so I just got home from costco in edmonton and hapened upon a MEADE spoting scope [20-60x60] cost was 69.99 and i comes in a back pack complete with a tripod. this aint no nikon or luepold but for a first purchase I think this is going to make range trips alot easier on the feet. Any body ever hear of this maunfacturer?
Cost co spoting scope
- Thread starter Jeepguy
- Start date
At one point Meade owned Weaver, Redfield, and Simmons optics. They have since sold Weaver to ATK (Speer/CCI/RCBS/Federal Cartridge parent co.) and sold Redfield to Leupold. AFAIK they still own Simmons. Might not be a bad buy for the $$...
Davy Crockett
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley
They're ok for the price but don't compare to even the cheaper Bushnells. The tripod is really flimsy too however it does beat running back and forth to check targets though. They also don't do too well with being knocked off the shooting bench onto concrete by freeloading friends 
- Location
- Prince George B.C
I got one of these not too long ago. I broke the tripod and returned it once already. I need to find a garage sale tripod and it should be pretty good for range sessions. With the crap tripod its hard to focus it, but when its in focus its pretty good.
Got any "Value Village" stores in the area. I picked up a good solid tripod at the one in Kingston.
Simmons was sold to Bushnell about 8 months ago
They're well worth the cost. I've bought and resold 5 at a profit! The tripod is flimsy. the backpack is quite good, even has bendable aluminum stays. The optics are fine for 100 yard range sessions, no problem at all seeing your holes.
I have one - an emergency purchase after my old scope bit the concrete on a busy day at the PoCo range - and, to be honest it isn't bad. Tripod when fully extended is flimsy yes but that is an easily correctable issue - the optics are good enough to see .223 holes when I shoot at 300 yards at Mission and the focus dial is good enough for reasonably precise adjustments. Of course, it cannot and should not be compared to quality spotting scopes but really overall its well worth the money and way better than the junk one so often sees online - also, if you don't like it/doesn't work for you then Costco has a no hassle return policy.
If you are shooting with iron sights, it will allow you to see something at 100 yards you couldn't otherwise, but if you are shooting through a scope, it would have to be a pretty poor quality scope to not equal or exceed the image you see through this spotting scope. Even a low power rifle scope is better and sharper.
I absolutely, unequivocally disagree with you. Have you actually taken one to a range and tried it out?
Yes, and I've stopped bringing it out. One less item to lug with me. If I was shooting iron sights, I'd need the spotting scope to see holes at 100 yards or more, and it would be worth it for that alone, but with a 3-9 rifle scope resting on a bench set at 9x I can see those (100 yard) holes anyways. With a 14x rifle scope I can see .22 cal holes at 200 yards. What power do you set yours at? Don't you find it has poor resolution so the image is fuzzy? And the focus, critical as it is, is hard to use because when your fingers touch the focus knob, the image shakes so bad its hard to guess when you are making it better or worse. As you can tell, I'm not tremendously impressed by this spotting scope, but what should I expect for the price. It does work, and I did get a big kick out of looking at the moon with it. Cool to see mountains and shadows. But, mine sits in the case in the laundry room.
I use mine for 200y spotting at Selkirk. So long as it's not a hot day, it gives a pretty clear image. Mirage gets pretty bad when it's warm though. The key to the focus knob, is patience and a steady hand. And don't even try to look at something at 100y when it's focused at 200y, or vice versa. Also, loosen the aiming knob when you are trying to look as something different, and tighten it when you are fixed on it. It's not something you are going to take on a sheep hunt in the mountains of Nepal, but for just a day at the range, it's worth it.
