Angled Or Straight Spotting Scope?

2Bad4u

2Bad4u

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I'm new to firearms and I'm now looking into getting a decient spotting scope (most likely a 20-60x60). I just purchased a CZ 452 Varmint (22LR) to shoot bench rested 200m at my club. Long term I would like to get myself a .308 and get into long range precision shooting (600 - 1,200m).

So the question is should I be looking at an angled or straight spotting scope - and why?

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
I find straight easier to use from the bench. But when spotting at a BPCR match an anged eyepiece makes like really nice as the scope is lower and it's less fatiguing that way. Never had a need of a spotter in the field but would like to give it a whirl. My 50 year old Redfield just ain't the right scope for that job anymore. Ever dim and dark!
 
On the range when moving from rifle to scope is easy, I prefer angled. It allows me to have a spotter who can call out shot hits too, as they may not be at the same level as I am shooting.

When using a spotting scope in the field I am always stationary with the scope right next to the rifle's left: it is easier to use the wide angle spotting scope to view more area and already have in a scope like position when a target is spotted.

My opinion....
 
I have heard Pentax are good, but never looked through one. I use Zeiss, they cost alot compared to the Pentax, which would be my second pick.
 
I have had opportunity to use both straight and angled. I found target acquisition just too awkward for me when using an angled scope, so I ended up purchasing a straight Minox. I use it at the range and in a limited fashion in the field.
 
The angled scope gives you a lot more versatility. Target acquisition with an angled spotter is really fast with a Manfrotto pistol-grip head on the tripod since you naturally point the scope where you want it to go. Even without it, it's not hard to train yourself to aim the angled scope quickly. How you hold/control the scope makes a huge difference when aiming it. If you're trying to find the target by holding onto only the angled eyepiece part, and swiveling the scope around on the tripod head, good luck! That doesn't give you any feel for which way the scope is pointed. The trick is to grasp the main tube with both hands to aim it like you would a handheld monocular, until you get the target in the FOV. Then steady it with one hand and tighten the controls with the other. Once you get a feel for doing this, you can get an angled scope on target just as quickly as a straight one.
 
Just to make sure you are totally confused,.... I had a straight, and switched to an angled. I find the angled scope no worse to use in the field when hunting and WAY easier to use when shooting a match from prone. An angled scope doesn't pack quite as nicely as a straight, my only complaint.
 
Another vote here for the angled eyepiece. It's a bit more difficult to find your target at first, but with just a little practice it becomes very easy. The angle makes is much easier to use while shooting, and is much easier on the neck if used from the standing position. It also lets you use a shorter tripod, or extend your existing tripod to a shorter height. In any kind of windy conditions, this makes for increased stability. If you are 6-foot-plus, you need a really high, really heavy tripod, with a huge footprint, to raise the scope to a useable level if using the straight eyepiece.

If you are ever sharing your scope with another person, the angled ones can be rotated so that two people of greatly different heights can still use the same set-up easily, without losing the sight picture and constantly fiddling with the tripod.

Finally, if you ever use your scope to observe something up high (poor man's telescope, or looking at a bird in a tree, etc.) the angled eyepiece is pretty much the only way to achieve that without using a 7- or 8-foot tripod.

John
 
Woodbridge isn't far from here (~hour). Bring that CZ452 to the long-range precision .22LR match, and you can try both types of spotters. There will be guys with straight ones, and I'll have my angled Vortex Razor HD. I can show you how to do fast target acquisition with the angled scope from the bench, prone, whatever... There is really nothing to it.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=488108
 
kombayotch said:
Woodbridge isn't far from here (~hour). Bring that CZ452 to the long-range precision .22LR match, and you can try both types of spotters. There will be guys with straight ones, and I'll have my angled Vortex Razor HD. I can show you how to do fast target acquisition with the angled scope from the bench, prone, whatever... There is really nothing to it.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=488108
Click to expand...

I would definitely be going if it wasn't on September 11th. We are picking up our new Sheep-a-Doodle puppy that day at 10:00. If the puppy pickup date/time changes I'll send you a PM to arrange for a meet.

Are these meets monthly - perhaps in October?
 
I try to make them monthly, but it depends on my schedule and what other shoots are happening, ones that I'm going to and ones that many of the regulars would be going to.

I will probably have one in mid-late October.
 
kombayotch said:
I try to make them monthly, but it depends on my schedule and what other shoots are happening, ones that I'm going to and ones that many of the regulars would be going to.

I will probably have one in mid-late October.
Click to expand...

I should be able to come to the October meet and I'll watch the previous link that you posted for the details.

As for my original angled vs. straight spotting scope question, I still haven't made up my mind yet but I'm leaning towards an angled scope.
 
I am shooting the DCRA matches right now. With about 470 competitors you would be hard pressed to find 10 straight line spotting scopes on the line.
 
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