Starting from 2004, Vortex has come a long way. In Vortex’s impact series, the vortex ranger 1000 is a rather new design. This rangefinder will come in handy since it has all the required features at a price that would not be anticipated for most of you.
Call it a rangefinder with lightweight and high precision. Because for all the medium range targets, bow hunts, and rifle hunts, having a ranger 1000 vortex can really help you hit the deer you are waiting for.
Features of Vortex Ranger 1000
This unit works for hunting, target shooting, bowhunting, and comes with angle compensation. Ranger 1000 is a simple rangefinder with all the advanced properties in limited range and price.
The advertised yard range of vortex ranger is 5 to 1000. However, this is not true for dark objects also called non reflective targets. As for non reflective targets, it works between 400 to 600 yards as per our testing and results in various environment. This unit provides 6x magnification with an objective lens of 20mm and LCD display of 3.8 x 1.4” dimensions.
Although, it is fog and waterproof but environmental conditions limit its visibility and range.
For Whom Vortex Ranger 1000 Rangefinder ?
First of all, the features are all that one looks for in decent rangefinders. Yet, we would not call Vortex impact Ranger 1000 the best hunting rangefinder. But it is perfect for people who need precision for medium rifle range along with being careful with their money.
However, when compared to other rangefinders or variants of vortex in the market that are precise to over 2000 yards of range. Vortex impact ranger 1000 certainly doesn’t really fit in the category of longer ranges but with this price for 600 – 1000 yards is a good call.
Not only does it come with a reasonable price and good enough features, but it also has sturdy construction with clarity of vision through its lens. There is HCD and angles are shown in the LOS mode. So get out there for rifle hunting or bowhunting, it is good enough for both.
How does Vortex Impact Ranger 1000 rangefinder work?
This vortex impact ranger 1000 is suitable for a temperature range of 14 to 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, it will stop working in extreme weather conditions. You better choose the time of your hunt wisely.
Just like any other rangefinder, it uses a battery and has button to turn on or off with change in modes. The HCD mode gives angle compensation which is good for majority of hunts. Scan feature is beneficial giving multiple readings for a moving buck.
This vortex variant will not burden your pocket and you will not have to compromise any features while buying it. It comes in an olive green color like almost all the other products of Vortex. Hunting with it is fairly easy because all you have to care about are yards/meters and the HCD/LOS mode.
It saves a huge portion of time by giving you easy options to access without letting you meddle in the complex settings of modes and properties. After all, there is no need to tire yourself when all you are concerned with is distance.
It might be saddening to you if you wear glasses. Because the adjustable diopter and a nonadjustable eyecup along with 15 mm of eye relief and a 6x magnification is all great, but are all comfy for the ones who don’t wear glasses. Considering that you need eye relief of 16mm or more to see the whole clear image if you wear glasses.
Or if you are hunting at a place with extreme weather conditions, it is better to go for some other variants of Vortex that are resistant to external factors and can withstand extreme temperatures and weather changes.
Moreover, the battery is sealed for the purpose of making it waterproof, still dragging this rangefinder into extreme conditions might only fail its working.
Advantages of Using Vortex Ranger 1000
Although Vortex 1000 is one of those units that are pretty small in size, weight and have great utility. However, you can find more best mini rangefinders. Let’s see in depth details of Hunting Manual’s vortex rangefinder review.
Vortex optics impact ranger 1000 is not only easy on your pocket but also full of features that are essential for a rangefinder like long range and HCD. It saves you time as well as your energy of determining the right angle as well.
Users can find two buttons on it, one is there to get access to the menu and the other button is to Fire. These buttons are designed on the wider side to help locate them easily even with the gloves on.
Then all you have to choose is whether the HCD or LOS and Yards or Meters. The LCD display is clear and perfect for hunts in daylight. However, there should have been a feature of the tripod mount to make it more convenient.
Considering the 6x magnification, compactness, and lightweight, it is hard to swallow that it doesn’t let you mount on a tripod.
HCD
Vortex Impact Ranger 1000 is no doubt a wonder with a simple and petite design along with smart technological richness. For measuring modes, there are Horizontal Component Distance (HCD) and Line of Sight (LOS).
LOS will work perfectly in flat terrains and also for slopes. LOS mode will measure the angle of incline and decline. It is for those who intend to shoot beyond 500 yards with a slope more than 15 degrees. This angle will help in better accuracy in adjustments for wind or elevation.
While HCD will help by running algorithms on the compensated angles and distances. It is useful for rifle shooters who are shooting on ground level and even with mild slopes. For a 15 degree slope, HCD is accurate up to 800 yards. For a slope around 30 degrees, it is precise to about 400 yards.
Other than LOS and HCD, there is another scan feature. It helps in getting continuous distance readings in case of a moving target or when panning across a landscape. Also, it is good for measuring distance even when the target is moving. This mode is easily accessible in both HCD and LOS mode, holding the button will activate this mode.
Reticle
The reticle of vortex ranger 1000 is black in color. You can see crosshairs at the reticle along with a see through center. Manufacturers have kept the illumination low with no LED which means that it is only good for daylight.
Other than a sunny day or a bright evening, it can cause trouble. The nighttime and low light in the surrounding can irk you big time because of its dullness.
Getting the slope angles and horizontally corrected distance in HCD mode with affordability, is the key focus for most bow hunting enthusiasts. Also, a 1000 yards range is more than enough. Since it is precise from a 5 yard range, it does wonders for bowmen and the ones using tree stands.
Long Battery Life
There is an already installed CR2 battery in Vortex Ranger 1000. This battery will help you throughout the season or even for more time than that. That is because the manufacturers have taken special care with battery timing by introducing automatic shutdown after 10 seconds of no usage and less illumination of the LCD.
Limitation
We have made almost every feature clear in our vortex ranger 1000 review. The only limitation that is so obvious is no tripod mount. Being extremely lightweight sure does help with freehand use. But for unsteady hands, a tripod mount feature could have solved a huge problem. Hence, no tripod mount has certainly undermined the vortex rangefinder 1000 review.
Conclusion
This vortex 1000 rangefinder review has highlighted different aspects to notice in a buying decision. In order to gain perfection in the hunting experience with a low budget, rangefinder 1000 vortex should be a go to option for all beginners.
For sure, there are some downsides to this Impact 1000 but that doesn’t make it completely useless. Just a little investment of almost $200 is going to leave you with precision, accuracy, and a convenient hunt. So go ahead and get your hands on Vortex Impact 1000 to enjoy precision and lightweight at an economical cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vortex rangefinders are all manufactured in China, Japan, and the Philippines. However, the conception of any product not being good if made in China is completely wrong in this case. Vortex impact 1000 stood the test of time and performs just as right as you want it to.
In the vortex impact 1000 box, there is a ballistic cheater card, CR2 3V battery, a lens cloth, a soft carry case, and a strap. Getting a carry case along with a rangefinder for just $200 is very rare, so you better use it with care.
This vortex impact Ranger doesn’t come with a built in accelerometer, hence it cannot measure speed. It can only measure distance with two modes in it. One is the line of sight with angle and the other one is the horizontal corrected distance that can be measured in both yards and meters.
The reticle of Impact 1000 has a see through center with a crosshair style. The color is black because they have not fitted any LED in it for better illumination. With that, it works great in the daylight, and it will easily let you range for black targets. However, there might be an issue if you use it at night or in conditions of low light.
Yes, the vortex lifetime warranty does cover it. It is transferable for any new owner without any receipt. It is a lifetime investment since the warranty never leaves your side. Moreover, you get to have a cover over the electronics in this warranty as well.
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