Looking for a Spotting scope

powdergun

powdergun

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My needs are simple. I need a spotting scope that can see my bullet holes on a target at 500 yards. There are plenty of high end products out there that will more than meet my needs but I was wondering if anyone had some recommendations of a spotting scope on the lower end that will do the job.

Under 1K in price.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
I use the Bushnell Tactical 15 - 45X Spotter with MIL ranging reticle.
It is basically a Leupold MK4 spotter clone.
IIRC they range in price from $700 to $800 Cdn.
 
Maybe get a cheap drone and park it where it can safely 'see' the target and relay pics to your bench ?
 
There are NO spotting scopes that will reliably let you see bullet holes that far out. Mirage will get in the way

The best solution is an ETarget with the shotmarker likely, the most popular.

Next up is a wifi camera with a telephoto lense. I adapted a digicam, wifi gear and an lcd monitor. Works great and you get real time image. I have not been fond of the aftermarket systems using a fixed mag, fish eye lense camera.

You can look at youtubers MarkandSamafterwork for an idea of the image quality of a remote camera

unsure if drones have tele lenses? you don't want them close to the target cause they will get shot eventually.

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
There are NO spotting scopes that will reliably let you see bullet holes that far out. Mirage will get in the way

The best solution is an ETarget with the shotmarker likely, the most popular.

Next up is a wifi camera with a telephoto lense. I adapted a digicam, wifi gear and an lcd monitor. Works great and you get real time image. I have not been fond of the aftermarket systems using a fixed mag, fish eye lense camera.

You can look at youtubers MarkandSamafterwork for an idea of the image quality of a remote camera

unsure if drones have tele lenses? you don't want them close to the target cause they will get shot eventually.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Some do now (even the more basic models).

When I saw a drone being used for this purpose (spotting holes on targets) it was deployed when the string of fire was complete (to avoid the risk of being shot).

Agree that even high end spotting scopes will struggle at this distance due to mirage etc. Shotmarker would also be a good solution but will involve a little more setup / maintenance going forward (charging batteries etc).

If your range has reception then you *may* be able to use an old iPhone or similar and video call to see the hits (leave it close to the target behind a protective cover of some kind and then call it as required - they can be setup to automatically go to FaceTime or similar). I have never tried this but I know people who have. Fairly cheap option if it works.
 
I've looked through $5500 scopes and $4200 binos - top of the line stuff. Neither will reliably show bullet holes at that distance. 300m, yes, that is doable.

Spotting scopes, I have little experience with so can't advise
 
If the phone thingy can work, digiscope with an inexpensive spotter... now you can see with great detail on the target, but leave the spotter and phone a little ways back.

If you can activate the phone and then go to facetime, that is a very useable tech.

Jerry
 
CELESTRON if anyone can do it

they make inexpensive spotting or birding scopes and they also do stuff for the stars

excellent quality in an affordable package
 
What others have said. No spotting scope will reliably let you see bullet holes at 500. 300 is about the max. A Shot Marker type setup or target cam is a better solution.
 
if you're gonna get one anyhow I put a kowa prominar ED Glass (Japan) 664 vs a Swarovski ats HD both 20-60x and the Kowa could slightly out resolve the Swaro as a pure judging tool and cost half the price, however you'll be looking for a used one if you have a $1k budget, the 77mm/88mm series get very high marks for if you you need the smaller packable size of the 66mm...they should make the top of your list if you are shopping for a range spotter and good overall spotter period for hunting and scouting also
 
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I have a new kowa 88 series with the 1.6X extender added on, and use my phone to take video of my range visits. It is hard pressed to see holes at 500 m on paper to be reliable as the mirage kicks in. Metal plate, sure, as you have a bigger splatter, but not on paper. I can see hits on metal plate out to 1400m as long as the mirage is not significant. Out at 500m or more I use the metal plates and can see the splatters and can gauge my groups size from there.

And you will not get close to 1K, as the extender is $500 alone, and the zoom lens is 1K on its own with no body.
 
Jefferson is on the right track, maybe a 'low-end' Celestial telescope would work at it's low magnification. I have a 75X Celestron Cavalry that I got on Kijiji for $50 ca 7-8 yrs ago. They're 'out of production' but CT was selling at $200-ish. I can 'barely see' holes for .22LR and .223 at 180yds, the SKS & .308 are easy to see and s/b OK to around 300. I keep forgetting to take my celestial scope to see what it can do for short ranges, maybe see the .22s better (when I hit at 180 :rolleyes:). Local range only goes that far.
 
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