upgrade scope or binoculars?
 

Which would you upgrade? My budget is $300-$400.

My scope: A Simmons .44Mag model, 3x-9x. It's very clear but unexceptional in light gathering. (It's on a Savage 111 in 30-06.)

My binocs: I have a pair of Simmons that are clear, but their clunkiness means I leave them at home. I don't find them especially helpful.

My hunting style: I hunt deer in Kansas and we get long shots over fields as in Montana, and shots in the woods like they do in Maine. I hunt from natural ground blinds and also stillhunt the woods. Spot and stalk is an option here glassing hillsides and field edges can work.

I could upgrade both scope and binoculars and still stay in budget: A Nikon Prostaff scope and a pair of Leupold Yosemite binoculars. Each gets good reviews as "bang for the buck."

As long as the scope is reliable my money would be used for binoculars. If I am lucky I will spend a few seconds looking through a scope on a hunting trip in North America, but I usually spend an hour or more (sometimes much more) daily looking through binoculars. The only thing more important than binoculars to me are my boots.

Binos IMO given that you are pleased with your scope.

You can't shoot what you can't see; and you don't want to be using your scope to view the area !!!

Both of you make excellent points. What you say makes very good sense. Thanks!

Since I posted, I've had the thought of doing some backyard testing of that scope just to see how well it actually does in low light. I suppose I could set set up an antler mount and try to count points.

It'll be adequate at best in low light. And you won't really know the difference until you can compare with a better scope side by side. But I agree, its probably fine for now. Honestly in my 30+yrs of hunting, I've only had a couple opportunities at deer where the light gathering ability made a difference...but its nice to have for sure.

Nikon & Leupold make very nice bino's for your budget. My money would probably go to Leupold, I have used both I just like them a little better...but both are great. 8x42 is my preference, but you could go 10x42

Then I would save up and get a new scope next year. A Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 is a great midpoint scope that won't break the bank ($300 or less).

I'd DEFINITELY upgrade BOTH! CANNOT personally even tolerate Simmons after taking dozens of them off customers' rifles when I had my gunsmith shop over the years!

This one seems to do OK. Budget is a huge issue and I can make do with the scope. I'm leaning more to binoculars.

Your hunting style should determine your decision. For me, I do very little glassing so I'd dump all my cash into a decent scope. For others, the other choice is right. In any case, buy the best you can. Then save more cash and do the other.

I have a mid to high end scope (52 mm), but I have a better pair of binoculars (63 mm). The down side is hunting at low light, I can pick out Hogs with my binoculars, I really can't see well enough with my scope to reliably shoot.

If I had it to do again I would try for a better match. It irritates me to go form binoculars to scope, binoculars to scope, binoculars to scope and never get a good enough view in my scope to make the shot.

Nothing like blundering around in the dark looking for blood when there isn't any. I gave up on pushing the envelope, a clean miss is embarrassing. And wounded game is a downer.

Mudderchuck, if you would turn your scope down in power until the exit pupil is 5mm or larger it'll suddenly magically become bright. you have a 52mm objective lens so as long as you keep your scope turned under 10x it'll remain as bright as it's possibly going to get. See your eyeball pupil will open to about 5mm under low light so the exit pupil of the scope (the size of the image or field of view is over 5mm it's good to go. The exit pupil is measured at the eye relief of the scope from the back of the scope to the distance your eye is. To determine exit pupil you take objective lens in MMs and divide by the power or x of the scope. It changes with the power.

Thanks for the tip I'll give it a try.

Found this.

Objective size is way over rated. Quality glass and coatings are far more important than objective size. Give me a quality 40 mm any day over a cheaper 50+ one. BTW, no way am I carrying 63mm binocs hunting.

Sorry had a brain fart, it is 56 mm and around $2000 a pop at todays prices. I didn't say it wasn't way good, I said my binoculars are just a little better and it is irritating to be able to see farther in the dark (or low light) with the binoculars than the scope.

I'll grant you my binoculars are way heavy. So is my rifle. that sucker is around 9 pounds loaded.

I'm sure they have made advances, but it is still good scope.

Have you ever looked through a high end scope, with a large objective, at night?

Thermal or light gathering scopes, as well as spot lights are forbidden here. A good scope with a large objective is the next best thing for Boar hunting at night.

Sure have, upper tier Zeiss and Swaro, great stuff. Don't personally own any that pricey but have a safe full of $400-$800 stuff. That's the price point that I see the most bang for my buck.

