Kenai or Golden Ring?

[Pathfinder101]

Well, I decided not to get a 50mm compact Leupy Golden Ring.  I was in Wholesale Sports a couple of weeks ago, and looked through a Kenai.  I like it a lot.  The Kenai and the 60mm GOlden Ring are within $200 of each other in price (about $800 for the Kenai, about $1,000 for the GR).  I have not looked through them both side by side yet. 
Here are the pros and cons:

Kenai is an 80mm scope, larger reticle, more light(?)
Kenai is not too bulky for an 80mm, no problem packing it where I hunt
Kenai is higher powered 60x as opposed to the GR's 45X

Golden Ring is made in Oregon (Kenai is made overseas)
GOlden RIng has a long track record (Kenai is a new model)
GR has a reputation for being excellent glass (Kenai has virtually no track record)
GR is lighter, smaller

So, does anyone have experience with both scopes?  Which one would YOU buy?

[Pathfinder101]

Nuthin'?

No help from the Forum

...am I on my own...

[ribka]

I looked at the Kenai in Cabelas. Seemed pretty heavy for its size. I compared with the Nikon outside the store at dusk and ended up purchasing the Nikon. Was not very impressed with the Kenai for it sprice range but am sure there are plenty of guys on here with more experience than me. I have looked through the GR and I think for $200 more would purchase over a China made scope IMO

[Bean Counter]

Doesn't the Kenai come with two eyepieces? a fixed 30x wide and a zoom 25-75x? 

Kenai is an 80mm scope, larger reticle, more light(?)

More light, and more field of view!

Kenai is not too bulky for an 80mm, no problem packing it where I hunt

This, to me, answers the question. If you can carry it, horse it in, or have partners to help carry the gear, get the biggest spotting scope with HD glass that you can afford. You'll quickly learn that its your most important piece of gear when hunting mullies. 

GOlden RIng has a long track record (Kenai is a new model)

Irrelevant--both are from the same manufacturer, which has a very solid track record.

Golden Ring is made in Oregon (Kenai is made overseas)

Irrelevant to me. I don't enjoy my Nikon any less bc it is Japanese.  I wouldn't enjoy it any more if it were USA made.

[Ray]

What was wrong with the compact scope?

[Lowedog]

What type of terrain are you hunting.  Is a spotting scope essential to hunt your area?  I find I use my spotting scope very little. 

[Ray]

I don't own a spotting scope but I was looking at the compact leupold for hunting in Montana and Wyoming. I don't see much use for one where I hunt in western Washington.

[Lowedog]

My buddy just bought this Nikon http://www.outdoors4less.net/proddetail.asp?prod=57785&product=nikon_prostaff_spotting_scope_1648x65_realtree__outfit

I wouldn't really call it compact but it isn't overly large either.  I haven't had a chance to look through it much but he says it is really clear.  I own the Leupold compact GR which is a fixed 25x50mm scope.  Very compact and light weight.  Works great for me and I have never felt like I needed more power as I use only to confirm something I have spotted with binos. 

This is the scope I have... http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=190658540

[USAFpj]

Irrelevant to me. I don't enjoy my Nikon any less bc it is Japanese.  I wouldn't enjoy it any more if it were USA made.

I don't poo on Japanese glass, as that is one of two places that make high end lenses; but that's scary times when we are comfortable stating the last portion of your statement.  I realize we live in a 'global economy', but I would always feel more enjoyment if the option was there to purchase the same item, but manufactured in the U.S.  Am I missing something?

[Pathfinder101]

What was wrong with the compact scope?

Not enought magnification, not enough field of view.  I already have a 36X spotter (an Alpen), but it is grainy at long ranges.

What type of terrain are you hunting.  Is a spotting scope essential to hunt your area?  I find I use my spotting scope very little. 

Mostly Southeastern WA, but I drew Montana this year too.  I live behind my spotter.

[Pathfinder101]

Sorry I didn't clarify more in my first post.

I already have a spotting scope that I use a lot.  It is an Alpen 60mm that goes up to 36 power.  I like it, but last year when I hunted Montana for the first time, I found that I was "underglassed".  For the first time I was trying to field judge bucks at very long ranges (over a mile in many cases), trying to figure out if they were worth spending a whole morning or afternoon "going after".  My Alpen (and my buddie's Vortex for that matter) was grainy at long ranges, and many times we had a hard time field judging animals.  I had Leupold Binoculars, and almost every day I found myself wishing that my spotter was as clear as my binos.  The deer I shot, I had ample time to look at through my spotter(at about amile), and I judged him at a lot bigger (wider) than he actually was.  Because of where he was bedded, we spent the whole afternoon stalking him (without seeing him), then jumping him and having to make a quick decision whether or not to kill him.  I did, but there was a lot of ground shrinkage.  Probably more in play here than just the grainy spotter, (experience etc..) but it definitely had a hand in it. 

THis year 2 things happened:
1.  I drew Montana again
2.  My garage burned down, taking a spotting scope with it, that my insurance company way overvalued (no, I am not complaining), so I get to replace my spotter with some decent glass.

As said before, I am down to a choice between the Leupold Kenai and the Golden Ring.   

[PYSEEKER]

Go with the Gold Ring you won't regret it. I have the Gold Ring HD and like it, plus the Gold Ring's size is more practical for long packs. That's just my 

[Lowedog]

I think the GR would be my choice but I would try real hard to get to look through both at the same time.  From what I know about Leupold their GR lines are much better quality as far as construction.  They might use some good glass in the Kenai but is it put together as well as the GR? 

[Pathfinder101]

I think the GR would be my choice but I would try real hard to get to look through both at the same time.  From what I know about Leupold their GR lines are much better quality as far as construction.  They might use some good glass in the Kenai but is it put together as well as the GR? 

Well, see, that's just the thing.  The Kenai has the features that I like (bigger objective, 2 eyepieces, more magnification, etc..), but it's an unproven product.  I know the GR is a solid peice of equipment, because they've been around forever.   

[Bean Counter]

Why don't you buy it at a brick and mortar (albeit paying a little bit more) that has a 30 day return policy? 

When was the last time you bought something with the name Leupold on it and they told you to go to hell when it broke? 

Why don't you want the first hunters review of the Kenai to read "Pathfinder101" next to the authors name?

I have to admit: the more I hear you talking about long range the more I want to buy a 75x eyepiece to go with my 30x for my Nikon. The cost? $250 

I don't think you'll experience grainyness with either of the two scopes you're considering