Spotting scope

[Muddyboot]

Can someone suggest a good spotting scope that I can clearly see the holes
in the target at 200 or 300 yards.....looking to stay in the $ 500.00 or less range...

 

[mrrick]

I was looking for one a while back and found the most/best information on "bird watchers" websites.

Best Bird Watching Spotting Scopes for Your Money

These people spend hours looking thru the scopes, so know a lot about eyestrain etc.
Do your research.

https://www.google.com/#q=bird+watching+scopes

I wound up with a Nikon in the $600. range that you can attach to a monitor so you don't have put your eye on the eyepiece every time you shoot. This feature is for birdwatches so a group can watch together.

 

[growr]

Take a serious look at the Konus Konuspot 20-60X80 7120 spotting scope with the angled eye piece.
Outstanding value!! Can easily spot .22 holes in a white target at 200 yards, not so much if the target is black. .30 caliber holes can be seen at 200 yards in a black target and at 300 yards if there is no mirage on a white target face....not at all with a black face however.

Randy

 

[Marvin Gardens]

It is hard to beat the Kowa line of spotting scopes at all of their price points. Jim Owens used to offer deals on them on his website, JarHeadTop.com. I don't know if Owens still offers them but Kowas are available about everywhere spotting scopes are sold.

If you want to stay in your $500 range, do not look through a Leica or Swarovski spotter while you are shopping.

Regards.

Bob Horton
#2170

 

[lrrifleman]

I have had a Kowa TSN601 since about 1992 that I have used for high power rifle competitions. I don't remember if I have a 20X or 25X eyepiece. At 200 yards, I can barely see 30 caliber bullet holes, and I have to rely on the markers put in by the pit relays. When I switched from an M1 and M1A to an AR, it was almost impossible to see the bullet holes unless I was at Camp Perry and the target was back lit. I think that you will be hard pressed to find a spotting scope that will allow you to see bullet holes at 200 to 300 yards, no matter what the price.

 

[BigBoy99]

"Infinitely Adjustable" Spotting Scope Mount

A good spotting scope will need a stable and adjustable mount. Here is my idea for an "infinitely adjustable" spotting scope mount. No knobs to turn and stays in its set position. The ball was free as the local bowling alley was throwing it out because of a crack in it. The thumb hole was drilled out and a plug with mounting screw was epoxied in place. Works exceptionally well.

 

[model70hunter]

I have a nice Leupold but never have tried it at 200-300 yards on bullet holes. You can see elk far away on other mtns.

Try swfa. I bought a really nice pair of Kahles binocs that they discounted from the vegas show, //that was 10 years ago, I've bought a couple of scopes that had been used for display, good stuff at great savings.

 

[Muddyboot]

A good spotting scope will need a stable and adjustable mount. Here is my idea for an "infinitely adjustable" spotting scope mount. No knobs to turn and stays in its set position. The ball was free as the local bowling alley was throwing it out because of a crack in it. The thumb hole was drilled out and a plug with mounting screw was epoxied in place. Works exceptionally well.

Great idea, though I'm not sure I would want to drag one to the shooting range....

 

[Dennis The B]

A few years ago, I bought a Celestron Regal F-ED, 80mm. It was around $500. Angled eyepiece, coarse and fine focus. 20-60mm ocular. Resolves great @ up to 500 yards.

 

[Bugkiller99]

A good spotting scope will need a stable and adjustable mount. Here is my idea for an "infinitely adjustable" spotting scope mount. No knobs to turn and stays in its set position. The ball was free as the local bowling alley was throwing it out because of a crack in it. The thumb hole was drilled out and a plug with mounting screw was epoxied in place. Works exceptionally well.

I'm not sure if that is genius or nuts. The line does get blurred. I can see both

Would not want to carry it far.

 

[BigBoy99]

I'm not sure if that is genius or nuts. The line does get blurred. I can see both. Would not want to carry it far.

Some people say you have to be nuts to be a genius!

I keep it in a white 5 gal. dry wall compound bucket with a handle which makes carrying it easy. From car park to shooting line is less that 50 feet so not a problem to carry.

 

[msinc]

Can someone suggest a good spotting scope that I can clearly see the holes
in the target at 200 or 300 yards.....looking to stay in the $ 500.00 or less range...

Bullet holes at 300 yards is going to be tough on any budget...I have a pretty decent 60 power spotter and sometimes have trouble at 100. If you want to triple that distance I think you will need to triple the power, but I am unaware of any spotter that goes up to 180X. I know that high quality corrected lenses will help the resolution, but at that distance seeing bullet holes is probably unrealistic. Most telescopes intended for astronomy get hard to see detail at that magnification as well, unless you go up in quality/price. I don't think it's going to happen even with 100X.
I have a Celestron C-8+ I will take to my range and have a look just to see what power is needed.