Affordable Spotting Scope?

[PoorMan]

Looking for an affordable spotting scope or some kind of alternative (binoculars, whatever.) What's the best bang for your buck?

Right now shooting rifle no more than 200 yds.

Thanks,
Dave

[Merc1138]

konuspot 80.

[PoorMan]

Ug. Looks nice, but $229?

I may have to face reality here but I'm trying to spend less than $200.

[Merc1138]

Yeah, try to find it on sale for a better price somewhere(or maybe use a coupon code or something). That would be one of the better deals on a spotting scope without scraping the bottom of the barrel. You also need to consider that the tripods that come with the low end scopes tend to be trash, so you may end up spending more money on that as well.

Basically, you could get a piece of garbage, and then get the "Told you so" response, and then replace it spending even more money.
Get the konus which is a bargain, even if it means eating some more ramen for a couple weeks or something.
Go straight for the higher end stuff.

[navin r]

Sorry if this doesn't answer the OP's question, but how about using a better rifle scope as the spotting scope? For example sometimes me and my buddy trade off shooting at the same steel, and alternate spotting each other's shots. Or if I'm spotting my own shots, I've set up my various rifles so the kick isn't so much that I can usually call my own shots. Imho a spotting scope only comes in if it's impractical to have a good enough rifle scope on a particular rifle to be able to see your own shots, or if you have a rifle that has just too much kick to be able to call your own shots? I guess some more experienced shooters can explain why this is wrong. (?)

[ExtremeX]

If you just want a spotting scope for zeroing a rifle at 100 or 200 yards, a cheap one will get the job done… At 200-300 using shoot N C targets make a huge difference with spotting holes… Cheap scopes aren’t really a pleasure to look though, but they will work.

If you want to use one for spotting shots, seeing bullet splash on steel, long range work, or extended viewing, it really would be best to just save and get something decent.

The tripod is important too, sometimes just as important as the scope… if you want a full sized set of legs, you will probably end up spending some bucks. Heavy magnification shake from a crappy tripod would make even a high end spotting scopes image unusable.

If you can’t afford a good tripod, stick with a short table top ones that might come with a scope, they would shake less, but are also less convenient.

[ExtremeX]

Sorry if this doesn't answer the OP's question, but how about using a better rifle scope as the spotting scope? For example sometimes me and my buddy trade off shooting at the same steel, and alternate spotting each other's shots. Or if I'm spotting my own shots, I've set up my various rifles so the kick isn't so much that I can usually call my own shots. Imho a spotting scope only comes in if it's impractical to have a good enough rifle scope on a particular rifle to be able to see your own shots, or if you have a rifle that has just too much kick to be able to call your own shots? I guess some more experienced shooters can explain why this is wrong. (?)

That’s a really good recommendation depending on what the OP is shooting… if it’s for his AR + Red Dot than I would move forward with a spotting scope.

If you are running a magnified optic like an inexpensive 4-14x, 3-15, 4-16x, you might be better off putting that $200 towards a better scope.

The days I go to the local range with my 5-20x50 or 6-24x50 scopes, I often times just leave the spotter at home.

I also shoot with a friend, alternating shooting, spotting for each other with rifle scopes. Biggest advantage having a reticle to use for calling correction. Until we can get a spotting scope with a reticle, that’s a damn good way of going about it and a valid excuse to get yourself a half decent scope too.

[PoorMan]

I am shooting the AR platform. Just want to see the hits on the target.

Needless to say, my cheap binoculars are not doing the job.

[ExtremeX]

What optic is on the AR?

What model and magnification binoculars are you using?

[BisDak]

Best bang for your buck would be the konuspot.

Not in the category of the "buy once...cry once" group. But it can do the job.

I just wasted money on the quest of looking for a cheapo good quality spotter. None of which exists. Bought two other budget spotters of which all were junk. I suggest looking at the konuspot and compare it with the rest of the sub $250 spotters. Acceptable clarity with good eye relief. For the price range it is good to go.


.

[PoorMan]

What optic is on the AR?

What model and magnification binoculars are you using?

A few ARs. One has a Nikon M223 the other is straight irons (for now)

[JMP]

It depends on why you need it. If you have decent glass on your primary scope, it may not be that necessary. If you are scanning, you want low magnification. If you are spotting, you want high magnification.

Then, it depends if you want an observation instrument or real spotting scope. Real spotting scopes will have first focal plane reticles so your spotter can call the precise correction. They also have rangefinders and weather stations. Spotting is very difficult to do correctly. Most of the spotting scopes available for civilians are just observation devices that magnify and image. I suggest that people spend more money on their primary gear until they can save enough for a proper spotting scope. My advice is that if you NEED a spotting scope, get something as cheap as you can get away with. Then, when you have time to properly evaluate your needs, get a real spotting scope.

As Merc said, the tripods can be expensive. I'll say that my tripod probably costs more than 90% of the spotting scopes that folks use, and it is worth every penny.

[ocabj]

My spotting scope was purchased specifically for High Power Rifle (Across the Course) and Long Range competition, so it's only a 27x fixed Long Eye Relief eyepiece on a 82mm body.

We don't need much magnification beyond that even for 1000 yards since the scorer in the pits is putting in a spotting disc, anyway. Plus, my spotting scope isn't focused on my target for mid-range, long-range prone stages of fire since it's focused short of the target so I can read the mirage.





That said, 27x is just barely good enough to look at 22cal holes on paper at 200 yards, but you need specific lighting conditions.

When I created a target stand for 200 yard standing slow fire practice, I designed the cardboard backer with a hole/window behind the black, so there's actually no cardboard behind the black center. This allows the bullet holes on paper be much more visible through my spotting scope since the cardboard isn't affecting the perception of the hole. This was pretty easy to do with official NRA SR targets.

[Twystd1]

Ocabj......... I owe you a coffee.......

No cardboard behind the black part of the target. Brilliant, simple and cost effective.

Now why in the hell didn't I figure that out 50+ years ago?

-T

[Bull Elk]

You should never use a hunting rifle scope as a spoting scope. Both have a purpose but neither is a replacement for the other. If you want to piss off another Hunter in the field, start waving around your rifle scope. If you simply want a spoting scope for the range, buy a cheap spoting scope that can identify target holes out to 200 yards. For use in the field, I'd buy a quality spoting scope. If you don't want to spend a lot on a spoting scope for the bench I've got a slightly used Remington with hard case, soft case and tripod and caps I'll sell you for $100 including shipping. It was replaced last year with a $1000 Leupold spoting scope. Whatever you do, don't use your rifle scope as a spoting scope in the field. A really good pair of binos works well at the range as well.