Want to buy Safari Binos

[fourfive8]

There are only 2 distances in the bush close enough and too far....
8xwhatever is all you need(rangefinder available)... 10x you will regret....for birdwatching no rangefinder needed....

That is a heckuva good quote and good advice! I think this is another one of those threads where the OP is hunting for opinions that agree with his.

For 60 years I've hunted big game in areas of open country and big mountains. Most of the time hunting without binocs and simply stop and go still hunting in thick heavy cover. Sometimes, depending on area and type of terrain, glassing game at a mile or two then figuring either to not even attempt a stalk or planning the stalk route has been a common decision. 99.9 of Africa calls for lower power, clear optics and good exit pupil. Common is the oft discussed "Western" US hunt for glassing and judging game at distance. My last caribou hunt in AK was exactly that- pic below. Spotted at over 2 miles. I was carrying 6X compacts and a small 20x spotting scope with short tripod. It was a normal, overcast day so no heat thermal distortion. I was able to pick up and study caribou at well over 3 miles with the binocs then study them with the spotter. Identical scenario on a moose hunt a couple of years earlier. ANY glass of higher power was simply not needed and lugging the heavier optics would have been stupid. The greatest need I've seen for higher power glass is for pronghorn hunting. But the usefulness is usually short lived and only good around dawn. Higher power becomes self defeating very quickly in the heat thermal distortion. Higher power anythings, binocs or spotters, are useless at any distance in the thermal heat distortion.... so what's the point?.... seems mostly rhetorical anecdotes and discussions about gadgetry.

Since anecdotes seems to require pics. The longest shot I've taken in Africa was on this oryx. Saw him at maybe 400 yards walking, angling closer through Kalahari scrub. Set up sticks low for sitting position and held on spot at 260 yards... no need for ranging gadgetry much less a need for judging with binocs

 

[WAB]

I don’t agree on the higher power glass within reason. My go to glass is:

8x30 Steiner Predator (ancient, could use an upgrade)
10x42 Swarovski SLC
15x56 Swarovski SLC

The 8x30’s are the only glass I ever carry in Africa. I have never wanted greater magnification there.
The 10x42’s are my go to for most NA and European hunting.
The 15x56’s are used with a tripod for long range work. They have completely replaced my spotting scope. I have used them extensively in the mountains on the southern border and have had no issues with heat mirage.

 

[Green Chile]

This is so far beyond a classified ads topic, which is why we are on page 10 with no purchase yet.

One comment on spotting scopes vs binos...some hunting is much more optics intensive than others. Coues deer come to mind. I've used 15's on a tripod for those hunts...sitting behind glass ALL day long is common. After doing that for awhile, I discovered the Swaro BTX modular system and have found that replaces my big binos for all day glassing. Again, well beyond the topic but I can see someone using that for mountain nyala type hunts. Some hunts are really more about the glassing than the shooting and if you're chasing the big boys, every bit of technology helps.

 

[Wathe208]

I look at glassing similar to shooting, in that there's about as many options/set ups as there are scenarios. Best thing one can do is get comfortable with a set up and practice, practice, practice!!! You may adjust your set up as you go. My friends, kids, and without exception outfitters are typically amazed (and sometimes frustrated) that I usually pick up game first. It's only because I have a system that works, and am old with lots of miles logged. But opinions are like anti's, there is no shortage. This is just mine.

 

[WAB]

This is so far beyond a classified ads topic, which is why we are on page 10 with no purchase yet.

One comment on spotting scopes vs binos...some hunting is much more optics intensive than others. Coues deer come to mind. I've used 15's on a tripod for those hunts...sitting behind glass ALL day long is common. After doing that for awhile, I discovered the Swaro BTX modular system and have found that replaces my big binos for all day glassing. Again, well beyond the topic but I can see someone using that for mountain nyala type hunts. Some hunts are really more about the glassing than the shooting and if you're chasing the big boys, every bit of technology helps.View attachment 533595

That is an amazing system. I would use it if I could drive to the spot I’m glassing from. However, I think they’re a bit heavy for packing in.

 

[Green Chile]

That is an amazing system. I would use it if I could drive to the spot I’m glassing from. However, I think they’re a bit heavy for packing in.

So far I've only used them on Coues hunts, which were a few miles in and out from base camp. They would not be carried (by me anyway) on a long alpine pack in or something with a lot of miles. It's a speciality item. If I was a sheep guide looking for inches of horn, I would figure it out.

