Spotting Scope recommendations

[Alex Wheeler]

Still the best glass I have looked through is a NF Comp scope. Just mount one of those to your scope stand. ;D When conditions are clear they will resolve 6mm holes in the white at 1k. We have had a bunch on the line and they will all do it. Nothing else will.
I have been able to get away with lower quality spotters for shooting. You just don't need the color definition like you do with something you plan to use hunting.

 

[chkunz]

The OP did not say anything about needing to see bullet holes. That requirement is significant and changes the answer and the cost significantly. I recommend that the OP provide feedback on this requirement and then we calibrate answers relative to what his needs are.

 

[mjtripper]

I have the Celestron Regal M2 LER 27x80 ED Spotting Scope somebody else mentioned and it's an excellent scope. I wear glasses so having a LER eyepiece is a huge plus for me.

 

[akajun]

Lots of hp shooters use the Konus brand scopes. We have the 80 and 100 mm versions for our juniors , they are good scopes capable of reading mirage .
I use a kowa with the ler eyepiece ,

 

[bsumoba]

The OP did not say anything about needing to see bullet holes. That requirement is significant and changes the answer and the cost significantly. I recommend that the OP provide feedback on this requirement and then we calibrate answers relative to what his needs are.

The primary use will be for mirage reading 600-1K yards for f-open. I want to place this next to my shooting position so I can point it half way down the range to see what the mirage is doing. I plan on using this with a stand like a creedmoor one

The secondary purpose will be for spotting and scoring during f-open matches out to 1K.

 

[22BRGUY]

Here's an idea but as said...wont work in competition....

The video following the first one should be watched only with parental discretion of idiot Nigel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpmPUcnuBY&feature=youtu.be&autoplay=1

 

[CSM19Z5M]

I've had Bushnells, a Nikon (the old Nikon), a Redfield (the old Redfield), and have settled on a Leupold now. Depends on the use and I don't disagree with most of the comments here but for me, Leupold is the best optic / scope for the money today. I now buy only Leupolds, both rifle scopes and the one spotting scope, and you can't beat their overall quality, features, ruggedness, warranty, and price. I just got tired of looking for "the best" all the time, paying outrageous sums, and being disappointed by some aspect because there is no perfect anything. My Leupolds have never let me down and they are built in Oregon with great customer service. My spotting scope is mounted on my portable bench rest table and works great, even for these old eyes. Call their customer service folks for recommendations. Good luck to you.

 

[chkunz]

The OP did not say anything about needing to see bullet holes. That requirement is significant and changes the answer and the cost significantly. I recommend that the OP provide feedback on this requirement and then we calibrate answers relative to what his needs are.

The primary use will be for mirage reading 600-1K yards for f-open. I want to place this next to my shooting position so I can point it half way down the range to see what the mirage is doing. I plan on using this with a stand like a creedmoor one

The secondary purpose will be for spotting and scoring during f-open matches out to 1K.

Not trying to see bullet holes give you a big advantage. I would recommend the smallest, lightest scope that gets the job done.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I bought a Razor, opened the box and saw the sticker, made in China. Too much for a Chinese scope. I sold it and am saving for a Kowa.

I had the 16-48x65 Razor and the 'Made in China' sticker was the first thing that ticked me off too.

Optics were nice, but nothing like true alpha glass. Shorter ranges and broad daylight, the Razor is phenomenal. But at long range or in low light, the resolution and clarity of the Vortex Razor just can't compete with higher priced alpha glass optics.

I sold my Razor last fall and never looked back. Went with the Meopta S2 HD 20-70x82mm spotter and couldn't be happier

 

[praveen]

Kowa TSN-883 .
On a clear bright day, you can see .308 bullet holes at 600 yards on white paper.

 

[ryanjay11]

I wish I could have gotten an actual in-use picture for you, but it's about 5 degrees outside.

I shoot F-T/R, but this setup should also work for you. I can look through both optics simultaneously, preventing the missing of a condition when switching views. The spotting scope is a TSN-821M with 27x LER eyepiece. It is mounted on a Ray Vin F-Stand with outrigger and Eliseo spotting scope head. I have another section of rod to increase the height when I'm scoring.

I hope these pictures help you with the stand/scope head portion of it. If you have the money, I would get the 883 scope. Mine works great, but I've looked through the 883 and wow!

