Advice needed - spotting scope and binoculars/monocular?

[H Wally]

Hi guys!

First off, I know very little about any sort of optical device. I'm familiar with how they work, the concept of magnification etc, but have never bought or dealt with them further than picking them up and looking at things.


So, I'm looking for some advice before I go buy something I'll regret.

I'm mainly looking for some sort of device I can use both range shooting and hunting.

Now that I'm shooting targets and longer ranges I want something I can use to check my groupings without having to wait for a cease fire and walk out to the target. I also want something I can carry with me while hunting to scan cut blocks, identify animals, or generally just have in my backpack while hiking.

Also..... I don't want to spend 3x the price of my rifle doing it.....

So, what's a good, reliable, multi purpose monocular/scope or binocular for the job?

 

[pbr streetgang]

I picked up a bushnell 20x 40x 60x variable spotting scope with case for $150.00 last month and it works fine. Comes with a small tripod and cleaning kit. I got mine at kerrisdale cameras, but you can get them just about anywhere. It's good out to about 500m..

 

[H Wally]

And what's it like for carrying? I would imagine you would need a backpack if you took it to the bush at all.

 

[pbr streetgang]

Pretty light actually, you can also get the soft case version for hiking..

 

[RRCo.]

There was a mint older Bushnell Spacemaster with a fixed 20x eyepiece at the fleamarket for $50. a few months ago. Older Bushnell Sentry is also very good. Bought a cosmetically rough Spacemaster with 20-45x eyepiece for $3.00 at the fleamarket once.

Fixed power eyepiece is optically superior to adjustable.

 

[Crashman]

I have a pair of Vortex Viper 8.5X50 binos, with a tripod adaptor and a 2X doubler that works awesome as stand alone binos for the field, and then when I hit the range, I mount them on the tripod with the 2X doubler and presto! I have a 17X scope. This is simpler, lighter, and less expensive than having binos and a spotting scope and I get pretty good performance out of it too!