Range finder does not register distance 99.9% of the time

I know nothing about laser rangefinders - sorry.

I think you will find the answer to your question in the price point of the device and the age of it. In the first instance I suggest you contact the manufacturer to check whether they provide a repair or exchange service or whether they have a network of approved repairers.

Bushnell Scout DX Rangefinderis my favorite one. It's a fantastic range finder.
It's offers some amazing feature and specification like...

• 6x magnification
• Range between 5-1000 yards
• 3-volt CR2 Battery
• Rangefinder Accuracy 5 yds

The Bushnell Scout DX Rangefinder will help you to pick from 3 different user modes by pressing the Mode button at the left side of the unit. First is the usual mode which can be used for most purposes up to 1000 meters and works well towards the pretty reflective surface.
When turned on, the Scout 1000 Laser Rangefinder liquid crystal display (LCD) will directly display icons like the bow and rifle mode. The bow mode will provide you with true horizontal distances from 5-99yd away, depending on the angle. The rifle mode, however, will permit you to get the angle and drop/holdover of your shot to the target from 100-800yd.

If you want to buy a rangefinder then you would have a question at some point. Can you use a rangefinder for both golfing and hunting? Can you save a few bucks buying one rangefinder?
The answer is Yes, you can. You can use a laser rangefinder for both activities if you choose a smart device that has features to serve both golfing and hunting adequately. You just need to know the basic differences between golf and hunting rangefinders and some limitations.
Fast of all you have to know, what is golf rangefinder and hunting rangefinder.
Golf Rangefinder Golf rangefinders seek for the nearest flag stick for the measuring the distance in an open field.
Hunting Rangefinder The rangefinders always are in "Distant Target Mode" by default to spot wildlife in wooden terrains. This target set automatically ignores close objects that could obstruct your view.

Here I wrote the 3 difference, you should remember that:

1. First Target And Distant Target Modes
Golfers need "First Target Mode" to detect the near objects like flag or pin in an open golf ground. Hunting rangefinders rarely good at detecting close objects. For hunting, "Distant Target Mode" is appropriate to range a target past the wood. Modern rangefinders come with toggling options between both first target and distant target modes, but they are expensive.
2.Quick And Accurate Reading
Golfing rangefinders detect the object quickly, and hunting rangefinders give the accurate reading. It is true that golf rangefinders do not need to be as precise as hunting one. Hunters want to make sure that their prey can be perfectly located.
3. Magnification Strength
You might be aware of the fact that Hunting rangefinders always have more magnification than the Golf Rangefinders. Golfers need the distance of the next hole, which could be maximum 400 yards. For the bow hunters and hunting, 400 yards rangefinders are also appropriate. In case of rifle hunting or long-distance shooting sports, you will be needed maximum 1000 to 1500 yards ranges.

Now you know what the basic differences between the golf and hunting rangefinders are. You can start choosing your suitable one.

Rangefinder essential things for hunting. There are many rangefinders are available on the market. Here I give 3 best range finder for hunting lovers.
Sig Sauer Kilo 2000
The Sig Sauer Range finder yields 7 x magnifications which are the best thing any hunter would want. It allows you to focus even on the smallest target possible and never lets you to miss a shot. The 1000+ yards range works efficiently.
The Sig focuses on maintaining a high standard in its material. The solid body of the rangefinder is built with magnesium with soft rubber adjusted to the top and bottom so that you do not lose the grip. The materials used are lightweight and durable also.
Leupold RX-650 Laser Rangefinder
The Leupold RX-650 Rangefinder is Lightweight, compact and weatherproof that is flexible to carry and protect the display when you need to go for hunting. Keep eyes on our Leupold Laser Rangefinder review, and learn quickly why you should spend some time to assess the usefulness of the product.
Bushnell 202442 The Truth Rangefinder
Bushnell 202442 the truth rangefinder is a very portable and convenient product. It has been made in such a way so that you can take it quickly for shooting or hunting. The rangefinder has been made with quality materials and tested extensively. The materials used are well-built and durable without any doubt.

