Nikon Spotting Scope

[McGrew]

I am looking online at a used Nikon spotting scope. My old 20X Bausch & Lomb NRA edition spotting scope just doesn't cut it any longer. At least not with these eyes! At 100 meters, my 4-16x scope gives me a better better view. The Nikon spotting scope I am looking at is a 15-45x60 model, but that and the serial number is all I have. Is there any way to look up the date of manufacture by the serial number? I have read that the older Nikon's have Japanese glass and that is a plus? Am I wasting my time and need to keep looking? I am frugal (read cheap!) and not wanting to spend a fortune. Thanks for any advice! Danny

 

[Boilermaker]

I don’t have any experience with the 60mm Nikon spotting scopes, but I picked up an older Nikon and am not disappointed with my decision at all. Mine is a Nikon Fieldscope 82mm ED with a 25-75x eyepiece. I use it for 100-300 yd matches. It’s not the latest and greatest, but it serves the intended purpose at about 1/4 of the price of the top spotting scopes available today.

 

[lb-ft]

Any of the ED Nikons spotting scopes are a tremendous bargain. They run very very near the modern top tier spotters as stated above, for a fraction of the cost.

Love my ED Nikon Fieldscope

 

[McGrew]

Thanks guys! I let that one slip away even though the price was right. It sold last night. It was 2 hours away and I did not want to commit before checking it out. Maybe next time! Danny

 

[McGrew]

@Boilermaker, you sound a lot like me. I don’t need the latest and greatest. Not a competitive shooter, but need something to save multiple trips to the target. My current spotting scope is probably from the late 40’s or early 50’s but still has clear optics. It is an old Bausch and Lomb. I even have the original box and all the paperwork that came with it. Danny

 

[Daddycaddie67]

You sir are not cheap….you are “thrifty”. E

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I have a Nikon that I bought several years ago as a discontinued model and for the $400 price...Wow! There are better but I think I stole this thing. Very good without regard for the price and great with regard to it.

 

[McGrew]

Thanks guys. That one got away, but I am keeping my eyes open. Danny

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Had to look, mine's a 20-60 angled eye piece Sky and Earth model...not their flagship Monarch I think. Still, it's not far off from the Kowas and such that I see others use a lot. Didn't see the objective diameter but it's one of the bigger lens models...about 3-1/2" or so, roughly. Couldn't be happier for the price but I'm not the aficionado that some are in this regard. I just know it's close to the much more expensive ones I see more of. I probably should've sold it but I would've had to replace it, was offered $800 from a shooter who had been looking through it and others at a big match a year or so ago.

 

[Fuj]

I use a Nikon 20-60 x 82 Prostaff 5, with angled head. I
looked at the Vortex first at $800 bucks then the Nikon at
$500 bucks. The Nikon was simply better and $300 bucks
cheaper......A lot of times, it's not so much the glass but the
size of your objective lens. Look for anything that is 75mm
and larger.