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Which spotting scope?

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
 
I can promise you will not regret the 88mm Prominar. Keep watching eBay sooner or later a deal will come along. Got mine used on ebay 5 yrs ago for $1500. Its amazing by comparison to anything else I've looked through. Barry.
 
If you're looking for bullet holes on a 200-500 yard target, you need the best glass you can find. Others here can argue over what manufacturer has the best ED glass on the market, generally speaking you get what you pay for.

If you're reading mirage and keeping track of your neighbors targets, you don't need the most expensive spotting scope on the market. More important question, does the scope manufacturer offer a Long Eye Relief eyepiece! You can spend $2k on a spotting scope that is nearly worthless when you're wearing shooting glasses.

Vortex spotting scope for me.
Dan Pohlabel
 
I've had plenty of experience with the Vortex Razor in the field side by side with Swarovski and Meopta. I even owned one myself years ago. My buddy who had the Vortex Razor 85mm when I had my Meopta S2 HD 82mm (while on a 4 day hunt together) was pretty upset with how poorly the Vortex performed against my Meopta. I was making out fine details on deer antlers at extreme ranges he couldnt even find let alone make out. Low light performance wasnt even a comparison. Meopta smashed the Razor. When my buddy looked through the Meopta for the first time at an object he couldnt make out in the Razor he said "Holy shit! That's way nicer. I gotta get me one of these"

My current Swarovski ATX scope is right there with the Meopta with perhaps a very slight edge in resolution going to the ATX but a slight edge in contrast going to the Meopta. I dont think the extra expense on the ATX is worth it for most people because the Swaro and Meopta glass is very close. I just prefer the modular design of the ATX so I can swap objectives for different applications. But either one will hands down beat the Razor in any real world test.

For mirage, perhaps lower grade glass in a spotter would be better if you had someone calling shots for you. Dont know. I use mine for hunting so I want the scope to eat through the mirage the best it can. I read wind with a riflescope to call my own shots.
 
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I bought the Cabela's version of the Meopta S2 HD 82MM (Instinct Euro HD, Outdoor life award, $1900) and must have gotten an inferior sample. I had an older Vortex skyline 80mm and 4 guys looking thru both over 1 week period at various ranges, time of day, weather conditions, had both on tripods in shop, at range, etc. We all picked the $300 Vortex Skyline spotting scope over the Meopta S2. I took it back and tried to exchange for another but they were out of stock, so just got refunded. I also had a Zen-Ray ED2 ($1200) at the time and it was much worse than either. I eventually sent it back and was sent a replacement that is about the same as the old Skyline. Maybe I just got an optically clearer Skyline? BUT I could have just purchased a Swarovski initially and saved money in the long run.
 
I bought the Cabela's version of the Meopta S2 HD 82MM (Instinct Euro HD, Outdoor life award, $1900) and must have gotten an inferior sample. I had an older Vortex skyline 80mm and 4 guys looking thru both over 1 week period at various ranges, time of day, weather conditions, had both on tripods in shop, at range, etc. We all picked the $300 Vortex Skyline spotting scope over the Meopta S2. I took it back and tried to exchange for another but they were out of stock, so just got refunded. I also had a Zen-Ray ED2 ($1200) at the time and it was much worse than either. I eventually sent it back and was sent a replacement that is about the same as the old Skyline. Maybe I just got an optically clearer Skyline? BUT I could have just purchased a Swarovski initially and saved money in the long run.

That's the first negative account I have heard about the Meopta S2 since it hit the market. I suppose theres a lemon in every product line somewhere. Sorry to hear about your experience. At least Cabelas made it right for you. I've always had excellent results with Cabelas as well. Most of my fishing rods are Cabelas brand because if I break one or wear it out, I walk in and walk out with a brand new rod in less than 10 minutes. No questions asked :)
 
I've had plenty of experience with the Vortex Razor in the field side by side with Swarovski and Meopta. I even owned one myself years ago. My buddy who had the Vortex Razor 85mm when I had my Meopta S2 HD 82mm (while on a 4 day hunt together) was pretty upset with how poorly the Vortex performed against my Meopta. I was making out fine details on deer antlers at extreme ranges he couldnt even find let alone make out. Low light performance wasnt even a comparison. Meopta smashed the Razor. When my buddy looked through the Meopta for the first time at an object he couldnt make out in the Razor he said "Holy shit! That's way nicer. I gotta get me one of these"

My current Swarovski ATX scope is right there with the Meopta with perhaps a very slight edge in resolution going to the ATX but a slight edge in contrast going to the Meopta. I dont think the extra expense on the ATX is worth it for most people because the Swaro and Meopta glass is very close. I just prefer the modular design of the ATX so I can swap objectives for different applications. But either one will hands down beat the Razor in any real world test.

