Check Today's Price

Pros - Offers great range and feature set - Exceptional accuracy - Small and lightweight Cons - Uses CR123 battery - No archery features - No lanyard included

Hi there, and welcome to my review of the Bushnell Elite 1 Mile ARC Rangefinder. This feature-packed device is designed with the hunter in mind, offering everything you need to get the most from your rifle.

When you buy this rangefinder, you’ll also get a carrying case and a CR123 battery. What you don’t get, unfortunately, is a handstrap or lanyard.

What’s the Range of the Bushnell Elite 1 Mile ARC Rangefinder

Like other models in the Elite 1 Mile product line, this rangefinder can light up large, highly reflective targets up to 1,760 yards away and return a distance-to-target that is accurate to within plus or minus half a yard. For smaller, less reflective targets like deer, you’ll be confident in your shot from as far away as 600 yards. With 7X magnification, you’ll find it easy to spot smaller targets from far away.

How Easy is the Rangefinder to Use?

This device is quite easy to use, since the power/fire function and mode selection function are spread between two buttons. Focus is automatic and quick, and even though the rangefinder has plenty of functionality, it’s not bogged down by difficult-to-understand menus.

The Elite 1 Mile ARC features fully multicoated optics with a 26mm objective lens. You’ll enjoy a healthy 340 foot field of view at 1,000 yards, and the device offers you diopter adjustment to fine-tune the focus to your eyes.

How is the Elite 1 Mile ARC Powered?

Like most rangefinders these days, this unit is powered by a hard-to-find lithium battery. Specifically, it uses the CR123 battery, and Bushnell includes one in the box. I strongly recommend buying a spare, because these can be very challenging to locate in more rural areas.

Power consumption is quite good, with the display programmed to turn off after 3 seconds of inactivity. Also, the laser will only fire for 10 seconds at a time, minimizing your likelihood to discharge the battery by accidentally holding down the power button.

What Features Can I Expect From This Device?

This is a feature-rich rangefinder, but only for rifles. There aren’t any ballistic calculation modes for archers, unfortunately.

The device’s Rifle HD mode displays line of sight distance, degree of elevation, and true horizontal distance from 10-1000 yards / meters and a maximum inclination of +/- 90°. In Rifle mode, you can view the amount of bullet drop, at the target in inches, centimeters or MOA. Regular mode just gives you the line of sight distance to your target.

You can choose between Brush, Bullseye, and Scan modes for avoiding ranging to the wrong target or for switching between multiple targets.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability?

Since the device uses fully multicoated optics, you’ll get a very bright image even in low-light conditions. The only drawback is that the LCD display can be difficult to read against dark backgrounds.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Rangefinder?

The optics are outstanding, giving you a very crisp, clear view with plenty of contrast. Focus is quick and snappy, regardless of what mode you’re in.

How Durable Is It?

Bushnell has built the Elite 1 Mile ARC to last, and this is shown through the company’s decision to back the rangefinder with its Bulletproof Guarantee. This is the best warranty in the business, offering free repair or replacement if anything goes wrong for any reason, with no questions asked.

The rangefinder is both fogproof and waterproof, since the lenses are O-ring sealed and the optics chamber is nitrogen-purged. The housing is nicely armored with rubber, providing plenty of gripability as well as shock absorption.