Do you rely on your optic (high power 40 and above) or your optic and a spotting scope? Just curious how one would compete in 600yds or a 1000yds with scopes down in the 25 power range. Got my eye on a 60 power spotting scope fro
Seeing the target at 1000 / optic or spotting scope?
- Thread starter Lefty Trigger
- Start date
How big is your spotting scope (power)? My rifle has a Vortex Golden Eagle 60 power on it but, either its me or the scope but it goes cloudy above like 35 power. I have a Nikon FX1000 24 power that is way clearer but don't have the power. That's why I'm looking at spotting scopes. A $2000-$3000 scope is not in my future and a lot of the high end scopes only go to 25 power anyway unless its a BR specific model.
What are you trying to see? what discipline ? I shot GE. to 55 and no issues except in heavy mirage...jim
Shots on a black target are about impossible to see no matter what power. Heck when in the pits and only about 10 feet away, it is hard to find shots that hit a line or number. These are with official 1000 yard BR targets in blue. We used to use black and they were hard to find shots even from that close. Matt
I have scopes in BOTH the Nightforce 12-42BR models and the March 10-60 High Master models. With heat waves low I can read the numbers on an F-Class target. Add even mild heat waves and I can not read the numbers. With cool temps and heavy cloud cover, I can read the numbers clearly. However, even with that condition, I have never been able to see bullet holes, even to 30 caliber!
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Lefty Trigger,
I use NF 15-55x Competition scopes set at 45-55x all the time and can see target and mirage quite well. I have shot left handed using a left bolt/right port rifles in F-Open for almost 20 years. Because of this I have never used a spotting scope. I can’t get the scope close enough to see through it while loading etc. I am having a left/left rifle built so I can use my 25x wide angle Kowa spotting scope set on my right side to do two things…help to read mirage & flags and to keep an eye on the GOOD shooters targets around my firing point. If they lose a point for wind it would be nice to know that before I fire again. At 45-55x it is impossible to see the targets around mine. I want to be able to glance through my wide angle spotting scope while reloading without moving it.
I use NF 15-55x Competition scopes set at 45-55x all the time and can see target and mirage quite well. I have shot left handed using a left bolt/right port rifles in F-Open for almost 20 years. Because of this I have never used a spotting scope. I can’t get the scope close enough to see through it while loading etc. I am having a left/left rifle built so I can use my 25x wide angle Kowa spotting scope set on my right side to do two things…help to read mirage & flags and to keep an eye on the GOOD shooters targets around my firing point. If they lose a point for wind it would be nice to know that before I fire again. At 45-55x it is impossible to see the targets around mine. I want to be able to glance through my wide angle spotting scope while reloading without moving it.
I guess I'm trying to figure out which way would be the better way to go (didn't say best) high power (quality) scope or stick with my decent lower power scope and buy a spotting scope. I am curious though,.. if you cant see bullet holes how do you know how to compensate for the shots, wind and such??
Are you having the same issue with it?? Getting cloudy at higher settings.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
My 2 cents !
Been shooting Palma for 20 plus years , known F/TR Right Hand all the way .
My Kowa 821 with 27X long Eye releaf works for me .
My F/TR set up is GE most time 24-32 .
To all that can run 55 or 60 on there scope I have nothing to say
No trouble using Spotting scope in F-TR .
There are scope stands with out riggers ?
Been shooting Palma for 20 plus years , known F/TR Right Hand all the way .
My Kowa 821 with 27X long Eye releaf works for me .
My F/TR set up is GE most time 24-32 .
To all that can run 55 or 60 on there scope I have nothing to say
No trouble using Spotting scope in F-TR .
There are scope stands with out riggers ?
I believe he is trying to see bullet holes. Matt
If this is the case, and I believe it is, then a target camera system is the only choice. A person might be able to see bullet holes at 600 yds. with a high power scope, but those cases would be very rare due to atmospheric conditions. I would say it would be impossible at 1000.
I have seen where a guy has seen holes at 1000 yards about 3 times in almost 20 years. Everything has to be right including the angle of the sun. They told me where the holes were but they couldn't see all 10. Everytime the shooter that told me was using a Nighforce BR 12x42, that could just be a coincidence. Matt
Today was one of those days...rare indeed...My Buddy & his wife shot at a paper target up Ridgway in Pa. [set at 1000 yds] He uses a NF comp 15 x 55 she uses a march 10 x 80...About half or just better [6.5mm] were visible in the paper...The 20 x 60 Leopold spotting scope could see better than half the hits..You need good glass & perfect conditions... Mike in Ct
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If that is the case he is wasting his time, It is hard to see them at 600. I really doesn't matter what scope you get just so it holds point of aim and you can see you aiming point. I shot groups at 600 in the 1's with the scope set on 20 power, I forgot to turn it up.... lol..... jim
No, the issue is eye relief is much more critical on 60x. I'm still getting used to the scope as far as set up and movement in prone position.
Sanction br matches have people in the pit marking shots during the sighter period.
Once the line goes Hot hopefully your on the bull.
Our local matches we use red clays against the dirt bank next to the target for sighters
I like a white printer paper target for sighting that I can clearly see Bullet holes at 600 (8-32x56 Sightron )
I quickly learned how unimportant massive power in a scope was. Clarify and ability to see point of aim on your target is more important. Do I shoot at 55x, yeah quite a bit but there’s plenty of time I shoot at 25-30x. But I think the better answer to your question is that you need both a scope and a spotting scope if you’re going to compete. Your rifle scope will focus on the target and your spotting scope is pointed somewhere else defocused to read mirage or conditions. You can do it all with a rifle scope but it’s defiitely easier when you have both. As stated above, if your question is more geared around seeing your actual impacts, that’s a non-issue because your target will be marked with spotters you could see with a 10x scope.
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