What spotting scope power for reading mirage in F Class?

[maxpower]

I have seen some guys use spotting scopes to read mirage when shooting F Class. What magnification scopes do you use for this? Do you run high magnifications in cool weather when mirage is less?

 

[CatShooter]

I have seen some guys use spotting scopes to read mirage when shooting F Class. What magnification scopes do you use for this? Do you run high magnifications in cool weather when mirage is less?

you would be well off getting a good variable eyepiece, cuz what is good for someone, might suck for you.

Mirage can be vicious in cool weather.

 

[KT]

I have seen some guys use spotting scopes to read mirage when shooting F Class. What magnification scopes do you use for this? Do you run high magnifications in cool weather when mirage is less?

I don't know about the cooler weather part but I look at it this way.

If the mirage is thick and easy to see I will have my eye piece set to 20x. This way I can see the mirage and as many of my competitors targets as possible.

If the mirage is light and hard to see, I turn the magnification up to 30x-50x so that I can see it better. Downside is that I can't see as many of my competitors targets.

I use a 20x-70x eye piece on the Nightforce TS-82 spotting scope.

KT

 

[Medic505]

One thing to consider. Go with a long eye relief (LER) eyepiece if possible. Makes things so much easier. I'm looking forward to trying out my new Vortex Razor with a 23 power LER eyepiece this weekend in Phoenix. One other thing I've learned about spotting scopes, you get what you pay for.

 

[Scott Harris]

For target shooting, I suggest fixed power 25X-30X. Fixed power is better because you get a wider field of view and longer eye relief. Depending on your glasses situation, you can optimize for long eye relief with an LER eyepiece or a wide angle with a WA eyepiece. LER and WA eyepieces are actually very similar. I would not want more than 30X magnification: too narrow of a field of view. It is beneficial to easily see 5+ targets to your left and right. The Kowa 661 and Celestron Regal M2 are nice mid-priced spotters that offer 27X LER eyepieces.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

I have a Kowa with a 25LER, its perfect for me, for F-Class.

 

[XTR]

I have a Leica 77 with an adjustable 20x-60x eyepiece, great glass, great for reading mirage, but like almost all scopes other than a Kowa the eye relief is maybe 10mm. I've learned to work with it, and I really like the scope, but I do wish I had the LER of the Kowa.

Typically I use it on low power for mirage reading, and that consequently gives me a better view of other targets too. Some days when the mirage gets hard to see I can turn it up and find it when you wouldn't be able to see it in a 25x. That's nice.

There are scopes with "better glass" than the Kowas, but if you want a long eye relief they are about the only option.

 

[Warren Dean]

I have a Kowa with a 25LER, its perfect for me, for F-Class.

+1 But mine is an old TSN-1. Works just dandy.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Most folks that have shot long range for more than just a few years will use a fixed 15-30X with a wide field of view and a very long depth of field. Long eye relief is a definite plus.

My fav was a 16X with enough FoV to see 25 targets at 1000 and when focused at say 600 yds, would be pretty much in focus on anything between 400-800.