I often get clients asking me tonnes of questions regarding spotting scopes, tripods, and how much to spend. 
My best answer for them is buy the best you can afford at YOUR price point/ budget/ allowance.
My second best answer is , FIND the best looking glass for YOUR price point/ budget / allowance; and that’s usually after trying as many scopes as you can on the firing line at your KD (known distance) or rectangular range.
My third best answer is : FIND a Bushnell SpaceMaster or SpaceMaster II on the EE Forums or Fakebook Marketplace or Kijiji for $100 or thereabouts.
Have a look at this SpaceMaster II that I found on Kijiji for $100 including the tripod. I’ve since sold it to one of my clients getting into the game. What’s cool is that the glass is japanese from the seventies and it’s hard to find good quality glass these days under the $700 mark (give or take).
Yeah, it’s been previously loved and not abused. Better yet, if you find estate / cottage sales, chances are the former owner was a gentle birdwatcher. That’s a good thing…..
This spotting scope happened to come with a Japanese eyepiece and it’s variable. Way cool…. 20x to 45 x . What a surprising find.
And at this $100 price point it did not come with any lens covers or soft case as the current Zhinese scopes with ED Glass come with these days.
So I did the next best thing with my 15 x to 45 x Spacemaster, I wrapped and taped 1/8” packing foam around the body. Then I proceeded to wrap things in Veterinarians wrap. Let me back up a bit first. I sourced some Butler Creek #43 objective lens covers for the front.
Then I found (Ellwood Epps) a correct fitting eyepiece cover that replaced the factory rubber eyepiece bumper (tossed back in original box).
Back to the Vet wrap, I circled the scope body a couple of times and then finished off with some shock cord (Amazon or EBay) so that I could decorate with burlap strips. Coyotes won’t see me, but I gotta ensure they don’t “wind” smell me.
Okay, this ain’t no Razor Gen 2 spotting scope (like my Gen 1 Razor 20-60-85mm) but this spotter SpaceMaster is my Parents, biathlon range spotter so It’s All Good!
Another look at my Spacemaster…
In conclusion, don’t overlook good optics from Japan that’s several decades old. The best part about good brands is that they often come with a lifetime warranty!
Sometimes you have to improvise, but It’s All Good!
I hope this helps your newbie that you are mentoring. You are mentoring new shooters aren’t you??
Keep helping the newbies!!
Cheers,
Barney
My best answer for them is buy the best you can afford at YOUR price point/ budget/ allowance.
My second best answer is , FIND the best looking glass for YOUR price point/ budget / allowance; and that’s usually after trying as many scopes as you can on the firing line at your KD (known distance) or rectangular range.
My third best answer is : FIND a Bushnell SpaceMaster or SpaceMaster II on the EE Forums or Fakebook Marketplace or Kijiji for $100 or thereabouts.
Have a look at this SpaceMaster II that I found on Kijiji for $100 including the tripod. I’ve since sold it to one of my clients getting into the game. What’s cool is that the glass is japanese from the seventies and it’s hard to find good quality glass these days under the $700 mark (give or take).
Yeah, it’s been previously loved and not abused. Better yet, if you find estate / cottage sales, chances are the former owner was a gentle birdwatcher. That’s a good thing…..
This spotting scope happened to come with a Japanese eyepiece and it’s variable. Way cool…. 20x to 45 x . What a surprising find.
And at this $100 price point it did not come with any lens covers or soft case as the current Zhinese scopes with ED Glass come with these days.
So I did the next best thing with my 15 x to 45 x Spacemaster, I wrapped and taped 1/8” packing foam around the body. Then I proceeded to wrap things in Veterinarians wrap. Let me back up a bit first. I sourced some Butler Creek #43 objective lens covers for the front.
Then I found (Ellwood Epps) a correct fitting eyepiece cover that replaced the factory rubber eyepiece bumper (tossed back in original box).
Back to the Vet wrap, I circled the scope body a couple of times and then finished off with some shock cord (Amazon or EBay) so that I could decorate with burlap strips. Coyotes won’t see me, but I gotta ensure they don’t “wind” smell me.
Okay, this ain’t no Razor Gen 2 spotting scope (like my Gen 1 Razor 20-60-85mm) but this spotter SpaceMaster is my Parents, biathlon range spotter so It’s All Good!
Another look at my Spacemaster…
In conclusion, don’t overlook good optics from Japan that’s several decades old. The best part about good brands is that they often come with a lifetime warranty!
Sometimes you have to improvise, but It’s All Good!
I hope this helps your newbie that you are mentoring. You are mentoring new shooters aren’t you??
Keep helping the newbies!!
Cheers,
Barney
