Rangefinding binoculars

Rickmt

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please tell me what you think about these devices. I know they are very expensive . I have been considering Leica, Swarovski, and Zeiss. My current glass is old and I am considering upgrade. I primarily hunt Montana with an occasional Africa trip. I appreciate your advice ! Regards
Rickmt
 
@Rickmt IIRC, there's a thread with reviews and comments on the combo units.
 
I had a stand alone rangefinder and sold it for a Combo. Yes the combo are heavy, but it beat looking thru the binoculars, then picking up the range finder. Its just look and press two buttons. Tells me the distance and how many clicks on my scope for elevation. I have the Leica HD-B.

However, the new Leica Rangefinder has built in bluetooth for use with the Kestrel Wind Meter and will also give the windage. Now when that software comes to the binoculars, might be upgrade time on the binoculars.
 
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Make sure that whatever you get works at low temperatures. I was on a hunt in Montana and several guys complained their rangefinders didn't work. No I didn't get the brand names of the ones that failed.
 
I have the older lower cost ($1,400) 10x42 Leicas. They are heavier than I want to carry most of the time.
The glass is easily as good as my Swarovski EL 10x42s ($2,500) and I don’t think they are any heavier. I don’t like carrying the Swaros either.
I prefer to carry an 8x30 and separate Leica rangefinder.
I guess I should try to sell these since I rarely use them(n).
 
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Make sure that whatever you get works at low temperatures. .........

I guess that's a good reason to have a smaller device inside your coat. I'm interested to see what others lessons can be gleaned about these binos.
 
I know the current combo models provide click adjustments. But do they compensate for angles? My rangefinder does, I just wonder if the combo does. Pretty sure I wouldn’t trust the Bluetooth version but then that type of stuff breaks if I am just in the room near it-
 
I guess that's a good reason to have a smaller device inside your coat. I'm interested to see what others lessons can be gleaned about these binos.
I know one of the guys had a Leica (I think) bino-rangefinder and it DID work at low temperatures. You probably can't go wrong with a Leica/Zeiss/Swaro.

I carry a bino and a separate Gunwerks G7 for the ballistic computer which is built in to it. You range, then read your hold over in clicks, MOA or inches. It accounts for altitude, temperature and angle. It's calculations match the best online ballistic calculators.

I don't know of any ranging binos that also offer a ballistic calculator as sophisticated as the G7 but I could be wrong.
 
Anyone try the new(ish) Vortex Fury HD range finding binos? Plus, if you are Active Duty or a Vet you get a very nice discount on them.

I have done guided hunts in some pretty cold weather and the guides used Leica Range Finding binos and they always worked..........
 
Make sure that whatever you get works at low temperatures. I was on a hunt in Montana and several guys complained their rangefinders didn't work. No I didn't get the brand names of the ones that failed.

Sure sure cold temps you will have to keep it between yourself and your coat and take out to use when needed, that's with most battery operated device.
 
I have used the Leica 10x42 HD-B's and they work great under most all condition's except fog or heavy snow. They are amazing bino's and not that bad to carry in the KUIU harness. Gave my first pair to PH on my second trip and he loves them also, replaced them with new ones last fall when I returned home.
 
Whilst I don't deny a range finder is a useful device, and one I carry myself, I do think people get too hung up on 'features'.

All the hunting I do is with a standard 'plex reticule and a .270win zeroed at 200, so my aim offs for Red hinds in Scotland are as follows.

0-225yards - aim bang on (impact is always +/- 3")
225-275yards - aim on the back of the beast (roughly 5" drop +/- 3")
275-325yards - aim at a level half way up the neck (roughly 10" drop +/- 3")
325+ - get closer.

All I need from a range finder really, is a range. Plus or minus 25yards would actually be accurate enough. All the other features are great in theory, but arguably not in practice. Take an exact given holdover. Yeah, it's nice to know that you need exactly 11.24" holdover at 318yards, but in practical terms, halfway up the neck, bang. The reticule is covering a couple inches of deer at that range and your rifle is almost certainly grouping at least 1.5", so why worry over 1.24"?

Same with the angles. Important in theory, but all you need to do is put a round into a 6" circle, so is it useful in practicality? Even at 300 and with a 20degrees slope (fairly extreme in most cases I've been in), you're only talking changes of what, a couple inches or so? Within tolerance for most hunters I reckon.

