rangefinder vs binoculars

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rkr

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I'm looking for some decent quality optics (not too expensive) but I don't want to carry a rangefinder and binoculars with me while hunting. I already have enough with me.
Since I'm a newbie I don't know too much (yet) but I'd like to know what would be a better investment.
also, what to look for when I buy?
 
Where are you hunting and what are you hunting.

If you hunt wooded areas binoculars are almost useless. Hunting the mountains for sheep or goats and they are a must.

Because I'm a bow hunter (as well as gun), for me a rangefinder is an absolute must - I only carry binoculars when I'm hunting moose up near James Bay (uber-flat, peat bogs).
 
Very easy choice..Bino's

I hunt similar to you and glass heavy all the time, I have a Nikon 7i rangefinder and am yet to use it and took a mule deer and whitetail buck this fall as well as countless coyotes. One thing I caution against is using your scope as bino's I have had guys do it to me and didn't appreciate it. Trophy sized animals are masters at hiding, bino's will aide in picking up an antler tip in the bush or aide in identifying a mule deer vs a whitetail.

Cheers!!
 
galamb said:
If you hunt wooded areas binoculars are almost useless. Hunting the mountains for sheep or goats and they are a must.
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I don't agree with that at all. I hunt thick bush and my binoculars never leave my neck. I feel naked if I forget them. Binoculars aren't just for distance viewing. If you notice a movement in the bush, you can check it out with binoculars, and be ready before it steps out into the open if it's something you want to shoot. They make it much easier to tell if that moose or deer is a bull/buck or is bare-headed. You can tell if that's a stick or antler tines just ahead. And they make non-game wildlife viewing much more enjoyable. I'm constantly using mine.
 
scott_r said:
Very easy choice..Bino's

One thing I caution against is using your scope as bino's I have had guys do it to me and didn't appreciate it.

Cheers!!
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I never use my scope as a bino as it can be also illegal.
|I'll go and buy something that isn't expensive but not too cheap. Any advise?
 
rkr said:
I never use my scope as a bino as it can be also illegal.
|I'll go and buy something that isn't expensive but not too cheap. Any advise?
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Sorry didnt mean to imply you were but I've been scope 2x in past few years,,,very unnerving. I would suggest a 10x42, has great FOV and quite stable and terms of quality,,,Id personally look at spending $800 -1000 or more if budget permits. So many new hunters and shooters buy cheaper glass, then upgrade and get nothing for their old stuff. Id look at the Zeiss Conquest HD's 10x40's, great glass, not $3200 Swarovski glass but very nice. When you look at how long you will use your bino's a $1000 investment is peanuts.
Others will chime in here, usually some excellent info from the CGN community
 
rkr said:
I never use my scope as a bino as it can be also illegal.
|I'll go and buy something that isn't expensive but not too cheap. Any advise?
Click to expand...

some good advice from scott_r,
I was going to suggest range finding binoculars, but those are serious dough.
I use a Leica 1600B as a mini monocular for scanning the tree line or creek bed. It has very good optics and at 7x it is similar to the magnification of a pair of binos, is light weight and I can carry it in my pocket. Very good range finder as well.
 
Leica LRF1200 - optics are much better than most binos, and makes for a nice small light package. I use mine for scanning for gophers in the field.

Also have a set of Leica Geovids - nice bins and RF all in one. But heavy, and expensive!
 
4tkal said:
I use a Leica 1600B as a mini monocular for scanning the tree line or creek bed. It has very good optics and at 7x it is similar to the magnification of a pair of binos, is light weight and I can carry it in my pocket. Very good range finder as well.
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I loved the electronics and glass in the Leica 1600 B but I found the size too small for my hand which resulted in my hand shaking. If the small size works for you it is one of the best range finders with great glass that you will find and you might feel you don't need Bino's unless you get a good set and then you will decide you need both
 
I agree with scott_r, binoculars take priority over a rangefinder. You don't need to know how far away something is if you don't know it's there. Lots of hunting got done before rangefinders were commonly available.
 
bino's hands down..........buy the absolute best u can afford. Only u will know what this is. I've gone through three pairs and have ended up with swarovski 10x42 el's. If I could have afforded them 10 years ago and know what I know now it would have been my first and only pair.

Jmo
 
Kahles 10x42 has near Swarovski quality glass and looks Damn solid. Price is a third of the cost. Recommend.
 
Mudduck said:
I loved the electronics and glass in the Leica 1600 B but I found the size too small for my hand which resulted in my hand shaking. If the small size works for you it is one of the best range finders with great glass that you will find and you might feel you don't need Bino's unless you get a good set and then you will decide you need both
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well, there's no doubt that a pair of high end binos would be the best thing for scanning and observing. I can make do with my 1600B only because I have enough weight to lug around, however....
I can see a pair of Swaros as part of my kit down the road. I invested in an X5 3.5-18 on my rifle and am totally impressed. Truly a pleasure to look through.
 
D_ said:
Kahles 10x42 has near Swarovski quality glass and looks Damn solid. Price is a third of the cost. Recommend.
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I see you mention this in another thread........ Do u own these already? How are they? Back in the day Kahles was owned by swarovski and was made in Austria. Is this still the case? Curious if you've done a side by side comparison with the EL's and the slc' made by swarovski. I've owned both pairs of swarovski's but have never seen or tried the Kahles to physically do the comparison
 
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