Value of Reticle in a spotting scope
- Thread starter Engineer
- Start date
Leupold Mark 4 or Bushnell if on a budget
Calling come ups or windage adjustmets for either yourself or fellow shooter. Hard to have any sort of reference with no reticle. Most reticles in spotting scopes have either mil or MOA graduations for reference.
Being able to judge size or distance of game at distance without having to get the rifle out can be useful.
My vote goes to the Vortex Razor with angled eye piece. Great value for what you get. Not cheap but also not $3500.00 plus like a Swaro or Leica
- Location
- Calgary Ab
I picked up the Athlon Cronus 7 - 42 x 60 I'm really liking it.
As previously stated, when shooting as part of a team, a reticle is great for calling corrections. As well, when shooting individually, a reticle allows you to measure up your target prior to getting on the gun. I use that to determine what my allowance is in terms of wind (width of target) and elevation (height of target) and that informs my decision making process both in terms of likelihood of a first round impact and in terms of whether to dial or hold elevation (when engaging multiple targets).
Keep in mind guys, that you can use a rifle scope as a spotting scope if you feel the need for a reticle.
I made an adapter from a 6 inch length of 1/2 inch square aluminum and drilled and tapped a 1/4-20 hole in the center.
I then drilled and tapped it for a length of picatinny rail I bought cheap on ebay and fitted that.
Now I use it with a cheap Chinese QD one piece mount, so I can quickly attach a scope and fit to a camera tripod head. I can also pull a scope off a rifle if I want and use that as a spotting scope.
Once you get this far, there is another benefit. You can use the rifle scope to compensate for refraction. This is where humidity in the air at different temperatures and wind speeds cause the target image to displace.
When this happens, if you don't compensate for that shift, you are no longer aiming at where the target actually is, but a refracted position.
If the shooter constantly aims for the location on target where the spotting scope is pointing, he will be shooting through refraction and taking that out of play.
If you fit a cell phone to the ocular lens of the spotting scope, the shooter can reference that with his left eye while behind the rife with his right eye looking through the rifle scope.
Not understanding what I'm saying here is why so few shooters are capable of shooting small groups as group size is more a reflection of the amount of refraction that occurred during the shot string than the true accuracy of the rifle.
Now, it's important to have a super stable tripod that does not get pushed around by muzzle blast or shifted by a wobbly bench for this to be effective. I made a one piece welded tripod with spiked feet to stab into the ground for this purpose.
The scope mount used in this video has been replaced by what I described above.
I made an adapter from a 6 inch length of 1/2 inch square aluminum and drilled and tapped a 1/4-20 hole in the center.
I then drilled and tapped it for a length of picatinny rail I bought cheap on ebay and fitted that.
Now I use it with a cheap Chinese QD one piece mount, so I can quickly attach a scope and fit to a camera tripod head. I can also pull a scope off a rifle if I want and use that as a spotting scope.
Once you get this far, there is another benefit. You can use the rifle scope to compensate for refraction. This is where humidity in the air at different temperatures and wind speeds cause the target image to displace.
When this happens, if you don't compensate for that shift, you are no longer aiming at where the target actually is, but a refracted position.
If the shooter constantly aims for the location on target where the spotting scope is pointing, he will be shooting through refraction and taking that out of play.
If you fit a cell phone to the ocular lens of the spotting scope, the shooter can reference that with his left eye while behind the rife with his right eye looking through the rifle scope.
Not understanding what I'm saying here is why so few shooters are capable of shooting small groups as group size is more a reflection of the amount of refraction that occurred during the shot string than the true accuracy of the rifle.
Now, it's important to have a super stable tripod that does not get pushed around by muzzle blast or shifted by a wobbly bench for this to be effective. I made a one piece welded tripod with spiked feet to stab into the ground for this purpose.
The scope mount used in this video has been replaced by what I described above.
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I think your options are pretty limited when looking for a spotter with an angled eyepiece and a reticle. The only options I can think of are the Vortex Razor with the 22x ranging eyepiece and I believe you can get a Swaro with a reticle and angled. With regards to the Vortex, for practical field shooting, a fixed 22x magnification isn't ideal and with regards to the Swaro... $$$
Most spotters with reticles are straight as that lets the spotter keep his head much lower than an angled eyepiece does. That's not much of a consideration for civilian applications but the intended market is usually military and I assume it's always better to keep one's head down.
I've tested and reviewed a few spotters with reticles (I currently have the Athlon Cronus Tactical 7-42) and if I had to do it again, I'd get a Leupold Mk 4.
Most spotters with reticles are straight as that lets the spotter keep his head much lower than an angled eyepiece does. That's not much of a consideration for civilian applications but the intended market is usually military and I assume it's always better to keep one's head down.
I've tested and reviewed a few spotters with reticles (I currently have the Athlon Cronus Tactical 7-42) and if I had to do it again, I'd get a Leupold Mk 4.
Cheap and good don’t go together. I’m still on the fence about budget. Pick that first.
I missed that the Vortex is fixed power with a reticle. 22X doesn’t help vs scopes with resolving mil dimensions of a small target at distance. What does your Cronus give up to the Leopold?
Check out Sightmark Latitude ...
WAY WAY better then the bushnell Legend T series.... I returned 2 bushnell T series that would not focus precisely and they all had paint particules inside the glass... yea....
Leupold is a classic. Works well. Limited magnification.
2 magnification and lens size option. I went for the big 80mm objective. Very bright.
www.amazon.ca/Sightmark-Latitude-Spotting-Scope-20-60x80/dp/B06XHSVDD1
Rex review:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2lnFi7z0zQ
I love mine. Super clear and the focus actually works. You can spot holes on paper whit this scope.
I installed a micro red dot on top to find targets quickly at far distances. Works well. Some put a laser rangefinder on the rails too. Up to you.
Cheers.
WAY WAY better then the bushnell Legend T series.... I returned 2 bushnell T series that would not focus precisely and they all had paint particules inside the glass... yea....
Leupold is a classic. Works well. Limited magnification.
2 magnification and lens size option. I went for the big 80mm objective. Very bright.
www.amazon.ca/Sightmark-Latitude-Spotting-Scope-20-60x80/dp/B06XHSVDD1
Rex review:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2lnFi7z0zQ
I love mine. Super clear and the focus actually works. You can spot holes on paper whit this scope.
I installed a micro red dot on top to find targets quickly at far distances. Works well. Some put a laser rangefinder on the rails too. Up to you.
Cheers.
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It's a great feature. Mine gets used for LR targets & competition, as well used for hunting. My current spotter has enterchangeable eyepieces, a 30x MRad & 20-60 variable. The milling eyepiece is all I use anymore.
Take the time to read Dave's review on spotters.
Would like to have the cash to get a Leupold Mk4 but have decided that my budget will be best served by the Athlon Cronus Tactical 7 -42.
I am really impressed by my Athlon ARES ETR scopes and expect to see similar performance from their Tactical spotter. YMMV as well as your budget....
$2k-2.5k
Angled with a LER (or as an option)
Well just watched a bunch of videos on king of the two mile and seen a lot of Vortex optics being used. I know its cuz they give them away and the warranty doesnt mean anything. These guys are just doin it for fun,haha, yeah for sure.
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