Sub $100 Spotting Scope?

[MrSam]

Well, after many years of use, my gifted spotting scope broke - long story short, one of my family members dropped it off the second floor after being startled. I would purchase another one in a heartbeat, but have no idea what brand or make it was as the logos faded off.

My previous spotter had a straight lens. What's the deal with angled lenses? Are they generally recommended over straight lenses? The latter seem more versatile.

What would you guys recommend as a decent sub $100 spotting scope. I'm not looking for anything fancy, and don't intend on using it past 200 yards. In all honestly, it will probably be used at around 150 yards max. Barska's and Firefield's fall in my price range, here are a few that I am considering:

http://www.amazon.com/Firefield-20-60-Spotting-Scope-Kit/dp/B005CGIIE2/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-2&keywords=spotting+20-60

http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-Colorado-Waterproof-Spotting-Scope/dp/B001HN9QZY/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1408164962&sr=8-12&keywords=barska+20-60

http://www.amazon.com/CO11502-20-60x60-Waterproof-Straight-Spotting/dp/B003N7NQOY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1408164962&sr=8-6&keywords=barska+20-60

http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-20-60x60-Spotter-Rotatable-Spotting/dp/B000FN8ZR2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1408164962&sr=8-5&keywords=barska+20-60

[Merc1138]

Angled vs. straight, plenty of info here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=891623

The short version is that angled gives you way more versatility for positioning.

As far as spotting scopes, save up for a konuspot 80. The barskas are trash, and I seriously doubt that the firefield is going to be any better. Yes, I see that you're going to see it at around 150 yards max, but even for just 100 yards the konus is going to give you a better image. It's not that the others can't be used, it's that crap glass and a smaller objective lens at that high of a magnification gets really tiring to look through real fast. All the time people want to buy a sub $100 spotting scope, and they always turn out to be crap. I realize you want it now, and you've set a budget, but you will thank me in the end. I'm not made out of money either, but buying disposable spotting scopes is going to cost you more money in the long run.

[MrSam]

Angled vs. straight, plenty of info here:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=891623

The short version is that angled gives you way more versatility for positioning.

As far as spotting scopes, save up for a konuspot 80. The barskas are trash, and I seriously doubt that the firefield is going to be any better. Yes, I see that you're going to see it at around 150 yards max, but even for just 100 yards the konus is going to give you a better image. It's not that the others can't be used, it's that crap glass and a smaller objective lens at that high of a magnification gets really tiring to look through real fast.

Thanks for the info. I looked up the konuspot. It looks great for the price, and the reviews on it seem good as well. I'll take it into consideration. For the time being id like to stay in the sub $100 range due to bills, college payments, etc. however, if there aren't any decent spotting scopes in that range I'll hold off until I can afford one.

[YellowG555]

You could look at the Leupold SX-1 Ventana. I got mine for around $220 on amazon, and it works great. I know there are way better scopes out there, but you really do get what you pay for. I know I will eventually get a much more expensive one once I fully get into precision shooting.

If I were you, I'd just save up some more and buy a better quality one, relative to the garbage you will probably find in the $100 range. You really don't want to go down that road of buying lots of **** scopes for around $100 when you could've spent $200-300 one time. As people say, "buy once, cry once".

[Merc1138]

The leupold doesn't have the ring to rotate the scope to change the angle of the eyepiece. It's a decent scope... but the mount kinda sucks.

edit: Well, you could get that back with the right stand and mount. But that would mean paying even more money.

[YellowG555]

Yeah it has its drawbacks, but for the money, it brings decent value. I'll probably end up getting a Vortex spotting scope at some point. Sometimes, I hate this hobby lol.

[MrSam]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think my best option is to hold off, save some cash, and go with a sub $400 scope. Ironically enough, the reason my budget is so low is because I just dropped a few hundred dollars on 3 scopes, 1 for the AR, 1 for my uncles Stevens (2 Leupolds), and another for an AR that I will be building within the next year or two.

Part of me wants to pick up a cheap Barska, just to have as a back-up and a temporary primary spotting optic, but maybe I'll just hold off.

[RogueSniper]

Costco had a Meade/Simmons Blazer spotting scope for sale few years back. I bought mine at Walmart - $60. Yeah, pretty shocking. I've taken that thing to Chabot and it's fine for 100 yards, I can see my shots, not super sharp like my Leupold rifle scope. I've also dragged that thing to Alaska to observe glaciers, seals, whales, bears, and eagles. It does what it does. The ocular piece did break off from too many trips to the range and 3 year old nephews playing with it. I just super glued it back on (twice) and it's fine. Unless you're shooting competition or hunting, save your cash and get a Konus.



