Binoculars/Monoculars with mil reticles

[CaseyK]

hello everyone,
I'm shopping around for some field binoculars ( I've scoured the forums for info )
particularly, some with a mil reticle for ranging
something very durable for tough use with decent glass.

right now I am thinking, somewhere between 6-10x magnification, and 30-50 mm objective

Steiner has an interesting 10x42 tactical I like the look of, and I love the aesthetic of the military/marine style green rubber/silicone housing although hard to find the expensive actual military 630r / 750r but they are cool
there are some us army surplus ones on ebay, L3 manufacture m24 7x-28mm that look handy and cheap
I also like the vortex monoculars.. they are neat

chime in with any experience guidance or opinions. Im looking for a set I can throw in my backpack, a gp pouch or even a pocket, abuse the F out of and are good for low light in the bush with a reticle and minimal eye strain

let me know !!! thanks in advance !!!

 

[bigHUN]

https://www.vortexcanada.net/en/more-products/monoculars

I have one of the older Solo 10x36 no ranging reticles, but I know the non Solo more expensive models have some ranging reticle, not sure how accurately. I have a laser rangefinder finding it more useful.

 

[adamg]

Apex Optics is planning to come out with binoculars that include a reticle in one eye. Not sure the availability date on those. They've been showing the development units at trade shows and matches recently.

 

[rugbydave]

The Steiners are nice (especially the LRF binos with the reticle). Vortex also have the Ranger HD R/T 10x50 binos, which I've yet to handle but hear are nice (essentially same glass as Viper/Fury binos). I'm still hoping that Vortex puts a reticle in the Fury 5000 ABs as well.

 

[fljp2002]

These are my binoculars with reticle.

327MR 8X30 B126 is the model number, made in japan

Backstory is: bought these used at the thief’s Market in Bagdad, Iraq in 1996 while on a UN Mission. These were the binos issues to the Iraquis Army and after the first gulf war , soldiers would report they military gear loss and sell it at the thief’s market in order to supplement their income. That is why the marking plates were removed.

You can find these still online for about $1000 US.

Each eye focus is adjusted independently. The reticle fills the field of view, 50 mils left and right, up and down. marked every 10 mils with 5 mils indication between.

I have used these to adjust Artillery Fire and they were better than our Canadian Issued black binoculars. Can no longer use them for artillery adjustment since the CAF now is issuing binoculars with a laser protective coating on binoculars and these do not have that filter.

Now I use them for hunting, shooting and all around glassing.

The fellow at the market in 1996 wanted $20 US for them , gave him $25 (in 1996 IRAQ, $25 US was one month salary for the average Iraquis) , never realized until this year they were that expensive.

5E3E10BC-FD41-4F81-8E53-4C6B99C6B3D7 by fljp, on Flickr

E2F5C27C-7945-4784-8F0B-F8D8561A39F1 by fljp, on Flickr

52625042-9966-40FD-ABFD-915B40362625 by fljp, on Flickr

DF89425A-9EA7-43FA-A769-CCC3EA0B3AFE by fljp, on Flickr

 

[Scarheart]

I don't know if this is still the case with the Vortex monoculars but the one I bought the reticle was not etched in the glass but was some sort of decal which started bubbling off the glass inside the monocular The rest of the glass is perfectly clear and usable though so I still have it but I still wouldn't recommend the Vortex because of this.

 

[CaseyK]

These are my binoculars with reticle.

327MR 8X30 B126 is the model number, made in japan

Backstory is: bought these used at the thief’s Market in Bagdad, Iraq in 1996 while on a UN Mission. These were the binos issues to the Iraquis Army and after the first gulf war , soldiers would report they military gear loss and sell it at the thief’s market in order to supplement their income. That is why the marking plates were removed.

You can find these still online for about $1000 US.

Each eye focus is adjusted independently. The reticle fills the field of view, 50 mils left and right, up and down. marked every 10 mils with 5 mils indication between.

I have used these to adjust Artillery Fire and they were better than our Canadian Issued black binoculars. Can no longer use them for artillery adjustment since the CAF now is issuing binoculars with a laser protective coating on binoculars and these do not have that filter.

Now I use them for hunting, shooting and all around glassing.

The fellow at the market in 1996 wanted $20 US for them , gave him $25 (in 1996 IRAQ, $25 US was one month salary for the average Iraquis) , never realized until this year they were that expensive.

some interesting history, thanks for sharing.

I don't know if this is still the case with the Vortex monoculars but the one I bought the reticle was not etched in the glass but was some sort of decal which started bubbling off the glass inside the monocular The rest of the glass is perfectly clear and usable though so I still have it but I still wouldn't recommend the Vortex because of this.

damn good to know, I'll avoid the product. Im a fan of buy once, cry once
I like the steiners but porro prism is kinda bulky. since I have not used any, I am leaning towards, if it is too big to fit in a pouch or a cargo pocket I may not take em. I think I can fit some 8 or 10x42 in a cargo pocket.
apparently exit pupil is better when in a 1:5 ratio for magnification/objective size? so that is a consideration as well
I have noticed 10x are hard to keep steady, so maybe 8x42 roof prisms for overall performance is what im looking for. unfortunately not a lot of options with a ret.

 

[jkf]

I like the steiners but porro prism is kinda bulky. since I have not used any, I am leaning towards, if it is too big to fit in a pouch or a cargo pocket I may not take em. I think I can fit some 8 or 10x42 in a cargo pocket.
apparently exit pupil is better when in a 1:5 ratio for magnification/objective size? so that is a consideration as well
I have noticed 10x are hard to keep steady, so maybe 8x42 roof prisms for overall performance is what im looking for. unfortunately not a lot of options with a ret.

The various ComBloc Cold War era military binoculars are mostly all really nice, and come with a reticle. Unfortunately they are not as cheap/readily available as they used to be, but they pop up on ebay from time to time.

They are also mostly largeish, heavy porro designs -- the only roof prism that springs to mind is the East German EDF 7x40, which is frikkin spectactular, but not a cargo pocket kind of item. (Unless you have yuge pockets and are a real belt & suspenders kind of guy)

Not sure if Steiner make the 8x30 with a reticle in the civilian version, but these are pretty compact/light despite being porro-prism -- the German military ones are on ebay sometimes, I think the US used this model as well? (It seems soldiers the world over are sometimes careless with their equipment, lol)