Kowa 770 vs 550. Big vs small

[willfrye027]

I just picked up a kowa 774 and dang, this thing is huge. Got a stout tripod to go with it and I’m realizing how much extra weight and bulk this is going to be. Prior to this I was using a kowa 602 20-60. I was relatively happy with it but was in a few situations last year field judging bucks and felt like I wanted better resolution and light gathering after sunset.

Now that I have the big dog I’m wondering if I should just sell it and try the 554. 90% of my use is field judging mule deer. 10% is looking into rocks and shadows for bedded deer. My binos are 10-15x50 duovids. I hunt a lot of very open sagebrush county looking at bucks up to 2 miles out. Also do a lot of backpacking.

Anybody care to discuss their thoughts on these two options? Do I need to just get over the weight/bulk penalty? Appreciate the insight.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

I've owned and tested Kowa 55 and 88 together, so I am not sure about the 77 series, but I have heard from those who've looked through the 77 vs 88 and they say it's not a huge difference. I can say that I that the 88 is definitely worth it's weight and size penalty over the 55 though. If the 602 left you wanting, I bet you also won't be happy with the 55. It gets rave reviews, but that is because it's compared against other 50-55mm scopes. Kinda like a 115 lb dumb supermodel. Exciting and fun to play around with but not the most useful.

 

[tdhanses]

I own both, the big one I use for range work, scouting, vacations etc not really for my hunting. The 553 is always in my pack coming hunting season.

 

[mntnguide]

I'm a high country mule deer addict here in western Wyoming... my Kowa 773 never stays at home. It has saved my legs countless miles and thousands of feet of elevation in determining a buck being 175 or 190 etc 4 miles away. I've considered getting the smaller one once it is hunting season and I've already found a target buck that I'm hunting, but in my opinion for scouting the smaller version will not have the long distance glassing ability as the 77 series and that is very important for me and judging deer.

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[willfrye027]

Very helpful info. I may need to exchange for a smaller tripod and figure out if I can get away with something a little smaller.

 

[sneaky]

I just picked up a kowa 774 and dang, this thing is huge. Got a stout tripod to go with it and I’m realizing how much extra weight and bulk this is going to be. Prior to this I was using a kowa 602 20-60. I was relatively happy with it but was in a few situations last year field judging bucks and felt like I wanted better resolution and light gathering after sunset.

Now that I have the big dog I’m wondering if I should just sell it and try the 554. 90% of my use is field judging mule deer. 10% is looking into rocks and shadows for bedded deer. My binos are 10-15x50 duovids. I hunt a lot of very open sagebrush county looking at bucks up to 2 miles out. Also do a lot of backpacking.

Anybody care to discuss their thoughts on these two options? Do I need to just get over the weight/bulk penalty? Appreciate the insight.

The 773/774 is pretty compact considering they are usually compared against 65 series scopes for pack size and weight. Try lugging around an 80 series or bigger scope if you think that 774 is big. I've got a 773 that I like, much easier to deal with than the 85 series it replaced. Everyone has different expectations and usage requirements though.

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[sneaky]

Very helpful info. I may need to exchange for a smaller tripod and figure out if I can get away with something a little smaller.

What tripod are you using? I'm running mine on a Promaster 525C with an Outdoorsmans panhead. Tripod and head is 2lb11oz

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[Smokey12]

I have the 664 I think it's a good compromise between weight and performance.

 

[willfrye027]

What tripod are you using? I'm running mine on a Promaster 525C with an Outdoorsmans panhead. Tripod and head is 2lb11oz

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Sirui n2204sk with va5. Its so hard to tell based on the stats online what these tripods look like without actually getting one in my hands. This thing is super stable but maybe overkill? Thinking about exchanging this for the n1204sk. Prior to this I was using a promaster 522 with bottom sections removed so this thing seems massive to me.

 

[willfrye027]

Tripod and head are 4.8 lbs. I think it’s overkill for this scope?

 

[sneaky]

Yeah, that's a professional grade photo tripod. I think you could cut almost two pounds off that easily. That tripod is 3.7lb bare. I think mine is 2lbs

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[Pronghunter]

Well if it means anything, I literally carry my ATX 95 everywhere I go from sage flats to the high country here in Montana. I save weight everywhere else so I can take the beast along with me.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

What tripod are you using? I'm running mine on a Promaster 525C with an Outdoorsmans panhead. Tripod and head is 2lb11oz

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I have the same exact setup and it's enough for my 883.

 

[tdhanses]

Very helpful info. I may need to exchange for a smaller tripod and figure out if I can get away with something a little smaller.

Truthfully if you can swing it get both.

For my 773 I use a slik 624 and outdoorsman pistol grip with panner.

 

[easilyamused]

From my experience the 55 is a great little scope if size and weight is your concern, but from a optical standpoint it wasnt that impressive. Side by side looking out over a lake till dark we had the 55, , a vortex 50, a gen1 razor 65, and the kowa 88. At last light the 65 razor was brighter than the 55 kowa for sure, and the 88 was such a vast improvement over both that I have no problem keeping it with me all the time now.

 

[willfrye027]

Got a chance to test it out today...wow. I can see why you guys are willing to pack the weight of the 770. This thing is impressive to say the least. Just need the right tripod and I fully expect this thing to find the 200in deer all by itself

 

[buffsmoker]

No Joke. I picked up a 773 last year as an upgrade to my 65mm Vanguard, and the difference is unreal. I paired it with the Promaster XC525C and SPCH20 head from Cameraland, which seems like a solid option for the price. 3 lbs, 1 oz on my scale.

 

[tdot]

If you dont mind sitting. There are ways to strip tripods down to pretty light weights. My current setup is a Sirui T1205x, with the bottom 3 leg sections removed, and the long center column replaced with the short. I've used simple vinyl caps to cover the threads on the ends of the legs.

Head is a Really Right Stuff BPC16.

Total weight is 1.7lbs. I can use it with my BTX/95, but I wouldnt use it with the extender.

It makes leaving the heavier glass at home much harder.

 

[willfrye027]

I’m gonna try the sirui t-004sk with a va5. Basically the price of a va5 alone and I really like that head. I don’t want to go too light...I do have a UL tripod for backpacking but this should be a little easier to use on front country stuff. I don’t glass standing so hopefully it’s nice and stable for sitting.

 

[fatrascal]

The 554 is not going to outperform the 774 when looking for deer after sunset. You must decide which is more important to you. Weight or clarity. 554 will help you in the weight category but will cut your after sunset use. 774 will be heavier but will definitly help you see into shadows and low light better than the 554. And by as all means you can easily find a lighter tripod that is plenty strong enough to hold the 554 or the 774. Fatrascal.