Want to buy Safari Binos

[Backyardsniper]

I'm looking to purchase a set. I have a nice set of 12x50's that I've had for a long time and they have been great on all my hunts out west and in Alaska where you need big glass for big country, but I would like to get a new pair for this trip. Something a little more suited for the task at hand. I know I can just pick up a set from Europtics or whatever but I figured I would run it by here and see if anyone happen to have a set they were wanting to sell. I'm open to different makes and models. Something reasonably light and compact 8x or 10x. Let me know what you have. I can do cash or if there is some particular brass or projectiles you need or even powder or primers if you are close enough for us to meet up we can do some horse trading. Let me know what you got.

 

[Green Chile]

Love to see guys upgrading their optics. You hunt with your eyes and your feet so get the best boots and optics you can afford. 20 years ago I sold a few guns to get my first set of Swaro binos. I don't even remember what the guns were and don't miss them. That was the best thing I ever did to upgrade my hunting game. There are some great options in the 8x30 or 8x40 range.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I get the truism about you get what you pay for with optics.

That said, my go to pair the past several seasons has been a pair of Sig Sauer Zulu 3 10x32s that I got on sale for under 200 on Amazon. (they also make an 8x32) They are super lightweight and, thus far, have held up to the rigors of rural Alaska quite well. I also took them to Africa in 2021. (they are on my chest in my profile photo)

Again, I get the level of quality you receive with more notable brands. I didn't have that kind of coin at the time I bought mine. I have not regretted buying mine.

 

[Hififile324]

I have Nikon, Monarch 7, 8x42, very lightweight, all paperwork, box, all accessories, 2 years old, just used around the house a few times and repacked. Superb condition. $220.00 Delivered. I bought these from Eurooptic, they currently list them for $479.99

 

[Backyardsniper]

I have Nikon, Monarch 7, 8x42, very lightweight, all paperwork, box, all accessories, 2 years old, just used around the house a few times and repacked. Superb condition. $220.00 Delivered. I bought these from Eurooptic, they currently list them for $479.99

I'll keep those in mind. I want to see what all is out there before I make a choice on it.

 

[SkullKeeper]

I’m no help on providing but I can strongly suggest Leica 10x32 binos. They are small enough and fairly lightweight. I was overly pleased with mine (got them last year before my Zambia trip). If possible -Look through every pair you possibly can before purchasing.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

@SkullKeeper has super advice there. I like to do that myself, but in the case of my Sigs, I wasn't able to. I live in a remote area in AK so I had to make do with reading reviews. Frankly for the money it seemed like a good gamble (coupled with reviews).

 

[Backyardsniper]

I have an old Leica rangefinder and it is top quality, I have also heard a lot of good stuff about the Sig glass

 

[SkullKeeper]

Sorry to chime in again but IMHO binos are as much of a major equipment investment as a superb scope or quality rifle, maybe even more so when you consider how much you will be looking though them vs that rifle scope.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Sorry to chime in again but IMHO binos are as much of a major equipment investment as a superb scope or quality rifle, maybe even more so when you consider how much you will be looking though them vs that rifle scope.

They are that. I agree you use those and your boots more than any other piece of equipment. I would like to get into a pretty nice pair. I'm sure it goes the same with binos as it does with scopes, as you go up in quality of glass the need for magnification goes down.

 

[buck wild]

I know not what you are asking but there is a site where you can rent high end binos and spotting scopes etc. Not dirt cheap- but if you want upper end stuff for a one off trip without buying.

Heck, I'd rent you my 10x42 Swar for a bottle of Blantons

 

[Green Chile]

I've got a set of Sig Kilo range finding binos. In comparison to my Zeiss, Leica or Swaros, there are some color and edge to edge differences but they are very good. Some of us become optics snobs over time but good glass is accessible without breaking the bank.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I know not what you are asking but there is a site where you can rent high end binos and spotting scopes etc. Not dirt cheap- but if you want upper end stuff for a one off trip without buying.

Heck, I'd rent you my 10x42 Swar for a bottle of Blantons

That’s not a bad deal!

 

[Backyardsniper]

I know not what you are asking but there is a site where you can rent high end binos and spotting scopes etc. Not dirt cheap- but if you want upper end stuff for a one off trip without buying.

