Swaro Ats 65 vs 80 for guiding

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WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2013
Messages
425
Location
Ellison Bay, WI
Hey Everyone,

I’m currently a packer for an outfitter in the Brooks Range that runs Dall sheep hunts, after this season I’ll have enough field days to get my assistant guide license. I’m set up real well on my gear outside of my spotter and tripod. I’ve got a good opportunity to get a Swaro of my choosing a bit off retail so I’d like to stick with Swaro Ats 65 or 80 I can’t seem to make up my mind on which. Two guides I work with said no hesitation go with the 65 save the bulk and weight. The other carries the 88mm Kowa and loves it.

Pros of 65
10 oz lighter
Less bulk
Easier to stabilize
Probably could use lighter tripod
Also several $100 cheaper

Pros of 80
Optically superior, right ?? Given you have a heavy enough tripod.?

I am 33 6’ 4”, 225# and train year round for sheep season and go into it with a mindset that I’m not afraid of 10 oz, IF it’s worth it as I’m pretty spartan on what I carry overall.

What are everyone’s thoughts? Especially including needing a tripod upgrade also. If a 65 also saves me tripod weight and cost that is no small thing either. Being able to get away with a Outdoorsmans pistol grip head would be a major plus as well.
 

JFKinYK

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
236
There’s very little, if any, first and last light glassing for sheep. Generally I spot them with binos and get closer with the spotter. I use a 65 and have been considering the Kowa 55. Not sure you could give me an 80. If you are trying to provide a nice view and experience for a client then I could see the benefit of an 80.
 
Joined
Sep 9, 2012
Messages
1,979
Location
BC
All the guides at Canol Outfitters, Mackenzie Mts in Aug, 2017 used 20-60x65mm Swaros (one was the latest ATX, the rest were ATS versions). One guide that was in only for the first hunt in July used an 80mm Swaro, but also a pack dog as I was told.

I use the Swaro 65mm ATM (designates magnesium and not available anymore) and never wanted to carry a bigger scope in my pack hunting Stone sheep. You are half my age and bigger than me so may not mind the 80mm....but don't think you really need it. Good luck in your guiding career!
 

Big Nasty

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 7, 2016
Messages
140
Location
Kelowna, Canada
I love my swaro 65 and have used on 5 - 10 day sheep hunts. I run the Sirui tripod with benro S2 fluid head, It won’t break the bank and is very solid and light. Great combo.


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SOIHUNT

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 15, 2019
Messages
105
I’m 60 yrs. old and I pack 95’s STx. My pack average 45 lbs to 53 lbs, but that’s just me and I like the 95’s and yes I sheep hunt a lot I just don’t race up the mountains like I use to lol 😝 I’ve slowed down and I hate going downhill.. Hopefully when it’s my time it’ll happen on the mountains..
65’s are okay to 700-800 yards if you are wanting to get a good idea on the ram.. just my 2 cents of thought..
 

Jimss

WKR
Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
2,074
Spotting rams, counting rings and judging rams is your job. If you tell your client a ram is legal and he ends up not legal you are likely in big do-do! You'll be doing this for around a month solid! You obviously want the best tool for the trade!

I just looked up the weights of the ATX and STX vs ATS and STS. An interesting fact is the ATS and STS 80's are very similar in weight to the ATX and STX 65. The modular may be a little more compact but is that much heavier! The non-modular STS 80 with lens weighs 58 oz while the STX 65 weighs 57.8 oz. The STS 60 is the lightest and weighs 48.5 oz. Is it worth 10 oz less wt with a chunk more bulk?

My guess is most rams are harvested inside 400 yards. If a ram is laying down at 400 yards will you be able to count rings similarly with a 65 vs 80? I have never compared them side-by-side but maybe someone has? In low light conditions (cloudy or dawn/dusk) it's nice having better glass.

The other thing that quality optics will do is possibly save a lot of time and hiking. If you spot a ram 1/2 to 3/4 mile....or even 1 mile away can you determine the ram is legal without having to hike closer? Will you be able to spot a rams head/horns at a mile away sticking out of a rockpile similarly with 65 vs 80? If an 80 saves several miles of hiking it may be worth the additional wt/bulk? If there is no difference I would definitely go for it with a 65!

The wind often howls in Alaska. I would expect a heavier 80 with solid tripod would be a little stabler in wind? The eye strain with a wider eye-piece is a little less. So there are other benefits to a larger scope.

With that said, I have confidence in my 65. I'm not getting any younger and would much rather haul around a 65. I used to haul around a Leica Televid 88...and it was a beast! The new Swaros with swap out bodies and lenses are a bit more compact than the old style...so they may be worth looking into but weigh a chunk more. If my job and success of my clients depended upon optics I would definitely want the best money can buy....not to mention the ease to eye strain from glassing solidly for a week at a time!
 
Joined
Mar 21, 2020
Messages
34
Outdoorsman compact tripod and mico pan head. For packing the 65 is the way to go for sure.

also get a stud for binos and you could use tripod for better distance glassing when needed
 

Tanner

WKR
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
319
Location
Colorado
I’ve used the 65 HD for 4 or 5 years of guiding for rams now and it’s been a really good scope. I don’t believe an 80 or 85 offers enough over the 65 to warrant the weight. If I was gonna eat the extra weight and go big, it would be a 95.
 
OP
L

LitenFast

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2013
Messages
425
Location
Ellison Bay, WI
Well to close the loop on my search, S and S archery’s sale on the Kowa 77 was too much for me to pass up. 1709$ for the angled with the wide 25-60 eyepiece after the rokslide discount and many great reviews I’ll be packing an extra 9 oz.

Will probably push me over the edge on the outdoorsmans compact to make sure I have a solid base for it. All in all should be a fantastic system for looking over sheep!


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Joined
Aug 18, 2020
Messages
6
Location
Alaska
I just upgraded to swaro atx 65mm and outdoorsman compact tripod with Jim white pan head. Can hardly wait to get in the mountains with the new setup
I’ll take the weight penalty of a heavier tripod for better stability, smooth pan head.
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
Joined
Jul 2, 2016
Messages
10,341
Location
Alaska
I’m not a guide, I do like to hunt sheep and goat when I can. I went with the ats 80. I wouldn’t say I regret it but sometimes I wish I’d gotten the 65. To be fair though, I’m like that with every big purchase so I’d be saying the same thing if I got the 65.

My rationale was that it isn’t that much more weight and outside of guides I’ve met, most of the sheep hunting buddies I have here in AK like the 80 and even 95s. I’ve never tried to 80 side by side with the 65, I just want to believe the 80 is better since that’s what I have.
 

TBoschma

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 10, 2015
Messages
206
Location
Montana
I will be guiding this year too! I am thinking about selling my Swarovski ATS 65MM and buying a Kowa 77MM. So if you are in the market still PM me! or if you want to know why I am getting the Kowa 77 its because I was able to use one this past bear season and I feel like for the weight penalty (9oz) I was able to get a much better view than my 65.
 
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