Compact rangefinding binos

[eLightfoot]

I want to pick up some compact rangefinding binoculars. Either 8x32 or 10x32. Swaro would be the obvious choice but I don’t want to spend swaro money. Already have NL14s for real glassing. Just need a handy pair for wearing in chest rig and ranging. I hate my leica hand held rangefinder. Also hate not having binos handy when I need them. I’ve been using El range 10x42 for ten years and changing systems.
Big binos for tripod work and a small rangefinder pair to have handy.
Looking at GPO or SiG. looking for user feedback. I don’t really care about the ballistic app stuff. Just decent glass and good range finder.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

The GPO Rangeguides are excellent units and nothing near the price comes close to the quality

 

[SloppyJ]

People like to harp on the sigs but my Kilo gen 2s have been flawless.

 

[huntnful]

The Revics are actually pretty small. You can get the Gen 1’s for pretty cheap now. They’re great, especially if you need on board ballistics.

 

[eLightfoot]

The Revics are actually pretty small. You can get the Gen 1’s for pretty cheap now. They’re great, especially if you need on board ballistics.

You talking about the BLR10B?

 

[Wyoming300]

I knonits not 8x32 but i sold my sig kilo and bought the vortex fury hd 5000. At 32 ounces its right there with what most companies 10x42 binos weigh without range finding. The range finder is superb. No issue ranging rocks at 3k. Glass is very clear. They weigh as much as my 10x42 and range finder i used before. They save me weight over having to pack big binos everywhere. I have no issue seeing elk at 4000 yards with these. Im able to make out clumps of grass at 3,000 off of my tripod. Most of the time i just carry this and a 2 lb tripod. Only time i carry bigger binos is if im looking for turkeys or antelope. So i figure it saves me the 40 ounces of bigger binos and the 8 ounces of range finder.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

If you don't care about the ballistics and don't want to spend swaro money the GPO are a decent suggestion, the 8x40 are pretty compact. I've been using them so far this season and the glass is decent. It gives up some to my older ELs, not as crisp edge to edge.

 

[huntnful]

You talking about the BLR10B?

Yes sir.

 

[eLightfoot]

Yes sir.

Where are you finding those discounted?

 

[Macintosh]

Following. I have fury 5000’s and they are bulky, heavy, and the glass is ok but not great in low light. I would greatly prefer a set of x32’s at half or 2/3 the weight. The x32 range guides above look ok on paper and seem to be priced really well (although the open box 8x32 more $ than the new 8x32 on the website) but have significantly less ranging capability than my furys, so I suspect I would not be happy with that, even if the glass is comparable or better. Also, would greatly prefer onboard ballistic solution, its a real timesaver and worth it imo. I see sig makes a compact as well, also priced pretty well. I've used sigs kilo 10k x42's next to my fury's and I think the glass is better on the sigs, if you can live with the blue tint on the sigs.

Id rather get a set with really really good glass though. el range 8x32's are only 24oz....but I keep hearing people talk about how the glass isnt as good as regular premium glass. Ive sort of been waiting for technology to catch up. I figure if I'm going to spend I want it to really be premium glass along with good and fast range and ballistic solution.

 

[huntnful]

Where are you finding those discounted?

Classifieds. Used. People upgrading to Gen 2’s

 

[Formidilosus]

Following. I have fury 5000’s and they are bulky, heavy, and the glass is ok but not great in low light. I would greatly prefer a set of x32’s at half or 2/3 the weight. The x32 range guides above look ok on paper and seem to be priced really well (although the open box 8x32 more $ than the new 8x32 on the website) but have significantly less ranging capability than my furys, so I suspect I would not be happy with that, even if the glass is comparable or better. Also, would greatly prefer onboard ballistic solution, its a real timesaver and worth it imo. I see sig makes a compact as well, also priced pretty well. I've used sigs kilo 10k x42's next to my fury's and I think the glass is better on the sigs, if you can live with the blue tint on the sigs.

Id rather get a set with really really good glass though. el range 8x32's are only 24oz....but I keep hearing people talk about how the glass isnt as good as regular premium glass. Ive sort of been waiting for technology to catch up. I figure if I'm going to spend I want it to really be premium glass along with good and fast range and ballistic solution.

The Swaro 8x32mm is alpha glass. People saying it isn’t is the silliness of the internet. Ranging beyond 2,000 yards is a pretty large deal for me, but if it wasn’t, the 8x32mm Swaro EL Rnages would be what I used.

 

[JGRaider]

The comparisons between a bino/rf unit's optics to those of premium glass are a little mystifying to me. The combo units will never have as good of optics as their premium rivals. Some are obviously better than others, but by and large these combo units aren't comparable. You should realize that going up front.

 

[dreamingWest]

I bought a pair of Leica Geovid Pros here in the classifieds for $1600. I'm currently testing them out for archery hunting. After one weekend hunt in Kansas treestands, they MIGHT overtake my Swaro EL 8.5x42 and Leica CRF combo. MIGHT.

They are very nice. And very handy.

 

[khuber84]

Save the EL money, get the 6k gen2 HD 8x32. Glass is solid but not alpha, best in industry laser. Have saw them 2nd hand for 700-800$. Only get dope to 800y, unless you sync kestrel. Put the 1500$ you saved towards something else if your always gonna have alpha 14x binos on hand to truly judge a trophy.

Geovid pro would be the combo for best glass with most functional laser and dope to elr range. But once again 2.5-3x the money of the sig.

Me personally, if I'm shooting past 800y, I'm getting out my kestrel anyways, and if the target doesn't present enough time to do that, I probably shouldn't be thinking about chancing that shot.

My .02¢

 

[eLightfoot]

Any durability issues with SiG? I bought a Kilo 2000 range finder when those were all the rage and it failed terribly

 

[khuber84]

I ran a set of gen1 10k for 3 years, zero issues, upgraded to VectorX.

 

[4090Sharps]

Any durability issues with SiG? I bought a Kilo 2000 range finder when those were all the rage and it failed terribly

I've owned four Sig Electro Optics products over the last couple years, and haven't had any durability issues--just QC. Two of those four wouldn't focus properly when received as new. Replacement of the first (Zulu6) was quick, and I'm going through the second one (Kilo6k HDX) now.

Leave yourself time to deal with the QC issues. Also, fwiw, the Gen II and HDX optics are a notable improvement over earlier models with regard to the blue-green tint. The tint is still noticeable, but not (in my experience) painfully so.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

The comparisons between a bino/rf unit's optics to those of premium glass are a little mystifying to me. The combo units will never have as good of optics as their premium rivals. Some are obviously better than others, but by and large these combo units aren't comparable. You should realize that going up front.

In my case I wasn't expecting the GPO rangeguide to beat out my older ELs, I was just stating it as a reference point of the glassing experience. I suspect the leica R and swaro EL range are likely more crisp at the edges than the GPO rangeguide also but at a different price point. I think at the sale price on the 8x40 rangeguide it likely holds its own against non-range finder bino glass at the same price point.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I use GPO 10x40.

Super fast laser
26oz
2.3inx5.0inx5.2 In
Ranges past 2000yards
upper mid tier glass

Size wise they are tiny, before them I refuse to carry bino’s archery elk hunting, due to size and weight. Now I wouldn’t leave home with out them. They are tiny, I’ve put them in my kuiu kenani vest chest pocket instead of bino harness a lot of times