Spotting scope? Which one?

[ChadCollins]

Currently using a TSN-1 with a 25X LER. I've been saving for a Kowa Prominar, but I’m seeing so many used on eBay now I’m not so sure they are worth the money..??? So maybe a 30X wide eye piece, or zoom? Or 80mm Nikon, or Vortex....

I’m a sling iron sight shooter having trouble seeing my bullet holes when I shoot smallbore. Hardest when there is mirage. Not a big deal shooting high power with spotters.

Thanks for any advice!
Chad

 

[SeanPayton]

Hey Chad I'm an optics dealer and have some sales for Vortex and some other brands. Give me a call at 800-720-9625 and I'll give you a good deal

 

[R.Morehouse]

Depends on what your budget is. I JUST took one out of the classifieds I was selling and it was a deal at $2K with tripod.

Regards
Rick

 

[muleman69]

Hey Chad I'm an optics dealer and have some sales for Vortex and some other brands. Give me a call at 800-720-9625 and I'll give you a good deal

Sean do you sell Ziess,swaroski and Leica? I really need to up grade and only want to buy once

 

[SeanPayton]

Sean do you sell Ziess,swaroski and Leica? I really need to up grade and only want to buy once

Yes I carry all three of those brands. I offer discounts to members of this group. Feel free to message me. I carry Aimpoint, Burris, Flir, Kahles, Meopta, Leica, Leupold, Nightforce, Nikon, Pulsar, Schmidt & Bender, Sig Sauer, Steiner, Swarovski, Trijicon, Vortex, and Zeiss.

 

[rardoin]

You won't likely beat SportOptics (SeanPayton) on price or service!

 

[XTR]

I have an old Leica 77 and an old Kowa 823. The Leica has better glass (than most scopes) and a 20-60 zoom, but Kowa is one of the only scopes that you can get a long eye relief eyepiece, mine is a 27x ler. For reading mirage and shooting long range I prefer the long eye relief.

Expensive glass can't resolve through mirage, there just isn't much that the glass can do if the image is distorted when it gets there. Obviously the better the resolution to start with the longer it takes atmospherics to distort to the point that you can't see, but in the end they are all limited.

My point being, I've on occasion heard a gripe or two from someone who bought a super duper spotter and was surprised that they still couldn't see holes at 600 yards.

 

[Shrek]

The Meopta S2 is the best value in spotting scopes imo. The only scope that I’ve found better is the ATX/STX with 85mm or 95mm objectives. I’ve owed a Swarovski ATS 80HD 20-60 eyepiece , the Meopta S2 30-60w eyepiece , Swarovski STS 65HD 20-60 eyepiece , Cabelas Euro 20-70? , and a Swarovski ATX with a 85mm objective and presently with the 95mm objective. I’ve used the Kowa 88 Prominar beside my Meopta S2 and several Vortex 85mm ( very mediocre scope ). The ATX is by far the finest scope I’ve ever used but knowing what I know now and was going to buy a scope it would be the Meopta S2. It is the second best scope I’ve ever used bested by the ATX 85/95 but not $2000 dollars better imo. I’d never feel I’m missing anything by not having the ATX. Buy the angled version so you only need to turn your head to see the target instead of having to move your whole upper body to get behind the straight scope. As someone said earlier there’s nothing that can correct mirage but the Meopta handles veiling haze as well as my ATX and far better than the Kowa 88 I used. The Kowa was a big disappointment to me.

 

[Vamike9]

For the money, I'd go with the Vortex Viper Hd lines. I use mine for reading mirage and spotting hits out well beyond 1000yds.
Clarity is very good and close to the Gen 1 Razor line of spotters.

 

[GSS]

Currently using a TSN-1 with a 25X LER. I've been saving for a Kowa Prominar, but I’m seeing so many used on eBay now I’m not so sure they are worth the money..??? So maybe a 30X wide eye piece, or zoom? Or 80mm Nikon, or Vortex....

I’m a sling iron sight shooter having trouble seeing my bullet holes when I shoot smallbore. Hardest when there is mirage. Not a big deal shooting high power with spotters.

Thanks for any advice!
Chad

For Prone or XTC shooting that old TSN 1 is just as good as the 821M's or 82SV's.

In my opinion no need to go Prominar glass for shooting where you are primarily watching Mirage with your spotting scope. If you are also an avid birdwatcher where color is important then sell your TSN1 and go with the prominar.

The used TSN 1 will sell fast for a fair price as many still use and love those scopes.

 

[GSS]

Currently using a TSN-1 with a 25X LER. I've been saving for a Kowa Prominar, but I’m seeing so many used on eBay now I’m not so sure they are worth the money..??? So maybe a 30X wide eye piece, or zoom? Or 80mm Nikon, or Vortex....

I’m a sling iron sight shooter having trouble seeing my bullet holes when I shoot smallbore. Hardest when there is mirage. Not a big deal shooting high power with spotters.

Thanks for any advice!
Chad

Looks like you got plenty of great advise in the 3 threads you created asking this question.

Did you end up keeping the TSN-1 or did you buy a new Spotting Scope ?

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/spotting-scopes.3997374/#post-37701824

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/which-spotting-scope.3975708/

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/spotting-scope-which-one.3975702/

 

[Nature Boy]

You won't likely beat SportOptics (SeanPayton) on price or service!

I agree with Robin. Sean makes it very easy.

If I recall, after buying a Swaro from him, I think he even offered to let me sleep in his garage until the storm blew over at home.