SPOTTING SCOPE - Angled or straight..?

[Lor]

I'm in the market for a spotting scope and am not too sure I understand the pros and cons of angled viewing versus straight. Your recommendations will be appreciated.

[NorCalFocus]

All personal preference and use is my understanding of it.

An angled eye piece will allow you to mount the scope low on a stand and you can lean over it to use it. Great for on a bench next to your rifle. A straight eye piece means a higher mount on the tripod, but keeps your head straight up, which is more comfortable for longer periods.

So how do you plan on using it? By yourself on the bench, or are you going to spot for someone else sitting in a chair or standing behind the shooter?

[teflondog]

I bought a straight one but wish I got an angled one instead. When I'm shooting from a bench, I prefer to keep my spotting scope out of the way and off to the side. Having an angled eye piece would allow me to look through the scope when it's off to my left side. With my straight eye piece, I have to position the scope closer and more forward on the bench.

[Lor]

All personal preference and use is my understanding of it.

An angled eye piece will allow you to mount the scope low on a stand and you can lean over it to use it. Great for on a bench next to your rifle. A straight eye piece means a higher mount on the tripod, but keeps your head straight up, which is more comfortable for longer periods.

So how do you plan on using it? By yourself on the bench, or are you going to spot for someone else sitting in a chair or standing behind the shooter?

Since it will more convenient for it to be sitting next to me during bench shooting, I suppose an angled unit would work better.

[FishnHunt]

I have angled scope and it takes little time to got used to and find stuff.

[Unretarded]

Everyone I see with the nicer scopes, not the 200 buck barska ones, have angled units.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Phone adapter for spotting scope. See thru the scope on your phone screen.

Just put it where you can see the screen.

[NorCalFocus]

Phone adapter for spotting scope. See thru the scope on your phone screen.

Just put it where you can see the screen.

I'm getting one of these. I have an old iPhone that I'm going to use just for shooting apps.

[ocabj]

Unless you're using this in the field (combat) for fast spotting, I would go angled.

An angled unit with a rotating collar will give you versatility to get the most comfortable viewing angles in all positions (given the proper scope stand). You will be able to setup your scope in such a manner that you minimize your movement to view through the spotting scope.

In standing you can have it setup in front of you so you can just lean over a bit.



In sitting, you can have it on your opposite side and you can lean over without breaking position:





For prone, you can run the scope right up against you:



Depending on your scope stand and mount, you can actually have the scope setup in such a manner that you don't even have to turn your body, and simply move your head.

As far as bench shooting, the same applies:



Now as far as trying to line up your scope on target with an angled unit, most scopes actually have an alignment sighter on the body of the scope. It actually works. Just look through it and line it up on target. Then you should have your target in the field of view.

[Fjold]

Angled for target shooting, straight for spotting while hunting.