Recommendation for spotting scope

THESEUS

THESEUS

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Had a great day at the range today but realized I can't see to 100 yards to check shots

I had a pair of binos with me that I'd borrowed but they weren't good enough to make any difference.

Which scope or binos do you recommend for 100-200 yards

Budget is $250 but I'm not sure if this unrealistic for that distance?

Thanks

Sorry I should have mentioned I'm using a ruger 10-22 so I was hoping to find a cheap pair of binos or such that can see to 100+ yards
Once I get a bolt gun I'll definitely invest more in the scope.
 
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For $250 the best quality you will get will be something secondhand and quite old, from a maker with a good reputation.
 
lacroian said:
Id recommend that you save for a bit and get a Vortex or Bushnell. When it comes to optics you truly get what you pay for!
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In a previous life I sold optics for 14 years. Believe it when someone tells you 'you truly get what you pay for'! I would suggest checking out older Bushnells, B & L, etc. Look for made in Japan, or Germany. You are paying for the quality of glass, coatings, and overall build quality.
Are you using "splatter" type targets? If you aren't, try some. I find that with those you don't need nearly as much magnification to see how you are shooting.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Given a limited budget, I would combine the need and apply more money to your scope.

Consider starting at $700 with $1k or higher in a quality scope resolving both issues.

Jerry
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I should have said I'm only looking to see my .22LR hits at 100 yards currently that's why I was hoping to get away with a cheaper pair of binos to see my hits rather than spend anything else on a scope, my AR has a 1-6 strike eagle which I haven't used yet so i'm not sure on distance.

I don't own a bolt gun as yet but will be leaning towards a Rem 700 6.5 or 308 and then I'll invest more In to the scope
 
If a person had a 1,000 maximum budget ... would would be the best spotting scope for the money? I would use it to see .308 holes at 100 yards or possibly have a go at seeing them at 200 yards (probably not doable for this budget).
 
THESEUS said:
I should have said I'm only looking to see my .22LR hits at 100 yards currently that's why I was hoping to get away with a cheaper pair of binos to see my hits rather than spend anything else on a scope, my AR has a 1-6 strike eagle which I haven't used yet so i'm not sure on distance.

I don't own a bolt gun as yet but will be leaning towards a Rem 700 6.5 or 308 and then I'll invest more In to the scope
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binos by design are built to give you field of view... not precise detail work... certainly not until you get into the high mag options, better glass and big dollar price tags.

If you really want a support optic to see bullet holes at a low price, then you are leaning on spotting scopes. At this price point, performance is best described as iffy and you need to test a few to figure out what works for you. Celestron is likely the best bang for buck in the low cost pool (plenty of Asian brands but performance is so iffy, you will need to check yourself). The bigger the objective vs mag range, typically the better

BUT you are in the land of the 'compromise' and I suspect as you reach out in distance and your next rifle, you will again, be looking at new optics... and then you recover nothing from what you have now. I appreciate that the initial investment now may not be easy but I would suggest just putting some money aside for a few months until you can get into something decent... not necessarily expensive.

There is ALOT of really affordable glass that rivals very expensive glass from a decade ago. I suspect that reaching out further will become more interesting and then you need scopes that also have good tracking. Overall, by getting into better scopes, you actually save a bunch of money, performance is so much better, you waste far less time and money chasing weak products.... and your shooting skill can improve faster cause you aren't figuring out 'ghosts'

No you don't need multi thousand dollar optics to get this done. For scopes, products I can recommend start in the $700 range... and up. Spotting scopes in the $1k range. I would not use binos for trying to see holes in target... they are best served doing other support roles.

YMMV

Jerry
 
Carbon12 said:
If a person had a 1,000 maximum budget ... would would be the best spotting scope for the money? I would use it to see .308 holes at 100 yards or possibly have a go at seeing them at 200 yards (probably not doable for this budget).
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I would lean you to a Sightron HD spotter... they work surprisingly well. Yes, the variable does work with most of the mag range clear. Resolution hit way above its price point.

