8x or 10x? Choosing Binocular Magnification for Hunting

Good binoculars help you spot game sooner, judge an animal before you shoot and keep you from using your rifle scope to look at things you should not point a gun at. The first decision most hunters face is magnification, and for most hunting the choice comes down to 8x or 10x.

What the numbers mean

A binocular labeled 8x42 magnifies eight times and has 42mm objective lenses. Bigger objective lenses gather more light, which helps at dawn and dusk, but they add size and weight. The 42mm size is popular because it balances brightness and bulk.

When 8x makes sense

• Hunting in timber, brush or river bottoms where most looks are under a few hundred yards.
• Following moving animals, since a wider field of view makes them easier to find and track.
• Hunters with less-steady hands; lower magnification shows less shake.
• Bowhunting and turkey hunting, where close-range viewing is the norm.

When 10x makes sense

• Open country, fields, prairie and mountain hunting where you glass at longer distances.
• Picking apart distant hillsides and judging antlers before you commit to a stalk.
• Hunters who glass from a rest, such as a tripod, pack or shooting sticks.

Higher magnification and spotting scopes

For western hunting, 12x and 15x binoculars mounted on a tripod are excellent for long glassing sessions. Hand-holding them is tiring and shaky, so plan on a tripod adapter. A spotting scope adds even more reach for judging animals far away.

Features worth paying for

• Waterproof and fog-proof construction, since hunting happens in bad weather.
• Quality coatings and glass for brightness and sharpness in low light.
• A good warranty; many leading brands cover damage for life.
• A chest harness keeps them protected, quiet and ready to use.

The bottom line

If you hunt mostly whitetails in mixed cover, an 8x42 is hard to beat. If you hunt open country or the West, a 10x42 is a strong all-around choice. Either way, buy the best glass your budget allows; you will use your binoculars far more than your rifle.

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