Vortex Fury HD 5000 Range Finding Binocular

[Fastrig]

Not their electronics they don’t. Only 2 year warranty on that.

https://www.leupold.com/leupold-dna/lifetime-guarantee

Thanks...thought it was the entire product....wonder about the electronics in their scopes, i.e. the fire dots....Hmm

 

[Gater]

My understanding is that it includes any electronics, even in their scopes. I recently purchased a VX-5 and specifically didn't get the firedot reticle for that very reason.

 

[Beretta391]

We have 3 vxr Leupolds, will never hunt again without the fire dot. Who knows I’ve had them along time too (might get a new scope like the rangefinder below) but If it goes out I’ll send it back and get it fixed. Old eyes,the Red dot is a lifesaver for us guys with old eyes!! I have a Leupold rx-1200 range finder that went bad. I bought it before their new two year warranty for electronics went into effect. They sent me a new rangefinder!!! They also said the new one only has a 2 year warranty so they made me happy!!

 

[Gater]

My dad swears by illuminated reticles too. Must be an old guy thing! LOL

I don’t dislike them, I’ve just never felt a big need for them.....yet!

 

[Beretta391]

My dad swears by illuminated reticles too. Must be an old guy thing! LOL

I don’t dislike them, I’ve just never felt a big need for them.....yet!

Yeah I didn’t need glasses at your age either.

 

[Art Lambart II]

@Gater why do you feel you need range finding Binos? In my experience if you need to know the range to a target you will have plenty of time to switch to your range finder. I have only hunted Africa twice but both times my PH asked me not to carry my binos on our stalks.They preferred that I focus on walking quietly and and moving quickly to the shooting sticks once they where set up.

 

[Gater]

While there’s not much need for them in Africa given that you’re accompanied by a PH the entire time who will range your target for you, hunting in Africa is the the most seldom hunting I do. There’s several reasons I want RF Binos:

- Only carry one unit instead of 2.
- if something is far enough away to need a distance range, I’m likely already looking at it through my binos. Switching to a rangefinder takes your eyes off the animal and increase your movement and potential noise.
- most handheld rangefinders are terrible in low light and can be hard to find animals with during the most likely times of day you’d see them.

I’ve hunted for a lot of years with 2 separate units and it was actually our safari in RSA last year that convinced me to get a pair. Our PH used them and they were awesome and proved to be a big time saver when seconds counted.

If my PH had asked me not to take binos with me I would have politely declined. I’m confused why he’d think those would interrupt your ability to walk quietly. I’ve never once tried looking through my binos while walking.

 

[Fastrig]

My dad swears by illuminated reticles too. Must be an old guy thing! LOL

I don’t dislike them, I’ve just never felt a big need for them.....yet!

Not sure if I’m an Old Guy but I am getting “oldish”, in my mid-fifties. Have the illuminated reticles in my newer scopes but forget to turn them on most of the time . I can see where they could be handy in certain lighting conditions, and would used them in those cases, but I shoot just fine with or without them right now.

A little funny; showed the new Leupold VX-6HD with the fire dot to my 87 year old dad, he looked through it, shook his dead, handed it back and asked me “are you hunting or playing one of those video games?” LOL

 

[Fastrig]

@Gater why do you feel you need range finding Binos? In my experience if you need to know the range to a target you will have plenty of time to switch to your range finder. I have only hunted Africa twice but both times my PH asked me not to carry my binos on our stalks.They preferred that I focus on walking quietly and and moving quickly to the shooting sticks once they where set up.

My PH suggested bringing a good pair on binos....would have any way as not having a pair would be like not having my good hunting knife with me.

 

[JGRaider]

I've been to Africa several times, and I wouldn't even consider not taking my binos on a walk, stalk, sitting a waterhole, or whatever.

Whether or not a guy likes the bino/rf all in one unit is a personal choice, but the advantages to having one is very obvious.

 

[Philip Glass]

Buying one of the “big 3” simply because of their name plate doesn’t interest me. It’s kinda like telling someone who’s interest in a Camry to just buy either a BMW, Mercedes or Maserati.