Pentax are a perennial best buy BUT the cost is in the eye pieces. Their variable eye pieces are ... MEH

Kowa - same thing. The scope bodies are some of the best bang for buck .. their fixed eyepieces are also excellent but total, will be over your budget. The LER 27X is one of the most popular setups used in F class... tied to the TSN-82SV body

If you also want do some field spotting, the new Athlon Cronus Tactical HD is a great spotter. Very nice glass, all sorts of features with a nicely designed ranging/MIL reticle. FFP. Compact. The reticle matches the Athlon scopes so giving instructions between spotter to shooter is straight forward. A very nice system.

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
binos by design are built to give you field of view... not precise detail work... certainly not until you get into the high mag options, better glass and big dollar price tags.

If you really want a support optic to see bullet holes at a low price, then you are leaning on spotting scopes. At this price point, performance is best described as iffy and you need to test a few to figure out what works for you. Celestron is likely the best bang for buck in the low cost pool (plenty of Asian brands but performance is so iffy, you will need to check yourself). The bigger the objective vs mag range, typically the better

BUT you are in the land of the 'compromise' and I suspect as you reach out in distance and your next rifle, you will again, be looking at new optics... and then you recover nothing from what you have now. I appreciate that the initial investment now may not be easy but I would suggest just putting some money aside for a few months until you can get into something decent... not necessarily expensive.

There is ALOT of really affordable glass that rivals very expensive glass from a decade ago. I suspect that reaching out further will become more interesting and then you need scopes that also have good tracking. Overall, by getting into better scopes, you actually save a bunch of money, performance is so much better, you waste far less time and money chasing weak products.... and your shooting skill can improve faster cause you aren't figuring out 'ghosts'

No you don't need multi thousand dollar optics to get this done. For scopes, products I can recommend start in the $700 range... and up. Spotting scopes in the $1k range. I would not use binos for trying to see holes in target... they are best served doing other support roles.

YMMV

Jerry
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Yep you make sense ...saving time lol Thanks
 
Bile said:
The problem is Leopold sells their 12-40 at over 2300. It's a $600 optic at best with a junk reticle.

These have been the standard for over 10+ years. If they offered at tremor 4 at less than 2K i'd be all over it. But that's the current CAN market for you.
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I got my almost brand new looking Mk4 12-40 from Tom at Go Big Tactical for 1500$.
Even though it's mil-dot, I have managed to give good corrections, the scope does spot trace like a champ!

I agree that the reticle is far from the best, I would even say say it's the worst, but a reticle is better than no reticle at all and you can manage mil-dots,
Saying it's a 600$ optic I disagree, I looked into 1300-1400$ optics that wouldn't resolve as nice as my Mk4.
If someone can find it barely used like I did for 1500$ lot's of bang for the buck.
Nicely fits in my backpack too
 
MartyK2500 said:
I got my almost brand new looking Mk4 12-40 from Tom at Go Big Tactical for 1500$.
Even though it's mil-dot, I have managed to give good corrections, the scope does spot trace like a champ!

I agree that the reticle is far from the best, I would even say say it's the worst, but a reticle is better than no reticle at all and you can manage mil-dots,
Saying it's a 600$ optic I disagree, I looked into 1300-1400$ optics that wouldn't resolve as nice as my Mk4.
If someone can find it barely used like I did for 1500$ lot's of bang for the buck.
Nicely fits in my backpack too
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I would have suggested the new Athlon Cronus Tactical spotter... that has a great reticle and very nice glass, very long eye relief.. .well priced too.

Jerry
 
I had “spotted” the chronus spotting scope and got close to buying it,
Tom finding me a 99%+ condition mk4 and me having a limited backpack for fieldshooting (at the time a 1.5km walk in the woods with everything i needed including food, water, and spotter/tripod), the mk4 seemed like the perfect choice at the time.

If i wouldn’t own a mk4 i would probably own a chronus which had came close second at the time...
 
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