There are a few reasons why a lot of hunters turn to Vortex.
Reasonable prices. Quality optics. Product variety. VIP warranty.
It’s clear why the Razor HD 4000 should be on your hot list if you’re scoping out the market for a new rangefinder.
More specifically, it has 4000-yard ranging performance, HD optics, compact build, long-lasting battery life, and of course, accurate measurements that you can depend on for ethical shots.
We’ll go so far as to say that it’s the best hunting rangefinder in the market today!
Quick Overview...
What We Like: Long-range rangefinder
What We Don’t Like: Need a tripod
Best Uses: Hunting, Bow Hunting, Target Shooting, Tactical Use, Observation
- Yard Range: 5-4000
- Magnification: 7x
- Objective Lens: 25mm
- Display Type: LED
- Dimensions: 4.49 x 1.34”/9.9 oz
- Waterproof/Fogproof: Yes/Yes
- Angle Compensation: Yes
Our Verdict: With high-performance features, high-end optics, and an extreme long-ranging laser, we highly recommend the Razor HD 4000. The technology in this handheld unit also gives it at an advantage against some of the best rangefinding binoculars available. Due to the price point, it really can’t be beat. This is state-of-the-art rangefinder tech at its best.
Who is the Vortex Razor HD 4000 Best Suited to?
Not many are ranging past 1000 yards for anything in the hunt, but it doesn’t mean that we’re not always trying to push our optics just for fun. When certain decisions are no longer a laughing matter, you’ll need a rangefinder that can keep up with your demands. This is where the Razor HD 4000 enters the scene.
Bow hunters can take max advantage of scan mode, rifle hunters will spot and target prey at 400, 500, 600 yards and beyond, and ELR mode will give you more information that may determine how you approach the remaining hours of your hunt.
If you love the Vortex brand but don't quite have the budget or need the range you might like the Vortex Impact 1000 rangefinder.
How Does the Vortex Razor HD 4000 Perform?
The Razor HD 4000 is a very powerful unit with long-range performance and high-end optics. As far as handheld rangefinders go, it sits at the top far above its competition. It’s even better than some rangefinder binoculars out there and costs 4x less!
It goes further, has a small beam divergence, and HCD is accurate out to 800 yards. The new features promise practical and accurate performance in the field essential for the hunter.
Because of its 2400-4000 yard performance on highly reflective targets, it would be an appropriate tool for many outside of hunting.
Due to the razor-sharp optics of the Razor HD rangefinder and high 7x magnification, it can double as a provisional glassing monocular when needed. It will not be your lowlight champ, but it does have a wide field of view to get some decent observation if you’re without your binoculars.
Powerful, accurate, and long-ranging. It ought to be everything you expect from a rangefinder and not just in a handheld design but also in binocular form too. If you want more from your rangefinder, opt for the latest, state-of-the-art laser tech from Vortex and you’ll save some money too!
Features & Benefits
Long-Range Rangefinder
We’ve seen 1600, 1800, 2000, and even 2800-yard ranging performance from handheld rangefinders before. We remember the day when 1000 yards was the biggest news in town, and now manufacturers are more than doubling ranging performance out of these miniature optics.
The Razor HD 4000 is worthy of being the flagship unit for the brand as it boasts not only Razor HD quality optics but 4000 yards of ranging performance! It’s even been said that you can acquire even longer distances and we don’t doubt it.
To achieve these unbelievable ranges, it’s best to put the Razor into ELR (Extended Laser Range) mode and mount it to a tripod. Of course, the Razor comes ready to be mounted to any standard field or camera tripod.
To acquire these long-range distances, the rangefinder has a beam divergence of 2.0 x 0.1 mils. This isn’t too far behind the Vortex Fury HD 5000 rangefinder binoculars that have a beam divergence of 1.5 x 0.1 mils.
Unlike many rangefinders that have extreme ranging and beam divergence of less than 2.0 mils tall and 0.5 mils wide, the Razor HD is significantly cheaper. As a top rangefinder under $500, it’s a must-have optic if you already have binoculars you love.
Multiple Ranging Modes
The Razor 4000 has four target modes. This is how the laser concentrates on targets to try to determine which target it is that you’re trying to acquire a distance on.
Normal Mode is the default mode and has a deer range of 1600 yards, tree range of 1800 yards, and high reflective range of 2400 yards.
