Well it seems by the time I purchase something new its old news here on the hide, but one item I haven't read much about is the new Bushnell Fusion 1 mile Arc rangefinder. I remember LL briefly mentioning something about them in a previous post but not a lot of 1st hand information out there on these that I have found.
I've been interested in checking these out for awhile, so when Cabelas opened up a new store by me and I went to have a look. As luck would have it they had this rangefinder mis-priced so I went ahead and picked a pair up (smoking deal btw). I purchased the 8x32mm as these were the one's they had priced wrong.
Had the chance to really use them at TVP a few weeks ago and compare them directly against Vectronix Tarrapin (Tks Peter).
For starters the Tarrapin out ranges the bushnell no problem, secondly the aim point on the Tarrapin and read out IMO is superior in every way. But if all you need is a ranger finder that ranges out to 1500yds this unit will save you some cash. I was not able to hit the mile target TVP, but anything 1500yds and in was easy. I did hit the front door of a house at 1714yds using a truck bed for stability without any trouble. (that range was verified by the Tarrapin). Conditions were very sunny and bright and even the Tarrapin was having problems hitting anything beyond 2000yds that day. I ranged cows out to 1100yds+, steel plates out to 1200 and just about everything else I could find.
The first thing everyone who tried them noticed was how nice the glass is, very clear and sharp, no blue tint like the old model. The read out and aim point while not as nice as the Tarrapin is still very easy to see on bright days and easy to use, does not washout in sunlight and is precise enough to hit small targets. I haven't used the Leica or the Swarvo range-finding binoculars but for the difference in cost there better be something pretty special about them or they will be loosing customers to Bushnell.
My other RF is the Ziess PRF, this is a decent unit but does not perform like the Bushnell. My feeling is the Beam Divergence on the Ziess is way to large to be accurate around any type of obstacles, the Ziess has given me fits at times. Turning it vertically does help miss obstacles below/above your intended target but just hits stuff out beside your target or in front of it. Honestly I do not know what the beam divergence is on the new Bushnell but feel its much better suited for my needs than the Ziess. At my home we have a 1k target 18"x18" plate, it's very difficult to hit with a rangefinder due to the shooter location being tucked into the woods, then over a couple valley's to the target that's tucked way back into the woods. Its also very tuff to hit with a rifle on windy days due to hitting trees while holding wind, the last 150yds or so is like shooting into a cave with all the tree trunks and limbs hanging out in front of the target. We used GPS to place the target as we've never been able to hit it with a rangefinder (Lecia 1600, Ziess). I hit it over and over at 1003yds with the Bushnell. Maybe it was luck, who knows but I did do it that day. (I'm sure the Tarrapin would have no problem).
A couple others here on the hide had a look at them also, maybe they will chime in with their thoughts. Anyone thinking about picking these up with questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
/r
Don/$
I've been interested in checking these out for awhile, so when Cabelas opened up a new store by me and I went to have a look. As luck would have it they had this rangefinder mis-priced so I went ahead and picked a pair up (smoking deal btw). I purchased the 8x32mm as these were the one's they had priced wrong.
Had the chance to really use them at TVP a few weeks ago and compare them directly against Vectronix Tarrapin (Tks Peter).
For starters the Tarrapin out ranges the bushnell no problem, secondly the aim point on the Tarrapin and read out IMO is superior in every way. But if all you need is a ranger finder that ranges out to 1500yds this unit will save you some cash. I was not able to hit the mile target TVP, but anything 1500yds and in was easy. I did hit the front door of a house at 1714yds using a truck bed for stability without any trouble. (that range was verified by the Tarrapin). Conditions were very sunny and bright and even the Tarrapin was having problems hitting anything beyond 2000yds that day. I ranged cows out to 1100yds+, steel plates out to 1200 and just about everything else I could find.
The first thing everyone who tried them noticed was how nice the glass is, very clear and sharp, no blue tint like the old model. The read out and aim point while not as nice as the Tarrapin is still very easy to see on bright days and easy to use, does not washout in sunlight and is precise enough to hit small targets. I haven't used the Leica or the Swarvo range-finding binoculars but for the difference in cost there better be something pretty special about them or they will be loosing customers to Bushnell.
My other RF is the Ziess PRF, this is a decent unit but does not perform like the Bushnell. My feeling is the Beam Divergence on the Ziess is way to large to be accurate around any type of obstacles, the Ziess has given me fits at times. Turning it vertically does help miss obstacles below/above your intended target but just hits stuff out beside your target or in front of it. Honestly I do not know what the beam divergence is on the new Bushnell but feel its much better suited for my needs than the Ziess. At my home we have a 1k target 18"x18" plate, it's very difficult to hit with a rangefinder due to the shooter location being tucked into the woods, then over a couple valley's to the target that's tucked way back into the woods. Its also very tuff to hit with a rifle on windy days due to hitting trees while holding wind, the last 150yds or so is like shooting into a cave with all the tree trunks and limbs hanging out in front of the target. We used GPS to place the target as we've never been able to hit it with a rangefinder (Lecia 1600, Ziess). I hit it over and over at 1003yds with the Bushnell. Maybe it was luck, who knows but I did do it that day. (I'm sure the Tarrapin would have no problem).
A couple others here on the hide had a look at them also, maybe they will chime in with their thoughts. Anyone thinking about picking these up with questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
/r
Don/$
I'll be on my way through IN in a couple weeks!
