Bushnell Scout DX 1000 ARC Laser Rangefinder Review

Welcome to this Bushnell Scout DX 1000 ARC Laser Rangefinder review! If you’re into rifle shooting, bowhunting or golfing, this could be the one for you. For anything else, you may find that it falls short (literally.) The most common complaint about this unit is its lack of range. Maybe if Bushnell had called it a DX 400 they would have saved us some disapointment, because targets beyond 400 yards are very hard to pick up. I’m not just talking about targets like deer and bears, I mean barns and houses!
 
Inside the 400 yard range, it’s a fast model with a lot of features; it offers the choice of bow / rifle mode, has an inclinometer and processor to give you bullet-drop/holdover in inches, MOA & Mil. Depending on what you need from your rangefinder, this could be just right for you. I hope you will be able to decide after reading my review. See you at the end!

Package

Besides the Bushnell Scout DX 1000, you get a carrying case, battery, and neck strap. Bushnel do not provide a wrist wrap, but a paracord or shoelace will do the job. You also get a two year warranty.

Features of the Bushnell Scout DX 1000 ARC Laser Rangefinder

• Measurement Range: 5-1000 yards
• Reflective Ranging Performance: 1000 yards
• Tree Ranging Performance: 650 yards
• Deer Ranging Performance: 325 yards
• Rangefinder Accuracy: +/- 1/2 Yard
• Slopes / Angles: -90 to +90 degrees
• Magnification / Objective Lens: 6x 21mm
• Display LCD
• Size / Weight 6.6 oz
• Shuts itself off: 30 seconds
• Waterproof
• Dimensions: 1.3 x 4 x 2.9 inches
• BatteryType: 3-Volt CR2 (incl.)
• ARC Modes: Bow/Rifle
• Targeting Modes: Scan, Bullseye, Brush

Operation

This model’s E.S.P. (Extreme. Speed. Precision.) technology delivers extremely quick target acquisition and incredible half a yard accuracy with one tenth precision from 5-125 and +/- 1 yard accuracy from 125-1000.
 
The measurement range is 5 – 1000 yards theoretically, but it’s really closer to 400. Of course it varies with the amount of light available; less light means the unit will pick up targets further away. Conversely, bright sunny days will reduce the maximum range. For hunting, unless you’re a world class sniper, it’s plenty.
 
The target priority function gives you the ability to choose your target, choose from Bullseye, Brush, or Scan mode. Brush mode is great for shooting in thick cover. This one will ignore small branches and brush close to you and pick the target further out. Scan mode allows you to range several objects one after another. Bullseye is the opposite of brush mode, when two targets are detected, it will choose the closer one; great for picking up golf flags and small game.
 
The 6x magnification with 21mm objective lens gives a field of view of 393ft at 1000 yards and the fully multi-coated optics give crystal clear vision in all light conditions. You also get an adjustable diopter setting. Display properties are good, as you would expect for a Bushnell, but the color of the LCD display is black unlike the up-market models which are red. Because the LCD has no backlight, reading in the dark, or against a dark background can be difficult, but during daylight it’s crystal clear.
 
Like any range finder in its class, this one is small enough to fit neatly into one hand and the rubber armour help keep it there in all weather conditions. Overall dimensions are 4 x 1.3 x 2.9 inches and it weighs a mere eight ounces. What’s more, Bushnel says it’s waterproof, and judging by the way you screw the battery compartment shut, they mean it.
 
Also typical of many range finders in its class is the inbuilt inclinometer that displays angles from -90 to +90 degrees of elevation with an accuracy of +/- 1.0 degrees. The Scout, however, stands out among its peers by processing the angle readings with its internal
algorithmic ballistic formulas.

Uses Of The Bushnell Scout DX 1000 ARC Laser Rangefinder

For rifle hunters, all you have to do to take advantage of the Scout’s DX 1000 ARC brainy balistic technology is to check the chart provided. Find your rifle’s caliber and ammunition load on the chart, see which one of the ten balistic groups it fits into (A to J) and then change to that balistic group in the setup menu. Instantly you will see your bullet drop / holdover reading displayed under the range reading in inches, MOA, centimeters or MIL. Bullet drop readings are displayed for ranges between 100 and 800 yards.
 
This model also has Variable Sight-In (VSI.) This function lets you choose one of four sight-in distances: 100, 150, 200, or 300 meters/yards.
 
For Bowhunters, the Scout DX 1000 ARC Laser Rangefinder displays degree of elevation, line-of-sight distance, and true horizontal distance for distances between 10 and 99 yards. Not as fancy as what rifle shooters get, but thats the beauty of bowhunting.
 
Just to give you an example of the advantage of true horizontal distance. Imagine your line of sight reading is 30 yards, your angle is -45 degrees, and your true horizontal was 20 yards. With a steep downward angle, if you shoot as if your target is 30 yards away you will likely go straight over it. However, if you shoot at 20 yards… bam! (don’t take the figure’s literally, they’re just an example.)
 
The Scout DX 1000 ARC has two buttons; power and mode, and with all the features the Scout has to offer, the mode button is necessary. Don’t worry though, it’s easy to operate, and the instructions are clear and simple. Once you get it set up, it’s just one button operation.
 
The display powers down after 30 seconds, but it comes right back as soon as you take another range. The laser shuts off after ten seconds, so if you haven’t got your target by then (that damn flag!) you will have to hit the power button again.

Price

The Bushnell Scout DX 1000 ARC sells for less than $200. When you consider that Bushnell borrowed a lot of features from their more expensive models to produce this little beast, it seems well worth it. That is if you want those features.

Summary

The only real complaint about this range finder is the lack of range, but really, Bushnell say it right there in the literature: 1000 Yards Reflective, 650 Yards to Trees, 325 Yards to Deer. Who is shooting game at 1000 yards anyway? Apart from that, the Scout DX 1000 ARC is super quick and super smart. It’s packed with features usually found in more expensive units.
 
For hunters and bowhunters, it’s a great little unit for the price, and its not just water resistant, it’s waterproof. For golf, you would be paying for features you will never use, but you wouldn’t be paying much.
 
Thanks for reading and shoot straight!
 

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