The attractive vertical design of the Bushnell G-Force DX is a combination of high technology integrated with some features in demand that is noticed on different Bushnell models also having a 6x magnification that can be utilized both for bowhunting and rifle hunting.
Fully Loaded
Display - The Bushnell G-Force DX is featured with VDT (Vivid Display Technology). Its red screen display has incompatible with the black screen display which is targeted for their budget customers. The settings for the intensity of red display is manually adjustable to one out of four preference settings. These brightness settings aid the user to adjust with the reticle and give a visual record or display of the output from the device of their preference under any condition of lighting.
MOA and MIL - The G-Force DX displays the readings about angle indemnified relics in mil or moa and the holdover in an inch or cm when the Rifle mode is turned on. Users can set the relics to measure in an inch, moa or mil when the ranging requires in yards. Again, users can set the program to show holdover data in Moa, MIL or cm.
Angle Compensated Readings - Some of the older versions of Bushnell rangefinders displayed the view distance in line or dots at the time of Bow or Rifle mode. Next, the device displays the shooting angle and extends the number. When in Bow mode, the G-Force DX provides the compensated angle range in yardage. Otherwise, it gives the relics information when in the Rifle mode. But, the newer version of the Bushnell displays the readings of site distance at first, then it displays the shooting angle beneath the screen for not more than one second and a half before disappearing from the screen. Eventually, the device provides an important information about angle compensation.
ESP 2 - The G-Force DX rangefinder is featured with the second generation extreme speed precision processor offers precise distance measuring advantage and boosted with speed. The device can provide up to 1/2-yard accuracy out to 199 yards and 1/10-yard display precision out of 125 yards.
Housing - The Bushnell G-Force DX is coating rubberized for easy grip with a metal housing. The length of the metal housing is 4 inches, thickness 1.3-inch and height 3-inch which is a compact design of the rangefinders. This dimension of the G-Force DX allowing it to give a relatively low weight of 8oz.
Range - The Bushnell G-Force DX is a vertical-style rangefinder used for long range shooting and the maximum range of the rangefinder is 1300 yards on highly reflective objects. An expected reading on trees under good conditions is up to 900 yards where the same on deer is maximum 600 yards. But, the flat style Bushnell 1600 Elite is the right one for the users requiring more ranging power.
Legend Legacy
The new G-Force DX is developed from Bushnell's previous G-Force 1300 hundred design. Although this model is a new design, it had to leave backward many wanted features of the Bushnell Legend 1200 version. The new Bushnell G-Force DX is a featured with a Bow Mode, Rifle Mode, and Regular Mode same as its forerunner. Another feature is the VSI (Variable Sight-in) that adds versatility in shooting with the rangefinders set with integrated ballistics charts. At last, the popular Brush and Bullseye targets priority settings has added a new dimension into the new G-Force DX.
Modes
Rifle Mode - By selecting the Rifle mode, users can pick a ranging sight that they prefer. After that, they had to select from a ballistic chart that closely matches the flight path of their bullets holdover. Then the rifle icon will appear at the left-top of the screen confirming that the device is in rifle mood. After ranging the target, the line of sight yardage will appear on the display. The device will display underneath the shooting angle which will be disappeared within a second and a half, and at last, it will display a holdover measurement in any unit of cm, inches, MIL, or MOA
Regular Mode - In this mode, the user will get a line or dot of distance view in yardage from the target and it will facilitate the users in no other ways. That means, the indemnified angle in yardage, he relics data or the shooting angle - nothing can be calculated or displayed.

Simmons Laser LRF 600 Rangefinder

Treestand bowhunters are known to be the people with particularly discerning preferences when it comes to shooting. If you are one of them, you surely are proud to make an accurate hit at extreme angle.
So, you know how important the difference of a few yards between the true horizontal distance and line of sight distance is when a successful hit is the only thing you want. Well, forget all these subtleties because Simmons Laser Rangefinder LRF 600 is there to help.
Alongside the reticle and battery level indicator, this budget-friendly rangefinder might seem a compromising model due to having no rifle, or bow, or target priority icons. After all, this model is ideal for shooters and hunters.
Important Highlights

• Accuracy: +/- 1 yard
• Range: 10-600 yards
• Monocular Optical System with a fixed focus
• 4x magnification
• Liquid crystal display
• Line of sight measurement
• Tilt Intelligence (For displaying True Horizontal Distance)

Bushnell Scout DX Rangefinder is a good one for golf.
It's a fantastic rangefinder.
It offers some amazing feature and specification like...

• 6x magnification.
• Range between 5-1000 yards.
• 3-volt CR2 Battery.
• Rangefinder Accuracy 5 yards.

The Bushnell Scout DX Rangefinder will help you to pick from 3 different user modes by pressing the Mode button at the left side of the unit. First is the usual mode which can be used for most purposes up to 1000 meters and works well towards the pretty reflective surface.
When turned on, the Scout 1000 Laser Rangefinder liquid crystal display (LCD) will directly display icons like the bow and rifle mode. The bow mode will provide you with true horizontal distances from 5-99yd away, depending on the angle. The rifle mode, however, will permit you to get the angle and drop/holdover of your shot to the target from 100-800yd.

press and hold the mode button.

To turn off: push the power button twice while 150 is blinking and once to turn it on.