Bushnell Prime 1300 review: Worth the money?

BUSHNELL PRIME 1300 REVIEW

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The Bushnell Prime 1300 6×24 Laser Rangefinder is a moderately priced range finder that works under a wide variety of conditions. 

You can use it as a bowhunter, be that traditional, compound or even a crossbow. You can use it shooting with air guns, hand guns, rifles and shotguns. If you are good enough, you can even use it with a spear or an atlatl.

Golfers also find range finders handy. It uses a laser to check the distance to target. It measures in yards. It has a fixed 6x magnification. It uses 3-Volt CR2 batteries.

Is the Bushnell Prime 1300 6×24 Laser Rangefinder Worth Buying?

Bushnell Prime 1300 Hunting Laser Rangefinder 6x42mm - Archery and Rifle Modes, slope angle compensation, crisp clear image

The Bushnell Prime 1300 laser range finder is a quality range finder that will not hurt your wallet. It is good to 1,300 yards and works with all guns, all bows and even on a golf course.

Now, let’s take a closer look at its features and specifications. 

Features & Specifications

1. Big lens

Big lens

Bushnell upped the sizes of the objective lens, the front bell if this were a rifle scope, by 40%compared to older models. This means the device gathers more light.

That is important because the more light it transmits through, the more clearly you can see objects as they get farther away.

Glass quality and lens coatings have a lot to do with this as well. Bushnell has good glass and good coatings. You can get better, but you will also pay a lot more.

The idea of a rangefinder is to get distance to a target within a few yards, so the sight picture is not as critical as in a rifle scope or a telescope.

2. Distance

Rangefinders have a maximum listed distance. For the 1300, that is 1,300 yards.

However, that is for a reflective target. If you aim at something that will reflect the internal laser back very well, think of a sheet of metal, then you can reach 1,300 yards.

For the average hunter, you can expect to get about half that for a deer-sized target. As the size of the critter you aim at gets smaller, the distance also drops.

3. Arc Tech

Arc means you are either aiming up or down to the target, as if you are on a hill or mountain. Shooters know the angle makes a real difference. Shooting up or down at a good angle absolutely affects the point of impact.

Onboard tech in the rangefinder computes the angle you are holding the device. It then corrects for this to give you a true distance to the target.

If you hunt from a tree stand, this is very helpful.

4. Reticle

Reticle

Like a red dot scope, you get reticle choices here, circle & a dot, dot only or circle only. The onboard electronics use this to help properly focus and give you the correct distance.

5. Brush & Bullseye

Brush mode ignores stuff in the foreground. Say you are looking through some limbs or leaves at a deer about 200 yards away. Brush mode makes sure, as much as today’s technology can, that you are ranging the deer and not a tree limb between you and it.

If you have ever used auto-focus cameras, you know the problems with getting correctly focused on the subject if other things are in the way. It is the same way with electronic rangefinders.

Bullseye mode swaps this. Instead of looking at distant objects, it focuses on and ranges small objects closer by.

Example: If you are trying to range something like a squirrel for a bow shot at 45 yards, you need the range to the critter and not the tree 15 yards behind it.

6. Scan

Because this is an electronic device, it uses sensors and a screen. The screen cycles 4 times per second. In thermal scopes, this is the refresh rate.

This is handy because you can track a moving target like a coyote coming into your set. When the songdog finally stops, you do not have to reset anything in the rangefinder. You know the distance and can plan your shot accordingly.

Bushnell Prime 1300 Hunting Laser Rangefinder 6x42mm - Archery and Rifle Modes, slope angle compensation, crisp clear image

Bushnell Prime 1300

The price of Bushnell Prime 1300 varies, so check the latest price at

FAQ

How does the Bushnell rangefinder figure the distance?

The Bushnell Prime 1300 6×24 uses a laser. It delivers the distance to you in yards.

Do I need a rangefinder?

You do not need a rangefinder if you are good at estimating distances by eye. Long distance hunters usually carry a rangefinder because they need precision.

Does the Bushnell Prime 1300 6×24  work in low light?

The 1300 rangefinder works well in low light, but the black dot is not illuminated. The dot can be hard to see under low light conditions.

Can I use the rangefinder to help zero my weapon?

Yes. You can use the rangefinder to help zero your weapon. It is especially handy for bowhunters for this reason.

Final Conclusion: Is the Bushness Prime 1300 6×24 Laser Rangerfinder Worth Buying?

If you need a good rangefinder that will give you years of service, the Bushnell Prime 1300 6×24 is a good one. It is moderately priced and gives a very good ranging distance for the money.

You can spend more and get better glass or more options. I do not think you need anything extra in a rangefinder. 

If you want to record very good to excellent video, get a dedicated camera system. If you want a ballistics chart or computer, get a scope with that already in it or learn how to use charts on your smartphone.

The Bushnell Rangefinder is definitely worth the money.

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