New Binoculars, spotting scope, or both...

[iflyskyhigh]

Met up with @hereinaz last night. Great guy BTW. Nice enough to take time out of his day to show me some glass and offer some advice.

Went and looked at a pair of 14 NL's today that a guy over on coueswhitetail has for sale. Wow. Stephen was correct.

I talked a little with the gentleman and his approach was 12 NL's with a Swaro spotter, and separate range finder. But he's also backpack hunting. And trophy hunting, I'd assume, or at least cared more about the rack than I do. And I'm not back hunting. We're hiking in, but not backpacking.

After talking with Stephen last night I thought I had kind of picked my course.

After looking through the 14 it should have helped me make up my mind, but I'm more indecisive than before.

I was leaning towards a ranging set of binos and the 14 NL's for now. Then if I found the need for a spotter for some of the longer range shooting stuff down the road I could revisit that.

I'm just not that crazy about of the ranging bino options.

To be fair I haven't looked through the Vortex Furys yet. AND I am interested in the Vectronics Vector X. Seems like those are the only ones with glass approaching the swaro's and a ranging system as good as Sig's. I know they are overkill, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around spending $1000 or more on a pair of binos just to get mediocre to crappy quality glass. AND while I'm not so concerned with weight, it does appeal to me to carry less crap. Whether that be shooting or hunting.

Also havne't even gone down the rabbit hole of stand alone range finders.

Stand alone range finder and NL 10's probably aren't enough?

Stand alone range finder and NL 12's or NL 14's is probably too limiting?

So it seems like the real practical kit options for my application (if I even know what that is) are:

Stand alone range finder, NL 10's or 12's, and Good spotter

Stand alone range finder, some type of 8X binos, and NL 14 (I say 8X's because it seems silly to have a pair of NL 10's and NL 12's or even NL 10's and NL 14's, right?)

Or some type of ranging bino and NL 14's

All that to say I'm further along than when I made the first post. But not really much. I guess I narrowed it down to something at least. Sorry for the verbal diarrhea. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Jake Larsen]

So it seems like the real practical kit options for my application (if I even know what that is) are:

Stand alone range finder, NL 10's or 12's, and Good spotter

Stand alone range finder, some type of 8X binos, and NL 14 (I say 8X's because it seems silly to have a pair of NL 10's and NL 12's or even NL 10's and NL 14's, right?)

.

You’re on the right track I think. You’ve ended up where most people do. Good quality 10s, a good rangefinder, and a good spotter.

The difference between 10s and 14s is enough that it’s absolutely worth owning both.

If I was in your shoes, I’d get NL 10s, a good rangefinders and a good spotter. Then I’d add the 14s if you find yourself regularity looking 2,000+ yards. (or dual spotter big eyes if you want to go crazy haha). Depending on the type of country and style of hunting you end up doing, you may not even need the 14s/big eyes.


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[iflyskyhigh]

You’re on the right track I think. You’ve ended up where most people do. Good quality 10s, a good rangefinder, and a good spotter.

The difference between 10s and 14s is enough that it’s absolutely worth owning both.

If I was in your shoes, I’d get NL 10s, a good rangefinders and a good spotter. Then I’d add the 14s if you find yourself regularity looking 2,000+ yards. (or dual spotter big eyes if you want to go crazy haha). Depending on the type of country and style of hunting you end up doing, you may not even need the 14s/big eyes.


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Thanks. Damn those 14’s were nice though

I think we’ve discussed it before but I can’t remember.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a stand alone range finder should I go that route.

For spotters I’m interested in the Kowa TSN66 (believe that’s the model?) Saw one pop up in the classifieds here the other day


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[Jake Larsen]

Thanks. Damn those 14’s were nice though

I think we’ve discussed it before but I can’t remember.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a stand alone range finder should I go that route.

For spotters I’m interested in the Kowa TSN66 (believe that’s the model?) Saw one pop up in the classifieds here the other day


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I highly recommend that spotter. I own the same one haha. I switched from Swarovski.

I’d look at the Sig Kilo line for rangefinders.

NL 10s, 12s and 14s all have that “wow” factor. I think you’ll be just as blown away by the 10s or 12s. FWIW, I’m currently running the 12s on my chest. I’m considering trying to trade someone for the 10s though, just because the 12s are still a little challenging to hand hold. About half the time though, the 12s on my tripod would be better than 10s. It’s all give and take

Remind me what species/terrain you’re primarily hunting?


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[iflyskyhigh]

You’re on the right track I think. You’ve ended up where most people do. Good quality 10s, a good rangefinder, and a good spotter.

