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  #1  
Old 11-25-2007, 4:20 PM
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Default Spotting Scope for High Power Shooting

A friend asked me for a spotting scope recommendation for high power shooting. His main concern was to be able to adequately see .22 and .30 caliber holes on his target at 200 yards. He also wears glasses and was concerned about eye relief with the spotting scope he ends up with. He's willing to spend upward of $800 to $900. I advised him to go with a Kowa TSN-821 and a 27x long eye relief eyepiece. From what I can tell, this seems to be a very common setup for many high power shooters. Am I on the right track? Maybe someone has a better recommendation.
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  #2  
Old 11-25-2007, 4:32 PM
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Yes, the 821 with the 27x LER is the most popular choice. The Kowa 661 with 25x LER is also a good choice too. Slightly cheaper, and you get a lighter scope.

The Konuspot 80 is a low budget choice that is actually getting good word of mouth from even the most discriminating shooters. I have never looked through one before, but everyone I've talked to has been impressed with the quality for the cost.

But I would highly recommend the 661 with 25x LER or the Kowa 821 with 27x LER. I have owned the 661 (and currently own the 821). Both are fine scopes. The only reason I 'upgraded' from the 661 to the 821 is because I got an excellent deal on an 821 that I couldn't pass up.
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Old 11-25-2007, 5:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ocabj View Post
The Konuspot 80 is a low budget choice that is actually getting good word of mouth from even the most discriminating shooters. I have never looked through one before, but everyone I've talked to has been impressed with the quality for the cost.
Is this much akin to Nikon's $300 scopes compared to Leupold's $900 scopes.
While the Nikon is "nice for the price", I still like the Leupold better and don't particularly mind paying for quality.

Am I better served just getting a 66mm Kowa right from day 1 or would the 80mm lens of the cheaper Konus make it look as good as a 66mm Kowa if we said that I don't have the budget for an 82mm Kowa?

Have any links to discussions/comparisons about these two spotting scopes that are not tied to a commercial site?
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Old 11-25-2007, 5:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ocabj View Post
The Konuspot 80 is a low budget choice that is actually getting good word of mouth from even the most discriminating shooters. I have never looked through one before, but everyone I've talked to has been impressed with the quality for the cost.
I have one and love it. If you really look you can find one for under $200. I do not think you can see holes at 600 with it but I could see the impact on steel at 800.
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Old 11-25-2007, 5:45 PM
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Here's a website that will interest high power shooters looking for a good deal on a spotting scope.

http://jarheadtop.com/
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  #6  
Old 11-25-2007, 7:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ar15barrels View Post
Is this much akin to Nikon's $300 scopes compared to Leupold's $900 scopes.
While the Nikon is "nice for the price", I still like the Leupold better and don't particularly mind paying for quality.

Am I better served just getting a 66mm Kowa right from day 1 or would the 80mm lens of the cheaper Konus make it look as good as a 66mm Kowa if we said that I don't have the budget for an 82mm Kowa?

Have any links to discussions/comparisons about these two spotting scopes that are not tied to a commercial site?
Like I said, I've never looked through a Konuspot, but people who I have talked to who are serious shooters say the Konuspot 80 is surprisingly decent. Even Sgt. Brandon Green of the USAMU (NTI and Wimbledon Cup winner) told me that he was surprised with how the Konuspot performs.

Granted, if it were *that* great, everyone would sell their Kowas and buy Konus scopes for the lower cost. But from what everyone is saying, it's not garbage like the Leupold Wind River spotting scopes. It *sounds* like the Konuspot is better than the Bushnell Spacemaster (the older pre-2005 versions were excellent scopes).

I'll probably shell out $200 for one and do a side by side comparison with my Kowa 821 sometime.
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  #7  
Old 11-25-2007, 7:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ocabj View Post
Like I said, I've never looked through a Konuspot, but people who I have talked to who are serious shooters say the Konuspot 80 is surprisingly decent. Even Sgt. Brandon Green of the USAMU (NTI and Wimbledon Cup winner) told me that he was surprised with how the Konuspot performs.

Granted, if it were *that* great, everyone would sell their Kowas and buy Konus scopes for the lower cost. But from what everyone is saying, it's not garbage like the Leupold Wind River spotting scopes. It *sounds* like the Konuspot is better than the Bushnell Spacemaster (the older pre-2005 versions were excellent scopes).

I'll probably shell out $200 for one and do a side by side comparison with my Kowa 821 sometime.
Next time I hit the range will be the 8th. Probably Angeles or APS. If you aren't in a match I'll bring my scope and you can compare if you like.
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Old 11-25-2007, 8:00 PM
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How about a NcStar 20-60x with laser pointer? I was shooting yesterday at the San Joaquin Rifle and pistol range ( Visiting relatives) and someone had one of these fine ebay spotting scopes. If you look really hard you can see .45 holes in targets as far away as 25 yards Man it was bad and the guy that owed it did not like my response of sorry man but this thing is terrible until I let him look through my leupold wind river sequoia 15-45x60 spotting scope. I paid about $220.00 from optics planet for it. I really like it anyway.

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  #9  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:34 PM
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I'm tired of shifting my position to spotting scope.

So it's time to brew up an imager eyepiece/adapter that sends video to a 6" LCD monitor.

Will probably put a low-light CCTV CCD camera in front of eyepiece with adapter tube, and then just pipe out NTSC video to the display.
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  #10  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bwiese View Post
I'm tired of shifting my position to spotting scope.

