Upgrading / maximizing optics setup

[CamoPirate]

Use case scenario in this is for deer and elk;

Currently I have:

Swaro 15x56
Swaro 10x50
Leupold SX2 80mm

Rough total weight of them all combined is about 9.5#.

If I'm elk hunting, I'll usually just have the 10s and 15s with me; come deer season I'll carry all 3.

What I'm considering is:

-Keep everything the same and just upgrade my Leupold to a Swaro STX85mm

-Sell the 15's and upgrade to the Swaro BTX85/90mm, and basically just run binos/spotter across all hunts


Just running the binos/BTX would save me 1# from carrying all 3, but I care more about performance and being able to see than the weight.

Main question I suppose would be: what do I truly give up going from 10s+15s+Spotter to BTX90mm+10s?

 

[hereinaz]

Consider adding 14 NL?

 

[CamoPirate]

Consider adding 14 NL?

Comparing the 14s with the 15s and having looked through a set, while they're nice, I don't feel like the benefit is there to sell my 15s and 10s to get the 14s; and still have a subpar spotter to boot.

 

[houghton_hunter]

-"Keep everything the same and just upgrade my Leupold to a Swaro STX85mm"

Yes do that, read on if you want.


Elk: For rifle elk, I find them easy to spot with a pair of 10s, and then I use a STX+85mm to check if there are any bulls, and if they are worth chasing. So for a big, critter that sticks out, in my view no need to carry more than you need in terms of binos, but a decent spotter to decide if the bull is worth chasing is key.

Deer: Having more field of view helps you find them fast, so 15s or 14s is worth it, but again I am just using the spotter to quickly decide if the deer is worth chasing and then back to the binos, which are the real work horse in my view on a deer hunt.

My optimal set up for what I chase most years: 10s, 14s, and STX-85mm. Plus the STX is going to let you car scroll if you get a chance to chase antelope. I would go with an STX over the BTX, I have both but if I could only have one, STX, more use cases.

 

[kota]

I did exactly that…switched from 10x/15x/82mm to 10x/85mmBTX. It’s not perfect, but I definitely find more game and at longer distances with the BTX. The BTX is a bulky boat anchor in my pack, but I never leave it in the pickup…even when hunting out of a backpack or in heavy timber.

If I had to do it over, I would probably look at 8.5x and STC big eyes. The big eyes would be a little smaller and having adjustable magnification would be really nice! I am not one of the lucky ones that can effectively glass with 1 eye through a traditional spotter, so big eyes or a BTX are the best option for me.

 

[Dioni A]

Minus the Leupold I've had every optic mentioned so far in this thread. The place I ended up is nl 12s and a kowa 88s. The 88 is better than the 85 optically. Has a better field of view is lighter and cheaper. The 2 than l things that matter the most comparing them is the increased stability of the lighter scope gives a much more usable image and the better focus of the kowa provides a better image. It's hard to get a perfect focus with the swaro and often times you don't realize what your missing. I really enjoyed the BTX but the amount of situations where I'd actually use it were pretty limited.

 

[Steve O]

I’d keep the binos and upgrade the spotter. If you go the ATX route you can add the BTX. The BTX is super specialized; if it were a zoom it would be the greatest piece ever made, but as is, not always perfect.

 

[WRO]

This year I plan on el range 8x32s, nl 14s, and I’ll pack my stc. The 95 has been relegated to shorter trips and truck work


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