jjwillie

Am going to Idaho to hunt elk/mulies this fall.
I have learned form my last western hunt that "good" optics can make or break a hunt, so I want to significantly upgrade my brunton binocs.

Is 10x42 a good power/size? I currently have 8x36.

I was looking at nikon, leupold, burris....any other suggestions?

Thanks

PaJack

I hunted pronghorn with 10X42 and a spotting scope! They worked great...

gselkhunter

10X42 is a good size, but 8X42 is easyer to hold still when you are moving fast in hilly country. I use Pentax DCF WP model myself. And I have both sizes 10X42 and 8X42. For open country hunts Mulies and Sheep, I like 10X. For elk and timber areas I like 8X.
Gselkhunter

GooseHunter Jr.

I have the Brunton 10x42 LiteTech's and love them!

BareBack Jack

8x42 are great for weight and size,the 10x42 are good but starting to get on the large size.
Mine are Nikon's,but have used Burris and Wind Rivers,also get your self a Bino-Buddy,I won't hunt with out one.
BBJ

losthwy

8X is a good choice. Buy the best you can afford. The Swaros EL are a great piece of glass if you can afford them.

RandyL

I agree, 8x and the best you can afford. I have swarovski. 8x30. Light, great glass, and clear.

Colorado Bob

Willie------I agree with the crowd. I had a pair of 10x42----IMO they are too big & heavy. Plus they are hard to hold steady. They gave me a headache plus a ton of eye strain. I got a pair of 7x Leica's for this years hunt. IMO 7x or 8x is the way to go.

bigbulls

Stick with 7 or 8 power binos with an objective lense between 36 & 42mm. This power range is an ideal ballance between magnification, brightness, weight, and a steady hold. 10X is OK but anything more is dificult to hold steady. As you go up in magnification you need ever larger objective lenses to get good light gathering abilities and this will add signifigant weight. Glass is not light.

If you need more magnification than that you need to get a spotting scope.

Hunter_59

I have'nt been on an elk hunt yet, this will be my first, but I have used binoculars extensively whitetail hunting and have always used a cheap pair of 10x24. I decided to buy a good pair for this elk hunt and purchased a pair of Leupold Wind River "Katmai" in 10x32. These are "great" binocs! They are small and easy to carry but have exceptional glass. Not as big as the 42 and 50 objective binocs. They are nitrogen filled and waterproof. I would recommend them to anyone with a limited budget. They run about $329 at Cabelas.