 

[bsumoba]

^ - this is actually what I had in mind. ;D

 

[michaelnel]

I have the Kowa TSN-884 with the E-11WZ 25-60x Wide Angle Zoom Eyepiece. I cannot imagine a better piece of optics.

 

[Lesloan]

Anybody using an 80mm Pentax? I've seen a number of good reviews on these, and am considering buying one.

I'd love to have a spotting scope that'd resolve .223 holes at 300 yds, in the black, on a good day. Is that even possible? And if so, can it be done for less than $2000?

 

[CatShooter]

Anybody using an 80mm Pentax? I've seen a number of good reviews on these, and am considering buying one.

I'd love to have a spotting scope that'd resolve .223 holes at 300 yds, in the black, on a good day. Is that even possible? And if so, can it be done for less than $2000?

I have Pentax 800 ED, with the 20x60 eyepiece, and I LOVE IT. I can see 22 holes in the black (if there is a light burm or white backer behind the target) at 400 yds.

 

[Lesloan]

Great! That's the one I was considering! Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Great! That's the one I was considering! Thanks for the quick reply.

Please allow me to pass on some advice I regrettably passed up for a long time.

Listen to some of these seasoned shooters and outdoorsman. Most of us, at some point, bought cheaper optics hoping it would 'get the job done'. Unfortunately the cheaper stuff always leaves you wanting more when you look through the top shelf glass. If you really care about excellent optical quality, you will eventually end up buying a $2000-$3000 spotting scope. So if you are able to afford the best optics right now, spend the money and be done with it.

Don't be like me and waste time and money buying 3 or 4 different spotting scopes while working up to the Alpha glass. Others tried to tell me the same thing when I was in your position and I didn't listen. Once I finally purchased a top of the line spotter, I immediately realized that their sound advice was right all along. So I'm just passing on the advice I should have listened to years ago. Buy the absolute best you can afford. And if you can't afford it right now, you'd be better off to wait and save money until you can. The Pentax are nice, but they are nothing compared to some of the other top end spotters listed on this thread. Good luck

 

[chkunz]

This type of discussion seems to evolve to the most expensive solution. Why not just buy the most expensive spotting scope and not ever have to be concerned with wanting or needing more? Well, the reason is that not everyone can afford the most expensive solution and in many cases the most expensive solution is not necessarily the best solution. I think it is important to first focus on the application and the available resources. For XTC the smallest, lightest scope that is suitable for reading mirage and the score board is the right answer and there are many good scopes that will do this at a reasonable price. If you are shooting XTC and think it is important to see bullet holes for your first two shots in rapid fire then you will pay a big price in weight and scope cost so decide what the requirement is up front. The answer is different for the various disciplines, bench rest, XTC, mid range, long range, conventional and F Class. Focus on the requirement first and then set the budget and then get the best that meets the requirement within the budget. The first rule of economics is that man's wants are never satisfied.

 

[CatShooter]

If you REALLY want the skinny on spotting scopes, go here:

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/70-80mm-Spotting-Scopes.php

I knew him when he started out some 20 years ago.

If you think shooters are fussy about spotting scopes, we are stone blind compared to the bird watching crowd - they are absolutely insane about spotting scopes and think nothing about dropping 4K$ or 5K$ on a scope.

This guy does real tests with resolution targets and color evaluations - go there and read your head off.

Also, read what he says about eye pieces - I bought a very expensive 60 ED scope many years ago, and it was no better than a junky Bushnell 60, because the eyepieces were poor. I finely found a good eyepiece from a German telescope that fit, and now I use it as a tele lens for a video camera.

And don't let anyone tell you otherwise, the Pentax 80mm ED will kill 95% of the scopes out there - in good part, because of the eyepieces.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Surely a cheaper scope can see target markers and read mirage. But why limit yourself? A top end spotter can provide many other uses such as seeing bullet holes at extended ranges, counting the tines on a bucks antlers at 2-3 miles away, low light performance that cannot be beat, long hours behind the glass without every worryong about eye strain headaches, etc...The only people you will find arguing the point of the cheaper scopes are the people who have never owned a top shelf spotter. If money was no object, you would never see those same people pick a Leupold, Bushnell, Pentax or other cheaper scope over a Swarovski, Leica, Kowa, or other high end optic.

But it does ultimately come down to what you can afford. If Pentax is what you can afford, then great, get it. But if you can afford better scopes that were mentioned in this thread, trust me when I say you won't regret it.