Spotting Scope on sale at CTC

[trubluscrew]

Alright. I had a chance to compare the Bushmaster scope from Crappy Tire and the Mead scope from Costco ($60). I didn't get a chance to use it at the range, so I did this at home.

At 20x they both seem the same. The mead has more "magnification numbers" printed on the viewfinder. At 60x, the Mead seems clearer then the Bushmaster, the BM has a white cloudy effect, not really that bad, but it is noticeable. The Mead is also narrower and the BM is wider

Here are some pics of both

The Mead on top and the BM on the bottom, as you can see, the focus knob is inset on the Mead and the BM is hanging out in the open.

The view finder on the Mead has a hard plastic cover, while the BM has a soft and smaller lens cover. Also the Mead has more magnifier numbers printed on the eye piece. Again Mead on Top, BM on bottom

Here are the pics of the objective lens. The BM has a hinged cover (which I like and the sun shade is retractable/extendable. The Mead has a removable cover with a crappy compass in the middle. Mead on top, BM on bottom

Next are the tripods. The BM has the finger knob (silver) which allows one to turn the spotting scope 360 degrees (first two pics). The Mead can only be put on straight (view finder facing up). The BM mounts on the tripod using a screw, while the Mead has a screwed on base and fits onto the tripod with a quick release (similar to a camera tripod)

Tripods themselfs
The BM has a small non-expendable tripod, while the Mead has expendable legs, quick release mount and a bubble level (see two pics up)

Soft cases
The BM case has to be removed for use, while the Mead, the cover unzips on both ends to allow use with the case on. Sorry, no pics of the BM

Kit enclosed with the Mead, Top pic, tripod soft case, carry strap that attaches to hard case, lens cloth (BM includes one too) and keys to lock the hard case. Bottom pic is the hard case itself

And finally, both scopes packed and ready to go. On the Mead, I did not put the tripod into the bag.

 

[wcmd]

Thank you for the review.
wcmd

 

[cyclone]

Holy resurrection, Batman!

I just tried my CTC one out at Silverdale (2 Sundays ago); it did the job at both 25 & 50 distances.

 

[cyclone]

Holy resurrection, Batman!

Once more.....$50.00 sales price for the CTC Bushmaster, 76-1086-0.

 

[rudar]

Heh, well thanks for the thread-zombying... I missed it last time around, but $50 for a spotting scope is about right, especially since I have a plethora of tripods so don't really care about the one that came with it.

 

[heavyBullet]

After using my $50 Bushmaster a few times, I will say it does the job, but there is no way I would have payed the regular price for this scope.

 

[j-man]

Friggen Canadian Tire! I went into 2 here in the Halifax area and both are sold out. The ad shows the BM but the only one (and I do mean one, as in one left on the shelf) was the Celestron. Just like the cheap Nuvi 250 GPS, they were out of stock the first day of the sale. Why bother having a sale when you have no stock! About the only thing harder to find than a product on sale is staff to help. GD CanTire!!!

 

[heavyBullet]

I lucked out on the GPS. My local Crappy tire had none (as usual) but the one 15min away (and on my way to work) had a bunch. I am guessing that CT bought the balance of that model GPS, because no one else has the 250 anymore.

 

[cyclone]

I will say it does the job, but there is no way I would have payed the regular price for this scope.

For the price of 2 bricks of plinking .22 LR, it makes my range visits that much more enjoyable!