Range Finder or Binoculars?

[stubblejumper]

So you are saying that under no circumstances should a rifle scope ever be used to look at something because without physically going over to the exact area where you are looking there is no way to be sure.

I am saying that I use my binoculars to positively identify the target.I don't put the scope up until I am 100% sure of the identity of the target.

However there are people that use their rifle scopes to try and establish just what they are looking at,when they aren't sure.That is the usual reason that people get scoped while hunting.

The idiots that do scope people almost never carry binoculars.The idiots that scope people after they have identified the object as a person should be punished very severely.

One particular idiot scoped a hunting partner of mine for about a minute,even though my partner was wearing orange.He didn't tell the rest of us about the incident until we were on the way home,because he knew that we would not have let the situation pass without some type of action to educate the idiot doing the scoping.Because the idiot was in a jeep,a mile down a very narrow trail,we would have likely fired up the chainsaw and felled 20 or 30 trees across the trail with a note indicating why we did so.Even if he had a chainsaw,he would have had a very slow trip out of the woods to think about his actions.

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

I agree with you. It is never acceptable to scope/point a firearm at anyone. My beef was with stating that someone would do that when you knew that is not what the intent of his post was.

 

[stubblejumper]

It is never acceptable to scope/point a firearm at anyone.My beef was with stating that someone would do that when you knew that is not what the intent of his post was.

Could you kindly point out where I posted that the other poster was pointing a firearm at people or scoping people.To make it easier for you,I will repeat my earlier post.

I will never use a riflescope to glass any object whose identity I have not already verified 100%.To use a riflescope to verify a potential target is irresponsible and unsafe.If I need more magnification than my binoculars,I use a spotting scope,or get closer.

As to the posters intention,he did not specify that in his first post.He left it very open to interpretation.

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

As to the posters intention,he did not specify that in his first post.He left it very open to interpretation.

I guess he assumed people would use a little common sense around here. He should have been more careful.

 

[stubblejumper]

I guess he assumed people would use a little common sense around here. He should have been more careful.

Once you are aware that some people do use rifle scopes to glass unknown objects,and some have in fact scoped objects that they knew to be people,common sense tells me that other people probably do the same.
Based on the wording of his post,it could easily be interpreted that the poster was one of those people.

Or are you going to dispute the fact that some people do use their riflescope to glass for game,even though some of those people have admitted doing so in their posts.There was a long thread over on 24hr campfire dealing with this very issue.The excuses offered were along the lines of "I had the safety on",or "I wasn't going to pull the trigger".No excuse is acceptable for pointing a firearm at any unidentified object just because you wanted to use your scope to look at that object to see what it was.

 

[Farlsincharge]

The excuses offered were along the lines of "I had the safety on",or "I wasn't going to pull the trigger".No excuse is acceptable for pointing a firearm at any unidentified object just because you wanted to use your scope to look at that object to see what it was.

Agreed, now back to the original intent of the thread. This is what I did to my rangefinder. It's compact and easy to slip on and off. I attached it to the back half of an old fobus paddle holster.

 

[gorky]

I just my Leica LRF 1200 (8x) and if I am just going for a spot and stalk, I no longer take my binos. The optical clarity is very good and it saves me the weight when trudging through coulees. That said, binos sure are nice in the truck for when you are scanning a mountainside, trying to find something to take a gander at with a spotting scope.

I think alot depends on the terrain you hunt. I hunt everything from relatively dense forest (where hand-held optics of any kind are really not all that necessary) to rolling hills (where binos and rangefinders are both handy) to open plains (where the spotting scope can tell you what kind of buck you are looking at 2000m out). Each optic has a specific role.

 

[Crashman]

I think both are essential tools, especially in the west where you guys can hunt some very wide open places. I hunt in Ontario, where we have to find big clear cuts, or large agricultural areas to really see a long ways. Having said that, I carry both binos and a range finder with me when big game hunting. Even in the hardwoods, when the leaves are off, I can see quite a ways, and the binos can tell me if it is a buck or doe, the size of the animal, or even if it is a legal animal.

They will also tell me it is that idiot neighbour walking her dog that won't wear orange in hunting season so don't get your panties in a knot and raise the rifle!

 

[Northman999]

Personally I have found that both are essential in more open terrain. I would agree that getting the binos first is probably the way to go.

Avoid cheap rangefinders too. I've tried a couple of the $189 types and they only seem to work at ranges that are close enough where nobody would use a range finder anyways. Remember that the max ranges they list for rangefinders is for large, relfective targets. As I rarely hunt 5 Ton Cube vans, I think this is useless. After using cheaper rangefinders and finding them totally useless I bought a Leupold RX-IV for just over $500 on the internet and am very happy with that. I would not go cheaper than that.

 

[ILoveBigRacks]

Another alternative, and one I would suggest if the Geovids or comparables aren't within your grasp, is go with the best binos you can swing (compacts if you're really concerned about size/weight) and buy a scope with some sort of ranging/sizing reticle. Spend some time with the scope and before long you'll be able to range with ease, at least close enough for a shot if not to the exact metre.

 

[citysfs]

RF Bino's

I understood that Leupold had some out at about 699.00 US . Has anyone tried them at all . look a little chunky for me

tks

 

[grymt14]

I just picked up a set of Bushneel 10X42 Power views at Walmart on sale for 79 bucks and I am quite impressed for the money & I can still afford a range finder take alook at these first

hahaha I laughed out loud when i read this. not trying to be rude

 

[fugawi]

Ranger Dave,

Get the binos first. You have to find your prey before you range it and binos help you do that. Buy good glass: $400-$500 (or more) on a good set of binos is not money wasted, buying cheap binos is. I use a pair of 8x32s made by Minox. German made, I believe owned by Lecia so its good glass. The 8x32s are small and light enough that I can carry them around my neck all day so they are ready when I need them. I tuck them into my jacket to keep them from bashing around/having rain/snow/crap fall on them and just pull them out to use. Because they're small they don't get in the way when I shoulder my rifle. The Minoxs are armoured and nitrogen filled to prevent fogging. Get the Aspherical ones as they are brighter. Best $ I've spent on hunting optics. Plus you can use them besides hunting.

Binos will help you find the deer before they see you! I believe one of the banner sponsors carries them.