High Power Binoculars For PRS Shooters

Binoculars For PRS Shooters

You know well as a competitive shooter that you never know what’s going to come your way in a match.  You’re not certain of  the exact target array nor the terrain or the weather conditions that you’ll encounter. Having an optic that provides the best intel to conquer each of these challenges can and will make a difference. That’s why we think high power binoculars for PRS shooters can provide intel that you may not get with other optics.

High Power Binoculars for PRS Shooters

You have probably started to see more and more long-range shooters turning to binoculars as their go-to optics at certain events. Why? Could a binocular like a 15×56 provide better intel than a 27-55×80 spotting scope? Let’s investigate why a high power binocular for PRS shooters may be the best solution for your next match.

Hits & Misses at 1,000 Yards

There is no question that spotting your groups at 100 yards with a 15x bino is easy. To help put that into perspective, if you magnify a 100-yard target by 15x it would be as if you’re looking at the target just 6.6 yards away with your unaided eye. No problem.

However, can a high performance 15×56 binocular mounted on a steady tripod spot hits and misses at 1,000 yards? Yes, without a doubt. Premium glass and coatings will play a major role in how well you can resolve detail at those long distances. Plus, keeping the image stable with the use of a sturdy tripod also make a difference when trying to see if you hit the plate at 1,000 amongst other hits in the paint.

High-power binoculars for PRS shooters are becoming the go-to for certain events as they provide better downrange vision and better intel.

Spotting Trace

A 15×56 binocular can spot trace effortlessly when the conditions are right.  The comfort and ease of a binocular (two oculars) versus a spotting scope with its one ocular can provide a better user experience when spotting trace. Things to remember when spotting trace:

1. Spotting trace can be weather dependent. The wind and sun angle play a major role as far as trace quality.
2. Know what to look for.
3. The set-up of your binocular and tripod should be in line with the bullet path for best results.
4. You can often see your own trace in the rifle scope when at 15x, especially if your position is stable and the sun is low, and the wind is calm.
5. Focus your binocular on the target, then roll the focus wheel back towards the shooter maybe 25% helps in spotting trace. 

Depth of Field

Depth of field in relation to binoculars and spotting scopes is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in your field of view that appear acceptably sharp. Because of the optical design of a binocular, it will have a greater depth of field versus a spotting scope. Plus, the focus-wheel on a binocular is more forgiving (no back lash). And coupled with the increase in depth of field and field of view (FOV), it makes it very easy to get on targets.

Think about it, in some stages where you don’t have targets all in a row. You might have some with a 100-degree separation. So the increased depth of field and the overall increase in FOV makes it easy to find and spot targets as well as see your hits and misses.

Spot Changes in Weather

Reacting to weather conditions because we know it’s constantly changing, is something every shooter faces. Utilizing a 15x binocular to gather weather intel allows you to see a bigger picture of what is happening around you. Having a larger FOV can be advantageous in seeing the pick-up and let-down of the wind. You also might be seeing mirage and wind change on one berm while shooting on another. Having a big picture mentality is great intel to have.

It would not be accurate to say that binoculars have replaced spotting scopes because spotting scopes (with their high magnification) will always have their place for the long-range shooter. However, if you’re limited in what you can bring, a 15×56 bino could be one of your most important tools in your gear bag.