Like anything there's a few predisposing factors, how quick do you need to find the range? What reticle are you using? What's the target?
If you have plenty of time and target is reflective or next to something that is then you can't beat a LRF for ease of use and speed. Brighter objects will range easier then dark ones as already stated. Sometimes I'll pick something about halfway to laze then just double it, depends on how good your "eye" is.
I use one of these when playing wanabe sniper cause it talks directly to the ballistic computer via Bluetooth
http://www.lasertech.com/TruPulse-360-R-Laser-Rangefinder.aspxOne of these for general target stuff, relatively cheap and very tough.
http://www.bushnell.com/all-products/laser-rangefinders/elite-1600-arcIf time is a bit more critical then your choice of reticle becomes important. A good Tactical scope will have the ability to help you estimate the range by setting zoom to a set power then measuring the height in MOA of the target providing you can accurately estimate its size, some quick mental math and you have the range. I use the MOART reticle on the big guns due to ease of using holdovers.
Another simple stupid method is using the parallax setting to see what range the target focus's best at. Easy on scopes that have the numbers such as Kahles but difficult on the more generic 10 to infinity.
Short of time...experience and knowing your rounds capability / drop over distance is best. As a few members here do it, point, bang, flop at all kinds of ranges, this isn't luck but experience and knowing the rifles capabilities.
If you want to have some fun take a 22LR out to the range, shoot for bullseye at 25, 50, 75 & 100 and you can use a ruler to work out the drop. Same principle applies to virtually all calibres, only the distance will vary.