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Pros - Lightweight and compact - Easy one-button operation - Bright, clear images Cons - Inaccurate rangefinding past 100 yards - Short battery life - Uses 9V batteries

Welcome to our review of the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder Rangefinder. This rangefinder is advertised as being good for golfers, shooters, and hunters wanting accurate ranges from 10 to 600 yards. It includes a carrying case that holds the rangefinder pretty well, and is somewhat protective without being overly bulky. How well does the rangefinder actually perform, though? Let’s have a look, and find out.

What’s the Range of the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder

Through my testing, I’ve found that the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder is very accurate for short-range use, from 10 to 100 yards. Beyond 100 yards, though, the rangefinder becomes increasingly unreliable. Multiple readings are required, and then it becomes guesswork to determine which reading is actually accurate. In one test, I checked the range to my fence from about 250 yards, and got completely different ranges for the fence and a shovel leaning up against that fence. When I got closer, though, the rangefinding was precisely accurate at 100 yards and less.

How Easy is the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder to Use?

The Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder is pretty easy to use. You focus on your target, press the button, and the in-view LCD provides you with the range to your target. Unfortunately, objects further away than 200-300 yards often fail to read at all, meaning you have to push the button several times before you get any reading from it at all. The display, though, is very easy to read and use.

How is the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder Powered?

The Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder is powered by a single 9-volt battery. This is pretty unfortunate, considering how antiquated that particular battery is and the short life of the device with the 9V battery. I wish the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder had been built to use AA batteries, instead, but Simmons seems determined to use 9V batteries on all of their rangefinders.

What Features Can I Expect From the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder Rangefinder?

This is a simple rangefinder with 4X magnification. A single button press activates the laser, which then measures the distance to your object and provides you with the distance to the target on the in-screen LCD.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Rangefinder?

The light gathering capability of this rangefinder is pretty good. I’ve used it in low light conditions such as the minutes just after dawn and just before dusk, and the target image was bright and crisp, with plenty of detail and contrast. The laser works well in all lighting conditions, as long as you are within a couple hundred yards of your target. Beyond 200 yards, bright sunlight seems to interfere quite a bit with the laser’s efficiency, meaning you sometimes have to hold the button down for longer periods to get a reading, or try pressing the button several times.

How Are the Optics and Focus on This Rangefinder?

The optics on the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder are decent and crystal-clear, but no information is available as to whether the optics are fully coated or multi-coated. From the performance of the rangefinder, though, I would guess that this rangefinder has fully multi-coated optics.

Focus is very easy, and the focus ring moves smoothly and with just enough friction to prevent you from accidentally bumping it out of focus. At all ranges, you can focus the image to very crisp detail, with excellent clarity.

How Durable is the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder?

The Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder is protected by a weather-resistant housing, but it is not waterproof. It is also not fogproof; I experienced several problems with fogging in colder temperatures. This is a pretty sad fact, because nitrogen-filling optics chambers is not nearly so expensive as to have been out of the question for even such an inexpensive rangefinder.

The housing of the Simmons LRF 600 Rangefinder is plastic, but not cheap plastic. There is plenty of texturing on the body of the rangefinder, to allow you to get a good handhold on the device when your hands are wet or slippery. I would still recommend care in using the rangefinder, though, because I’m not sure it would survive a drop or harsh bump without messing up the laser or the optics.