Nikon ACULON Rangefinder Review: A Gadget You Need On Your Next Hunt
The number of people hitting the woods and hunting, or teaching their children how to hunt, is on the decline. Here at Wildernesstoday.com, we would like to turn that trend around. So, today, we’re helping you keep your aim on point with this Nikon ACULON rangefinder review.
Whether you are a seasoned hunter or you’re just getting into the game, many hunters find a rangefinder to be an essential tool. You see, we all understand the importance of a clean, accurate shot — a rangefinder used with a scope is a great way to make sure that happens.
A decent rangefinder will locate your target and let you know within seconds how far away it is. Let’s find out in this Nikon ACULON rangefinder review if this is the equipment for you. Today, we’re going to find out not only how the Nikon Aculon performs, but also how it stacks up against its main competitors.
Contents
What Is a Rangefinder?
Now, before we get into the specifics, let’s quickly discuss what it is that a rangefinder does. Simply put, a rangefinder is the fastest way to determine how far away you are from your target so that you can adequately aim your shot.
To use a rangefinder, you aim it downrange and focus the crosshair in the reticle on your target. Then, when you push the button, an invisible light beam hits the mark. An internal clock then calculates how far away you are from your target based on how long the light beam takes to pingback.
The distance, usually within a yard, then reads out on a digital display screen. A decent rangefinder will give you a reading in less than a second and even continue to recalculate as you aim at different things.
When you’re hunting, you know that when that animal appears, you only have a few seconds to set up your shot. So, the ideal rangefinder will be compact, fast, and easy to use and read. Also, most hunters prefer that their rangefinder comes with some magnification.
The Nikon ACULON Rangefinder
Nikon 8397 ACULON AL11 Laser Rangefinder
- At 3.6″x2.9″x1.5″ in size, the…
- An uncluttered, easy-to-read…
- Class 1 laser product, power…
- Measurement Range 6-550…
Now, to start this Nikon ACULON rangefinder review, we can tell you that this item is one of the smallest rangefinders on the market. At 3.6 inches by 2.9 inches by 1.5-inches, the Nikon 8397 ACULON A11 rangefinder is barely larger than a smartphone — and it only weighs 4.4 ounces.
Additionally, this Nikon rangefinder has a unique feature popular among hunters that might appeal to you. It includes a mode that automatically searches for the furthest thing away from you amongst a group of targets. This feature is especially helpful if you often have to deal with tall grass or a lot of trees.
On top of that, the ACULON includes multilayer coatings. These coatings ensure the highest possible light emittance downrange — eliminating many traditional interferences like reflection and fog.
Other features of the Nikon ACULON rangefinder:
What real customers have to say about the Nikon ACULON rangefinder
Now, you can’t very well have a Nikon ACULON rangefinder review without checking in with the customers using the product. First of all, let’s talk about the good things everyone has to say about this equipment.
The good
We found a ton of positive reports about this rangefinder. We found customers that stated this equipment is effortless to use, and its compact size makes it easily portable. In addition to that, a lot of customers are impressed with how easy it is to read the display screen, even while wearing glasses.
Many users report that this rangefinder is accurate too — some even say it’s range extends up to 600 feet. And we found several reviews from people who have used this equipment successfully for well over a year with no issues at all.
On top of that, the price point of this rangefinder is at the low end of the spectrum. Customers raved about value for the money with this product.
The bad
On the downside, we found a couple of reports that people’s rangefinders were defective. Keep in mind, though that could be user error. Additionally, we found several customers that stated this rangefinder is a little too light.
You see, once you zoom in on something, the image can get shaky if you don’t hold the equipment perfectly still. And with its compact size, the ACULON can be tough to hold still. And there’s no way to use it with a tripod, as it doesn’t come with threads or a way to attach it to a surface.
Pros and cons of the Nikon ACULON Rangefinder
Finally, to round out our Nikon ACULON rangefinder review, we’re going to do a final tally. Below, we list the pros and cons of the Nikon ACULON rangefinder.
Pros
cons
How We Conducted This Review
So that you understand we did our homework for this Nikon ACULON rangefinder review, it’s time to discuss our process.
Now, to bring you the whole truth about the products we review, we hit every review site we can find. We read reviews both from the retailers that sell the product and professional summaries for a complete picture.
How Does the Nikon ACULON Rangefinder Stack up Against the Competition?
Well, you can’t very well get the whole picture in this Nikon ACULON rangefinder review without doing some comparison shopping. Below, we will compare the Nikon rangefinder to several products from Nikon’s main competitors and see how it stacks up against the competition.
Sig Sauer Kilo2200BDX Rangefinder
- Sig Sauer sok22704 Kilo2200BDX
- Laser range finding monocular
- Rangefinders. Department -…
First up, we have a product from a company known for producing high-quality firearms — the Sig Sauer Kilo2200BDX rangefinder. We can tell you right off the bat that the Sig Sauer rangefinder is much more expensive than the ACULON. However, take a look at these specs:
Although this is a Nikon ACULON rangefinder review, this Sig Sauer is one of the best rangefinders on the market. However, the price point puts it outside of a lot of people’s budgetary allowances.
Pros
cons
Bushnell 202208 Bone Collector Edition 4x Laser Rangefinder,…
- Quality optics with stunning…
- Beautifully designed with…
- Displays exact distance to…
- Bright, crystal clear optics…
- Realtree Xtra camo pattern;…
Next up for comparison on our Nikon ACULON rangefinder review comparison section is the Bushnell 202208 Bone Collector Edition. This rangefinder is a little pricier than the Nikon. Let’s take a look at the features of the Bushnell Bone Collector:
As you can see, the Bushnell appears to be similar to the Nikon. Let’s find out what customers have to say about this product.
Pros
cons
TecTecTec ProWild Hunting Rangefinder – 6×24 Laser Range…
- HUNTING LASER RANGEFINDER;…
- SPEED, SCAN and HUNT…
- THROUGH THE LENS DISPLAY;…
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND PORTABLE;…
- FULL PACKAGE; Complete…
Next up on our Nikon ACULON rangefinder review, we’re going to compare the ACULON to the TecTecTec ProWild Hunting Rangefinder. The price point for this product is on par with the Nikon — let’s see if the features are similar as well:
As you can see, the TecTecTec has quite a few of the same features as the Nikon. Now, let’s find out what customers have to say about this product.
Pros
cons
Nikon ACULON Rangefinder Review – Is This the Product for You?
Image Via Flickr
Well, hunters and target shooters, there you have it — the full Nikon ACULON rangefinder review. As you can see, while the Nikon doesn’t range quite as far as the Sig Sauer, it’s much more affordable. For a full rundown of several other rangefinders, check out our list of the best rangefinders on the market.
If you’re hunting deer or other game from close quarters and you need a rangefinder that works at several hundred yards consistently, the Nikon and the TecTecTec are both excellent options. However, if you’re hunting game and you need a rangefinder that’s effective out past 300 yards or so, you’re going to want to look at something else.
Do you have a favorite rangefinder at home? Tell us about it in the comments.
Featured Image Via Pixabay
Jonathan O’Ryan is what you might call a seasonal digital nomad. When he is not thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail or finetuning his custom UL camping gear in the middle of nowhere, he comfortably sits at his home desk – yes, he still has a physical address, we don’t know for how long though – sharing his insights on all things outdoors with Wilderness Today’s audience. We know life is an adventure, Jon, but we’d still like to have that urgent work email answered by noon.
