Best spotting scope under 100 bucks

[joeymfd]

Not looking to shoot at 200-300 yards. Just want to see what I hit at like 100 yards. My eyes are old and tired. Found a few on Amazon , but was just looking to see what you guys started with before you made the big plunge. Thanks

[GunDog]

You're not really serious, are you?

[ExtremeX]

I started with a Barska 20-60x60... and when I made the "big plunge" we ponied up about $400-500 on our next scope which was made by Aplen.

There are some obvious quality differences if you are willing to spend $300+, but for 100 yard use, anything inexpensive will work fine.

All the lower end scopes will suffer as your turn up the magnification, but at 20x, its usable within reason. For zero work at 200-300, the use of shoot-n-c targets help a lot.

[joeymfd]

I know there are some 50-80 dollar ones out there. I was looking at a bushnell for 120. And barska is in that range as well. Just looking for a little input thanks xtreme x might go with the barska.

[varanidguy]

I started with a Barska 20-60x60... and when I made the "big plunge" we ponied up about $400-500 on our next scope which was made by Aplen.

There are some obvious quality differences if you are willing to spend $300+, but for 100 yard use, anything inexpensive will work fine.

All the lower end scopes will suffer as your turn up the magnification, but at 20x, its usable within reason. For zero work at 200-300, the use of shoot-n-c targets help a lot.

What were your biggest complaints about the Barska 20-60?

[bombadillo]

Learn from my mistakes, there isnt a "best"one. Only unusable or worse than unusable

[TMB 1]

Watch ebay for a Bushnell Spacemaster in your price range.

[Jeff213]

I use an old bausch and lomb 20-60 spotting scope i got used for $50 this may be your best bet on that budget.

[essjay]

I have a Celestron I bought used for about $60. I should have bought Warriors tickets instead. It's awful.

[Canucky]

OP buy one from Big 5. If it works for you fine. If not, return it. Easy Peesy. Chances are your making 2 trips.

[Divernhunter]

For that budget take a paper towel tube and use the bottom of a soda/beer bottle for lenses. Use black electrical tape to mount them to get lees interference than duct tape. Duct tape it to 3 sticks for a tripod.

Just use a quality scope(it will cost more than $100) and you will be able to see the target better for shooting and see your results. This is if using it for target shooting.
If wanting it for hunting get some quality(read cost more than $100) binos.

[Kingair001]

At 29 Palms I tried the Leopold from the Marines . . . .

"There isnt a "best"one - only unusable or worse than unusable"

So yes there is a lot difference

[ExtremeX]

What were your biggest complaints about the Barska 20-60?

My biggest complaint is that its very limited in its actual usefulness... I originally bought it just to zero a rifle at 50/100 yards or spot check a target when I was not using magnified optics... for that, it filled the roll I bought it for.

As I got more serious about shooting, specifically anything long range, spotting shots, resolving detail at higher mags, overall comfort... it starts to fall short in a lot of different ways.

Looking though it for any extended period of time causes some eye fatigue.
Its very tight on eye relief, if you wear glasses, its amplified.
Optical performance beyond 20x is pretty bad, all it does is zoom in on the blur with reduced FOV.
It cant resolve much detail, resolving hits on steel or paper is difficult at distance. Zero at 200 or 300 yards the use of a shoot-n-c target is pretty much mandatory.

Its not a difficult optic to grow out of, but it just depends on what you want to do with it.

I would say its safe to assume all similarly priced optics would be similar in overall performance. No free lunch in optics.

[joeymfd]

thanks to everyone who gave real advice. kind of have an idea where to look and what specs to look for. extremex gave some useful advice , that I should have been more specific on what I was needing when asking for help on the site. just wanted to zero scopes to 100 yards and look to see placement when shooting with iron sights. so I appreciate all the help and the PM,s
joe

[Jesse Tischauser]

Cheap spotting scopes are pretty much junk unless you just want to see large blurry images of stuff that far away. You can't see details or sharp edges well which is what you need for zeroing rifles.

If you just want to watch the steel swing when you're buddy hits it at distance you might be ok.