I actually did look through the Swaro’s at Cabelas and while the glass was DEFINITELY better, the rangefinder sucked compared to the Vortex. Not to mention that the Swaro’s cost 2.7 times the Vortex - they certainly weren’t 2.7 times better.

I also just looked up the warranty on the Big 3’s products and it’s worth noting that the warranty on NONE of the big 3 optics manufacturers can even touch the Vortex warranty, especially on the electronics.

This wouldn’t bother me much on standard binos, but binos with built in electronics that carry only a 1-2 year warranty on those electronics is too risky for me, especially when they’re $2-3k.

First of all you can’t determine glass quality in a well lit show room. You must be in the field to learn the difference. Anything Swarovski makes can be serviced and they stand behind them. Their glass is simply the best and it is a great investment. (Leica & Zeiss not to be neglected here) I have the Swaro binos and also really want a pair of Leicas. The range finder on the Swaros is far superior to my top of the line Leupold rangefinder.
I am not a Vortex fan but they are selling lots of products it seems. I would say everyone should have rangefinding binos. They are simply the best hunting tool since the scope. There are also Nikon binos with rangefinder that are a bit less expensive.
I say find what you like in your price range and go for it!
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

@Gater why do you feel you need range finding Binos? In my experience if you need to know the range to a target you will have plenty of time to switch to your range finder. I have only hunted Africa twice but both times my PH asked me not to carry my binos on our stalks.They preferred that I focus on walking quietly and and moving quickly to the shooting sticks once they where set up.

Even in Africa you can have a hard hunt and need to range. I was in Zim in very thick April foliage thinking 100yd max shots. Then after lots of hunting get a 300+ yard shot on a bushbuck! No rangefinder, no range card just Kentucky windage and of course a miss.
I do know what you are saying about some PH’s asking hunters to not use binos.

 

[Fastrig]

Even in Africa you can have a hard hunt and need to range. I was in Zim in very thick April foliage thinking 100yd max shots. Then after lots of hunting get a 300+ yard shot on a bushbuck! No rangefinder, no range card just Kentucky windage and of course a miss.
I do know what you are saying about some PH’s asking hunters to not use binos.

I’m compiling range cards right now for two of my newer rifles/scopes. The Sig RF Binos I picked up have been a God-send during the process as I can tell exactly how far the targets are as I step them further and further out (50-300 in 25 yard increments is what I’m compiling). Can only imagine how great a pair of RF binos will be once in the field.

 

[Bhfs300]

Gater
I am predominantly a bow hunter and had used a range finder and binoculars.
I also have wanted the combination of the two.
I have always been a believer of get the best in your optics. I have two binoculars both Swarovski but I looked at the Fury and bought a pair but didn’t draw any tags last year so have only used them to look at animals and predict distances.
I like them and don’t think paying twice as much would make thing any better.
The guarantee was also big with me.
Good choice
Tom
As I get older I have been moving more toward hunting with a Rifle so should help there also.

 

[markm]

I have a pair of the vortex i use them for everything from groundhogs to plainsgame they are awesome for the money

I have no knowledge on the Vortex but Eurooptic has the Zeiss range finding 10x45 for $1749.

https://www.eurooptic.com/zeiss-victory-rf-10x45-t-laser-rangefinding-binocular-524518.aspx

 

[TMac]

Vortex offers good value imo. I looked through the Fury’s, decent glass and RF. A Vortex rep was there and said the glass was Viper level and the new HD model coming out would be a touch better than the vipers but not Razor level. Was a year of so ago. Presumably the new HD moniker means these have the better glass. All anecdotal, but it was what I was told. I’d not hesitate to try some if I wanted a combo unit.

I tend to look for glass 90-95% of so called alpha glass quality at 30-50% of the cost. Sweet spot imo. Hunters seem focused on the so called big 3 as best, not always so. I recall Kowa spotting scopes testing better than Swaro’s a few years back. Check out some bird watchers glass ratings, they do know glass. I run Meopta 10x42’s starting this year, used to run 8.5x43 Minox’s BR’s, maybe BHG, I’d have to look. The Meopta’s are close to Swaro SLC’s for 60% less, the Minox are 15 years old and pretty much Vortex Viper level, to my eyes anyway.