Way to many folks get these ginormous telescope things and put it on their rifle thinking objective size is the most critical part of light transmission. Good glass and coatings trumps objective size EVERY time. If everything is equal then sure, objective size may help with brightness in low light. Many folks have a budget and opt for lesser quality glass for the bigger objective, wrong choice in my opinion.

Take a look at the Vortex line of optics. They have several grades, they are consistently rated as equal to higher priced glass and have a lifetime warranty. In binoculars I prefer 8 x 42 to 10 x 42. This is my second season with my Razor HDs and I'm very pleased with their performance, clarity and low light capability. Shop around and you can find good deals at SWFA and Cameraland NY on demos etc.

Budget also being an issue, I made the (imo) mistake of upgrading two of my scopes before my binos. Went with Vortex, one a Viper, one a Diamondback. Even the Diamondback makes me not want to look through my binos (Brunton) because of the difference in clarity. Considering, like the above post, you are using your binos at least ten times more than your scope, the decision for me should have been obvious. Live and learn. And save up again.

Your opening statement here made you look bad. You should never leave your binos at home and replace them with your scope. So I vote upgrade your binos.
I have read and heard many accomplished hunters say they spend most of their hunting time looking through their binos. We all make the mustake of being lazy and looking through our scope instead of our binos though. Not sure what you can get in your price range but get the best you can. If there is a way better set on sale when you decide and they are 100 dollars more go for it. You will likely never rgret it.

I don't believe he made any statements about using his scope as binoculars the way he hunts. Anyone that does needs to be retaught hunter safety because it's a huge nono! My Dad, rest his soul, was hunting from a tower stand in south Texas one day and when looking through his binoculars noticed a guy in a blind on the adjacent lease using his scope for binoculars and had the rifle aimed at my Dad. He proceeded to go over and called that guy out telling him he had lived through WWII and if he ever caught the guy doing that again he wouldn't have a gun/scope left to use to do it again!

I am not trying to bash FF but he said he leaves his binos at home sometimes because of their problems. This would to me mean if he wanted a closer look at something he would need to use his scope. We have all done this for what ever reason I don't think he likes doing it but just needs better binos to cure the problem.

Anybody who has ever had a loaded rifle aimed at them while the nimrod used his scope for binos don't care to even be in the same neck of the woods as them! I know for a fact I don't! Have had it happen several times, usually on public land. I always go over and give them a piece of my mind and have even been tempted to unload my rifle & remove the bolt and do the same in return to see how they like it, but never could bring myself to.

I have to agree. I have a dislike to Simmons scopes as well. I had a couple on used rifles I bought and they didn't hold up. Now I'm not one for the extremely high end scopes and binos. I like the better Bushnells, Leupold, Burris and lately I've been using Nikons.

Yeah Leupold used to be THE brand for me-at least the better model lines. These days on EXTREMELY limited fixed income so cannot afford Leupold any more. This especially sucks when Leupold came out with the VX-6 model line! I'm having to save for scopes now so Nikon Monarch 5 gets chosen.

Just curious what binos can he find in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar range in the U.S. Up here that is the going price for the upper low end to lower middle class glass. We do not run into better stuff until 7 to 8 hundred dollars. But I would likely recomend either a leupold or nikkon line of bino.

scope or binoculars
 

I'd probably pick the binoculars if you really like your current scope. I just wrote a review on the Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm which is in your price range. It has great reviews by so many people. http://bullseyehuntingandshooting.co...unting-scopes/

I would convert both. Loopy vx1 currently 199. 50 dollar rebate. 149 probably best bang for the buck out right now. Spend the rest on a set of 10x binos. Midway has 100 bucks off vortex binos right now. Natchez shooters supply has some pro staff5 10x42s for 189 and free shipping. Roght in the middle of your budget and good enough. You dont need fancy, just effective.

I'd go with both as well. If your hunting experience is like mine, most deer or the game you are after don't walk until it's almost dark. Light transmission is definitely the top thing I'm looking for in a new scope.

One more thing I need to add from my earlier post. These won't break your wallet and when I was in MT on a mule deer hunt I took these binos along. My guide looked through them and was impressed with the clarity (and he was toting a pair of Lieca binos)!

Celestron - Outland X 10 x 42 Waterproof Binoculars - Black

Model:71347
SKU:2595014

This will still leave you with a couple hundred bucks for a better scope.

The choice between upgrading your scope or binoculars ultimately depends on the intended use. If you are into hunting or long-range shooting, upgrading your scope with a higher magnification and better reticle options would be more advantageous. On the other hand, if you are into bird watching or nature observation, upgrading your binoculars with a higher magnification and larger objective lens would be a better choice. Ultimately, both scopes and binoculars serve different purposes and you should choose based on your specific needs.