Another "What to buy" Spotting Scope thread.... with a twist

[NDAR15MAN]

If it was me I would really consider a bullseyes target cam. Sportsman guide even has huge sale in them. Camera you put in front of your target 1000 or more yards away. Sends picture of your target back to your smart phone or lap top. Under $600.00 now at most places. If all your doing is going to use it for target shooting I don’t think it can be beat for the money. They weigh 3 pounds. Marty

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If it was me I would really consider a bullseyes target cam. Sportsman guide even has huge sale in them. Camera you put in front of your target 1000 or more yards away. Sends picture of your target back to your smart phone or lap top. Under $600.00 now at most places. If all your doing is going to use it for target shooting I don’t think it can be beat for the money. They weigh 3 pounds. Marty

That's an excellent suggestion.

I just re-read the first original post and he did say it would be used to "spot shots at 1000 or so". I missed that part of the post.

Now with that requirement in mind, I highly doubt any of the optics on the list will be very useful for achieving such a feat. Maybe if he's only looking for dust clouds, but certainly not going to see holes in paper. Be lucky to see splashes on painted steel.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Yep I do not own the bullseye target camera but about to pull trigger on one. They are dirt cheap in sportsman’s guide website right now. Like $200.00 cheaper then any other place. Just wonder if it is the one with bells and whistles on it or what. Sure is good price compared to very one else. Marty

 

[McHaggis]

That's an excellent suggestion.

I just re-read the first original post and he did say it would be used to "spot shots at 1000 or so". I missed that part of the post.

Now with that requirement in mind, I highly doubt any of the optics on the list will be very useful for achieving such a feat. Maybe if he's only looking for dust clouds, but certainly not going to see holes in paper. Be lucky to see splashes on painted steel.

Not hoping to see anything other than dust at range. If I could see holes in paper at even 300 I'd be impressed.
Just looked through a Viper 20-60x 80 HD and while it wasn't bad I struggled with it. Maybe it's just my eyes but until I get to look through a high end scope I'm holding off. The target cam might just be the better option at the end of the day.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Not hoping to see anything other than dust at range. If I could see holes in paper at even 300 I'd be impressed.
Just looked through a Viper 20-60x 80 HD and while it wasn't bad I struggled with it. Maybe it's just my eyes but until I get to look through a high end scope I'm holding off. The target cam might just be the better option at the end of the day.

Yeah holes at 300 and dust at long range won't be an issue.

I think youre making a wise decision to wait. If you truly enjoy having good optics and are willing wait to buy a better piece of glass, you wont regret it. The struggling you were experiencing is due to poor eye relief and mediocre focusing systems in the cheaper spotters. Of course their glass is nowhere near alpha level either. Spotting scopes made by manufacturers such as Swarovski, Leica, and Meopta are very comfortable to look through for long periods. The focus is razor sharp and the field of view stays in tact with no eye strain. Zeiss Diascope T spotters are very nice as well.

 

[muleystalker]

Does anyone carry KOWA over there, you might want to check them out. Its Great glass.

 

[dkhunt14]

KOWA shows up at long range shooting events and hunting alot. They have very good glass for the money. You can find used ones in EBAY for reasonable prices. Matt

 

[McHaggis]

KOWA shows up at long range shooting events and hunting alot. They have very good glass for the money. You can find used ones in EBAY for reasonable prices. Matt

The Kowa TSN 883 is $4560 which is waaaaay over budget. The only Kowa in my $ range is the TSN 663. I’ve realised I need to look through anything before I drop the cash so i’m stuck right now as there isn’t anything locally worth buying.

 

[dkhunt14]

The Kowa TSN 883 is $4560 which is waaaaay over budget. The only Kowa in my $ range is the TSN 663. I’ve realised I need to look through anything before I drop the cash so i’m stuck right now as there isn’t anything locally worth buying.

Can't you go to a shoot and look through some? I have seen Kowa 820 and other good ones go for 4 to 5 hundred dollars on EBAY. The 66 and 82 series are good scopes. Matt

 

[muleystalker]

The Kowa TSN 883 is $4560 which is waaaaay over budget. The only Kowa in my $ range is the TSN 663. I’ve realised I need to look through anything before I drop the cash so i’m stuck right now as there isn’t anything locally worth buying.

I have the TSN 663 Prominar and it is a phenomenal piece of glass, I have used Leicas, Swaros, Meopta, Zeize and this holds its own with all and better than some. You would not be disappointed. I was in the same boat you are,no one had one I could try out.But after reading all the good I took a chance and bought one and haven't looked back. Everyone that looks through it is blown away.

 

[6BRinNZ]

Not hoping to see anything other than dust at range. If I could see holes in paper at even 300 I'd be impressed.
Just looked through a Viper 20-60x 80 HD and while it wasn't bad I struggled with it. Maybe it's just my eyes but until I get to look through a high end scope I'm holding off. The target cam might just be the better option at the end of the day.

Where abouts in NZ are you? I use the Vortex razor for picking up fine mirage at Trentham. I am very impressed with the optics, and I love their warranty. If you can get to a shooting club with F-class shooters you should be able to look through spotting scopes there. Not so many on the line now with NZ being on ETs. But typically you get the gammit of cheaper spotting scopes through to Leicas.
A lot of guys get gear from eurooptics and the like. I got mine through reloader supplies in NZ.
Dan Hardy in Palmertson N has NF optics.
PM me if you want and we can chat some..

 

[McHaggis]

Where abouts in NZ are you? I use the Vortex razor for picking up fine mirage at Trentham. I am very impressed with the optics, and I love their warranty. If you can get to a shooting club with F-class shooters you should be able to look through spotting scopes there. Not so many on the line now with NZ being on ETs. But typically you get the gammit of cheaper spotting scopes through to Leicas.
A lot of guys get gear from eurooptics and the like. I got mine through reloader supplies in NZ.
Dan Hardy in Palmertson N has NF optics.
PM me if you want and we can chat some..

I’m in invercargill and there are no ranges here so getting to look through different scopes isnt that easy. There’s one up at Te Anau that the guys can get out to around 700 I think but I’ve never been there, yet. I have access to a couple of farms so I’ll be shooting there with my son, hopefully, spotting for me initially until I’m good enough not to embarrass myself. Then I’ll head to Te Anau.
I’ve been shooting since I was 5 and reloading since I was 12 but have only started precision reloading recently. I haven’t even fired a shot in anger at distance yet. My eyesight isn’t great, old ages sux and I’m not even terribly old yet, so I need all the help I can get with decent optics but I’m struggling to justify the cost of decent glass for the irregular use it’ll get. I’m probably going to hold off at this stage until I can go for something decent that is comfortable to use. The viper HD I looked through wasn’t.

 

[dkhunt14]

Another option is a Bushnell spacemaster with the straight 15x or 22WA eyepieces. Guys have put them in tandem for big eyes for years. They have great glass for little money. The good part is if you want to upgrade down the road you will not lose any money. The single power eyepieces and scope bodies just keep rising in price. You want the mentioned eyepieces because they are the best two. Matt

 

[MislMan]

Don’t limit your search to spotting scopes for rifle shooting. Check on different outlets such as bird/animal watching or astronomy. They all have forums to discuss likes/dislikes and field performance. Since you want the scope for spotting splash at 1000 yards, you may not need the pinpoint view of a rifle scope. Heck, maybe just another rifle scope mounted on a tripod would work well and fit your budget. Sort of like having your partner in a team match spot for you through their rifle scope. That might open up the used glass market for you. You may even have a useable scope on another rifle you could use to experiment with.