aiming mark a bit bright on my eyes ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 I have a Nikon prostaff 550,happy enough with it but display not illuminated & not easy to see in very low light.Below is an extract from review at http://larryprice5372.hubpages.com/hub/Nikon-ProStaff-550-Rangefinder-Review "I've seen reviews that reject the idea of a black reticule option. The Nikon 550 uses a black on clear reticule, which is normal for a base to intermediate optical product. Most of this criticism is brought saying the black reticule is not easily seen during a late-dusk or early-dawn range scan. We are talking about the range finder reticule here while measuring for a shot, having measured that, a gun shot is intended to take your prey. My position is this: Nikon's choice to use a black reticule is sufficient for safe use and practice. You should not take a shot when the reticule is obscured by darkness. The taking of prey is the objective, but the safety of people or other hunters should be our primary concern. This reticule is fine for safe hunting practice, and I agree with Nikon's optical development team in choosing the black" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 So moonlit night ok? But no moon and you're stuffed! Thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 The dearer ones have an illuminated display I gather, My budget hawke one I imagine would be impossible to see in the dark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 If u got the leica you would be able to rangefind! Glows red in the display! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 So moonlit night ok? But no moon and you're stuffed! Thanks for that. Although the optics are good it is essentially a 6x21 mono,so light gathering not so good.At low light the basic problem is I can see targets clearly through my Meopta 6x42 that I can't see through the rangefinder.Not so much a problem as I have listed ranges for my favourite points.One other point with this,and possibly other rangefinders(I've only had the 550 & an old bushnell),is that if your target is small like a rabbit,compared to the deer etc. they were designed for,you often have to rangefind the nearest large object as you can't get a "bounce" off the target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 Thanks for the feedback folks, maybe it's a case of doing the range finding early evening and working out which areas are ok and which are not. The Leica's I can imagine are substantially more than £200 (Uttings have the 550 for sub £200). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 You could try the Nitesite stuck on the back it may work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted April 26, 2012 Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 I like the MTC one. Use any star to illuminate the viewfinder not just the moon. On those extreme days when it is really pitch black use the bounce-back from your lamp. Otherwise you will not know what to range anyway as without a lamp it is too dark to see those rabbits :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 You could try the Nitesite stuck on the back it may work I had thought about doing this Nick, I can quickly swap the camera off the DSA (one of the benefits of buying one) and put it back in exactly the right place. Just thinking how that might work. I like the MTC one. Use any star to illuminate the viewfinder not just the moon. On those extreme days when it is really pitch black use the bounce-back from your lamp. Otherwise you will not know what to range anyway as without a lamp it is too dark to see those rabbits :blink: Is that the Rapier? I looked at that but didn't know if it used LCD or LED. Sounds like it uses LCD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted April 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hawke Pro 1000 looks good for the money. Anyone used one of these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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