10x30 for Dedicated Western Backpack Hunting?

[ChrisAU]

After toting around 28oz 12x50's and mostly hand holding them in Wyoming a couple weeks ago I am once again looking at lighter bino setups. I'm really intrigued by the 10x30 Maven B3. I know most will opt for an 8x in 30-32 mm, but I have Kowa 6.5x32's that I love that I think would crowd out an 8x30 in my system that I whitetail/turkey hunt with. For solely western backpack hunting I'm thinking some premium 10x30's may be the ticket? I like the Swaro Companion CLs but I'm not sure I'd be gaining much for the $ over the Mavens and you can't put a stud on the Swaro's for tripod use with my Outdoorsman's setup.

Anyone use 10x30's for elk/mule deer/pronghorn?

 

[gr8fuldoug]

If you love the Kowa BD II 6.5x32 why not get the Kowa BD II 10x32 ?

 

[bigmooi]

I got a pair of bx4s recently and they are decent. They make a 10x32 if you wanted to check out...

BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32mm

When you want a little more magnification without adding extra weight, the compact BX®-4 Pro Guide® HD 10x32mm binocular is the perfect choice. The increased magnification makes identifying your target a whole lot easier, and the decreased objective size reduces weight, all while maintaining an...

www.leupold.com

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[ChrisAU]

If you love the Kowa BD II 6.5x32 why not get the Kowa BD II 10x32 ?

I've looked at them, and they lose a good bit of the wide FOV advantage in the 10x32 compared to other manufacturers. 351 ft for the Kowas vs 341 for the Maven's. I figure if I'm going to stuff 10x in a 30/32 then I may need to put more weight towards glass/coating quality vs FOV.

 

[ChrisAU]

I got a pair of bx4s recently and they are decent. They make a 10x32 if you wanted to check out...

BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32mm

When you want a little more magnification without adding extra weight, the compact BX®-4 Pro Guide® HD 10x32mm binocular is the perfect choice. The increased magnification makes identifying your target a whole lot easier, and the decreased objective size reduces weight, all while maintaining an...

www.leupold.com

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I do like BX4's and they tick a lot of boxes, the FOV on Leupold's website has to be wrong though, its the same as the 8x32. I'd like to find out what they actually are before they get serious consideration.

 

[BBob]

I've used 10-32 EL's for years. I don't tripod them.

 

[bigmooi]

I do like BX4's and they tick a lot of boxes, the FOV on Leupold's website has to be wrong though, its the same as the 8x32. I'd like to find out what they actually are before they get serious consideration.

Nothing like typos, I am sure they could get you an answer pretty quick if you gave them a call, they have helped me by phone and email in pretty short times each time I have reached out. And the last time they went above and beyond by email by replacing a part that I didn't get since I bought an open box item, I just asked if I could buy the part and they responded with a message saying they will send a tracking number when the replacement part they order is sent out. Got confirmation in 24hrs after the email.

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[ChrisAU]

Nothing like typos, I am sure they could get you an answer pretty quick if you gave them a call, they have helped me by phone and email in pretty short times each time I have reached out. And the last time they went above and beyond by email by replacing a part that I didn't get since I bought an open box item, I just asked if I could buy the part and they responded with a message saying they will send a tracking number when the replacement part they order is sent out. Got confirmation in 24hrs after the email.

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Yeah I'm not in a huge hurry, just sent them an email. Will probably buy something in the next month or two.

 

[ChrisAU]

Well they e-mailed back pretty quick, lots of effort went in here lol, I bet the correct FOV is printed on the box for the 10x32's. SWFA lists it as 315ft/1000yds, which is probably correct...

Chris,

Listed below will be the field of view for both SKU: 172658 (BX-4 Pro Guide HD 8x32mm Roof Shadow Gray) and SKU: 172660 (BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32mm Roof Shadow Gray). Please feel free to email me back with any more questions.

• SKU: 172658 field of view at 1000 yards: 394 feet
• SKU: 172660 field of view at 1000 yards: 394 feet

Regards,

Zachary

 

[bigmooi]

Well they e-mailed back pretty quick, lots of effort went in here lol, I bet the correct FOV is printed on the box for the 10x32's. SWFA lists it as 315ft/1000yds, which is probably correct...

Chris,

Listed below will be the field of view for both SKU: 172658 (BX-4 Pro Guide HD 8x32mm Roof Shadow Gray) and SKU: 172660 (BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32mm Roof Shadow Gray). Please feel free to email me back with any more questions.

• SKU: 172658 field of view at 1000 yards: 394 feet
• SKU: 172660 field of view at 1000 yards: 394 feet

Regards,

Zachary

Hmm, not sure if you let them know the possible issue or question if they should not be the same... But to match the info you found...I saw 315' @ 1000yds from:

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars Shadow Gray Optics4Birding

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars Shadow Gray - The Leupold' BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars are some of their most advanced optics, feat...

www.optics4birding.com

-Field of View315' at 1000 yd (105m at 1000m):

https://www.adorama.com/ld172660.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4llWzD5VKZOPe04t3yizBfyu8hnqqTK_s9_uv_3_rM_Fgsl0nIgysaAhQ5EALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4llWzD5VKZOPe04t3yizBfyu8hnqqTK_s9_uv_3_rM_Fgsl0nIgysaAhQ5EALw_wcB&utm_source=adl-gbase-p

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[ChrisAU]

Hmm, not sure if you let them know the possible issue or question if they should not be the same... But to match the info you found...I saw 315' @ 1000yds from:

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars Shadow Gray Optics4Birding

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars Shadow Gray - The Leupold' BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x32 Binoculars are some of their most advanced optics, feat...

www.optics4birding.com

-Field of View315' at 1000 yd (105m at 1000m):

https://www.adorama.com/ld172660.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4llWzD5VKZOPe04t3yizBfyu8hnqqTK_s9_uv_3_rM_Fgsl0nIgysaAhQ5EALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4llWzD5VKZOPe04t3yizBfyu8hnqqTK_s9_uv_3_rM_Fgsl0nIgysaAhQ5EALw_wcB&utm_source=adl-gbase-p

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Yeah my initial message was that the FOV spec had to be an error on the 10x because it was the same as the 8x. That was his reply. Just kinda funny.

Anywho, still looking. I really do like the BX-4s, but the Mavens beat them on FOV by about 10%. They are both in the 16-17 oz range which is where I want to stay.

I wish Swaro CL's would take an Outdoorsman's stud, that would be for sure what I'd get. I may even go that way and MacGyver a stud onto them ha.

 

[ChrisAU]

Any other thoughts on this? Not sure Maven is going to do anything on the B3's for Black Friday...sigh.

As a side, I did buy some Zeiss Terra ED 10x32's off Amazon to try for $350. Good looking bino, glass seemed up to the job, but even though Zeiss sells a 1/4-20 tripod adapter for Terra ED binos, they don't have a 1/4-20 hole to mount them to! So they are being returned today.

 

[PathFinder]

I've been using Meopta 10x32 for five years or so now. I spend probably 80+ hours a year behind them on a tripod, and they work extremely well. I don't ever feel like I'm giving anything up to a 10x42.

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[Browninglover1]

I've used some 10x32 EL and while they worked great, I personally preferred the view of the 8x32.

 

[ChrisAU]

Still undecided here.

Its mainly between the Maven B3 and Leupold BX-4 10x30/32. Though I’ve been so impressed by my Kowa 6.5x32’s whitetail hunting the last couple weeks I may just get 10’s in those for out West.