I currently have a Bushnell spotting scope (15 - 45) that I use at the indoor 25 yard range and it works well for that distance, but when I get to the outdoor rifle ranges and I find that the Bushnell is fine for out to 50 yards but once I get to 100 yards it is s bit more difficult to find the bullets on some targets so I am thinking of getting another spotting scope for better viewing of targets 100 yards +. One I am looking at is the Vortex Diamondback spotting scope, is there any other spotting scopes that are in the same price range or less that I should be looking at? I see on Amazon they have some lower cost spotting scopes that have some good reviews but just not too sure how good they are, one I did spot was a copy of an older model of Vortex with 25-75 X 70 that is nice and compact which would be easier to pack for range trips. Any suggestions and help would be appreciated.
Spotting scope questions
- Thread starter Don45
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Kowa, I looked through a birdwatchers last summer and it was real nice.
Mid price scope (although you may not think so) Kowa, Pentax. Find a place that sells birding optics and look through as many as possible with as many different eye pieces as possible. I f you wear eyeglasses something with long eye relief might be the ticket.
savagelh thanks I checked out their website and I will do a bit more research on them.
Butcherbill thanks I did take a look at their website but the prices that were quoted were above my budget.
Kamlooky I usually don't see too many people at the range when I get a chance to go and not too many of them are using spotting scopes but it is something that I will keep an eye out for when I am at the range the next time.
Maynard the Kowa website listed their scopes above my budget but I will check out the Pentax and see what they are like and what their pricing is like. I will do a search and see if there is anyplace close that sells spotting scope that I can have a look at. As for glasses the only ones I use at the moment are the safety glasses on the range but thanks for the tip about the eye relief.
Father Hood
Regular
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
Konus Konuspot 80 - exceptional value
PM sent.
PM sent.
the reason you have trouble seeing at 100y is the quality of the optics
I have a 11-33x50 Vortex Razor and I can see holes clearly at 200y
don't buy another cheap scope
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Have you looked at Pelee Wings yet? Seems to be the place to go for spotters in Canada.
https://www.peleewings.ca/about/nature
https://www.peleewings.ca/about/nature
Right now I don't need one that will go beyond 200 yards as that is the furthest out the range goes at the moment but they are working on a 500 yard range so I might look at one that is good for that distance.
I received your PM and sent one back to you.
Thanks for the tip.
Unfortunately they are above my budget, but thanks for letting me know.
Thanks for the tip I will check it out and see if I can find something.
No I have not yet but thanks for the website I will check it out.
Dump Shoot
Regular
- Location
- Lower Canada
Use a 20x or 25x eyepiece, the 15-45 is not great.
If you are only shooting 100 yards but can't see impacts get a better rifle scope... is your Bushnell one of the straight ones? I had one of the 15-45 Bushnell Elite straight scopes and the eye relief was so small that I almost had to put 'Visine' on lens so my eye wouldn't get stuck to it.. LOL. Then I bought a used Nikon Field scope (60mm, says 13-40 on the eye piece) and it just blows the Bushnell junk right out of the water, I can see mirage with it.
At CRPS matches I love looking through the Vortex Razor that 'Ken from Bullseye' brings! The field of view is so deep I can see targets clear from 150 to 250 easily (without even adjusting the lens) and spot hits on steel a 300 with .22s NO problem.
At CRPS matches I love looking through the Vortex Razor that 'Ken from Bullseye' brings! The field of view is so deep I can see targets clear from 150 to 250 easily (without even adjusting the lens) and spot hits on steel a 300 with .22s NO problem.
I never thought of that, the Bushnell I have does come with a 25X eyepiece. Thanks, I will have to try it and see how it works.
At 100 yards I can see not too bad on some targets but not on others, I guess the type of targets I use has something to do with it.
Thanks to everyone that has posted info and help, I appreciate it.
I only use the spotting scope when I am using a rifle that has open sights or a red dot, so far when I use a rifle with a scope I can see the target fine.
The Bushnell I have is a straight one but I can't remember which model it is. It comes in a small case with the two eyepieces but I have only ever used the 15 x 45 eyepiece.
Thanks for the info.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
A good eyepiece is just as important as a good scope.
For a nice-but-wont-break-the-bank, the Celestron M2 a pretty good. As a bonus, they use the readily available 1.25" astro eyepieces.
Personally, I'm happy with my Pentax PF80
