Binoculars vs scope

[tim629]

in PA they have antler restrictions.

Last year I had a buck come out not too far away from me so I pulled up the rifle and tried to look for his magical brow tine with my scope, could make out a brow tine on one side but not a third point on that side and on the other side couldn't make out a brow tine even with the other 2 points. I'm confident he was at least a decent 5 point but not worth the risk to shoot now and count later.

my question:
if the glass is of equal quality will 8x binoculars show you something that an 8x scope will not in that situation?



yes I know don't use a scope for spotting game, don't put the scope on anything you don't intend to shoot, but this was spotted with eyes and had a decent body on the buck so I was hoping to count points then swing to the chest and seal the deal.

 

[DrMike]

It would be my supposition that binocular vision permitted by the binos will always prove superior to the monocular vision of the scope. Also, the light transmission of the larger bodied binos will prove superior to the smaller bodied scope, everything else being equal.

 

[SJB358]

It would be my supposition that binocular vision permitted by the binos will always prove superior to the monocular vision of the scope. Also, the light transmission of the larger bodied binos will prove superior to the smaller bodied scope, everything else being equal.

Bingo. This is one place where scope quality really counts.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

It's all in the glass.... Glass quality and coatings matter as much as anything, given proper magnification.

I have a couple of mid range Zeiss scope.... They are very good in every way.... They are 42 and 44mm.

The very best glass I own though is without a doubt my rangefinder.... Leica 1600b... Even though it is only 7x and 24mm objective (3.4mm exit pupil)... It is the brightest and clearest optic I have ever looked through.

 

[c. schutte]

You'll always see easier with equal power binos vs. a rifle scope unless the glass quality is poor in one. Many of the ranches I've hunted have age & antler restrictions and there is two ways to handle that. One is a spotter. That said no bino will ever replace a good spotter. The other is a scope with some hefty magnification. It also is not a real spotter but, can allow you to judge antlers a little better....... sometimes. :>)

The best friend a hunter can have is a high quality bino. Especially if hunting wooded areas where there are plenty of dark areas. Many times when it is "too" dark to see I've spotted deer using a good binocular. And many are the times I've called off the shot because I've been able to see that it was not a shooter even though with the naked eye it was.

Something else about high quality optics, they will allow you to see much better than average glass of the same magnification. I've stood on a ridge with 7 other hunters and two guides a couple days before an elk hunt. All of us were glassing across a valley onto another ridge and beyond. Three of us had top notch binos and the rest had entry level. One of us spotted a nice bull over a mile away. The three of us with good optics were trying to count points where the other 6 guys were failing to see the bull.

On another hunt my buddy and I watched two mule deer bucks fight. We were crossing a small creek and the bucks were up a draw. There was only the light of the stars and a quarter moon. Our guide & outfitter were with us and these guys could spot a tick on a bucks butt a mile away with their eyes alone. Using their "average" optics they could not see the deer.

We hunted with them the following year and both had upgraded their bions. I've always wondered what motivated them to do that? 8)

 

[Bbear]

I'll echo what the others have said - spend most of your time with quality binoculars and you'll never go wrong.
I was lucky enough to get to hunt in Finland several years back. Their hunting 'day' is from midnight to midnight. No lights are allowed. The scopes we had on our loaner rifles were Swarovski, S&B, Leica's etc. I had spent several month's worth of allowances to buy a set of Leica 8x32's and a set of 10x42's.
Sundown was at 4 PM. They picked us up from our blinds at 6:30 PM. It was heavily overcast. A small roe deer (not allowed to shoot) walked out about 5:30. I could see all sorts of detail in that low light. About 6 a small whitetail buck walked out of the woods about 150 yards away. I could see through the binoculars that it was a whitetail and that it was a buck as well.
To shorten a long post, spend your hard-earned $$$ on the binoculars. In the heavy timber it sounds like you'll be hunting, the 8x32's will do well. 8x40's would be better. If you might be hunting a pipeline or coming out west to hunt, get 10x40/42/44's.
Look to the higher end products - Zeiss Conquest/Diavari, Leica, Swarovski, Kahles etc. Yes, they're very expensive but, you'll never need to purchase another set.

 

[JD338]

As stated, high quality glass and coatings are crucial for positive identification. Having said that, you should be using binoculars for identification and the scope for precision shot placement.
My binoculars are Meopta 10x42mm. They are crystal clear and very bright.

JD338

 

[maverick2]

I always wondered the same thing as the OP, so ran a little qualitative experiment last spring after acquiring a pair of Maven 8x30 binos. I pulled them out one afternoon/evening watching 4 deer moving around on a brush covered canyon wall about 300 yards away from the house. Sitting there as it got dark, I had my best piece of glass (Leica ER 3.5-14x42 scope) alongside me for comparison, watching the deer and swapping back and forth between binos and scope as the light disappeared. When it was all said and done, I could still find the deer and see some detail with the little Maven binos AFTER losing them with the scope (even after turning the scope down to 6x).

 

[Thankful Otter]

my question:
if the glass is of equal quality will 8x binoculars show you something that an 8x scope will not in that situation?

yes, yes and yes

binos are always a better option

something in the 10 x 40 range

from Swaro, Zeiss, Leica

a couple of friend's of mine, named Charles and Bill, convinced me to be an optics snob a few years back and I have loved them for doing so every time I use a scope or binoculars .

By the way Charles, I really miss Bill, what a fine gentleman, much like you, Guy and Dr Mike

 

[c. schutte]

my question:
if the glass is of equal quality will 8x binoculars show you something that an 8x scope will not in that situation?

yes, yes and yes

binos are always a better option

something in the 10 x 40 range

from Swaro, Zeiss, Leica

a couple of friend's of mine, named Charles and Bill, convinced me to be an optics snob a few years back and I have loved them for doing so every time I use a scope or binoculars .

By the way Charles, I really miss Bill, what a fine gentleman, much like you, Guy and Dr Mike

Thanks PB for the kind words. Bill was the consummate gentleman! I would agree that Dr. Mike and Guy are very much so too. I on the other hand have some areas to improve on. :lol: