celestron cavalry spotting scope (daily bulletin)

[bluealtered]

This is a great stocking stuffer for someone to learn on or maybe just look up at the stars. For $40 it can't be any worse than some of the ones out posing as real glass. For that matter there are a lot of people who never shoot over 300yds and it may work for them. I know it can't be any worse than what i started with.

 

[Forum Boss]

Thanks for noticing that deal. Yes we agree this could be a good choice for a new shooter or a good "backup" unit. My first spotting scope was a very inexpensive Russian-made "folded path" scope. It worked just fine for pistol shooting and Rifle work out to 200 yards for over a decade. It eventually got stolen at a range but I didn't cry too much because it cost only about $60. The Celestron on sale at Cabela's is only $40!

 

[bluealtered]

View attachment 1024206 Thanks for noticing that deal. Yes we agree this could be a good choice for a new shooter or a good "backup" unit. my first spotting scope was a very inexpensive Russian-made "folded path" scope. It worked just fine for pistol shooting and Rifle work out to 200 yards for over a decade. It eventually got stolen at a range but I didn't cry too much because it cost only about $60. The Celestron on sale at Cabela's is only 40!

Thank you for posting that. My first was a not so good barska but it worked out to 200yds and that was just about as far as my ability to shoot then as well.

 

[spife7980]

But is it even any good? It may not "be any worse than some of the ones" but if its still the worst?

Im not expecting bullets holes at 300 but can it make out a hit or a miss on steel at 800 yards?

 

[T-shooter]

Hard to go wrong for $40. It's not going to be like the more expensive scopes but beats not having one.

 

[M-61]

Ordered one when I saw the Daily Bulletin. Supposed to arrive this weekend. Looking forward to trying it out and for the price, well I got a 5% Vet discount from Cabela's on top of it!

 

[bluealtered]

Mine should be here tomorrow. It isn't likely to show you anything at 800yds for $40. If it does i will be the first to try to find more of them.

 

[Depart123]

Old Japanese made Spacemasters are outstanding glass for the money. Same goes for the old B&L Balscope Sr.'s ( made in USA) and the old Miradors (made by Vixen in Japan). All three are tough as nails and can regularly be found on fleabay for less than $150.

 

[Spook]

mine arrived today. its actually not bad. watched them pumping concrete across the valley all morning @ max setting. its going to be just fine for seeing the scoring disk @ 600.

 

[Depart123]

mine arrived today. its actually not bad. watched them pumping concrete across the valley all morning @ max setting. its going to be just fine for seeing the scoring disk @ 600.

It would be interesting to measure what the actual resolution is. If you are interested, you could down load and print the USAF 1951 resolution chart. There are numerous examples on the net. Set it at 100yds and see what the smallest target you can resolve is. That way we can all have a somewhat objective standard for comparison.

 

[sfldiver]

I can't speak about this Celestron "Calvary" model spotting scope. However, I do own a Celestron Regal M2 LER (Long Eye Relief) spotting scope that is amazing. I purchased it because its 27X magnification eyepiece and sharp optics is ideal for reading mirage during F Class shooting. It's not cheap, but it's competive compared to other more popular brands used by shooters for F Class. Here's the scope I have:

https://www.celestron.com/products/27x-ler-long-eye-relief-80mm-regal-m2-spotting-scope-kit

Bottom line - Celestron is a company manufacturing serious telescopes costing many thousands of dollars and other optics related products. Don't underestimate their ability to build a quality product.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Christmas presents

Ray

 

[Depart123]

I can't speak about this Celestron "Calvary" model spotting scope. However, I do own a Celestron Regal M2 LER (Long Eye Relief) spotting scope that is amazing. I purchased it because its 27X magnification eyepiece and sharp optics is ideal for reading mirage during F Class shooting. It's not cheap, but it's competive compared to other more popular brands used by shooters for F Class. Here's the scope I have:

https://www.celestron.com/products/27x-ler-long-eye-relief-80mm-regal-m2-spotting-scope-kit

Bottom line - Celestron is a company manufacturing serious telescopes costing many thousands of dollars and other optics related products. Don't underestimate their ability to build a quality product.

I lurk on some of the birding forums occasionally and have learned that it has become somewhat popular to upgrade the eyepiece on the Celestron Ultima's and the Regals. These models take standard 1.25" telescope eyepieces so upgrading is easy. Most who are doing this go with the Baader Hyperion models.

Apparently Celestron uses comparatively good glass and prisms in thier scope bodies and build more to price point by using cheaper eyepieces, which are the most intricate and expensive part of a spotter.

 

[bluealtered]

I see that cabela's in boise is out, where else have you found them ?

 

[Papa Charlie]

For some reason I cannot find them on Cabela's website.

 

[jpx2rk]

I lurk on some of the birding forums occasionally and have learned that it has become somewhat popular to upgrade the eyepiece on the Celestron Ultima's and the Regals. These models take standard 1.25" telescope eyepieces so upgrading is easy. Most who are doing this go with the Baader Hyperion models.

Apparently Celestron uses comparatively good glass and prisms in thier scope bodies and build more to price point by using cheaper eyepieces, which are the most intricate and expensive part of a spotter.

Mind posting some links about which Baader Hyperion models are being used. I have a Ultima 80 and would like to investigate this mod a bit more. TIA

 

[ED3]

For some reason I cannot find them on Cabela's website.

I checked yesterday.
They are sold out

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CELESTRON-CAVALRY-SPOTTER/2553446.uts

 

[drover]

I bought one to use from my 100 yd bench, it is worthless. I cannot even make out 22 caliber holes at 100 yds, and no it is not my vision - it is 20/20. At best it is like looking through a piece of dirty plexiglass, it will be returned.

I didn't expect much for $40 but it is even less useful than I expected, I thought sure it would be useful for 100 yds.

drover

Editor: Sorry you had that experience. The verified purchasers providing reviews of this optic had more positive experiences -- saying the resolution was fine as long as they stayed off the high end? Did you try at 35X?

 

[sfldiver]

Mind posting some links about which Baader Hyperion models are being used. I have a Ultima 80 and would like to investigate this mod a bit more. TIA

I've owned the Celestron Ultima 80 and the Baader Hyperion eyepiece - great combination if you're looking for more magnification with clearer glass. I recently sold both, but only because I no longer needed a higher magnification (60X) scope, because for reading mirage at distance lower magnification (25X - 30X), with a longer eye relief, is ideal. At my club, we shoot F Class with electronic targets, so I can see the bullet holes on my IPAD without the need for a high power scope.

 

[Depart123]

Mind posting some links about which Baader Hyperion models are being used. I have a Ultima 80 and would like to investigate this mod a bit more. TIA

The model of eyepiece depends on the magnification desired. To figure this out, you need to know the focus length of the scope body. The focal length of the scope body divided by the focal length of the eyepiece will give the apparent magnification

EX: scope body focal length of the Celestron Ultima 80 is 480mm divided by a 15mm eyepiece = 32x. The astronomical eyepieces are listed by their focal length. A variable eyepiece changes magnification by changing focal length. Baader sells those also.