[forrestdweller]

Being a small family group equipping everyone is a major financial commitment. Costs are multiplied by the number. Optics are an area that we want to outfit everyone we field but the expense can be restrictive.
Binoculars are an item that we want to have everyone carrying to have available. We have a couple of pair of top line ones but have looked at the idea better to have more eyes that one set. We are set up in two person teams one with a full power semi-auto military service rifle and the other with a semi- auto military style carbine. We are trying to equip each team with a standard size set of binoculars in the 7 to 8x range. We have found a couple of pair at yard sales and thrift stores Tasco, Bushnell brand for under $20. A couple of pairs of Vivitar 7x50 economy brands that will fill in till something better is available.
We also have been aquiring some of those pocket size binoculars 4x30 Bushnell's and folding Tascos 8x21 at about $20 a pair.
True these do not have the clairity or low light enhancing abilities of a Zeiss or Lyman but are a major advantage over nothing.
Well I have a scope on my rifle? You may say. Binoculars are not as visable as a rifle sticking out of a bush and have wider fields of view than scopes.
A good guide for binoculars can be found at REI.com use the wildlife observing or bird watching reviews.

 

[wolf_1611]

Also, I remember reading in another thread about this possible solution for Effective and Affordable Night Vision Goggles for $100, check it out:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2008/08/night-vision-go/

[$104]
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153F5QA?ie=UTF8&tag=jbgeekdad-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00153F5QA

 

[Herd Sniper]

Try this idea: Prioritize. Now understand that I am not trying to be a wise guy here.

When I was with Special Forces many years ago, we had so much gear that we often left behind, at the rear, most of it when we went out on a mission. We also learned to prioritize which items that we did and did not need. By prioritizing our needs, we spread the weight or mass of the gear out over the entire team and yet we did not sacrifice effectiveness. Let's say you have 9 people. It you try to load your 9 people down with all of them having binoculars, rifle scopes and night vision gear you're increasing weight loads on them without needing to do so. What we did was look at the tasks individuals would probably be doing. Your people who are scout/snipers actually do need binoculars and rifle scopes. Your medics don't. Your mechanics don't need rifle scopes and binoculars but, at night, they might be useful using night vision scopes mounted on top of their rifles. So if you think through the different tasks your people will be performing and what they really need, you'll find out that there is no need to do a lot of duplication or overlapping of resources. You want people to be effective, share the load and the gear which means spreading out all the specialty gear.

 

[Howey01]

I found a pair of simmons 10x50 at a yard sale for $2 had all the paper work lens cloth and case not a bad deal

 

[forrestdweller]

Try this idea: Prioritize. Now understand that I am not trying to be a wise guy here.

When I was with Special Forces many years ago, we had so much gear that we often left behind, at the rear, most of it when we went out on a mission. We also learned to prioritize which items that we did and did not need. By prioritizing our needs, we spread the weight or mass of the gear out over the entire team and yet we did not sacrifice effectiveness. Let's say you have 9 people. It you try to load your 9 people down with all of them having binoculars, rifle scopes and night vision gear you're increasing weight loads on them without needing to do so. What we did was look at the tasks individuals would probably be doing. Your people who are scout/snipers actually do need binoculars and rifle scopes. Your medics don't. Your mechanics don't need rifle scopes and binoculars but, at night, they might be useful using night vision scopes mounted on top of their rifles. So if you think through the different tasks your people will be performing and what they really need, you'll find out that there is no need to do a lot of duplication or overlapping of resources. You want people to be effective, share the load and the gear which means spreading out all the specialty gear.

The 10th Mountain we are not. Basically we will be defensive militia defending a homestead 16 to 60 men and women. Some ex military but most civilians. We will have some prepared defensive positions and probably we will be responding to a suprise attack. Fully outfitted battle packs and humping 100 pounds of gear are not in the picture. We will not all be in a central bunker so handing around gear would not be easy.

 

[American ME!]

The 10th Mountain we are not. Basically we will be defensive militia defending a homestead 16 to 60 men and women. Some ex military but most civilians. We will have some prepared defensive positions and probably we will be responding to a suprise attack. Fully outfitted battle packs and humping 100 pounds of gear are not in the picture. We will not all be in a central bunker so handing around gear would not be easy.

Improvision, adaptation, and overcoming will be the order of the day in times as described/envisioned. But is SHALL be done.:thumb:

 

[American ME!]

Also, I remember reading in another thread about this possible solution for Effective and Affordable Night Vision Goggles for $100, check it out:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2008/08/night-vision-go/

[$104]
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153F5QA?ie=UTF8&tag=jbgeekdad-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00153F5QA

Check out the generation of that particular NGV at that price brother.:thumb:

 

[American ME!]

Being a small family group equipping everyone is a major financial commitment. Costs are multiplied by the number. Optics are an area that we want to outfit everyone we field but the expense can be restrictive.
Binoculars are an item that we want to have everyone carrying to have available. We have a couple of pair of top line ones but have looked at the idea better to have more eyes that one set. We are set up in two person teams one with a full power semi-auto military service rifle and the other with a semi- auto military style carbine. We are trying to equip each team with a standard size set of binoculars in the 7 to 8x range. We have found a couple of pair at yard sales and thrift stores Tasco, Bushnell brand for under $20. A couple of pairs of Vivitar 7x50 economy brands that will fill in till something better is available.
We also have been aquiring some of those pocket size binoculars 4x30 Bushnell's and folding Tascos 8x21 at about $20 a pair.
True these do not have the clairity or low light enhancing abilities of a Zeiss or Lyman but are a major advantage over nothing.
Well I have a scope on my rifle? You may say. Binoculars are not as visable as a rifle sticking out of a bush and have wider fields of view than scopes.
A good guide for binoculars can be found at REI.com use the wildlife observing or bird watching reviews.

Alot of variables in this arena brother.:thumb: Several different pair are in order depending of the use required for a particular location especially either urban or out in the wilderness.:thumb: