Monoculars

[Aaron.F]

Anybody using one and/or any recommendations? After using binoculars or maybe more realistically my lack of using binoculars on my last safari, I am looking at a possible change.

 

[Rell]

Monoculars are made to look at things you already see with the naked eye with more magnification. Not very helpful.

Buy the best binoculars you can afford (or can’t afford) they are more important then the rifle or scope or …..

Swarovski 8x36 compact or 10x42 with the laser range finder.

They make the trip 10x more interesting.

 

[Red Leg]

Unless a spotting scope counts, no.

And I have never used a spotting scope in Africa. I do use my binoculars constantly.

 

[Aaron.F]

I have fairly decent Meopta binoculars that I use, but when I am holding my rifle with one hand, I found it difficult to use my binocs with the other hand. The majority of the time we were looking at game that was identified with the naked eye and we were trying to determine if it was worthy of continuing on. My tracker and PH spotted the majority of the game, as I just didnt have the ”eyes’ that they had.

 

[Longwalker]

May I suggest that you use a sling, and two hands on the binocular. Are your binoculars well suited to what you are doing? Avoid too much magnification. More than 8x is often too much. Small objective lenses like on most compact binoculars make the exit pupil small and fussy to align with both eyes.

 

[Aaron.F]

I started with a sling, but it got caught too much on thorns and was in the way. The binoculars I was using were 8 power, it wasn't the power that was the issue, it was the ease of use. I can appreciate everyone's advice on binoculars, as I have been using binoculars for the last 30 years of hunting. I fully understand the value of binoculars when hunting open spaces. I will still continue to use them, but am looking for something a little more user friendly when stalking through the brush and such.

 

[Mountaineer]

I have a 10x ZEISS monocular. It’s small so you always have it, but it’s really hard to hold still. It did make my last trip to Namibia.

 

[318AE]

I thought monoculars were for pirates! Always learning something new.

 

[Woodcarver]

This might work for you and looks good too! Be sure to use the eye without the patch!

 

[Nyati]

I have two, Steiner 8x22, which take less space than a cigarette pack, and Asahi Pentax 8x30.

 

[Paul G]

Leica, Zeiss, Vortex, Hawke etc all make them. Great handy tools, but will not replace your Binos. Fun for the car, shooting archery or gune range, etc. Buy some Zeiss Victory, Leica Novtivids or some of them that bird watching company Swaro. if you don't want to spend over 1K then the Leica Trinovid is the best option right now.

 

[shotgungibbs]

I have Zeiss 8X30 I used in Africa, and Zeiss 10X40 I use in Alaska. I feel that in Africa, a little less magnification was handier.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I often hear of people having slings catch on brush but I’ve never personally experienced it. When is the sling catching on things? When the rifle is slung or unslung? When I’m in brush, I like the rifle slung so I can use my hands (I wear thin leather gloves to avoid thorns) to move brush aside. When I am carrying a rifle, I gather the sling with my front hand so it isn’t flopping around irrespective of brush being present. Just wondering because it seems a common concern.

 

[Aaron.F]

Thanks for the advice on the monocular, based on the advice and existing bino use, I will be looking for an 8 power mono.

I cannot speak for others, but the majority of my sling snagging was when I had my rifle in hand. I took it off after I think the 2nd or 3rd day.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Aaron.F - If you have your mind set on a monocular, why not get a laser rangefinder?

The Leupold RX-1400i TBR sells for around $200 and has a 7x magnification. There are higher end models as well, but make sure you get one that has angle compensation for (what Leupold calls) True Ballistic Range (TBR).

 

[Trail Rated]

I posted this in an earlier thread:

I read an article that emphasized the benefits of a monocular for still-hunting, especially in thick forests. So I got an 8x one and tried it but couldn’t really get used to it. I use pocket 8x20 binoculars for that kind of hunting instead, and use bigger binoculars or a spotting scope for longer-range glassing.

My view hasn’t changed

 

[Randy Bo]

Maybe try to modify your holding method. I wear a baseball type hat. I keep my thumb under the binoculars and place my four fingers over the bill of the hat. If the hat it tightened snug to my head, the hat bill can support the full weight of the binoculars without any strain to the arms and shoulders. If you can do the above plus add an extra point of contact (tree or sturdy limb) the amount of shake and fatigue is even less.