GEAR REVIEW: Vortex Razor HD 4000 Rangefinder

By Johnny Mack

This past spring, I had the pleasure of using the Vortex Razor HD 4000 rangefinder on my Washington state spring bear hunt. I was super excited to finally have a rangefinder that matched my binoculars and rifle scope in optical clarity and sharpness. I have used multiple rangefinders in the past only to feel disappointed when trying to range an animal in low light and then not be able to find it.

For the longest time I wanted to solve that issue by purchasing a Leica, but every time I thought about pulling the trigger on a Leica, I hesitated when thinking about dealing with their lack of warranty on an electronic device. This is where Vortex is going to dominate the rangefinder market with Razor HD 4000 coupled with their “VIP” warranty. 

Their warranty states that no matter what happens, your Vortex product will either be fixed or replaced. In the world of hunting, if your optics fail, you are going to have a slim chance of success.  Hopefully you will never have to test their warranty, but it is nice to know it is there.

ABOUT VORTEX OPTICS

There is an abundance of optics companies these day all competing for your dollar and loyalty.  Vortex Optics is one of those companies and they have developed quite the cult following in recent years.  Vortex Optics originated in 2002 and is based out of Barneveld Wisconsin.  They believe that the customer is king and act accordingly with that belief.  Whether you are looking for binoculars, spotting scopes, or range finders, if Vortex makes it, they warranty it.  Heck, even Washington Backcountry’s own team member Wes challenged their warranty by messaging them on Instagram and asking if they would warranty his Vortex hat.  Sure enough, he received a brand new one in the mail.

ABOUT THE RANGEFINDER

Not all rangefinders are created equal. When I first got into hunting, I had my eye on a Leupold RX-1600 TBR with DNA. But that was when I was only concerned about ranging things at distance and knew very little about rangefinder features. I ended up borrowing a buddy’s and while on a hunt in fading light I spotted some deer. I went to range them with the Leupold and found that I couldn’t even find them with the rangefinder because the glass was so dark. The following week I went to a local Cabela’s and compared the Leupold to several other companies and found that every rangefinder in a comparable price range had issues with low light. The clearest glass I could find was in a Leica Rangemaster, which ended up being out of my budget.

While the Leica was clear, I had a hard time justifying the money for one knowing that electronics and rain don’t match up well, and Leica’s warranty wasn’t good for electronics. This is where Vortex and their new Razor HD 4000 shine! The Razor is more expensive than their Ranger rangefinder, but their glass in the Razor 4000 is phenomenal. Couple the glass clarity with their warranty and I truly believe you will never need another rangefinder.

Some features that people are concerned with on rangefinders are angle compensation and speed of target acquisition. The Razor 4000 has both and does a great job. The top 3 things that sold me on the rangefinder were: 1) How clear the glass is. 2) The Lifetime Warranty. 3) The Ability to mount the rangefinder to a tripod.

SPECIFICATIONS

Razor HD 4000 Laser Rangefinder – (MSRP $729 – Retail $499)

Magnification – 7x

Range Reflective (yards) – 4000

Range Tree (yards) – 2500

Range Deer (yards) – 2200

Accuracy (< 200 yds) – .5 yds

Accuracy (200 – 1000 yds) – 1 yds

Accuracy (>1000 yds) – 2 yds

Objective Lens Diameter – 25mm

Linear Field of View @ 1000 yds – 341.25 ft

Eye Relief – 16-19mm

Length – 4.49″

Weight – 9.9 ounces

Tripod Adaptable – Yes

Waterproof – Yes

Line of Sight & Angle Compensation – Yes

Warranty – Lifetime VIP

*Comes with Bungee Cord, Carrying Case & CR2 Battery

YOUR NEXT RANGEFINDER

If you are interested in getting your hands on a Vortex Razor HD 4000 laser rangefinder, I highly recommend them.  The features and quality of the rangefinder are well done, and the ability to trust your optic’s durability and quality should not be forgotten while in search of your next rangefinder.

Thanks for reading this gear review.  If you want to know more about the Vortex Razor HD 4000 rangefinder and our experience with it, feel free to ask. In the meantime make sure to go and subscribe to the Washington Backcountry YouTube channel as well as follow us on Instagram @Washington_Backcountry.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Knowledge is power and MENTORSHIP IS CONSERVATION.

(Pictures & Video in collaboration with @RevolEntertainment)