Optimal Mule Deer Optics Setup

[swavescatter]

Alpha glass wins every time in every scenario. It's a simple affordability issue for some people.

Put the Swaro NL Pure 14's on a table next to the 2nd gen Sig stabilized 16's and I'm taking the Sigs every time.

My buddy I hunt with has the Swaros (and BTX setup). Sure is nice when you have 30 minutes to get set up and comfy behind them, but I've already scanned the mountain and ready to move on.

For dedicated 1 hour plus sessions in one spot, I'd go Alpha glass. They're much more comfortable to be in for longer. But are they 3X better than my Mavens? Nope. Edge to edge clarity is where they really win, and I don't see to find any less animals than my buddy.

I was looking for an elk carcass about 2,000 yds away that we watched some guys and youth hunter poach on private. Spotted it with my Sig 16's handheld and guided my buddy onto it with his NL Pure 14's on a tripod. We swapped glass and I couldn't really see it any clearer than my Sigs. Field of view, low light suck on Sigs, but for picking out game I'm actually MORE effective given that I'm glassing for 5 minutes before he's set up.

I'm a total idiot with money and buy whatever I want when it comes to hunting gear. After using his top end Alpha glass I simply have no desire for it for 99.9% of my hunts (at least the way I hunt).

TLDR - OP get a pair of 2nd gen Zulu6 HDX 16x42's. They're the Bee's knees. Don't bother with the new Pro versions of the Sigs - they're straight garbage.

 

[nphunter]

Put the Swaro NL Pure 14's on a table next to the 2nd gen Sig stabilized 16's and I'm taking the Sigs every time.

My buddy I hunt with has the Swaros (and BTX setup). Sure is nice when you have 30 minutes to get set up and comfy behind them, but I've already scanned the mountain and ready to move on.

For dedicated 1 hour plus sessions in one spot, I'd go Alpha glass. They're much more comfortable to be in for longer. But are they 3X better than my Mavens? Nope. Edge to edge clarity is where they really win, and I don't see to find any less animals than my buddy.

I was looking for an elk carcass about 2,000 yds away that we watched some guys and youth hunter poach on private. Spotted it with my Sig 16's handheld and guided my buddy onto it with his NL Pure 14's on a tripod. We swapped glass and I couldn't really see it any clearer than my Sigs. Field of view, low light suck on Sigs, but for picking out game I'm actually MORE effective given that I'm glassing for 5 minutes before he's set up.

I'm a total idiot with money and buy whatever I want when it comes to hunting gear. After using his top end Alpha glass I simply have no desire for it for 99.9% of my hunts (at least the way I hunt).

TLDR - OP get a pair of 2nd gen Zulu6 HDX 16x42's. They're the Bee's knees. Don't bother with the new Pro versions of the Sigs - they're straight garbage.

I believe IS glass has its place but saying NL14’s have a similar image to the SIG is a joke, Stevie Wonder could tell the difference between them. If you can’t see any clearer though NL’s you need your eyes checked, my 12yr old Razors have a better image than the SIG Zulus hands down.

I can have my 14’s on a tripod in about 1 minute, takes longer than that to change your battery when it dies. With the SIGs advertised battery life I’d go through 3 battery every hunting season.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Sure is nice when you have 30 minutes to get set up and comfy behind them

Why does it take 30 minutes to stick a stud in a hole and tighten a thumb screw? It doesn't, plain and simple. I can go from hiking to gridding on a tripod in <45 seconds, maybe a minute+ if I'm slapping on puffy pants.

 

[swavescatter]

I believe IS glass has its place but saying NL14’s have a similar image to the SIG is a joke, Stevie Wonder could tell the difference between them. If you can’t see any clearer though NL’s you need your eyes checked, my 12yr old Razors have a better image than the SIG Zulus hands down.

I can have my 14’s on a tripod in about 1 minute, takes longer than that to change your battery when it dies. With the SIGs advertised battery life I’d go through 3 battery every hunting season.

Have you actually compared the two side by side though?

I'm not saying they have a "similar image". The NL Pures are absolutely better in several measurable characteristics. However, the resolution in the center of the glass for an object in bright sun a mile away is not noticeable to me. FOV, edge to edge clarity, CA, low light, ergos... all better on alpha glass (hell even B-tier Maven type) on tripods.

Another time we were glassing for Barbary sheep and I couldn't tell if something was a goat or not with my Sigs. I break out my Maven 15's on a tripod and can't resolve any better. My buddy sets up his BTX 95 set up and only then could we BARELY resolve it. In that scenario, the giant BTX was only marginally better at animal ID than my Sigs.

My point is that unless you're spending A LOT of time glassing from a single sit I just don't see the value in alpha glass anymore. I loved my Maven 15's when I first got them but I just can't convince myself to pack them anymore. They're great to keep in the truck in case.

Alpha glass is better in every way except for the one where the IS binos shine: versatility. Glassing while driving? check. Bouncing around ridges? check High wind? check

The battery on my 16 just died after almost 6 months and I use them daily for practicing with my bow and spotting shots. Also several multi-day trips in there. Pop a fresh AA in before each hunt and you're golden.

If you spend HOURS in single locations glassing from a tripod, alphas are definitely for you. Or at least the Maven/Vortex UHD level. From my experience they won't help you find animals any better in GOOD LIGHTING (most of the day). In low light I switch to my RF binos.