Bushnell Forge Binos

[18Echo]

I'm ready to pull the trigger on the 15x56, but at 8.7 inches tall I can't find a nice bino harness to take hunting this fall that would fit these beasts!

Anyone have a suggestion? This is literally stopping me right now.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I'm ready to pull the trigger on the 15x56, but at 8.7 inches tall I can't find a nice bino harness to take hunting this fall that would fit these beasts!

Anyone have a suggestion? This is literally stopping me right now.

The 15x Forge comes with a harness, neck strap, and tripod mount in the box.

 

[18Echo]

Not talking talking about the cheap one that comes with it, talking about something like Kuiu or FH, etc

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

Not talking talking about the cheap one that comes with it, talking about something like Kuiu or FH, etc

Gotcha. Doing a quick search there's a few that fit up to 8.5", but I'm not sure if any of them will allow you to cram in an 8.7" bino like the Forge. You could look at the 10s, too, which are significantly shorter and lighter.

 

[18Echo]

Yeah, that is an option as well. I wonder how the forge stack up with the Leupold BX-4 pro guide HD Binos. If I go with 10’s those are another option for me.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

Yeah, that is an option as well. I wonder how the forge stack up with the Leupold BX-4 pro guide HD Binos. If I go with 10’s those are another option for me.

I've got no experience with the Leupolds, but I have been happy with my 10s. I've used them mostly for match use (I'm not doing much hunting), and I have been able to reliably spot out to 1k-1200 yards with them, even for little 6BRs and Dashers.

 

[canezach]

I had the 15s with me at the Sporting Match in Raton last month and I had no problems spotting impacts. I'm taking the 10s to the September match and I'll report back, but I've used them at the range and I think I prefer the 10s to the 15s

 

[broncoaz]

Yeah, that is an option as well. I wonder how the forge stack up with the Leupold BX-4 pro guide HD Binos. If I go with 10’s those are another option for me.

To my eyes, the Leupold BX-4 pro guide were the closest to the Vortex Razor in the $500 class, but I couldn’t compare them to the Forge as the store only carried lower end Bushnell. I liked the glass, but the eye cups left something to be desired compared to other models. They are marked Japan rather than China for most. If you go Leupold check the prices on gun.deals by part number, I was finding them for around $430 on some sites. I went for a set of the new Meopta Optika HD for $299, they are better than my old Diamondback and not made in china, but we’re also budget friendly. I haven’t gotten the chance to take them into a store and compare to the Leupold.

 

[Ruskin]

I've had a couple opportunities to look through the 15x Forge binos. We put them side by side with some 10x and 15x Swaro's, and a pair of 15x Leupolds. Honestly, to my eyes, they just aren't the same. The difference was pretty noticeable. It's not a bino that you can compare to top of the line glass and say "it's almost as good". What the glass in the Forge looks like to me, is good enough. At the price it comes in at there is good value in what you get, and its sufficient quality to perform well.

I like Bushnell stuff. I think these are good binos at a good price. But they aren't as nice as the more expensive optics out of Europe or Japan. They aren't as clear as my 10x Razor HDs, they weren't as bright as the 15x Leupold's.

They are a good bino that will get the job done and you get to keep a little cash.

I think your evaluation is right on the mark. I saw less of a diff between the swaro’s and the forges , but the kicker for me was the cost difference. It’s more than just a little cash, it’s like $2000 and although I can tell a difference there sure not a $2000 difference. I will own a pair of swaro’s someday just not today and the forge Bono’s get me close.

 

[Ruskin]

If you are going to compare the Forge to Swaros, sure, there's a pretty big price difference. But that's comparing it to the top of the line bino, which it doesnt really compare to.

It would be more realistic to compare it to the 2nd tier optics such as the Leupold BX-5's or the Vortex Razor HD's made in Japan. Or the Czech made Meopta, the Steiners made in Germany, or the Mavens made here in the US. Those optics run in the $1100 to $1300 price range roughly. And are priced a little more closely.

I compared the 15x Forge side by side to the 15x Leupy BX-5 at the Hornady PRC match in Eastern Utah, and the Leupolds had better glass. I also own the Razor HDs, and the Bushnells weren't as nice as those.

Again, I think they are good binos at a good price. I think they are a really good value. But there are a whole lot of great binos out there between the Forge and the Swaro in price and quality.

I compared them against the swaro’s bc I wanted the swaro’s but could only afford the forge’s. I’m a happy camper with my forge’s. ?

 

[canezach]

I like the Forges, as I've said before. I realize I'm not getting Swaro glass, but I'm also not spending Swaro money. With that said, I don't typically believe reviews that say, "The glass on my sub-$1K binos was just as clear as (insert someone like Swaro that costs significantly more)" until I see it for myself. I'm not trying to give out too much information on pricing, but I'm a veteran and current LEO, so I have access to different programs and I was able to buy both the 10x42 and 15x56 Forges at a significantly discounted rate. Yes, it skews my perception, because at that price point, the Forge's competition isn't the Razor line, but the Viper line.

 

[MakeSawdust]

Curios from someone that's been behind a lot of these what the sample variation is like. I bought a pair based on the reviews on this site. They are pretty damn good during the day at matches. I have had them next to swaros and haven't found anything the swaros can see that these can't. That said, it has been a long time since I have been behind swaros in low light, but I'm not super impressed with the low light performance of the 15x Bushnell's.

 

[LAW-DOG]

These forge binos got a good review from allbinos, it goes into a very detailed review. Sometimes I disagree with some of his reviews but not everyone agrees on performance. Also the birdforum people seem to also like them for the price & they know binoculars over there. So I wouldn’t be worried about the forge quality & if you get a bad one just send it back & get a new one. The main competition will be the Nikon m5 16x56 & 20x56. Athlon also has the Cronus 15x56 for around the same price. I’m deciding between the forge & the Nikon 20x56. A guy at the range had the Nikon 20x56 & the extra power was nice vs my meopta 15x. If you have the $$ the meopta 15x is hard to beat & you can get them used for $750-900 & new for around $1100 & they are not far off swaro hd 15x performance.

 

[just browsing]

FYI for anyone considering these, Tract & FOR came out with a 1 piece Arca mounting option. Also compatible with 1/4x20 plates.

https://tractoptics.com/binocular-tripod-adapter-with-rapid-release-feature

 

[kriller134]

FYI for anyone considering these, Tract & FOR came out with a 1 piece Arca mounting option. Also compatible with 1/4x20 plates.

https://tractoptics.com/binocular-tripod-adapter-with-rapid-release-feature

Have you tried this mount? Looks pretty good, but I wonder how it compares to the outdoorsman mount? The price is very enticing.

 

[Niles Coyote]

I have it and its good but it still has a lot of vibration in windy conditions. tying a towel between the bino and the top of the tripod head helps some...