Should I upgrade my scope or bino's first?

[FirstGenHunts]

I'm a new hunter and bought a vortex venom 3-15 scope & vortex diamondback 15x56 binos (yes the marketing got me, and I was unaware that nearly every optic company has the lifetime warranty). Now that I'm a little more learnt I'm looking to start upgrading my system. As of now I only have the money to upgrade one of these before the fall hunting system. If I upgrade the scope it will likely be a Maven 1.2 or Nightforce SHV F2. If I upgrade binos I'd probably go with one of the Sig Zulu's.

Argument for Binos: I spend most of my hunting days glassing from ridges trying to spot game. I have abnormally good eyes and have been able to spot game in what seem to be very difficult conditions, but there still might be game that I'm missing. That said my eyes do get tired after glassing for awhile. Since I spend majority of my time glassing I feel like I'd have a better experience and more shot opportunities by upgrading to the stabilized binos. Also, the scope works well enough that I can shoot a dinner plate group at 600 yards (this was with 15mph wind & PMC Bronze ammo). Also, shooting is such a microscopic portion of the time spent while hunting, whereas I spend hours and hours glassing.

Argument for the Scope: So far I've had pretty good success spotting game so it could be argued that I don't really need new binos. On the other hand I'm not confident that my scope would withstand a good side impact if I took a fall, based on the drop tests. I prefer to climb steep terrain to get away from the crowds, and run the risk of slipping and taking a pretty good fall. Not withstanding a good side impact, the scope works well enough that I'd be confident shooting game out to 400 yds (my current ethical range, conditions depending). I'd sure hate to have everything lined up then miss the shot because the scope failed.

What would you do?

 

[DangerRanger]

I’d get on the list for a rokscope on the 2nd preorder

 

[RockAndSage]

I’d get on the list for a rokscope on the 2nd preorder

^ This, or one of the scopes that performed well on the drop tests.

I've done a lot of glassing with cheap optics over the years, since I was a kid, and with time have enjoyed upgrading to some of the very best. I hold primo optics in extremely high regard because of the advantages and just plain satisfaction I experience with them. But I wouldn't upgrade binos until I had a scope I knew I could rely on. And some of those are cheap - SWFAs, Trijicons, and Mavens can all be had on here in the classifieds for less than $1000 if you keep your eye out.

I wouldn't expect the Rokscope/S2H scope to be available before big game seasons this year, but if you can swing it, definitely put the $100 down for one, and just put a couple hundred aside each month between now and the time yours is ready for delivery. I suspect it'll be an exceptionally good value, and a genuine high performer in the field.

 

[rogerdoger]

Definitely scope, it’s the variable that is going to possible miss or wound an animal. I have spotted plenty of elk and dear with my vortex 8x42’s. Save your money on the binoculars and wait for them to come out with great glass in a rangefinder bino at a better price.

 

[elsb0048]

Personally I'd do binos. I'd have a hard time with 15's as my only binos without having 8's or 10's on my chest for glassing on the move. I spot a lot of stuff still hunting to and from a glassing point even in open terrain.

 

[peaceman]

Binos all the way. As you know you spend hours behind Binos and good ones create less strain. Bad one make you not want to be there. Personally I wouldn't want 15x glass as for me its too much magnification and i'm not seeing enough field of view when looking for game. I like my 10x42s (Leica's). I got my kids cheap 10x42s as i didn't want to invest is something that might get dropped (or lost) but to truly spend time looking all day sucks using cheaper glass. The stabilized 12x intrigue me that i might get a pair...

The shot is literally seconds of time. The scope you have is plenty with 15x to shoot at 600 or farther and the glass is decent. Considering Vortex scopes, i have a cheap crossfire 4-16x that i sight all my rifles in with and that thing has taken serious recoil abuse over the years and has never failed, even to the point that the tube has gouge marks in it from the rings coming loose. Would i use that on my hunt, probably not but i wouldn't have any concern if i needed to.

 

[Rich M]

Check out the S&B Klassic on sale at Eurooptic.

Put a tripod under those binoculars.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Scope first, but you'll really need to do both. Recommend reading a lot so you can make sound decisions and avoid upgrading a second time around.

 

[kpk]

scope. you're not going to miss/wound because of binos and it sounds like you're already spotting game.

 

[grizz19]

I’d get a scope first. Need a quality aiming device that will hold zero. I have a maven 1.2 and won’t be swapping it out anytime soon. But just pick one you like that passes the drop eval and get it. After that I’d save up a few hundred bucks and start hitting the classified hard. You can find a maven b series pair of binos in 8 or 10 power for 500-600 bucks if your patient. That’s outstanding glass for the price.

 

[sndmn11]

I think you can do both if you stay on the look out for a SWFA fixed, and used Maven b1/1.2/b2/b6, Zeiss conquest, Leupold bx4 in 8x.

 

[wyosteve]

Binos first. You use them 99% of the time and the scope for a shot or two, typically at much shorter distance. The scope you have will work fine. Folks used Tasco scopes for a lot of years with success.

 

[JGRaider]

If all you have are 15 binos, I'd upgrade those to 10x immediately. Nobody on this forum or anywhere else knows if your scope holds zero or not, so don't listen to that nonsense. Obviously if it doesn't you've got a problem, but only you really know. I've killed hundreds of animals with scopes that are "RS failures". It's laughable.

 

[Matt5266]

Scope, your binos dont need to hold zero