Kowa 553 for bear

[CBar]

Anyone using the 553 for bear? What do you think of the 55m objective?

 

[tdhanses]

It’ll be fine for bear, I use it for all hunting. The 55 is amazing for it’s size, only downside is fov.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I pack it for bear instead of my 88. It is enough to check out all the burnt stumps that look suspicious through the binos. Spoiler, it’s always a stump

 

[Cameron.25]

I pack it for bear instead of my 88. It is enough to check out all the burnt stumps that look suspicious through the binos. Spoiler, it’s always a stump

So true. When you see a bear its obvious, they're almost always on the move when I've seen them. Still... gotta check out every single burnt stump and round shadow haha

 

[AKMoose]

It’ll be fine for bear, I use it for all hunting. The 55 is amazing for it’s size, only downside is fov.

FOV is excellent on the 553 - equivalent to the 773 and 883 just at lower magnification. This is the 773 and 883 with the new TE11z ultra wide eyepiece.

FOV @ 1000m

553 (15X-45X) = 44m - 23m
773 (20X-60X) = 42m - 23m
883 (20X-60X) = 42m - 23m

 

[tdhanses]

FOV is excellent on the 553 - equivalent to the 773 and 883 just at lower magnification. This is the 773 and 883 with the new TE11z ultra wide eyepiece.

FOV @ 1000m

553 (15X-45X) = 44m - 23m
773 (20X-60X) = 42m - 23m
883 (20X-60X) = 42m - 23m

Yeah i have both the 773 and 553, theres a noticeable difference, put both on 30x and it’s not close. Also 23m at 45x vs 60x is a big difference, heck at 45x your talking say 115ft vs 75ft plus a bigger exit pupil. That said i only use the 553 for hunting and the 773 for everything else.

 

[AKMoose]

Yeah i have both the 773 and 553, theres a noticeable difference, put both on 30x and it’s not close. Also 23m at 45x vs 60x is a big difference, heck at 45x your talking say 115ft vs 75ft plus a bigger exit pupil. That said i only use the 553 for hunting and the 773 for everything else.

Yeah for sure a difference with both at the same zoom level, definitely not trying to say that's comparable. But for low to high end on the 553 it's pretty impressive, especially at half the weight

 

[roosiebull]

i think the 553 is THE scope for bear.... spring bear are very easy to spot.... black on chartreuse is the classic contrast, and binos will spot bear fine from a long way off... the 553 is perfect for judging if it's worth going after. glassing for bear to me means generally covering a ton of country most of the time, glassing as i go, and finding that perfect vantage over the best habitat i can find to sit still for the afternoon/evening. maybe a bigger spotter could be useful once in awhile, i think that benefit is very niche. even color phase bear stand out more than any other animal, they are always a vibrant version of whatever color they are, bear pop... judging size is my only use for a spotter hunting bear, and if it's too far to get a good idea with a 553, it's probably not going to still be there when you get there, so if you see one that is a maybe, go shift your efforts in striking distance, while still being able to see some other country

 

[CBar]

The conversation reminds me of chasing goats this fall - is that a goat? Nope, snow. How bout that? Nope, rock.

Then you see one and its real, real obvious. I'm in the market for a 553 exactly at you said, for judging, but I'll need to look at a few to even begin learning how to judge. Thanks for the advice!

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Used my 554 last year for black bear in AZ. Worked extremely well in a variety of habitat. No issues with confirmations both bear and far. No issues field judging either.

Also took my 554 to Kodiak for mountain goat. No issues for goat. No issues getting confirmations on the brown bear. Nor did I have any issues field judging them at distance.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I've had 554 for four years. If I'm in the field, the little scope is in my pack. FOV is a non-issue since I only use it to assess trophy quality. I use my binos to scan. Optical quality is spectacular through the entire power band to 45X.

 

[TrustTheProcess]

I've had 554 for four years. If I'm in the field, the little scope is in my pack. FOV is a non-issue since I only use it to assess trophy quality. I use my binos to scan. Optical quality is spectacular through the entire power band to 45X.

How is the eye relief on it?

 

[eaglemountainman]

How is the eye relief on it?

Works well for me.
I believe spec is 16.5 - 16

 

[ZAK13]

I've had the Kowa 553 for a few years now. It's small and lightweight, and the glass is fantastic. Obviously it has it's limitations, but generally speaking I have only on 1 or 2 occasion wished I had brought a larger lens.

 

[TrustTheProcess]

I've had the Kowa 553 for a few years now. It's small and lightweight, and the glass is fantastic. Obviously it has it's limitations, but generally speaking I have only on 1 or 2 occasion wished I had brought a larger lens.

what were those occasions? Im thinking about picking one up.

 

[ZAK13]

what were those occasions? Im thinking about picking one up.

I’d say past 2 miles and some change, details can be lacking. Both times we found sheep and my friend was trying to show me how to judge the legality of a few rams, details were lacking at I believe it between 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 miles, then I borrowed his larger 80mm scope , big difference in details! But like I said, for what I need it for, it’s perfect.

 

[Dryfirepete]

Can't say anything about how it performs on bears but it is definitely the scope I don't mind packing on any hunt. I mean, it's tiny, lightweight, optical quality is great. Never missed a 65 since I own the Kowa 553.