 

[Gater]

I ended up ordering a pair of the binos I asked about. I found a good deal at just under $1k. They should be here today, so I'll report back on how I like them. If I wind up hating them, I'll just sell them and save up for a higher end product. I'm guessing though, for my usage, they're going to be just fine. Time will tell.

 

[rookhawk]

That’s fine. You asked my opinion. Let me be specific. I am completely underwhelmed with Vortex optics, and were it my money, I would absolutely invest it in one of the three I suggested because they are in my experience superior products - I have used them extensively. But if you have this all figured out, why ask?

Amen to this comment. I do not understand how people have succumbed to the marketing juggernaut of Vortex optics.

Question: How many refurbished Vortex scopes have you seen offered for sale? I've personally seen SEVERAL times where over 50 of them were sitting in a pile for sale. Where do these white box, marked "remanufactured" optics come from?

Question: How many refurbished Leica, Schmidt & Bender, and Swarovski optics have you seen offered for sale refurbished or remanufactured? In 30 years, I've never seen one.

I've owned, (came free with purchase) a single Vortex optic. Pile of trash made in china for $500 MSRP that was unfit for use. Reticle was off by 3-5 degrees too.

You look at the prices of these Vortex optics, many made in emerging markets (third world), you have to scratch your head.

You can get a Leica rangefinding optic, made in Europe, with German glass, for ~$1200 if you shop smart. Why on earth would you buy a $300 Vortex product with $1200 of marketing dollars stacked on top of it instead?

Head scratching over here.

 

[rookhawk]

I think most of the folks on this forum have adopted the philosophy: "we are men of simple tastes, the very best is always sufficient".

Buy the best, never cry over your purchases.

For most of us, that means we buy used or buy savvy to own the very best without having the budget to pay full retail.

My daughter shoots a pre-64 model 70 with a custom youth stock in 243, talley mounts, and a 1-4 schmidt & Bender optic. $1100+125+$500. Her gear is $1725 invested and will last a lifetime.

My son shoots a custom mauser that cost about $4k to make by the builder. It has $1400 pivot mounts from eBay we paid $200. It has a swaro scope we bought for $500. ($800+$200+$500=$1500 lifetime hunting outfit) He saved his pennies for a like-new-in-box swaro rangefinder on eBay. MSRP $1700. He worked all year and paid $400.

You can own the best on a budget if you don't make careless mistakes buying something marketed on buck-slayer-killin'-huntin' shows that spend all their money on advertising and none of it on QC and R&D.

I hope you're the one to prove us wrong, but past track records suggest these gimmicky companies don't deliver the goods.

Buy less, better gear, invest in things that last.

 

[TTundra]

Question: How many refurbished Vortex scopes have you seen offered for sale? I've personally seen SEVERAL times where over 50 of them were sitting in a pile for sale. Where do these white box, marked "remanufactured" optics come from?

Question: How many refurbished Leica, Schmidt & Bender, and Swarovski optics have you seen offered for sale refurbished or remanufactured? In 30 years, I've never seen one.

You haven't seen any demo Swaro or Leica scopes because an authorized retailer you are required to send any returns back to them that cant be sold "as new". Make no mistake, I have personally seen quite a few swaro, leica, zeiss, etc returns come back for varying reasons along with all the others. Did so when I worked for Opticsplanet for 5 years. Ive literally seen the lens blown out on a z6..didnt believe it until I saw the scoped in returns myself. Its no biggie as Swaro did a simple rtv and we sent the cust a new scope.

Point being, any manufacturer has defects. Their policies can obscure how well that is known or at least seen.


As for the Fury vs the Geovid or EL's, no doubt there is a difference in the software, hardware, and optics. Is it worth it? Up to the buyer to decide.


Personally, I like the investment Vortex is making in American manufacturing. Currently the AMG and hopefully more optics to follow in their new Wisconsin facility. They are young and growing, and I'd like to see more made and/or assembled here.