TFB Review: Winchester Supreme W7x24mm Laser Rangefinder

Winchester's been making moves into the optics world with their Supreme Optics line, and I had the opportunity to get some “trigger time” with their W7x24mm laser rangefinder. This is the bigger brother of their two rangefinder offerings, with a claimed 3,000-yard max range and 1,500 yards on game. I got it out to the range for a couple sessions to see what Winchester's rangefinder game looks like. Let's dive right into the Winchester Supreme W7x24mm!

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Specifications: Winchester Supreme W7x24mm Laser Rangefinder

The Winchester W7x24mm is pretty straightforward as rangefinders go. It's got 7x magnification through a 24mm objective with Winchester's WINcoat multicoated lenses. The red OLED display has seven brightness settings and the housing is PPS thermoplastic with rubber grip panels. It runs on a CR2 battery and offers three target modes plus two ranging modes depending on what you're trying to accomplish.

• Magnification: 7x
• Objective Lens: 24mm
• Max Range (Reflective): 3,000 yards
• Range on Game: 1,500 yards
• Range (Building): 1,700 yards
• Range (Tree): 1,200 yards
• Range (Deer): 1,000 yards
• Display: Red OLED, 7 brightness settings
• Target Modes: Normal, First, Last
• Ranging Modes: HCD, LOS
• Inclinometer: ±60°
• Eye Relief: 14mm
• Field of View: 6.5° angular
• Size: 4.49" x 1.47" x 2.98"
• Weight: 6.17oz
• Water Resistance: IPX4
• Battery: CR2

The MSRP sits at $337.99 which puts it right in the middle of the rangefinder market. You can find it on sale for less if you shop around, I've seen it run a fair bit less at some retailers. Winchester includes a wrist lanyard, padded carry case, lens cloth, CR2 battery, and a printed manual. The case is decent quality though I'm not a fan of the velcro closure that seems to be the industry standard.

Here's what Winchester Optics have to say about the range finder:

"When your hunt demands precise ranging over vast distances, Winchester Optics laser rangefinders deliver the performance and durability needed in the field. The Winchester Ranger Rider HD3000 laser rangefinder offers a maximum range of 3,000 yards, with 1,500 yards on game. Featuring 7x magnification and an HD optical system, it provides enhanced clarity and detail for spotting game at long distances. The red OLED display ensures visibility in low light conditions, while three target modes (Normal, First, and Last) and two ranging modes (HCD and LOS) adapt to any hunting environment."

First Impressions: Winchester Supreme W7x24mm

The Winchester rangefinder showed up in a pretty standard retail package. The carry case is soft-sided with velcro closure; functional but nothing special. The rangefinder itself is extremely lightweight at just over 6 ounces. When I first picked it up my immediate thought was "wow, this thing weighs less than my monocular" and my second thought was "this feels kinda cheap." Both of those things can be true at the same time.

The red OLED display worked fine in daylight. Where I noticed something odd was in lower light conditions when I cranked up the brightness the edges of the display got a little fuzzy. Not terrible, not unusable, just noticeable. At mid-brightness levels it was fine. The display shows your distance reading, what mode you're in, and a battery indicator. Simple and straightforward.

I stuck with Normal mode for target selection the whole time and left it in LOS (Line of Sight) mode for ranging. The rangefinder offers HCD mode which factors in angle and gives you horizontal distance but I didn't mess with it. The inclinometer will show you the angle which is useful if you're shooting uphill or downhill and need to do some math.

Everything I ranged was static. I didn't try picking up any moving targets or ranging out to the claimed maximum distances. Sadly, I can't speak to how it performs at 1,000+ yards because I didn't test it that far. This wasn’t out of laziness. In MN there isn't much for wide open undisturbed spaces (without driving around looking) or 1000 yard gun ranges.

The buttons are easy enough to find by feel. Range button at the rear top, mode button on the front top. They're clicky without being loud which I appreciate. The diopter adjustment worked smoothly and got the reticle sharp with my eyesight.

One thing from the manual worth mentioning: Winchester recommends removing the battery when not in use. I didn't do this between my two range trips and I doubt many people will. It's one of those things that makes sense from a manufacturer liability standpoint but in reality most folks are going to toss this in their pack and forget about it until they need it. Who actually reads manuals anyway besides reviewers like myself who feel obligated to?

Final Thoughts: Winchester Supreme W7x24mm

The Winchester W7x24mm does what a rangefinder is supposed to do, it gives you accurate distance readings quickly. The glass is clear, the display works, and the buttons function properly. It's lightweight which some folks will love and others might find makes it feel less substantial than they'd like.

At $337.99 MSRP I think the price is fair for what you're getting. Could it be a little less? Sure. But I also didn't get to push this thing to its limits. I ranged out to 345 yards in a couple range sessions and it worked fine. If you're someone who actually needs that 3,000-yard max range or regularly ranges game at 1,000+ yards this might be worth every penny. I just can't speak to that level of performance because I didn't have the chance and space to properly and honestly test it.

The build quality feels a bit budget for the price but it's not falling apart in your hands either. It's light, it works, and Winchester backs it with their warranty. The supposed requirement to remove the battery when not in use is annoying but most people won't do it anyway (even if they do read the manual) so I'm not sure it matters much in practice.

Would I buy one with my own money? At full MSRP maybe not. On sale for $250 or less absolutely. Winchester's jumping into a crowded rangefinder market and this is a solid first effort even if it doesn't blow away the competition. It works, it's light, and it'll get the job done for most hunters and shooters.

In closing, I want to say thank you to Winchester Supreme Optics for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out their W7x24mm rangefinder! That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe Winchester's rangefinder is something worth spending your money on? Would you take this out to the range or into the field? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.