BTW, I also bought a Konus spotting scope, mdl 7120 20-60x80mm. I can see container ships from Ocean Beach in San Francisco. $203 on Amazon. The price jumped to $240 right afterwards. Look into the Amazon Warehouse for returns. You can find some bargains.

[MrSam]

At this point my best bet would be to wait on a returned/used Konus. Guess I'll be keeping a close eye on Amazon from now on! Thanks everyone.
A buddy of mine will be loaning me his spotting scope for a month or two while he is on vacation with the family, so I won't be rushing to purchase a sub-par spotter.
I believe this is the one he has:

http://www.amazon.com/BARSKA-20-60x60-Spotter-Rotatable-Spotting/dp/B000FN8ZR2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1408164962&sr=8-5&keywords=barska+20-60

[2nab]

You may also be able to find something used on ebay. I often see earlier model spotting scopes, imagine a heavy 1980 bushnell, bausch and lomb type scope and many of those are going to give better image quality than today's $150 spotting scope and will be less than $100.

The last used spotting scope i bought on ebay was a Burris landmark 15-45x60 which cost about $150 and gives me incredible clarity at your desired 150yds, and I'm using it for small .22lr and .223 holes . If you do look at burris than skip the "high country" models and wait for one of the landmark models., either the 15 -45x60 or I believe the other is a 20-60x80.
I've used many different spotting scopes including at the slightly higher $400 pricetag you mentioned and the burris landmark have been the clearest so far and burris still warranties them for life, including for a used one that comes from an unknown seller.

Don't buy into the optic snobs who insist that anything less than $800 is crap or that if you can't see a fly on your target at 800 yds than there is something wrong with your optic. Most people actually never shoot past 200 yds. And there are good optics in the $200 to 300 range and possibly sub $200 but there is nothing worthwhile sub $100. Barska, bsa, etc will all make you regret the purchase and you'll end up spending more later.

All is not lost though. If you have to spend less than $100 than be patient on ebay and you will find a good deal on an older and used, but higher quality scope. Here are a few options from a quick search.
If the full URL doesn't work just copy the item number. Some of these could even end closer to $50, you just have to be patient and keep waiting.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/131268503720?nav=SEARCH

http://m.ebay.com/itm/291214269053?nav=SEARCH

Spend a little more and something like this used nikon if it stays at a good price would make an excellent optic.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/281409516816?nav=SEARCH

[vincewarde]

The barskas are trash

I own one, and my assessment is that mine is good for what I paid for it. Specifically, I can see bullet holes in the target out to 150-200 yards. Beyond that it gets difficult, but I think it is mostly because of heat mirage. It definiately is better than what I had before it, and for the money, I am happy with it. However, if I had a few hundred more to spend, I am positive that I could have gotten a much better scope.

[Shasta Frog]

I bought a Barska and a $350, can't remember name, scope the same day. Took them both out to the range and compared the two and could not tell the difference whatsoever. So I kept the Barska. I have noticed though that the angled eyepiece tends to throw me off but hey I saved over $250.

[MrSam]

Thanks again everyone. I picked up my friend's Barska today and will be taking it to the range on Tuesday. Seems like a well build spotting scope, and out to around 120 yards, it's excellent.
2nab, the Nikon is already out of my price range, but I'm keeping an eye on that Swift! Thank you for taking the time to look those up.

[Merc1138]

I own one, and my assessment is that mine is good for what I paid for it. Specifically, I can see bullet holes in the target out to 150-200 yards. Beyond that it gets difficult, but I think it is mostly because of heat mirage. It definiately is better than what I had before it, and for the money, I am happy with it. However, if I had a few hundred more to spend, I am positive that I could have gotten a much better scope.

That's nice. I've owned one myself and looked through others, they're still trash. You don't need to spend a few hundred more to get something that isn't trash, as the already mentioned konus is just over $200.

[TMB 1]

I have a Bushnell Spacemaster similar to this mine is camo http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Space.../dp/B000F4EMF0 It is a very good scope. You could probably find a used one a lot cheaper on ebay.
Barska scope I have is extremely crappy in comparison, gave it to the kids