15x or 18x for glassing mule deer

[nphunter]

15’s and a big spotter have a different purpose and use. For me 15’s are for picking apart country after scanning with smaller binos. A spotter is important to verify size if you’re after a trophy or certain size animal.

My current setup is NL 8x32, NL14’s and a Meopta S2 spotter. I also have some sig IS 20’s but they stay in the vehicle most of the time due to poor FOV and glass quality.

In the past few years I’ve also had a couple 10x binos, Meopta 15’s and a ATC spotter.

If I were in your shoes I would keep the 8.5’s, buy some Meopta 15’s and the Meopta S2 that is currently in the classifieds. You will be in both the Meopta optics less than one pair of 14’s. The S2 is about the perfect spotter IMO, it’s better glass than most anything else under $3K. Same with the Meostar 15’s, they are awesome binos.

I will never use a 10 bino again after going to 8’s and using them, steadiness and FOV is much better with the 8’s.

 

[flyfisher117]

I was happy being ignorant and just running 10x42's. Then came a tripod and I said "ooooooh" So then 15's happed.

Now the 10's are all dusty.

I could see some 6 or 8's and a big set of 12 or 15's being a badass combo

My first tripod was eye opening.
Getting 15s was a huge advancement for me. . Made spotting ears and antler tips twitching in the bushes that much easier and faster.
Sold my Razor G2 spotter within 3 weeks of getting 15s.

I almost don’t even go for my 10s anymore. Only when in the closer range stuff or scanning while hiking.

 

[bwp]

My first tripod was eye opening.
Getting 15s was a huge advancement for me. . Made spotting ears and antler tips twitching in the bushes that much easier and faster.
Sold my Razor G2 spotter within 3 weeks of getting 15s.

I almost don’t even go for my 10s anymore. Only when in the closer range stuff or scanning while hiking.

What 15x did you go with?

 

[flyfisher117]

What 15x did you go with?

Maven B5 I found a deal on them.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I have been using the NL Pure 8x32 and Maven 15's usually with the Nikon compact spotter the last few years and it works perfect for me

 

[CMF]

I already have my 8.5x Kowa so I struggle to justify a 10x. Can I get by with my current binos to identify/find deer and then get a small spotter to confirm? Or is the 8.5 too short to identify most game?

Are you looking for a specific size animal or just plan on looking for a "good" buck or bull?
Elk hunting, I have 8x42 on my chest. Usually when scouting and occasionally while hunting, I'll have 15x56's w/tripod.
For sheep in August I had my 8x42 on chest and 15x50's w/tripod in pack and they are my new favorite 15 to carry, much lighter than 56s. I also carried a Kowa 55s. I used the 15s much more than the spotter, and some days the spotter never came out. I think I'll probably try a bigger spotter in the future, but I felt like I could go without it and not miss it, but that would change if I were only hunting a giant.
never tried an 18x.

Which spotter would you look at for $2k or so

You could find a fairly new/used kowa 55 for 2k.
I've tried a few scopes over the years that were less quality than the Kowa. The Kowa 55 is the smallest I would look at and don't bother with cheaper quality ones.

 

[Middle_Ridge]

15x50's w/tripod in pack and they are my new favorite 15 to carry, much lighter than 56s.

What 15x50 do you have? I'm currently debating 50mm or 56mm and can't decide. I don't like packing heavy... but I'm hobbling along with Sig 16x42 I.S. right now and need better glass.

 

[CMF]

What 15x50 do you have? I'm currently debating 50mm or 56mm and can't decide. I don't like packing heavy... but I'm hobbling along with Sig 16x42 I.S. right now and need better glass.

They are Vortex vipers. bought them used. i have them at 28oz on my sheet.

 

[Middle_Ridge]

They are Vortex vipers. bought them used. i have them at 28oz on my sheet.

28oz!!! Wow, that is seriously worth some consideration! That's way lighter than any of the 56mm I'm looking at (~43oz). Which 56mm did you use before the 50mm?

 

[CMF]

28oz!!! Wow, that is seriously worth some consideration! That's way lighter than any of the 56mm I'm looking at (~43oz). Which 56mm did you use before the 50mm?

I also have 15x56 Diamondbacks and some Athlons. The athlons are way heavier, good for the truck, but not so much for backpacking, think they'll hit the classifieds at some point.

 

[Blake C]

Swarovski nl pure 14x

 

[grizz19]

Which spotter would you look at for $2k or so

Man for me, find a good used swaro sts/stm even if it’s non HD, or a kowa and you’d be under that 2k if you look hard enough and are patient. Maven is a great option as well as the Meopta Mostar. I’d be weary of the meopta since they have pulled out of the US though.

 

[Buglebrush]

In big open country, you can't beat 18x binos. I have the Razor UHD and love them!

 

[Weldor]

Big eyes or 15's, with all the compact scopes bigeyes seem like a good option for all day glassing. I use 15's now but will get a set of bigeyes before the season starts.

 

[Rizzy]

I would stick with the 8.5s and add 55 class spotter.

For backpack hunting I use the 10s and the 55 Kowa. I use the 15x Meopta primarily for scouting when the Bucks are out feeding more in the daylight. The light transmission and wieght of the big eyes are the deal killer for me, especially during the hunting season when the Bucks are more nocturnal and my gear is heavier.
Try not to fall into the trap of offsetting glass quality with magnification.

 

[Firehawk]

I am so tempted to try a GPO Passion HD 15x50 and shave about 8-9 oz and some bulk from my Meopta 15x56. What are all y'alls thought on that? I prefer long glassing sessions from a bino way more than long sessions with a spotter. I find myself wanting to pack the 15s and then caving and not packing either and just using my 8.5 ELs instead. But for long range sessions, I much prefer looking through a bino to a spotter.

 

[Beendare]

I've been doing the late season Deer in the Desert for over 2 decades and had the chance to compare many side by side on a tripod which is the only way to go, IMO [though the old 20X Zeiss and new stabilizing Binos are pretty slick]

I sometimes set my NL's on a tripod to scan but mostly use the UHD 18's.

I used to own the 15x Meopta for many years and think they are equal to the Swaro's and very close second to the Zeiss 15x's. I sold my Meopta 15x when I compared them to the newer Vortex UHD 18's. That extra 3x is significant- a game changer.

I'm not a Vortex fan, their lower lines are just average to poor but their UHD is a different animal and they can be found at a killer price.

 

[Buglebrush]

I've been doing the late season Deer in the Desert for over 2 decades and had the chance to compare many side by side on a tripod which is the only way to go, IMO [though the old 20X Zeiss and new stabilizing Binos are pretty slick]

I sometimes set my NL's on a tripod to scan but mostly use the UHD 18's.

I used to own the 15x Meopta for many years and think they are equal to the Swaro's and very close second to the Zeiss 15x's. I sold my Meopta 15x when I compared them to the newer Vortex UHD 18's. That extra 3x is significant- a game changer.

I'm not a Vortex fan, their lower lines are just average to poor but their UHD is a different animal and they can be found at a killer price.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[270-300]

When i bought vortex kaibabs i chose 15x over 18x. 15 you can barely get by using them without a tripod. They are more stable in wind. And have a wider field of view.

Onetime i found a pair of 15x50 vipers they used to make in japan they were half the size and about 1/3 the weight of my kaibabs. I tried endlessly to get vortex to repair them, but they chose to replace them with 12x50 viper since the 15x50 were discontinued a long time ago. Those were wonderful for the weight.