Best spotting scope for shooting range out to 500 yards under $600
- Thread starter sasdigger
- Start date
If you are looking to see holes in paper out to 500 yards, you will need to be shooting some VERY large calibers....or spend more than $600. You'll need ED glass, and a good sized objective lens. Something like the Vortex Razor HD, Leupold Santiam, Swarovski, Leica...good glass isn't cheap. I tried some inexpensive spotting scopes, but was not able to see .30 cal holes at 400 yards until I upgraded to the Vortex Razor HD.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but glass is definitely a "buy once, cry once" sort of proposition....and money spent on inexpensive glass is money that you MIGHT recover if you sell a cheap or mid-range spotting scope second hand after realizing that it won't do what you need.
The other thing that you'll find when you invest in good glass is that a big spotting scope is heavy, and you'll need to invest in a quality tripod. Any vibration that is occurring due to wind in your spotting scope will make it difficult to get the best out of the scope.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but glass is definitely a "buy once, cry once" sort of proposition....and money spent on inexpensive glass is money that you MIGHT recover if you sell a cheap or mid-range spotting scope second hand after realizing that it won't do what you need.
The other thing that you'll find when you invest in good glass is that a big spotting scope is heavy, and you'll need to invest in a quality tripod. Any vibration that is occurring due to wind in your spotting scope will make it difficult to get the best out of the scope.
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Patrick Gidlet
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thunder Bay
There isn't much that will work in that price range. Sometimes refurbished Vortex Razors come up, or older models. Kowa and Minox are both very good. My favorite I've found and best bang for the buck is the Meopta Meopro 80HD. There's a kit that includes a very nice tripod and pan head. I can see 25 cal holes with it at 400 yards as long as the mirage isn't too strong.
You're not wrong. A range cam is more limited...but will do what the OP is asking for cheaper than good glass.
For me, buying a good scope makes sense because I want an MRAD reticle and also want to use it at places other than the range.
Yeah, I had several 3k plus scopes in mrad. The Vortex Razor, Leupold Mark 5HD etc. they were awesome but they sat in the safe for the most part. I am at the point that I run the Vortex Viper PST Gen2 5-25 EBR 2c/7c on my range runs. much more affordable
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
sassdigger,
Any birding stores nearby? As other have said, seeing holes @ 500M will be a though on (if the correct conditions are lined up)
For that budget, I'd give serious consideration to the Celestron Ultima 100mm.
If there are no dealers local to you. Pelee Wings out of Leamington, ON is good to deal with.
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If it be me shopping, I'd save a few more $$ and go with something from Pentax/Nikon/Kowa with ED glass... You're just about there
Any birding stores nearby? As other have said, seeing holes @ 500M will be a though on (if the correct conditions are lined up)
For that budget, I'd give serious consideration to the Celestron Ultima 100mm.
If there are no dealers local to you. Pelee Wings out of Leamington, ON is good to deal with.
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If it be me shopping, I'd save a few more $$ and go with something from Pentax/Nikon/Kowa with ED glass... You're just about there
correct on budget purchase and on the higher end as well, nice post I agree
sassdigger,
Any birding stores nearby? As other have said, seeing holes @ 500M will be a though on (if the correct conditions are lined up)
For that budget, I'd give serious consideration to the Celestron Ultima 100mm.
If there are no dealers local to you. Pelee Wings out of Leamington, ON is good to deal with.
-
If it be me shopping, I'd save a few more $$ and go with something from Pentax/Nikon/Kowa with ED glass... You're just about there
Not only are premium ($$$) spotters required for long range views of bullet holes on target but also a very sturdy tripod. I use a premium Swarovski spotter and still found a blurred image on many occasions that I eventually solved with a top of the line tripod (Manfroto). Phil.
An 80mm ED telescope could be an option. Although you would need to buy a diagonal and an eyepiece and even used that would be over budget.
Advantages of a telescope over spotting scope:
Better optics and an extremely wide range of eyepieces to suit any situation.
Disadvantages:
Not weather proof, not shock proof, 3 separate pieces at minimum (scope, diagonal and eyepiece), image is correct up and down but is reversed left to right. Bulkier and heavier than comparable spotting scope.
If it's just for the range and you want the most optical quality for the money it could be an option. As a comparison, I have a TeleVue 60 telescope, with a quality mirror diagonal and EP it absolutely kills a Leica APO Televid 65 side by side. Telescopes can do this because they aren't constrained by size or the need to be weatherproof, shockproof or the need to have an internal prism and focusing.
Advantages of a telescope over spotting scope:
Better optics and an extremely wide range of eyepieces to suit any situation.
Disadvantages:
Not weather proof, not shock proof, 3 separate pieces at minimum (scope, diagonal and eyepiece), image is correct up and down but is reversed left to right. Bulkier and heavier than comparable spotting scope.
If it's just for the range and you want the most optical quality for the money it could be an option. As a comparison, I have a TeleVue 60 telescope, with a quality mirror diagonal and EP it absolutely kills a Leica APO Televid 65 side by side. Telescopes can do this because they aren't constrained by size or the need to be weatherproof, shockproof or the need to have an internal prism and focusing.
