Who can recommend a spotting scope for F class ?

[Captcoop]

im looking for one that will show the most mirage, and not sure what type of 3 legged stand to use for it? Will have it positioned next to me for shooting.

 

[Kyle Schultz]

Do a search on "spotting" and you will find lots of information. What's best for you depends upon your needs and budget. Good luck!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Its all about budget. Buy the best you can afford. The NF/Meopta/Cabelas is the best I have seen so far.

 

[SierraCJ5]

http://www.first-strike-products.com/

I recently purchased one of these stands for F-tr and it seems to work very well. Nice workmanship too.

 

[normmatzen]

I have an inexpensive Celestron and wanted just what you do.
I researched and found an optics expert working at a very reputable optics company (NOT Celestron!) who told me the large lenses are easy to make so nearly any body can be useful. It is the eyepiece that separates the good from the bad. So, I bought a quality non-zoom long eye relief eyepiece yielding about 25-30X power and use it for long range F Class with focus about 1/3 down the course.
My friends with super expensive scopes can't see any difference theirs to mine!

 

[perry42]

KOWA

perry42

 

[billlarson]

KOWA

perry42

+2

 

[Captcoop]

Thanks guys!

 

[Tracey]

im looking for one that will show the most mirage, and not sure what type of 3 legged stand to use for it? Will have it positioned next to me for shooting.

GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT THE AL FREELAND BI POD WITH THE SCOPE COLLAR AND UP TO 3 EXTENSION RODS...THE LEGS CAN GO EITHER WAY EITHER UNDER THE RIFLE OR TURNED REVERSE...SE HOW MANY OF THE SHOOTERS AT CAMP PERRY AND WHITTINGTON SHOOTING CENTERS ARE USING THESE...

 

[DRNewcomb]

....Will have it positioned next to me for shooting.

The Freeland bipod is designed to be next to the shooter in prone position. Even if you are right on the edge of the concrete slab, it still fits. I've seen near copies. If the scope is next to you when shooting, you probably want one with a 45º ocular. I've read that to read mirage you want a big objective. Of course, easy focus is a must.

http://www.championshooters.com/ind...category&virtuemart_category_id=31&Itemid=111

 

[dbramley]

Kowa is very popular on the line. My only piece of advise is to get one that has long eye relief, like the 25X Kowa eyepiece. If you wear any type of shooting glasses you may find it difficult to get into other eyepieces while staying in position.

Creedmore often has a scope / stand combo sale

 

[dcali]

You don't need to spend a lot. a 60mm-class Kowa or similar will do just fine (although 80mm is better). The things that I cannot do without are a long eye relief eyepiece and an angled eye piece. 25x seems about ideal. As far as stands go, I've seen all manner of contraptions on the line from camera tripods rigged upside down to scopes bolted to wooden boxes to ancient, wobbly cross-course stands. I'd go with one of the cross-course style stands. they come in handy. The 1" models seem more stable than the 3/4" models, unsurprisingly.

 

[rardoin]

Giraud makes a nice stand, easily adjusted for prone to standing. The NF/Meopta meostar/Cabellas (same scope) are very nice. Not a significant difference between that and my Swarovski ATS 80....except in price.

 

[Laurie]

Have a look at the F-Class scope stand + counterbalanced head. Very popular in national league GB F-Class as it allows the scope eyepiece to be positioned for minimal head movement and the scope stand / feet well to one side to stay out of the way.

http://www.dolphinguncompany.co.uk/index.php/our-products/rifle-parts/new-dolphin-gun-scope-stands

 

[SierraCJ5]

 

[ireload2]

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

 

[Pablo]

I have an inexpensive Celestron and wanted just what you do.
I researched and found an optics expert working at a very reputable optics company (NOT Celestron!) who told me the large lenses are easy to make so nearly any body can be useful. It is the eyepiece that separates the good from the bad. So, I bought a quality non-zoom long eye relief eyepiece yielding about 25-30X power and use it for long range F Class with focus about 1/3 down the course.
My friends with super expensive scopes can't see any difference theirs to mine!

Norm,
could you let me know where you bought that eyepiece. Thanks

 

[XTR]

Most people really like Kowa's long eye relief (LER) eyepiece. For spotting and reading mirage you probably don't want more than about 25x so it work great. At that power you see more targets and I find I can read the mirage better. Definitely want an angled eyepiece.

I use a old Leica 77, it is a really nice piece of glass, I still run it on the lowest power on my eyepiece (I forget what that is).

If I had it to do over again I'd probably get something with a LER eyepiece, but for now I've been shooting with this one for yrs and I'm used to it.

 

[Ian]

I use a Vortex Razor 20-60x85mm with the LER eye-piece and really like it.

 

[RDavies]

I use a Vortex Razor 20-60x85mm with the LER eye-piece and really like it.

This is what I ended up buying as well and am very happy with it. Top quality glass, for half the price (or less) than the bigger name scopes. I also ended up buying the LER eye piece for mine which makes it much easier to use in prone position.