sipowicz
Member
Never had one and binoculars ain’t cutting it anymore. Any recommendations that won’t break the bank. 200 yards is about the max needed.
Spotting scope help
- Thread starter sipowicz
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Depending on caliber, a moderately priced one will almost certainly suffice for 200 yards - probably even for .22 caliber. I would want 60x, but a variable is nice. You might get by with less magnification if you’re making bigger holes.
Dealing with mirage is a major problem and even the most expensive glass has it. For occasional use, Leupold used to have a model in the $400-$500 range that would probably do nicely. I have the next one up and it will easily show .30 caliber holes at 400 yards, IF mirage is not a factor. I’m not sure how it does with 6.5mm holes. Of course, if you’ve got more money to spend, you can’t buy “too good” when it comes to optics. JMHO.
Dealing with mirage is a major problem and even the most expensive glass has it. For occasional use, Leupold used to have a model in the $400-$500 range that would probably do nicely. I have the next one up and it will easily show .30 caliber holes at 400 yards, IF mirage is not a factor. I’m not sure how it does with 6.5mm holes. Of course, if you’ve got more money to spend, you can’t buy “too good” when it comes to optics. JMHO.
AJ
US Veteran
I use a 15-45X Leupold scope for my everyday shooting. I collect spotting scopes and have 19 older ones.
Beemerguy53
Member
I've had a Burris 20-60X spotting scope for years, and it's served me well at my rifle club. (Seen in attached photos.) I can discern 5.56 hits on a target at 200 yards, which is the most I will ever need it for. It wasn't very expensive -- one of their lower-priced models -- but I don't see it listed on their site anymore.
If you look at Midway's available products, they have a wide variety available. Unless you're hunting a trophy elk in the rain, one of the less expensive models should work just fine for you. Good luck...
Shop Shooting, Hunting, & Outdoor Products | MidwayUSA
If you look at Midway's available products, they have a wide variety available. Unless you're hunting a trophy elk in the rain, one of the less expensive models should work just fine for you. Good luck...
Shop Shooting, Hunting, & Outdoor Products | MidwayUSA
Attachments
pantannojack
US Veteran
Champion's Choice
It's been about 30 years ago I got it for X-Course High Power Rifle. 200 to 600 yds, scoring and watching mirage. 60mm objective and 20 or 25x and 45 deg off set. I could see 30 caliber holes at 300 yds in the best light. Only about 189$ at the time. You need usable eye relief, especially if you wear corrective lenses, and good quality is better than high power.
It's been about 30 years ago I got it for X-Course High Power Rifle. 200 to 600 yds, scoring and watching mirage. 60mm objective and 20 or 25x and 45 deg off set. I could see 30 caliber holes at 300 yds in the best light. Only about 189$ at the time. You need usable eye relief, especially if you wear corrective lenses, and good quality is better than high power.
Fishinfool
Member
I have a nice, older Leupold Gold ring that I pretty much stopped using at the range after it got knocked off the bench. Twice. Picked up a cheap Simmons 15-45x spotting scope w/ tripod for like $119.00. About 12 years now, and still works fine.
No, a sub $200 scope wouldn't be my choice for long viewing hours or rugged use, but they are fine for bullet holes at 2 - 300 yards.
Of course, nothing wrong with the better stuff. I have always had good luck with about any optic with Leupold stamped on it, as well as the more recent mid - upper end Vortex stuff.
Larry
No, a sub $200 scope wouldn't be my choice for long viewing hours or rugged use, but they are fine for bullet holes at 2 - 300 yards.
Of course, nothing wrong with the better stuff. I have always had good luck with about any optic with Leupold stamped on it, as well as the more recent mid - upper end Vortex stuff.
Larry
I'll second pantannojack's comments. Good glass is far better than magnification. Zooms seem like a good idea maybe, but at high magnification they get dark and optical quality suffers. Eye relief is reduced so it's hard to see much.
I use a Kowa with a fixed 25x long eye relief eyepiece. It is a joy to use; bright, clear, sharp, easy on the eyeballs. I also have Kowa's 25-60x eyepiece and fixed 25x is far better.
Fluorite glass is pricey, but it outperforms standard glass even in larger objective diameters. I know this firsthand since I have another Kowa with standard glass that takes the same eyepieces. Easy to compare side by side and the smaller scope with fluorite glass is a better scope than its larger cousin.
Cry once, as the saying goes.
coltle6920
Member
I use Opticsplanet as a resource for spotting scopes. Lots of good info for whatever your particular needs. If you know you'll get a lot of usage from your scope it might be worth it to spend a little more.
The targets you shoot at will also come into play. Obviously, you get instant feedback when shooting steel targets. I like using those orange or black paper targets that "explode" the bullet hole making it more visible from a distance.
I'm assuming from a previous thread that this is about shooting the 22mag rifle with the children. Just have fun. Maybe even start out at 50yds. You can always improve on the experience down the road.
The targets you shoot at will also come into play. Obviously, you get instant feedback when shooting steel targets. I like using those orange or black paper targets that "explode" the bullet hole making it more visible from a distance.
I'm assuming from a previous thread that this is about shooting the 22mag rifle with the children. Just have fun. Maybe even start out at 50yds. You can always improve on the experience down the road.
silverstateS&W
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 551
- Reaction score
- 291
you can buy a used Bausch & Lomb Japan 15-60x "discoverer" model on e bay for under $100 that will be superior to anything under $200 in a new scope. 1980's-90's mfg.
Larry in Reno
Larry in Reno
Telecaster
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2015
- Messages
- 2,709
- Reaction score
- 4,884
I got a Vortex that’s great quality, but it’s also big and heavy. It got it on clearance after I broke my cheap-o scope.
OP
sipowicz
Member
rockquarry
Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 8,497
- Reaction score
- 10,427
I bought a new Bushnell Spacemaster 15x-45x in 1984. For spotting .22 holes at 200 yards, it still works great and I use it far more than my newer and much more expensive Kowa 88mm scope.
Used Spacemasters should be easy to find at bargain prices. I'm not an optics maestro, but my experience has been if you get past about 45x with cheaper scopes, the optical qualities of better glass just aren't there and images suffer a lot.
Used Spacemasters should be easy to find at bargain prices. I'm not an optics maestro, but my experience has been if you get past about 45x with cheaper scopes, the optical qualities of better glass just aren't there and images suffer a lot.
OP
sipowicz
Member
Found one on eBay. Made an offer. We’ll see if he/she/they bite. Then I’ll start a tripod thread since it’s not included.
DWalt
Member
I have used a Unertl fixed power 25x spotting scope for over 50 years. Very sharp definition and it works fine for even .22 holes at 100 yards. That is as far as I need to see. Some scopes have eyepieces at an angle to the line of sight to the target. Mine does not, as it is straight through. I have tried scopes with the angled eyepiece. I do not like that arrangement at all and would highly recommend getting a scope with a non-angled eyepiece.
Last edited:
gfors
SWCA Member
I use a Celestron 20-60X. I can see holes from my .30-06, at 200 yards, and, on a clear night, 4 of the moons of Jupiter!
Not bad for around $200 (plus the price of a tripod).
Not bad for around $200 (plus the price of a tripod).
AJ
US Veteran
19….Hmmm. Maybe we can work out a trade. I collect worn out tennis shoes.
These are some of the ones I was referring to in my post.
Attachments
AJ
US Veteran
Similar threads