Case in point, my Coues deer guides are fanatical about glass. They are willing to pack in BT100's and big fluid head tripods! Here you can see them at work as the 3 guides tear apart the horizon looking for big Coues. The cliffs in front of the ridgeline in the background of the 2nd photo are where we found the big boy...2 miles away and the juice was worth the squeeze! This is why you go big optics...but they are specialty glass for unique hunts...like Coues or mountain nyala.

 

[WAB]

That is a superb buck. We are playing the same game.

 

[geoff rath]

I tend to speak to real experts in whatever field (sic) I'm dealing with, be it a highly skilled gunsmith about a custom rifle build, or in this case, optics. lucky to know a very highly qualified optician who says " It's the quality of the lenses that matter, not the magnification". Try a side-by-side comparison between fair-to-middlin' binos, and top quality ones. Why folks go for Swaros, and the like ...

 

[Green Chile]

It’s all about the glass and coatings of the glass. What’s interesting is when you research where the glass comes from.

 

[C.W. Richter]

For strictly DG hunting, no you do not need it at all. However, even when one is going for DG there is a PG component. On my last hunt I was sniping at baboons for fun at 300+ yards and the rangefinder feature came in handy.

Also, as pricey as these optics are it is nice to be able to use them for other hunts.

Just curious what DG cartridge were you precision shooting at 300 yards and with what weight bullet?

 

[Tanks]

Just curious what DG cartridge were you precision shooting at 300 yards and with what weight bullet?

300 RUM, it was the rifle I had brought for the PG component of the hunt 200 grain accubonds

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

So far I've only used them on Coues hunts, which were a few miles in and out from base camp. They would not be carried (by me anyway) on a long alpine pack in or something with a lot of miles. It's a speciality item. If I was a sheep guide looking for inches of horn, I would figure it out.

Case in point, my Coues deer guides are fanatical about glass. They are willing to pack in BT100's and big fluid head tripods! Here you can see them at work as the 3 guides tear apart the horizon looking for big Coues. The cliffs in front of the ridgeline in the background of the 2nd photo are where we found the big boy...2 miles away and the juice was worth the squeeze! This is why you go big optics...but they are specialty glass for unique hunts...like Coues or mountain nyala.
View attachment 533603
View attachment 533604
View attachment 533605

Is that left most guide in your first picture named Jeff by any chance?

 

[Green Chile]

The guide on the left behind the BT100's is Ben Kelly. The outfitter (also in that photo to the right) is Tim Winslow. I highly recommend them for Coues. They are Coues fanatics.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The guide on the left behind the BT100's is Ben Kelly. The outfitter (also in that photo to the right) is Tim Winslow. I highly recommend them for Coues. They are Coues fanatics.

Not who I thought it was. The side profile looked like someone else who’s also a guide/outfitter and a Coues fanatic.

 

[buck wild]

not sure where you are in this game but saw these posted on another site

 

[Backyardsniper]

The final decision has been made. I went with the Leica geovid R 10x42 rangefinding binos for me and the Leica ultravid 10x25 compact binos for the wife. I had some cheap 10x25 at home as well as a few other varying size binos and she tried them all and seemed to really favor the pocket size. I agreed that it is better to get ones you will actually carry and use vs ones that are too large and bulky. They will be a good set of back up binos to have around I believe.

Leica Ultravid Compact Binoculars 10x 25mm

Leica Ultravid Compact Binoculars offer all the quality and clarity of larger binoculars, but in a compact and convenient size. Leica's binoculars...

www.midwayusa.com

Leica Geovid R Rangefinder Binoculars 10x 42mm

The Leica Geovid R Laser product family makes range finding binoculars more accessible than ever. With its best in class optical performance, precise...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Backyardsniper]

I thought it better to split the $2500 into two sets of very useful binos. The Geovid R does not have Bluetooth and ballistic calculator but both of those are things I will never use and I suspect I will use the 10x25 binos more often than I would use the extra features on the higher end rangefinding binos.

 

[Baghorn]

I have Nikon, Monarch 7, 8x42, very lightweight, all paperwork, box, all accessories, 2 years old, just used around the house a few times and repacked. Superb condition. $220.00 Delivered. I bought these from Eurooptic, they currently list them for $479.99

Are these still available?

 

[Hififile324]

Hello all, the Nikon Bino's have been sold.

 

[VertigoBE]

As there was a good sale going, I decided to pick up a pair of 8x32’s from GPO, the Passion ED. Heard many good things about them, let’s see how they will fare.

PASSION™ ED 8×32 – German Precision Optics

gp-optics.com