For mirage, perhaps lower grade glass in a spotter would be better if you had someone calling shots for you. Dont know. I use mine for hunting so I want the scope to eat through the mirage the best it can. I read wind with a riflescope to call my own shots.
This is solid advice. I’ve owned the Meopta S2 with 30-60 wide eyepiece , Swarovski ATX 85 and 95 , ATS 80 HD 20-60 eyepiece , the Cabelas version of the S2 , and have used the Kowa 88 Prominar and the Vortex 85 when it was a Japanese made scope. The Vortex and the Kowa were both disappointing but I believe the Kowa had a problem. The Meopta S2 82 was the best value far and away. It only gives a little to my ATX and certainly not $2000 worth of difference. I still own my ATX 95 as it’s the best scope I’ve ever used but if I was making choices about how to spend my limited funds with what I know now I’d buy an angled Meopta S2 30-60W.
The Vortex was a mediocre scope at best. Resolution was poor in comparison to the other scopes. I’ve had the 85 Vortex sitting next to my ATX 85 looking at a mountain at last light with a friend. I’m looking at a mountain with elk all over and he can’t see any. He looks through my my ATX and his comment was “oh...those elk”. The Kowa was ok except it didn’t handle veiling haze well at all. I haven’t used one of the current Vortex 85’s but very knowledgeable friends that have say they’ve gone downhill. Meopta S2 is the best performance value imo.
 
Funny, I don't recall the OP saying anything about looking at deer antlers or elk. Just .22 caliber holes in targets....
 
Funny, I don't recall the OP saying anything about looking at deer antlers or elk. Just .22 caliber holes in targets....
That’s true but 22 cal holes are hard to see sometimes. The best resolution possible makes it easier to see. Using scopes in challenging conditions helps you understand where the differences are.
 
Funny, I don't recall the OP saying anything about looking at deer antlers or elk. Just .22 caliber holes in targets....

It was just an example of resolution quality which is what's required to see small bullet holes in paper. Seeng small kicker tines on a deer at over 2 miles is no small feat for any optic but the Meopta is capable if that. The Vortex is not, especially if there is any atmospheric haze.
Even 20 cal bullet holes in paper at 600 yards was no issue for the Meopta S2 I had.

Bullet holes at 600 isn't even a challenge for the Swarovski ATX 95mm with 1.7x magnification extender. Tom Mousel and Alex Wheeler claim the Swarovski ATX 95 is the ONLY spotting scope capable of viewing 6mm bullet holes at 1K. Havent shot that far since I bought the Swaro ATX. My Meopta couldnt quite pull it off at 1K.
 
Which of these can you get a LER eye piece? Vortex, Kowa.
I've had plenty of experience with the Vortex Razor in the field side by side with Swarovski and Meopta. I even owned one myself years ago. My buddy who had the Vortex Razor 85mm when I had my Meopta S2 HD 82mm (while on a 4 day hunt together) was pretty upset with how poorly the Vortex performed against my Meopta. I was making out fine details on deer antlers at extreme ranges he couldnt even find let alone make out. Low light performance wasnt even a comparison. Meopta smashed the Razor. When my buddy looked through the Meopta for the first time at an object he couldnt make out in the Razor he said "Holy shit! That's way nicer. I gotta get me one of these"

My current Swarovski ATX scope is right there with the Meopta with perhaps a very slight edge in resolution going to the ATX but a slight edge in contrast going to the Meopta. I dont think the extra expense on the ATX is worth it for most people because the Swaro and Meopta glass is very close. I just prefer the modular design of the ATX so I can swap objectives for different applications. But either one will hands down beat the Razor in any real world test.

For mirage, perhaps lower grade glass in a spotter would be better if you had someone calling shots for you. Dont know. I use mine for hunting so I want the scope to eat through the mirage the best it can. I read wind with a riflescope to call my own shots.

What kind of long eye relief does the ATX offer?
 
I would recommend the NF TS82 ( I believe the Meopta S2 is the same spotter..@Ledd Slinger?)unless you need extended eye relief..unfortunately it isn't available from NF...we had three different spotters setup side by side at Nationals, these were the NF TS82, Vortex Razor, Kowa Prominar.. viewing mirage at 1200yrds...all three were great and it came down to personal preference/vision...for me I thought the NF and Kowa were super close with the edge going to the Kowa...I also felt like the NF and Kowa bested the Razor by a small margin but not when you compare dollars spent.
 

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