Best value ( Chinese ) spotting scope

Proshow

New member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hello all,
I’m new to this group and have been reading up on spotting scopes from other users posts. Lots of recommendations and great feedback. I’ve been going down a wormhole into all sorts of models now.
At first I was just going to get a diamond back or crossfire spotting scope from cabelas . Then realizing they are made in china, I’m looking at other Chinese made scopes . What would you say would be best value from the vortex, athlon,konus, red field , bushnell and other made in china scopes ?

I know you get what you pay for but I’ll mostly be using it at the range and maybe hunting one day but nothing extreme . Budget would be 6,700$ area or should I save a couple hundred more and try to find an older kowa?
 
Hello all,
I’m new to this group and have been reading up on spotting scopes from other users posts. Lots of recommendations and great feedback. I’ve been going down a wormhole into all sorts of models now.
At first I was just going to get a diamond back or crossfire spotting scope from cabelas . Then realizing they are made in china, I’m looking at other Chinese made scopes . What would you say would be best value from the vortex, athlon,konus, red field , bushnell and other made in china scopes ?

I know you get what you pay for but I’ll mostly be using it at the range and maybe hunting one day but nothing extreme . Budget would be 6,700$ area or should I save a couple hundred more and try to find an older kowa?
Take a look at CVLIFE scopes on Amazon, they are surprisingly good and cheap, I own a couple of 4-16 CVLIFE rifle scopes and really like them, had them for two years, clear, precise, and they hold zero, I paid $65.00 delivered. All the scopes no matter what brand come out of two factories in China, you could save a ton of money with one of those.
 
I will sell you one of my bushnell spacemasters and save you a lot of money.
I regret trading Pops my 15-45x Spacermaster 2 for well my Bushnell XLT Trophy 20-60 ( I lent him it years ago )

Figured the extra 15x be useful but the eye relief and other issues with the XLT, made it no better.

Alot of the chinese. The focus knobs are heavy and mounts shake, and grainy at higher mag.
 
Last edited:
I regret trading Pops my 15-45x Spacermaster 2 for well my Bushnell XLT Trophy 20-60 ( I lent him it years ago )

Figured the extra 15x be useful but the eye relief and other issues with the XLT, made it no better.

This is the issue, nowadays. Most newer glass nowadays, unless you are spending some obscene amount, you will get inferior quality.
I had a guy very loudly shoot his mouth off at a recent gunshow on how he could get something cheaper on Amazon. After I stopped laughing, I told him to shut his loud mouth and to get the eff away from my table.
The spacemaster line and a few others that are older and have Japanese glass are far more superior than most sub $500 spotting scopes.
 
I have a ca-10 year old Celestron Cavalry 25-75x70 spotting scope that cost ca $250 ten years ago. I use it mostly for targets at the range and can see .223 holes in paper at 200 yds. and even better at closer ranges. That model is out of production but Celestron is a respected mfr of Celestial telescopes as well as spotting scopes and binocs. The potting scopes now run from ca $300 and up. Some are available on Amazon, and are 'good buys' while some are only avail thru Camera shops and online sites like for 'Bird Watching'.
PS - I believe they are from China, but that is NOT a negative RE Quality if you shop wisely. The Negative would fall under Economic reasons, but that also applies to USA made 'stuff' now IMO.
 
What does 'the best' mean. Application dictates lot toward what will be acceptable
for an econo 60x for range use we went with Athlon, compared 2 models sidexside and several 'testers' agreed the cheaper of the 2 was adequate
 
What does 'the best' mean. Application dictates lot toward what will be acceptable
for an econo 60x for range use we went with Athlon, compared 2 models sidexside and several 'testers' agreed the cheaper of the 2 was adequate
Which model did you go with ? Athlon is on the list . I’m mostly wondering if the cheaper vortex models aren’t any better then the other china made spotters
 
Back
Top Bottom