Recommendations For A Spotting Scope?

Max Owner

Max Owner

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Hey all.

Got a thread started in the optics section, but only 2 responses.

Looking for a spotting scope to use for paper punching. To see 17 cal holes at MAYBE 200 yards. Definitly at 100 yards. Would also like to get into long range stuff.

What do you types recommend? Would like to get something in the 60 times range. But a guy at the local highway robber shop said that something too high is distorted by mirage......
 
The Swarovski scope is hard to beat , but mucho deniro I shelled out $2600.00 for my ATS80HD with a 20x60 ocular, which really hurt, but the clarity is unbelieveable. Don't know about 17 cal holes but 30 cal holes at 300 yards is easy.
I see no issues to speak of with mirage, if its that hot out turn down the power a little. Variables are great that way.
KK
 
Hell, my rifle scope will show hits at 200 yards. Just about any spotting scope will work at that range. Certainly anything in the $300 range and above.

Actually, below is a link to a discussion forum at a US company that sells optical products. Every week someone asks a question like you just asked, and they always answer with all the options. You might find this useful:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/msgboard/forum-3.html
 
I have a friend up here that has the Swarovski spotting scope and spotting .30 cal holes at our 500 meter backstop is no problem what so ever. Im not sure if it's the same model as Knock Knock's. When I get the bank account built up again I'm thinking I may have to get one. Good glass is worth it's weight in gold. I have been told the televid's are an excellent spotting scope also, but I have not seen or tried one as of yet.
 
The Sworovski is likely the best on thee market at the moment.
I don't think mine is currently available , but it works just great at 500, and I can see the hits on steell at 1K no problem.
I does get a bit tough in certain coonditions, but all scopes have limitations .
You can see the 4X banner mounted on top of the scope for quick aquisition!
clintmessingabout.jpg

Cat
 
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If you want a very good spotting scope at about half the price of a Swaro you can go for the Leupold 12-40X60 Golden Ring in the HD version. This is the spotter that I have and in my opinion it has its advantages over the Swaro in a few areas. It is smaller and lighter than the swaro which in hunting situations, especially where you have to pack your gear around makes a huge difference. If at the range or more static locations the Swaro would be a much better choice.

Optically, although excellent in its own right, the leupold well...its no Swarovski.

Depending on your needs these are two options that you really can't go wrong with either.

BTW the mirage thing is a non-issue as like KK said you just turn the magnification down and it all goes away.

Ivo
 
I own a Kowa TSN-822. She good but also expensive. The Leica Televid 77mm is probably the best I've ever looked thru IMO. The fine adjust is what makes this a great scope. Buy a expensive good one once and save yourself some money and time.
 
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Buy the best you can afford.

With glass, you pay for what you get.

And glass quality is more important than zoom power. You can get a POS $150 Bushnell 60x scope and you literally can't see crap at anything over 40x.
 
I've done some guiding and a lot of mountain hunting so i have looked through a fair amount of spotting scopes , in my oppinion the best bang for the buck right now is the Windriver which is Leupold's cheaper line made offshore .
Like i said , my opinion only, but i was going to buy a new Leupold Gold Ring spotter but now it will be a Windriver and another rifle for about the same price :)
 
Stay away from Barska. It is Chinese shyte and especially be wary of anything "Maksutov-Cassegrain" in design.

I'm surprised by the endorsement for Kowa, since their optics have always been - at best - unspectacular in the photographic industry (The lenses are everything) but I haven't look at one of their scopes.

German-made Leica is the finest optical quality going. Actual German-made Zeiss, as well as Nikon and Swaro are right up there too, but I agree, go with the best you can afford. The human eye adjusts for many imperfections in a scope, unlike camera film, so a Bushnell or Celestron may be plenty good enough.
 
Obtunded said:
I'm surprised by the endorsement for Kowa, since their optics have always been - at best - unspectacular in the photographic industry (The lenses are everything) but I haven't look at one of their scopes.
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You should look thru there spotting scopes and Binos it will surprise you I have a Kowa TSN 823 if you want optics in a spotting scope that are at best unspectacular check out the Leupold 12-40x60 Tactical or Gold Ring there MK IV rifle scopes have better opticial clarity :eek:
 
Kowa's are good. Only scope that would see 30 cal bullet holes at 300 yds out of 30 scopes on the line one day in South Dakota... in heavy mirage too. There was a line-up to look thru it!

Obtunded, I agree, my Mark 4 is really clear too.

Max Owner, maybe you should just get a good rifle scope... but that's big johnny too, but then you don't need a spotting scope. With a 24x or 36x Leupold BR scope, you can take a pen and mark a ink dot on white paper and shoot at it at 100 yds! There are used 24's and 36's coming up bigtime if you look around. Lot's of US BR shooters are going to the big 45x comp models. For that matter, I've seen 36x BR scopes used as spotting scopes in 6x competitions.

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/6mmbr/vpost?id=1257855

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/6mmbr/vpost?id=1335489

http://www.benchrest.com/cgi-bin/cl...esults_format=long&db_id=2582&query=retrieval

http://www.benchrest.com/cgi-bin/cl...esults_format=long&db_id=2574&query=retrieval

http://www.benchrest.com/cgi-bin/cl...esults_format=long&db_id=2507&query=retrieval
 
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If you were thinking about the Swarovski for optical quality but cann't afford the price you may want to check out Pentax, they have an 80mm obj model that is highly rated and can be had on ebay for around $700.
Betterviewsdesired has a excellent right up/comparision on 80mm you should read.
Kowa is excellent as well more folks have the Kowa then any other.

If your on a budget then check out the Konus scopes. They have very favorable reviews and can be had at a excellent price $225 range.
Google Jim Owens he is the man for these scopes.

Trevor

If you are on
 
Here is a good review on high end spotting scopes

http://www.6mmbr.com/SpotterReview.html

The Pentax they rave about can be had in Canada for about $1500 plus eypiece

The Swarovski 80s are about $2700, and if you want HD glass its $3400 ! The Zeiss is about $2700

The scope that impressed me the most was the Kowas ( flourite glass is an option ) They are outstanding for the money . I currently run a Zeiss 85 and its not like I can see holes on paper better than my buddies Kowa

The Leupolds Golden Ring 12-40X60 is great if you want a compact size to pack around. My Zeiss is too big for anything other than range use . For the money however I would buy a Kowa

Bottom Line : Save up until you can afford the higher end spotters. I made the mistake of going from low to med end before making the plunge. Knowing what I know now, I would have never wasted the money on the cheaper scopes
 
Savage said:
You should look thru there spotting scopes and Binos it will surprise you I have a Kowa TSN 823
Click to expand...

If I find anyone who has them on their shelves, I will have a look. As I said, I have not thus far.

Kowa was a (very) poor man's Hasselblad in it's day but that was a long time ago. I'm prone to carrying around those kinds of prejudices: Based on the "Stellar" and "Pony" I wouldn't touch a Hyundai today either...
 
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