If there is time, or if the range is estimated at over 200, I always want to check my range, but again, a quick ping to be sure and bang. Any other faffing around is just increasing the chances of your beast clocking you and sodding off, so isn't really a great benefit in my eyes. Certainly the idea of trying to dial in scope settings in a hunting situation doesn't gel with my experiences in the field.

The big issue is always wind, and a calculator that can reliably guage wind speed and a rough hold off for that in real time is a genuine advantage in my eyes, but I haven't seen one which would work for my hunting as yet.

Still, maybe others experiences differ. I'd be genuinely interested to hear from anyone who has gained real world field benefit from such features, as well as what kind of hunting they're typically doing.
 
Anyone try the new(ish) Vortex Fury HD range finding binos? Plus, if you are Active Duty or a Vet you get a very nice discount on them.

I have done guided hunts in some pretty cold weather and the guides used Leica Range Finding binos and they always worked..........

I was recently in the bino market and was talking to the guys at Vortex about these. Was comparing them to their Razor HD's. He said that the Fury has the same glass as the Viper series and is not as good as the Viper HD. He recommended Razors and a separate rangefinder -- and that was from the mouth of Vortex!

I have some Vortex Viper PST scopes and have been happy enough with them. However, if you really want good glass, I'd go Swaro, Leica, etc.
 
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.............
Still, maybe others experiences differ. I'd be genuinely interested to hear from anyone who has gained real world field benefit from such features, as well as what kind of hunting they're typically doing.

Mountain hunting for Bighorn Sheep. Angles and empty space make the "angle" feature pretty handy.
 
I was recently in the bon market and was talking to the guys at Vortex about these. Was comparing them to their Razor HD's. He said that the Fury has the same glass as the Viper series and is not as good as the Viper HD. He recommended Razors and a separate rangefinder -- and that was from the mouth of Vortex!

I have some Vortex Viper PST scopes and have been happy enough with them. However, if you really want good glass, I'd go Swaro, Leica, etc.

I never actually tried them, I'll take Vortex's word about them. I have a Zeiss range finder that is going on 7 years old, only changed the battery once and works great in all weather. I have wanted range finding binos but I just can't justify the cost. I understand why professional guides use them. The glass in the Zeiss is quite good and while expensive they have proved to be a worthwhile investment.....
 
Anyone try the new(ish) Vortex Fury HD range finding binos? Plus, if you are Active Duty or a Vet you get a very nice discount on them.

I have done guided hunts in some pretty cold weather and the guides used Leica Range Finding binos and they always worked..........

I bought a set of Vortex Fury and took them to Kodiak this past fall. I got rid of them immediately upon returning home. I'm glad I brought my 30 year old Swarovski 7x30 SLC's as a backup, which became my primary.

The new generation Leica and Swarovski seem to give the best overall performance to my eyes.
 
I got a pair of the vortex fury rangefinding binoculars before going to Namibia last summer. I hunted 47 days with them between Namibia, Idaho, Montana and Minnesota. Coldest temp about -5. No problems with the cold. I did change the shoulder harness case to the one Kuiu makes (much better function).
They work excellent and the glass is very good. They reliably range out to 1000 yards plus. For bow hunting, a range finder is critical. For rifle hunting in the wide open West, also critical. Absolutely worth it.

@Rickmt I have a membership at the rifle range in Manhattan, MT and shoot there in the fall.

Having the range finder and Binos in one package takes a step out of the hunting process. It also helps a ton when hunting with friends and giving them range data to make a shot.
 
@AWLee why did you get rid of them? Function problems? I’m curious.
Note: I carry an extra battery because I’ve had batteries die during a hunt more than once (prior to getting the fury).
 
Tra3 , I live on the north end of the Bridgers not 1/2 hour from Manhattan !
 
rickmt,
the lieca's with the ranging and ballistic calculator are awesome but you have to input the data for the gun and load, so to use them precisely you need to be a handloader with a chronographed load and have a rifle and scope combo that also has target turrets if you will to dial in the clicks. If you have all of the above and maybe a kestral you can then potentially shoot a really long ways if you have the skill. As regards brands the glass of swaro and leica are astounding and equal. swaro much better customer service.
Sorry for this vortex guys BUT vortex anything isn't even close to swaro or leica glass, etc. The down side is that good glass will cost!
 

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