I haven't needed a spotting scope for many years as I've been shooting small bore rifles with high-magnification scopes and have been able to see bullet holes on the target at the distances I've been shooting through the scopes. However, I'm going to be doing some load develop with larger hunting cartridges and smaller scopes (3-9, 2-10, etc.) and am wondering how much I'm going to have to lay out for a minimal spotter to be able to see .264 and .277 bullet holes at 200-300 yards. I don't need a spotter for any other use--just range use. Will one of the $150-$200 spotters be sufficient?
Question re Spotting Scopes
- Thread starter South Pender
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Use your rimfire scopes and complete load development. Drop the shots into the white part of the target.. should be easy to see the bullet holes.
Cheap spotters will be frustrating to use.
Jerry
Cheap spotters will be frustrating to use.
Jerry
Short answer, $150-$200 spotting scope... 300m, not a chance.
I can spot hits on 'steel' at 300m with my older Nikon, but definitely not on paper... It's only a 60mm objective. From what I've seen looking through loads of different optics at rimfire competitions is that most of the scopes that will be able to see groups on paper will be 80mm or larger or probably 10x the $150-$200 mark.
I can spot hits on 'steel' at 300m with my older Nikon, but definitely not on paper... It's only a 60mm objective. From what I've seen looking through loads of different optics at rimfire competitions is that most of the scopes that will be able to see groups on paper will be 80mm or larger or probably 10x the $150-$200 mark.
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My rimfire scopes are low magnification and wouldn't work as spotters. I get it about cheaping out on optics, but can't see dropping $500+ for the very limited use I'll put this to (a few times a year). One lower-price possibility is this Celestron C70 Mini Mak model. Does anyone here have experience with it?
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When Jerry said 'rimfire' he must have believed that's what you meant by "... small bore rifles with high-magnification scopes ..." - how do you define those terms ? I use a 6-18x50 for my .223 and can see the holes at 180yds but I dunno about 300 - doubt it. However, I have a Celestron Cavalry 75x-70mm spotter (no longer produced) and believe it would do it. (CanTire $150 10-years ago)
And I (as Jerry said) shoot into the White.
I'd check at your range for other users opinions for that distance and EE for used spotters.
And I (as Jerry said) shoot into the White.
I'd check at your range for other users opinions for that distance and EE for used spotters.
I looked at the Am... page and reviews were mixed, many 'looking at the moon' but a few range shooters seemed to like it. I use a 'full-size' low-cost tripod (wiggly on windy days ) but as I said I can see .223 holes easily at 180. So
low-cost' can work sometimes.
http s://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-Cavalry-25-75x-Waterproof-Spotting/dp/B071KWHWW9
low-cost' can work sometimes.
http s://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-Cavalry-25-75x-Waterproof-Spotting/dp/B071KWHWW9
I have a $40 spotting scope from Canadian Tire. It will see holes at 100, even 200 on a good day. 300 though? Not a chance.
Cabelas had their Pursuit X1 spotting scope heavily marked down yesterday for Wild Wednesdays, I think it was like $130 or $150, regular price $350. That might be worth checking out if you can look through one in person; I have noticed that the Wild Wednesday sales often have the same things on sale week after week, so there is a chance it'll be on sale for that price next week or the week after.
Cabelas had their Pursuit X1 spotting scope heavily marked down yesterday for Wild Wednesdays, I think it was like $130 or $150, regular price $350. That might be worth checking out if you can look through one in person; I have noticed that the Wild Wednesday sales often have the same things on sale week after week, so there is a chance it'll be on sale for that price next week or the week after.
Yes, I can see the confusion, and I should have used a different term. "Small bore" does usually refer to .22 rimfire, but that's not what I meant. I've been shooting .222 Rem., 22 PPC, 6 PPC with high-magnification scopes mounted--Leupold 36X, Bausch & Lomb 12-32X, March 2.5-25. In the shooting I envision now, I'll be shooting 6.5x55, .270 Win., and 7 RM, all with 4X or 3-9X scopes. I guess I could dismount one of my high-mag scopes and use it as a spotter, but I think I'd rather just get a low-price spotter.
I got a 100$ 125x spotting scope off the EE. We use it to spot 250y shots on steel, and we can see the splatter points. Obviously, it isn't crystal clear glass but what did you honestly expect? It's just fun and beats any other real option out there.
Why not just use one of your rifles as your spotter then? I doubt you'll get anything that is better than a 36x leupold without spending well above your budget.
You could remove the scope, but I'm thinking you don't have to - shoot your group, then just put the hunting rifle you're using aside and put the small bore rifle on the bench?
Alternatively, you don't really need a spotting scope for shooting groups at all; if I can't see my holes I just wait for the next ceasefire and go walk up to the target. Use a target that allows you to put multiple groups on paper between ceasefires, then you can go see which group(s) are best and go from there.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Trust me when I say cheap spotters are a PITA... for $200, you can buy ALOT of rimfire ammo to resight your high mag scopes after you are finished testing on your centerfires. Why the concern to mount the high mag scopes on the centerfire rifles? All that you have listed will work just fine on any of your centerfires.
For most shooters, they will be miles ahead putting their spotter budget into their operational scope. Good spotters get interesting around $800... you really want to see stuff at 300yds, bring MONEY. By contrast, you can get GREAT scopes for similar money.. and have far more utility.
If you are handy with electronics, a wireless camera system will be similar to that cheap spotter and you can actually see something. Even drones can work worlds better.
Jerry
ALBERTA BOY
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
I have a cheap Tasco scope that's good to 200m to easily see bullet holes. The key is using a good tripod and not touching the scope with your eye.
I also have a Leupold one that will do 300m. It was some cabelas specific model. Maybe $220 last christmas as I recall.
I also have a Leupold one that will do 300m. It was some cabelas specific model. Maybe $220 last christmas as I recall.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Just the stay-on-objective case for the ATX would bust the OP's budget...
Targets: For the 200-300m distances, the "shoot-and-see" type targets that make the bright yellow/green bullet hole halo's on the black background are much much easier to see than a black bullet hole in white paper.
Spotting Scope:
Years ago I bought my first spotting scope, a cheapo Simmons. After light use, it literally fell apart. Focus ring broke. The eyepiece fell off. Total junk, total waste of money.
So I re-assessed the purpose of use. I thought of the spotting scope and a decent tripod more like an important tool for an outdoor life. I decided to pay for a higher quality scope as a "once in a lifetime" purchase. I would enjoy the better glass, its weather-tight durability, and it should last the rest of my life if taken care of, and I would choose one with a good warranty.
The initial financial hit was hard. But I think it was the right decision for the long run.
Spotting Scope:
Years ago I bought my first spotting scope, a cheapo Simmons. After light use, it literally fell apart. Focus ring broke. The eyepiece fell off. Total junk, total waste of money.
So I re-assessed the purpose of use. I thought of the spotting scope and a decent tripod more like an important tool for an outdoor life. I decided to pay for a higher quality scope as a "once in a lifetime" purchase. I would enjoy the better glass, its weather-tight durability, and it should last the rest of my life if taken care of, and I would choose one with a good warranty.
The initial financial hit was hard. But I think it was the right decision for the long run.
That's my point, don't buy spotting scope for the purpose of looking for bullet holes. It's not worth it.
If you buy one for other purposes like bird watching or even moon watching, it's another story.
Actually don't even look through it. It's a one-way, you look at it, you cannot go back.
I still remember the day I went into a store, wanted to have a Howa to watch my backyard birds. The store manager let me watch a Swarovski and then I am doomed, and came out with a scope tripling my initial budget.