The difference between 10s and 14s is enough that it’s absolutely worth owning both.

If I was in your shoes, I’d get NL 10s, a good rangefinders and a good spotter. Then I’d add the 14s if you find yourself regularity looking 2,000+ yards. (or dual spotter big eyes if you want to go crazy haha). Depending on the type of country and style of hunting you end up doing, you may not even need the 14s/big eyes.


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OR

I still have my old Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42’s

Maybe I just stick with those for meow and get the 14’s and a better rangefinder?

I feel like the old Nikon’s are good enough for a new quick look see, but I don’t think I want to spend a whole lotta time behind them? So those and a spotter don’t really seem like an option? Cause I like the idea of using the binos for the majority of time spent glassing and if the only nice glass I have is the spotter then that kinda defeats the purpose of this exercise.

I’m also still trying to think about how realistic it is for me to take a spotter hunting in any case? If I’m being honest with myself the spotter would probably be used mostly for long range shooting, in which case I’m back to, are the 14s good enough for that. In which case the 14s seem better cause they kill 2 birds with one stone.

Crap!

 

[iflyskyhigh]

I highly recommend that spotter. I own the same one haha. I switched from Swarovski.

I’d look at the Sig Kilo line for rangefinders.

NL 10s, 12s and 14s all have that “wow” factor. I think you’ll be just as blown away by the 10s or 12s. FWIW, I’m currently running the 12s on my chest. I’m considering trying to trade someone for the 10s though, just because the 12s are still a little challenging to hand hold. About half the time though, the 12s on my tripod would be better than 10s. It’s all give and take

Remind me what species/terrain you’re primarily hunting?


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Maybe I’m discounting the usefulness of the spotter to myself????

Maybe the nice 10’s cover 75-80% of what I’m really trying to do and spotter is there when I need it?

In which case the money saved on the 10s vs 14’s goes a long way towards paying for the spotter

Elk, coues, and coyotes. Never hunted Muley’s before but going to be it in this year.

 

[Jake Larsen]

OR

I still have my old Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42’s

Maybe I just stick with those for meow and get the 14’s and a better rangefinder?

I feel like the old Nikon’s are good enough for a new quick look see, but I don’t think I want to spend a whole lotta time behind them? So those and a spotter don’t really seem like an option? Cause I like the idea of using the binos for the majority of time spent glassing and if the only nice glass I have is the spotter then that kinda defeats the purpose of this exercise.

I’m also still trying to think about how realistic it is for me to take a spotter hunting in any case? If I’m being honest with myself the spotter would probably be used mostly for long range shooting, in which case I’m back to, are the 14s good enough for that. In which case the 14s seem better cause they kill 2 birds with one stone.

Crap!

A spotter while hunting is critical IMO. You’ll use to to judge up everything you see. When I’m glassing, I’m switching back and forth between my binos and spotter constantly.

It only makes sense to spend a lot of time behind the 14s if you’re looking 1500-2000” yards plus. (Unless you’re a coues deer guy). In many cases in western mountain hunting, the glassing distances are inside 2,000. That’s why I personally choose 10-12s as my best glass. It’s all about matching the glassing distance to the power and fov of the optic.

If you’re hinting coues deer in big open country where you’re regularly glassing 1-3 miles, then keeping your 10s and dumping the money into 14 NLs might make sense

 

[180ls1]

Maybe I’m discounting the usefulness of the spotter to myself????

Maybe the nice 10’s cover 75-80% of what I’m really trying to do and spotter is there when I need it?

In which case the money saved on the 10s vs 14’s goes a long way towards paying for the spotter

Elk, coues, and coyotes. Never hunted Muley’s before but going to be it in this year.

I like 10x on my chest and 20x binos in my pack. Just sold my spotter. I personally dislike glassing through a spotter.

NL pures and a decent spotter would get you a LONG way as well.

I'll also be selling my 16x56 nikon binos if you are interested. You really need to try things out and see what works for you. Accepting the tradeoffs, no setup is perfect.

 

[iflyskyhigh]

I like 10x on my chest and 20x binos in my pack. Just sold my spotter. I personally dislike glassing through a spotter.

NL pures and a decent spotter would get you a LONG way as well.

I'll also be selling my 16x56 nikon binos if you are interested. You really need to try things out and see what works for you. Accepting the tradeoffs, no setup is perfect.

Agreed. Glad I looked through the 14’s today. Looked through Stephen’s 15x56’s last night. I really need to see a pair of the NL 10’s


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