First Mode acquires distances on targets at the forefront while Last Mode acquires distances on targets in the rear, say, behind trees or rocks.
ELR Mode is for any situation that you’re unable to get a reading or when you want maximum range out to 4000 yards and possibly beyond. It’s best to mount it for distances past 1000 yards and definitely if you want 4000-yard performance. It must be noted that readings acquired in ELR mode can take up to 20 seconds. But targets as small as 1 meter in size have been captured by the beam divergence of the Razor HD at 4000 yards.
The Razor has two ranging modes: HCD (Horizontal Component Distance) and LOS (Line of Sight). Both modes can take advantage of Scan mode.
In HCD, you have the angle compensated distance especially effective for rifle hunters in mountainous, steep, unpredictable terrain, and of course, bow hunters. In LOS mode, you have the straight line-of-sight distance to the target that is more than adequate for average terrain. If in doubt, you can take note of the incline measurement that shows up on the display in LOS mode.
Great Optic Features
The Razor is a handheld optic all the way, so it’s both compact and lightweight at 4.49” and 10 oz (approx.). Of course, the unit is completely weatherproof and fully armored as is expected of a Vortex product.
The unit itself has a magnesium chassis for an ultra-lightweight to strength ratio. The objective lens has ArmorTek coatings that provides an ultra-hard scratch-resistant surface and repels dirt, fingerprints, oil, etc.
With a diopter, you can focus and sharpen the display for your vision, and you can adjust the eyecup to achieve comfort and proper eye relief between 19-16mm – good enough for those who wear sunglasses or specs.
The rangefinder has two-button operation: one for getting the distance and the other for accessing the menu and toggling between modes.
It also has a very good battery life with approximately 4000 actuations before needing to replace the CR2 battery – that good to last an entire hunting season plus some. A low battery indicator will also be displayed through the eyepiece.
HCD Corrected Shoot-to-Range Reticle
The reticle on the Razor HD 4000 is the same reticle used on the Fury HD 10x42 and Fury HD 5000 rangefinder binoculars.
It’s a circle reticle with cross marks on the outside perimeters. The reticle size has proven effective for a long time and obviously for long-ranging performance too. But there has been some consistent talk amongst users that they’d like to see an even smaller reticle for those extended ranges.
With the LED (red) display, there are five brightness settings to acquire exactly the type of visibility you need, even in snow conditions.
Limitations
Need a Tripod
In all reality, you can try ranging freehand for 4000-yard distances, but at 7x power and climate/environmental conditions, you’ll need to incorporate use of a tripod for maximum accuracy and laser target acquisition.
Vortex even recommends using a tripod for distances beyond 1000 yards though many have found they don’t need it for 2000-3000-yard ranges.
If you’re serious about using ELR mode for ultimate long-range performance, you’ll need a tripod. If you’re the hike-around type of hunter, you’ll need to figure out a compact, mobile setup that isn’t tedious or heavy to scout with.
Popular Questions
The Razor HD 4000 has 0.5-yard accuracy out to 199.9 yards, -/+ 1-yard accuracy out to 1000 yards, and -/+ 2-yard accuracy beyond 1000 yards.
Yes. You can toggle between yards and meters; however, you cannot acquire distances in yards and meters simultaneously.
The Razor HD 4000 does not have ballistic software, nor does it compensate for wind. The HCD mode only provides an angle-compensated distance for targets and users on an incline or decline.
For this type of capability, you may want to consider the Vortex Fury HD 5000 AB (Applied Ballistics) binocular rangefinder.
Most laser optics have difficulty performing in adverse conditions such as sleet, rain, snow, and fog. While some rangefinders may incorporate some type of mode to cut through these conditions, it’s still difficult to rely on for accurate measurements.
The Razor HD 4000 has AWC (All Weather Capable) ranging that allows the unit to acquire a measurement regardless of the conditions. Now, whether or not it’s accurate will be dependent on a number of reasons. You can test the Razor and determine if it is so.
Conclusion
The Razor HD in all likelihood has more ranging power than you may require, guaranteed distance readings even in bad weather, and it still maintains its tough, compact, and lightweight build.
There isn’t anything to compromise with the Razor HD. In fact, it offers more than what you’d reasonably need from a rangefinder.
But if you want the capabilities of the Razor 4000 for that just-in-case moment in the hunt, every penny spent on it is now priceless to you in the field.
Further Reading
