My Nikon Monarch 3000 Range Finder is a complete POS -- is it me?

[river251]

Paid a lot of money for a Nikon stablized Monarch 3000 range finder. The stablization (VR) is terrific.
But this thing doesn't work. Sitting in a shopping center parking lot, I target various big buildings, and IF it is perpendicular to me, and up to 200 yards away, it works. The image stabilization (VR) works amazingly well.

But, 90% of the time, it fails. Only if I point it at the side of a building 200 yards or less away, that is perpendicular to the angle of the laser, does it register. It will NOT rangefind on anything more than 300 or 400 yards away. I have only got it to do this maybe 3 times.

This POS will not range find beyond 200 - 300 yards, and at that, only 20% of the time, at best. Only if someting big has a bright surface that is perpindicular to the Nikon, does it register. I have never succeeded at ranging beyond 300 yards, period.

Am I doing something wrong? Did I get a lemon?

Thanks.

 

[sam4886]

Are you trying to range through a windshield or something? Just checking.

I'm not familiar with the 3000 beyond seeing it advertised. Make sure the batteries are fresh, that can make a difference.

Beyond those two thoughts, I'd probably return it. As I recall, you were paying a lot of cash for the image stabilization, thus skimping on the range laser.

 

[river251]

sam, yes the batteries are fresh. Yes mostly through the windshield, or house window. I will take it outside and try it, but I have done that and as I recall with similar results.

Was hoping somebody had experience with this.

 

[sam4886]

Ranging through windows doesn't work. I'm surprised you could get anything at all.

 

[mikehotel]

I have one and it's great ...if you are hunting ground squirrels and prairie dogs. I like the image stabilization but any small furry target past 500 yards.... not so much.

 

[river251]

It still doesn't come close to 3000 yards. I've never got it to range anything more than 800 yards.

 

[Curt514]

Mine tops out around 800 also. But my stabilization work great. I think what is deceiving is that even through the image is stabilized the laser is not. I don’t know if that is contributing to the reading or not.

 

[river251]

Well I ordered the Leupold 2800. I will return whichever I like less. I saw a youtube comparing these and two others and they pointed the Leupold at a trail going up a hill, and it just kept ranging accurately out to 2800 yards. I may be willing to sacrifice the stabilization in the Nikon for that. I think you need to use it on a tripod though, we'll see and I'll report back.

 

[Steel head]

Well I ordered the Leupold 2800. I will return whichever I like less. I saw a youtube comparing these and two others and they pointed the Leupold at a trail going up a hill, and it just kept ranging accurately out to 2800 yards. I may be willing to sacrifice the stabilization in the Nikon for that. I think you need to use it on a tripod though, we'll see and I'll report back.

I was ranging a target on a cliff face at 2020 yards Thursday with the 2800.
Furthest hit so far on trees is 2600.