binocular or spotting scope

[ExtremeX]

^^

That's an awesome looking spotting scope! I love vintage optics... the phrase "they don't make em like they used to" comes to mind.

[HK Dave]

OP, If you're going to be serious about this sport and want to see where your bullet holes at farther ranges... might I suggest spending a decent amount of dough and getting something you can use for the rest of your life?

I remember long ago I made the mistake of buying a Barska 20-60x60mm from Big 5. I could barely make out holes on a shoot n c at 100 yards... i suppose it did its job but boy did I hate it. Beyond 20x all it did was magnify the blurry image... it never got more detail. Kind of pointless for it to zoom at all really.

Now if you're shooting paper targets to 50 yards with a max of 100 yards, it'll probably do fine... but i'm pretty sure sub $100 binoculars will not be able to do the same.

I scored a Bushnell Elite 20-60x80mm... basically a Bausch and Lomb with Zeiss designed optics used for around $400 if I remember correctly. I can see nail heads at 200 yards... I bet i could farther out as well.

My point... I now have two spotting scopes... one that will last me a lifetime and another that... well I can't even sell because its not worth shipping. :P

[LikeAllGuns]

I agree Barska is cheap....That is why I bought it..$60..I still have not used it yet, And if the eye relief sucks..... oh well I don't use ranges so I can take my glasses off. I just want to see holes up to 200 yards. If I only get 100 yards I WILL STILL BE HAPPY.

I would love to have some of the spotting scopes I have seen on this thread I just can not afford them.

[bombadillo]

Looking at what I posted up, for not that much more you can get a konuspot 80 or the redfield rampage and they will do MUCH better and last you way longer with better resale.

[ExtremeX]

I agree Barska is cheap....That is why I bought it..$60..I still have not used it yet, And if the eye relief sucks..... oh well I don't use ranges so I can take my glasses off. I just want to see holes up to 200 yards. If I only get 100 yards I WILL STILL BE HAPPY.

I would love to have some of the spotting scopes I have seen on this thread I just can not afford them.

I understand, you already got the Barska. I don't want to make you regret your purchase even before using it, or spend money you don't have... but sometimes even seeing holes at 100 is being optimistic. Its the reason I recommended shoot n c targets for the extra contrast colors in the impact areas. You can see stuff using the Barska, its just very hard to resolve due to the fuzz and lack of resolution. Use it, enjoy it, until you feel the need for better. Heck, I have one too lol

For a first time buyer, this thread has some information and logic that should be considered before your first purchase.

You don't have to blow tons of cash for something decent, for me the higher end of the spectrum becomes a luxury item, which is why I don't need it.

This entire hobby is terribly expensive. Realistically, how much sacrifice do you really need to make to get something that is going to better serve you for years to come and with a warranty from a company like Redfield or Vortex? The cost difference of the Redfield for example is about $100 more, which is like one good range trip or a nice dinner with my girl.

[P.Charm]

lots of good info. so if my budget is 150 (up from 60) i can find a decent scope new? I have seen some used i'm looking into, but just want to see if 150 new is even enough.

[P.Charm]

looks like I'll be waiting awhile for my spotting scope until I do more research. and saving.

[ExtremeX]

Best thing you can do, go to a store, and get hands on. Check out different scopes. If you want a starting point, look at the Redfield and the Vortex Nomad, and Alpen scopes.

I personally wouldn't look at anything less, and this is keeping it as budget as I can recommend.

Read a lot of reviews... you are honestly going to see more reviews on bird watching and digiscoping forums than on places like Calguns. Shooters are not the only people who use spotting scopes.

[P.Charm]

Best thing you can do, go to a store, and get hands on. Check out different scopes. If you want a starting point, look at the Redfield and the Vortex Nomad, and Alpen scopes.

I personally wouldn't look at anything less, and this is keeping it as budget as I can recommend.

Read a lot of reviews... you are honestly going to see more reviews on bird watching and digiscoping forums than on places like Calguns. Shooters are not the only people who use spotting scopes.

thanks for the advise. I can use my buddy's cheap one until I buy aone.

