Is a $130 spotting scope good enough for a noobie hunter?

cereal83

cereal83

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Hey all,

I am looking for a spotting scope and am wonder if there is anything I should be looking for when I am buying one. I am pretty young so I don't make tons of cash but was wondering if something like

http://www.sirmailorder.ca/show_pro...20&PHPSESSID=a7a7ce1091c574c06e264dbfac5cedc7

would be good enough for a spotting scope. I am a new hunter so I don't need the best. I want to spend the least amount of money on a nice new scope so would this be good enough?

Thanks
 
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I'd be curious to know how many guys actually use spotting scopes and for what type of hunting. I think for most types of hunting in Ontario, a decent set of binoculars is enough. You don't get as much magnification, but they are more portable and lighter.
 
I don't know about hunting, I'm mostly a bino guy in the field.
At the range, my $100 Bushnell will easily resolve .22 cal bullet holes at 100m, and .30 cal at 300m. That's all I need now
 
I use a spotting scope, it is a must, but then I hunt in Alberta. I use a Bushnell Spacemaster II 15-45x60. Seems to do the job fairly well. I too, started young with very little money and bought a $100 scope. I wish I would have saved for another few months and paid $300 for a good scope.
 
Well I haven't gone hunting yet so I don't know if I need a scope or not. I have never even been to the spot I am going to go hunting in the near future. I just wanted to buy stuff now so I had it for later. I had watched some online episode of Bass Pro's hunting tv show and they have tips and 1 tip was to get a spotting scope because with your binoculars, u might think you see a deer at 800 yards but when you get close, you realize it's a tree stump so thats why I was wanting to buy one. I am just asking here because you guys know more then me so I asked. If a good set of binoculars are good enough then I can spend like $150-$200 on them instead of a decent pair of binoculars and a decent spotting scope.

I will read those atricles right now though
 
Im using a Winchester 12-50X50mm Spotting scope, I got it NEW for 175.00 It comes with a metal padded lockable case, a soft case, compact tripod, manual, cleaning kit for it and in a OD green finish.
 
You will spend WAY more ime beind your binos than you r spotter, s ge th ebest binos you can afford.

John Barsnes articel of 24 hour campfire is a must read:)
 
Gatehouse said:
You will spend WAY more ime beind your binos than you r spotter, s ge th ebest binos you can afford.

John Barsnes articel of 24 hour campfire is a must read:)
Click to expand...

You may spend a little more now than your planning but if you lay out good money for bino's today you may never need to buy another pair EVER.

If your able to find a store that sells spoting scopes have look through them. After you look through a nice $1300 Leup, that $150 special will hurt your eyes;) , but at that price it's the reason I don't have one either.
 
lol I don't think I will even spend $1300 on Binoculars. To me, that is just way too much money. I know that those bino's might be really good but there is no way I need something that good, ever.

Basically I know what to look for. I did read that article and it has some good stuff in there.
 
My spotting scope is worth about $360 and is NOT good enough. Its a Bushnell trophy 63mm lense. The only nice thing about it is its VERY LIGHT.

My next one is going to be at least a Leupold goldring HD, maybe even better by the time I actually buy it.

My binoculars are worth about $450 and they ARE good enough they are the new browning 8x42, very nice binoculars for the price and I feel they do the job with no problems.

I would spend more money on a spotting scope than binoculars. The reason you have a spotting scope is to better identify the specific animals you are hunting, If you can't do that because you spotting scope sucks than you just wasted time and money.
Don't get me wrong, I am going to buy better binoculars one day too but right now the spotting scope is a higher priority.
 
Unless you plan on hunting in terrain where you need to view the game at ranges beyond 450yds, a spotting scope is really not necessary.

However, you do need some glass to see game. That is the binos. If you don't mind a slightly larger bino, the best buy is the NIKON EX Extreme Action series. I use the 12X50 for LR spotting and glassing and the optics are superb.

I would suggest the 8X or 10X and they should retail for a little over $200. Binocularscanada is a great source.

Next up in less size and weight is the Nikon ATB 8 or 10X roof prism. Used these for a few years now and they are right up there with the big dollar Euro optics. About $325.

If you need a spotting scope, then you need the good optics. Money really doesn't play a role. The spotting scope that you can't see game properly with is useless no matter what it costs.

Spend the money on some binos first, then a spotting scope if needed. Personally, if on a tight budget, I would spend less on a scope (still buy a functional product) and more on my binos. I use my binos way more then my scope and optical quality in my binos will increase my hunting success.

Jerry
 
Find out more about the terrain and vegetation where you are likely to be hunting before you decide you need a spotting scope. They are for searching for game in cover at long ranges and for examining details like antlers on a potential trophy at long ranges, and those aren't usually big priorities for new hunters. At shorter ranges, binoculars are used more often, so get those first.

You will probably find a spotting scope is more useful on the range than in the field. It can make your range sessions more efficient and if you use that efficiency for effective practise, your improved shooting may well be a more significant contribution to the success of your hunts than using the scope to spot game.

And consider used equipment. If it is a high quality brand and the scope is still serviceable, you could be getting more for your money than if you buy the budget-priced new stuff.
 
Thanks guys for all your help. I don't think I am going to buy one yet and wait until I have some decent money to get some good bino's. If in the future I need a spotting scope, then I will make sure to spend $130 on one.

Thanks again
 
$130.00 doesn't mean sh*t!............howz about $77.85 at Le Baron

Its a TASCO (World class Zoom spotting scope, with Tripod)
20 - 60 power * 60mm.........now that what I call "more bang for your buck".

Thats about the highest magnification available on the market, and yes TASCO isn't the best quility, but for a new hunter or sports shooter, who really gives a f*ck. I got one and thats all I need when I'm up north making hits at 800 yards with my Remington 700P - .308 Win
 
That Tasco spotting scope P.B. mentioned is a P.O.S. Don't buy it or even accept it as a gift. You can spend $100 now, and $500 next year when you realize you bought a bad scope, or you can spend $500 now and be happy. I've no idea who said it, but they were right: "Buy the best optics you can afford". No better way to turn off a new shooter than by giving him/her substandard gear.
 
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