Heck, I'd rent you my 10x42 Swar for a bottle of Blantons

I appreciate the offer. I need to upgrade anyway, hopefully there are lots more trips in my future. Do I need to go all the way to the Swaro's. I don't know, I would like to buy a set but I don't know if I will spend that much cash or not. I have been looking at the Demo and used ones at europtic. I mean it's not like you can wear out a pair by looking through them too much.
I will keep an eye out for some more of that Blantons though

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’d be looking at the Swaro NL 8x32 or CL 8x30 for a safari Bino. I wish they did a NL 7x32. I’d prefer a little less magnification than the 8. There’s also a CL Curio 7x21 that might be a good fit.

I have a set of Swaro 8x42’s and 10x42’s that I think are the two best options to do everything with. They’re great in thick big woods New England, Piney Forests of the Southeast, or on the Prairies and Mountains out West. There are times I wish I had 15’s out west and didn’t have to carry a spotting scope, but there are also times I know I’d just take the 15’s, and want something less or wish I had the spotter. Africa is the only time I’ve wanted a little less and 8’s but my 8’s were fine.

Wish more people invested in quality Scopes and Binos. Always thought it was ironic seeing $1500-$2500 rifles wearing a sub $500 scope, or the hunter using a pair of $200-800 Binos. Same goes for shooting cheap Ammo. The bullet is the most important and cheapest part of any hunt. Why buy a $29.99 box of cup & core bullets vs a $50-70 box of premium bonded bullets?

 

[buck wild]

Yeah I'd have needed a bottle for rent payment and another for a "deposit"

 

[Green Chile]

You bring up a great point...watching the demos list at Euro Optic. I have used that a lot for optics and have never regretted it. Also their customer service is excellent.

 

[NDWoods]

I went to laser range finding binos and will never hunt without them. I started with Vortex and bought Zeiss a few years ago. In SA I had the Zeiss and wife used the Vortex. She really got into the range finder a lot more than I anticipated and would quiz me on distances high fiving when my estimates were within a few yards.

The Vortex are great for the money but the Zeiss are worth every bit of the price.
Zeiss Victory 10x42

Also...
We both had our binos on the Rick Young Outdoors harness. Looking at the straps I thought they would not be comfortable but I was wrong. We can have them at the ready on our chest or pull an arm through and they are on your side. I got one on a recommendation here and bought a second set for the wife as soon as I tried them.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I’d be looking at the Swaro NL 8x32 or CL 8x30 for a safari Bino. I wish they did a NL 7x32. I’d prefer a little less magnification than the 8. There’s also a CL Curio 7x21 that might be a good fit.

I have a set of Swaro 8x42’s and 10x42’s that I think are the two best options to do everything with. They’re great in thick big woods New England, Piney Forests of the Southeast, or on the Prairies and Mountains out West. There are times I wish I had 15’s out west and didn’t have to carry a spotting scope, but there are also times I know I’d just take the 15’s, and want something less or wish I had the spotter. Africa is the only time I’ve wanted a little less and 8’s but my 8’s were fine.

Wish more people invested in quality Scopes and Binos. Always thought it was ironic seeing $1500-$2500 rifles wearing a sub $500 scope, or the hunter using a pair of $200-800 Binos. Same goes for shooting cheap Ammo. The bullet is the most important and cheapest part of any hunt. Why buy a $29.99 box of cup & core bullets vs a $50-70 box of premium bonded bullets?

I was very curious about this! Magnification range. So you recommend going all the way down as low as a 7x? I wondered what the "best" magnification range would be for the type of viewing that one would be doing over there. You think even 10x is quite a bit too much?

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I appreciate the offer. I need to upgrade anyway, hopefully there are lots more trips in my future. Do I need to go all the way to the Swaro's. I don't know, I would like to buy a set but I don't know if I will spend that much cash or not. I have been looking at the Demo and used ones at europtic. I mean it's not like you can wear out a pair by looking through them too much.
I will keep an eye out for some more of that Blantons though

If you spend more than $5k a year on at least 1 hunt a pair of Swarovski Binos or other high end Bino is a heck yes you need them. What you gain in time each morning and evening over the course of a few hunts is going to pay for the cost of them. I’ve had 3 sets of Swaro Binos and 1 Spotter. I’ve never regretted buying any of them and when my truck was broken into while hunting, the first thing I replaced was the Swaro binos. Still haven’t replaced the spotting scope but haven’t needed it the last 2 years for any tags I’ve drawn.