[23's Dad]

Best thing you can do, go to a store, and get hands on. Check out different scopes. If you want a starting point, look at the Redfield and the Vortex Nomad, and Alpen scopes.

I personally wouldn't look at anything less, and this is keeping it as budget as I can recommend.

Read a lot of reviews... you are honestly going to see more reviews on bird watching and digiscoping forums than on places like Calguns. Shooters are not the only people who use spotting scopes.

I agree that you should check them out first hand. Maybe attend a match like this one: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...69&postcount=1

You will see all manner of good glass there and the shooters may let you make some comparisons and give you their opinions.

I've read a ton of reviews at the birdwatching/digiscoping forums. Good info but they are all basically fixated on the high end scopes with 80mm+ objectives and XD/APO/Prominar type glass. If it doesn't cost a grand and you need to purchase the eyepiece separately, it gets panned.

You're not going to find any information about a "Toyota" on a "Ferrari" focused forum.

[P.Charm]

I know what I want; and I know what I can afford (now). so I have to save for awhile, I'm not serious about this hobby. I shoot maybe once a month not looking into competition. I just do it for fun.

I shoot a 16" AR15 with a red dot and magnifier. with that said, you can tell I'm not going to need a high end scope. do I even need a mid level scope? I'm not even looking into building another ar. I have had mine for a few years now and never caught the brd. I won't even walk to the 200 yard target stands because I don't even think my rifle will be usable at that range. (mine, not yours)

with this info can someone recomend me in a direction of a spotting scope?

[Black Majik]

I would check out the Konus Spot 80. I've compared it to spotting scopes a couple hundred dollars more and the Konus really is a fantastic value for the price. Optics are pretty good, though it gives a pinkish tint but resolves relatively well. The best feature in my opinion is the eye relief is generous so it isn't eyeball to eyepiece like other similarly priced scopes. It can be found for $200 or so?

Before purchasing a scope, see if you have a Scope City in your area to A-B-C a few brands. www.scopecity.com

[LikeAllGuns]

I understand you get what you pay for. I agree this hobby is very expensive.. Thats why I have to choose were I spend the big bucks and were I spend the cheap bucks.
Big bucks go to guns and ammo.

My most expensive rifle scope is 3x9x40 nikon pro staff and I did see the difference immediately from the cheap Tasco, Barska and I have a couple of cabelas alpha and lever scopes.

The nikon pro staff by far has much better clarity than any I own and I got the nikon for $99 on sale at cabelas. I keep waiting for sale again so I can get another.

I'm sure there are better scopes then the pro staff but I love it and it works fantastic.

Ok back to spotting scopes can any one recommend a spotting scope that does not cost over $230. And I will not shop at optics planet.

When I see ''for just a little more you can get this.'' So I check it out and $230 or $330 is not just a little more.

Thanks all I have learned a lot and do want one of those bad boy spotting scopes some day.

Oh and I do use shoot and see targets so hopefully the cheap barska will do for now.

[NeilM]

I know what I want; and I know what I can afford (now). so I have to save for awhile, I'm not serious about this hobby. I shoot maybe once a month not looking into competition. I just do it for fun.

I shoot a 16" AR15 with a red dot and magnifier. with that said, you can tell I'm not going to need a high end scope. do I even need a mid level scope? I'm not even looking into building another ar. I have had mine for a few years now and never caught the brd. I won't even walk to the 200 yard target stands because I don't even think my rifle will be usable at that range. (mine, not yours)

with this info can someone recomend me in a direction of a spotting scope?

In that case, you should go out and get a $100 spotting scope. Wouldn't make sense for you to spend more than that based on your needs/usage.

[P.Charm]

In that case, you should go out and get a $100 spotting scope. Wouldn't make sense for you to spend more than that based on your needs/usage.

I figured as much most recomendations were to have a good one for future use and avoid upgrading.. Thanks everyone for the great info.