Leupold GR Vs Vortex Razor HD Vs Athlon Ares

[xugz0212]

Going to get my 1st spotting scope. Main usage would be spotting at range out to 500 yard (but considering 1000 yard in the future), and also do a few hunting. My budget is no more than $1400

I've narrowed down my options to:

* Leupold GR 12-40*60 HD
* Vortex Razor HD 22-48
* Vanguard Endeavor HD 15-45x65
* Pentax EDII 65
* Athlon Ares 15-45×65 ED
* Athlon Cronus 20-60×86 ED
* Meopta Meopro HD 80 20-60×80

I've heard lots of good things about leupold gr especially optics considering its weight and size. My main concern for leupold is they only offer non-reticle or moa-reticle options, and no mil reticle. Their MARK4 model with mil reticle doesn't have HD glass, and they just discontinued the H32 and H36 hash reticles and only provide some ugly mil reticle IMO. Another concern is if 40X power is enough for spotting holes out to 500 yards?

Vortex razor hd seems a good way to go as I can always replace the eyepiece with a mil one. However, I'm concerning it's weight and size even for the 22-48 model.

Had zero experience Vanguard, but this model keeps popping out when I doing research online and a lot say it kinda on par with Razor HD regarding glassing performance. Not sure if it is true but the price is attractive anyway.

Pentax seems to be widely recommended by a lot of birding forums, but it seems a bit dated and I'm not sure how it is compared with leupold and vortex.

Athlon ares seems getting some good reviews online. But it's really not a popular model and I'm not able to justify if it deserves the money as it's kinda in the middle price range and my past experience told me "buy once, cry once", so getting a middle price range scope might be a waste as i will upgrade to a premium one in the future most likely.

Athlon Cronus is up to 60× power but still have a reasonable size. Not sure how good it is but the cronus rifle scope line has a good reputation.

Meopta is said to be on higher tier than vortex razor. For this particular, how does it perform?

Also, is 40 or 48 power enough to spot holes at 500 yards? What about 600 or even futher? I know there are 80+mm spotting scopes available, but I just cannot image carrying such a big monster with me all day around. Any other options I'm not aware of?

Thanks!

 

[DOGCAPPER]

Power is not all solving, definition is needed for spotting.

 

[retired]

trying to use a hunting spotting scope as a target spotting scope is counter productive.
for hunting you need small light weight compact and great glass.
for target you want a large objective, great glass, and no concern fro overall size and weight.
i use a 60x variable with 100mm objective and ed glass for target work.
decide what you need first spend all you can afford, then save for the second.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I don't know what you ended up going with but of the list you had I feel the Meopta Spotters are top.


Ray

 

[bman940]

Ray, I have to agree with you 100%! My buddies who have MeoStar spotters wouldn't take anything for them. In fact, 1 has a Swaro he would gladly sell you. I have the MeoPro 20-60X angled eyepiece and couldn't be happier. I use mine at the range and I attach it to a windshield mount for use while scouting from a blind.
For the $, Meopta gives you a lot of spotter/scope.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Power is not all solving, definition is needed for spotting.

I agree.so, when I bought my spotting scope I was able to set up 6 of the big names on a dark rainy day and observe a target with holes in both the black and the white at a little over 500 yards. Went with the thought to buy a Swaroski but liked the Zeiss better, bought it and I am happy. That was close 15 yrs ago. A friend bought a Meopta 2 yrs ago, if I was to do it over I would look at the Meopta very hard, especially given the price difference. What ever you do don't cheap out on the tripod. Junk tripod makes a good scope not worth much.