Spotting Scope

[tjschia]

Hello,
I have decided it is time to get a spotting scope, since I am tired of using the range scopes. I started looking into which one to get, and am completely over whelmed with all the different ones, I have not really found any good reviews to help base my decision and wanted some help. All I am planning on using it for is 100 / 200 yards, but since I am new to the sport of shooting I would like to get a nice enough scope to work out to 300 yards. Do any of you have any recommendations for a good spotting scope or a good place to read reviews on spotting scopes? I would like to keep it under $400-500.
Thank you for any help you are able to provide.

[Knight]

FWIW, back when I first got into target shooting about five years ago, I bought a relatively cheap Winchester spotting scope. Think I got the 15-45x60mm for around $150. Use it at the 100 and 200 yard ranges all the time, with no problems. My friend used it once when I was shooting at a steel gong at 400 yards, he didn't have any problems. Never used it for spotting paper targets at anything beyond 200 yards, unfortunately.

[ocabj]

Konus 20-60x80mm. Going rate is about $230 on the Internet.

The Sniper's Hide group buy section has a rolling GB price of $200 on these.

A friend of mine does lots of reviews on various optics with regards to the shooting sports. Recently, he tried out the Celestron C90 and he was extremely impressed.

He's got a few reviews posted online:

http://www.lasc.us/IHMSANewsArticles.htm

His review on the C90 has yet to be posted.

[tjschia]

Thanks Guys

Knight ~ I have thought about just buying a cheaper scope and using that until I start shooting out past 300 yards. I might very well do what you suggested and spend the extra cash on a gun.

ocabj ~ Thank you for sending me a link to that group buy, it looks like a good deal and it seems like it would meet my current needs very nicely. I have read a couple of those articles already and am planning on reading the rest, thanks for the link.

[brassburnz]

http://www.championshooters.com/index-ssl.html

Check out this link. Champion Shooters Supply provides quality equipment for target shooters. You'll have to search for the scope section. They carry Celestron, Konus, Kowa, and Leupold spotting scopes.

I have one of the smaller Celestrons. It's a great little scope for the price, but does not have the resolution of a larger spotting scope. For serious work, I have a Bushnell Spacemaster with the 60mm objective and a 15 to 45X zoom eyepiece. Suggested retail is $300 to 400 but you can find them on ebay for much less because Bushnell has a bunch of cheaper and smaller scopes they call the Spacemaster and it confuses people.

You don't want the one that folds up like a snail and you don't want the small ones with a 50mm objective lens.

The resolution of the Spacemaster is amazing. I had a Winchester 60mm scope with a 15 to 45X zoom I bought brand new. I've compared them side by side, and although you can see .22 bullet holes out to 200 yards, the images from the Spacemaster are much brighter and sharper. The same is true when comparing the small Celestron and the Spacemaster.

I haven't used the spotting scopes out to 300 yards, but I don't think the Spacemaster would have any problems. The others probably would.

Randy
NRA Life Member

[ocabj]

The Bushnell Spacemaster 20-45x60 was an excellent scope. I'm not sure if the new designs maintain the same quality as the older ones. I had a Spacemaster and sold it because it was collecting dust after I got a Kowa for High Power matches.

Oh, and it looks like Champion Shooters sells the Konus for $190 before shipping.

[spgk380]

I have a Celestron Ultima 80 that cost $190. Its a 20-60x80mm 45 degree angled model.

I've only tried it at 100 yards at the range and looking around the neighborhood out to a few miles. The so-called "purple fringing" is quite noticeable looking at bright lights at nighttime, but I understand you have to spend about $500 for their "ED" model to get better quality lenses. I imagine its more of a concern for the birders who are taking photos of birds. As long as I can distinguish holes in paper, I'm happy.

Its certainly perfectly good at 100 yards in doors and out (the big 80mm objective really helps with the indoor range) at 60x. I imagine it would give you a good picture at 200 yards, but I don't know yet how it does at 300.

I think the bigger concern I have is getting a tripod that is stable enough for a 60x scope. I'm going to try the most expensive $100 Sunpak/Quantaray tomorrow and see if it helps with the vibrations. Don't forget that your choice of tripod is just as important as the quality of your scope. Otherwise, I find you can't see anything at 60x.

Update: I found the tripod to do away with all other tripods: http://www.celestron.com/c2/product....ID=374#dealers
This is specially designed for spotting scopes. I can see that no camera tripod is really going to provide the performance I need.

[Budd]

I have the Nikon 16-48x 65mm objective Prostaff. I really like how clear it is but may be overkill for you. I like to shoot out to 600 yards and this handles the job very well. It also comes with a side target finder to make target acquisition much easier at long ranges.

It is in your original range and will last you some time as you increase distances.

Here is a pic in the foreground.

[proraptor]

Ive used Budd's spotting scope and its really clear....Its very nice