Spotting Scope Suggestions

[timberwoofers]

I recently purchased a Vortex Diamondback 20x60x80 spotting scope. I went out to the range today to sight in a new rifle at 50 yards. It worked great, until I took it to 200 yards. At 200 yards It was difficult to see the strikes, scope was blurry not near as sharp as I hoped it would be, and there was a bit of mirage that I could see.

I have some time to where I can return it for a refund or upgrade to something else. Would like to stay with Vortex line but open to others. Looking for suggestions as to what scope to get so that at 200 yards it's easier for me to see my shots. This is my first spotting scope so I don't know if what I experienced is normal or not. Scope cost me about $500, I was hoping not to spend more from reviews I've read, but I'll raise the limit to $1000.

This will be used for target shooting 50-200 yards.

Thanks for any suggestions,

TW

[Dave626]

I recently purchased a Vortex Diamondback 20x60x80 spotting scope. I went out to the range today to sight in a new rifle at 50 yards. It worked great, until I took it to 200 yards. At 200 yards It was difficult to see the strikes, scope was blurry not near as sharp as I hoped it would be, and there was a bit of mirage that I could see.

I have some time to where I can return it for a refund or upgrade to something else. Would like to stay with Vortex line but open to others. Looking for suggestions as to what scope to get so that at 200 yards it's easier for me to see my shots. This is my first spotting scope so I don't know if what I experienced is normal or not. Scope cost me about $500, I was hoping not to spend more from reviews I've read, but I'll raise the limit to $1000.

This will be used for target shooting 50-200 yards.

Thanks for any suggestions,

TW

Can you get the 2015 Razor HD in 65mm under 1k. 80mm retail on amazon is around $1200~

[timberwoofers]

Can you get the 2015 Razor HD in 65mm under 1k. 80mm retail on amazon is around $1200~

Are you referring to the fixed 65mm? Looks like $1300

Theres a 16x48x65 just under $1k on sale.

[Oldtimer626]

That spotting scope goes up to 60x mag and you can't see holes at 200 yards???
Have a good, steady tripod or mount?
What kind of holes? .22 lr? .223?
How is your eyesight?
Bad mirage that day?

Honestly that spotting scope should be okay for 200 yards....not GREAT but okay...maybe you got a lemon? Vortex has a great warranty btw....

Hopefully one of the long range precision guys like Randall or Lynn will come by soon and weigh in....

[timberwoofers]

I could not see the holes in the black, outside the blk yes.
223/556
I wear glasses but not much of a perscription.
Circle S at about 12 noon


Edit: I have a Vortex Ridgeview tripod

[smoothy8500]

Unfortunately seeing 223 holes in the black at 200yds can be difficult even with my Kowa 663. Mirage, haze, dust, etc play havoc with seeing holes in the black at that distance. I use home made shoot-n-see targets at 2 and 300yds when shooting irons.

[seainc]

Check eBay for Zeiss Diascope 65

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182339589094

[timberwoofers]

Unfortunately seeing 223 holes in the black at 200yds can be difficult even with my Kowa 663. Mirage, haze, dust, etc play havoc with seeing holes in the black at that distance. I use home made shoot-n-see targets at 2 and 300yds when shooting irons.

Even the holes outside the black were blurry. This was my second time shooting irons at 200. I realized I had the wrong targets IMO to be shooting irons at 200. However, I shot ten and ten hit the paper.

This was first time out with new upper and lower iron sights, sighted in at 50 yards then went to 200.

[timberwoofers]

Can someone tell me why a fixed power would be better than variable? I would think if I'm shooting 50-200 mostly 100-200 I'd want the variable.

[smoothy8500]

Even the holes outside the black were blurry. This was my second time shooting irons at 200. I realized I had the wrong targets IMO to be shooting irons at 200. However, I shot ten and ten hit the paper.

Nice shooting either way! Yes, the holes in the white can still be slightly blurry at 200 due to the mirage and atmosphere-especially if zoomed in. I have the 27X eyepiece for the long eye relief-you can see through while wearing eye protection without having to remove glasses or get right up on the eyepiece.

The only suggestion I have is to do a side by side comparison with another scope at the same time and distance. It's possible your scope has an issue.

[timberwoofers]

Anybody else on this???
Any input on upgrading to the Razor or Viper line vs the diamondback?

Thanks

[smoothy8500]

Short of going with the Kowa, your Diamondback is just barely a step below the Kowa. I don't think you will gain much. It's pretty hard to see .223 holes in the black at 200yds regardless of the manufacturer.

For rapids we put golf T's so we can see the rounds at 200 and 300 yds.

[CircleCircle]

Anybody else on this???
Any input on upgrading to the Razor or Viper line vs the diamondback?

Thanks

Haven't used any of the Vortex spotters other than the 2015 Razor 20-60x85 that I recently picked up. It was about as much as I was willing to spend. At 60 the eye relief is quite short and the image loses resolution, but anything better was just more than I wanted to spend. No problem picking up shots on paper at 100yds; can't say how it does on paper beyond because the rest of the targets I have access to beyond that are steel. You CAN tell where on the steel you've impacted and I have used it out to 900yds with larger calibers. For the price I am satisfied.

[JMP]

If you are just trying to view holes on paper, go with high magnification. If you are spotting live shots at variable ranges, then pay more for zoom variables and high quality glass.

[timberwoofers]

Short of going with the Kowa, your Diamondback is just barely a step below the Kowa. I don't think you will gain much. It's pretty hard to see .223 holes in the black at 200yds regardless of the manufacturer.

For rapids we put golf T's so we can see the rounds at 200 and 300 yds.

Thanks for your comments I appreciate them.
I think I'm going to view the diamondback, Viper, and Razor at distance and make a choice and stick to it.