So it's time to brew up an imager eyepiece/adapter that sends video to a 6" LCD monitor.

Will probably put a low-light CCTV CCD camera in front of eyepiece with adapter tube, and then just pipe out NTSC video to the display.
That'd be nice. There was someone trying to do the same, but with a camera on target and a receiver and display at the shooting position. With the distances involved, your setup would be much more practical.
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Old 11-30-2007, 12:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bwiese View Post
I'm tired of shifting my position to spotting scope.

So it's time to brew up an imager eyepiece/adapter that sends video to a 6" LCD monitor.

Will probably put a low-light CCTV CCD camera in front of eyepiece with adapter tube, and then just pipe out NTSC video to the display.
It wouldn't be that big but you can get adapters for Digital cameras. My spotting scope came with an adapter. I just need to pick up a t adapter for my camera. I believe some cameras can also output the display live. I may be wrong though.
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Old 11-30-2007, 12:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bwiese View Post
I'm tired of shifting my position to spotting scope.

So it's time to brew up an imager eyepiece/adapter that sends video to a 6" LCD monitor.

Will probably put a low-light CCTV CCD camera in front of eyepiece with adapter tube, and then just pipe out NTSC video to the display.
Bill,

Could you rig that up so the video output goes to an eye-piece on my "other" eye? You know, like they have on the "land warrior" get up? That would be cool!
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Old 11-30-2007, 1:15 PM
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I believe Nikon and Bushnell have a Digiscoping solution with a 5-6" LCD screen and a live image. One guy showed up to IFG one day and had one setup. I didn't look at it in action, but I heard it actually worked.
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  #14  
Old 11-30-2007, 7:56 PM
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Orion Telescopes, where Bill got his spotting scope, also has adapters for cameras, TVs, and serious astronomy. I think they recently added a low(er)-priced sensor.

Let's see - there's this item, but I can't tell if it's a video or just camera-like timed shots:
<http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=astro-imaging_camera/~pcategory=astro-imaging/~product_id=52068>
Uses your PC as a viewer so you'd have to haul around a laptop too.

You could attach a cheap digital camera with one of these:
<http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=spotting_accessories/~pcategory=accessories>
Use the camera's LCD as a live viewer, or hook up its USB port to your laptop for a larger view. Some cameras also have direct TV out so you could also pick up a cheap LCD TV for viewing.

-- Parag
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Old 11-30-2007, 9:42 PM
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Yeah Parag, but I hate the USB solution. Just want a cheap NTSC LCD monitor.

Some of those T-mount things are real contraptions, too.
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Last edited by bwiese; 11-30-2007 at 9:45 PM..
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Old 11-30-2007, 10:02 PM
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Quote:
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I hate the USB solution.
That's so much funnier because I know why you say this.
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Old 11-30-2007, 10:03 PM
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That's so much funnier because I know why you say this.
Yeah, and I'm a guy that did firmware for USB video cameras in a past life
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Old 11-30-2007, 10:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paratus et Vigilans View Post
Could you rig that up so the video output goes to an eye-piece on my "other" eye?
Sony used to sell video goggles.
You feed them with composite video.
Simply remove one side of these goggles and graft the weak-eye side onto your safety goggles.
Instant "head's up" display of your target.
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Old 12-04-2007, 1:09 AM
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Sony used to sell video goggles.
You feed them with composite video.
Simply remove one side of these goggles and graft the weak-eye side onto your safety goggles. Instant "head's up" display of your target.
Oooh. Me must acquire (or make).
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Old 12-04-2007, 7:01 AM
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Originally Posted by bwiese View Post
Oooh. Me must acquire (or make).
The goggles have an "opacity" adjustment as well so you can adjust how much of the vdeo signal you see vs. how much you see through them.
Turn the opacity all the way up and it's pure video, turn it all the way down and it's like looking through a pair of sunglasses.
This allows you to walk around with them on and adjust the video like a true "head's up" display.

I don't think I would want to shoot with them on both eyes though.
The "weak eye only" solution would be better.
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Old 12-04-2007, 9:40 AM
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i have a Konuspot 80. i used it only twice. it's a good scope, but i have no real use for it. i'm used to spotting myself with my hipowered optic. i can see pretty well at 16x through my luppy. if anyone wants it i'll let it go for $150 which comes with a digital adapter. it's in perfect condition.
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Old 12-04-2007, 10:09 AM
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I'll take it. I want to test one out and I could use a utility scope anyway. PM sent.
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Last edited by ocabj; 12-04-2007 at 10:12 AM..
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Old 12-04-2007, 10:26 AM
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I'll take it.
I want to test one out and I could use a utility scope anyway.
I'll be your next buyer after you test it out.
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Old 12-04-2007, 1:25 PM
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I'll take it. I want to test one out and I could use a utility scope anyway. PM sent.

it's yours. pm sent

payment recieved. it'll ship tomorrow.

Last edited by PistolPete75; 12-04-2007 at 1:41 PM..
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Old 12-04-2007, 1:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PistolPete75 View Post
i have a Konuspot 80. i used it only twice. it's a good scope, but i have no real use for it. i'm used to spotting myself with my hipowered optic. i can see pretty well at 16x through my luppy. if anyone wants it i'll let it go for $150 which comes with a digital adapter. it's in perfect condition.
I use it to see .30 cal holes out to 300 yds clearly. Great scope for $150
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Old 12-04-2007, 2:21 PM
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it's yours. pm sent

payment recieved. it'll ship tomorrow.
I guess you didn't see my PM I sent before he posted.
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