Spotting scope price range

[w squared]

I've done a search within this forum looking at the multitude of threads about "what spotting scope should I buy at this price" and "is this one any good".

I'm going to ask a different question.

How much scope do I need?

My current range only has a 100 meter rifle bay. I would wager that a $99 Tasco would serve me just fine there. That's not really my question.

I live in Calgary, which means that the Sibbald Flats range is within very easy driving distance. Eventually, I'd like to push my own range boundaries out to the 500 or 600 meter point, and possibly some service conditions matches. I'll be using a Tavor (when they arrive), and an M14. Maybe even my AR if I decide to put a 16" barrel on it.

What sort of spotting scope will I need to invest in so that I don't find myself cursing it and then replacing it six months down the road when my skills get to the point that I need to see what's happening from the 500 meter point?

Will 15-45X50 cut it? 20-60X70? Step up to an 80mm objective? I don't object to paying good money for good optics - but I don't have enough money to blithely purchase twice the glass I really need.

I am hoping that something in the $400 price range will produce reasonable results for me...but I don't want to make a half-arsed purchase now that I will have to upgrade later if I want to stop cursing.

Given the little that I do know about sport optics, I'm inclined to think that the higher end Bushnell scopes are likely to provide pretty good performance. Probably not on a par with a Zeiss or Swarovski, but am I right in thinking that the last 10% of performance costs a LOT?

 

[TheTooner]

Things I can tell you you are right about:

1. I've got a $99.99 Bushnell, a Tasco or Bushnell at that price will do for 100m.

2. "Step up to an 80mm objective?" Generally, yes. Larger objective will allow it to gather more light (given equal quality of glass and coatings) and when you need it for longer ranges you'll use the higher magnifications which will reduce the exit pupil (size of the light image projected into your eye, objective diameter divided by magnification) and the image can suffer from darkening. But quality of glass and coatings may be more important. (A typical human adult's pupil opens to a maximum of 7mm, and that's at full dark-adaptation after 30 minutes, and it gets smaller as we age. During daylight it is smaller than that anyway.)

3. Yes, the law of diminishing returns is applicable. That $99 scope will probably only be good at 100m. The $400 you are thinking of could buy you something that you will easily detect is much, much better. At $800, you can certainly find one that is better yet, but probably won't think it is twice as good as the $400 one. And for a $1000, most of us probably can't detect any improvement over the $800 scope in most applications, (though that's not to say it isn't there.)

 

[maynard]

I have a Kowa TSN-1 with a 22X WA eyepiece that in my opinion is better than the newer Kowa 821.
A couple years ago a buddy picked up a Konus spotting scope at Camp Perry. I have to say I was/am impressed, it is every bit as clear as my Kowa at 1/4 of the price and 1/3 the weight. The Konus will also focus down to 10 meters for shooing air rifle.
Google Konus, you won't go wrong for the money. I don't know of anyone selling them in Canada but the US suppliers will ship to Canada. Remember to have them ship it US Postal Service to avoid getting rapped by UPS.

 

[imbane]

Konus 20-60x80mm

 

[Mystic Precision]

You will be very hard pressed to spot 22cal holes at 600yds. The best scopes in the world will not get you a clear image EVERYTIME. 30cal holes are easier to see at that range in the white but in the black, not always visible.

For bang per dollar, the Pentax 65ED is it. It is compact enough to use while shooting yet the glass is right up there with the best Euro mega dollar scopes. The smaller objective will get dim if you push past 50X but likely you will not go that high given the mirage.

The key is the eyepiece. The XL zoom that comes with it has horrid eye relief if you wear glasses. Very clear from 20X to 45X then it falls off fast at 60X.

I upgraded to the zoom from the 80mm Pentax. Again, superb and the top end is very clear. Eye relief is much better but will still tax you at the top end if you wear glasses.

This little spotting scope and the orig zoom is around $650 (sale). upgrade to the 80mm eyepiece is another $200ish.

This is what I am presently using and I can define the bark on a pine tree, saplings and wild grass at 2000yds. Ironically, because of snow, I have not used it for shooting yet. So far, very impressed with the glass vs dollars spent.

The Pentax 80mm is also superb but much larger/more expensive. For a tripod viewer, really great and not far off the Leica/Swar crowd. However, way too big to use on the firing line.

The KOWAs and HOWAs are also very nice. I find their eyepieces to be very eyeglass friendly. However, the ones I have looked through weren't any sharper/clearer then the Pentax.

The best spotting scope I have looked through was a Leica. This thing is spooky clear and so easy to use. However, bring money.

Yes the last 10% costs you many body parts but once you have used it, very very hard to go back to lesser glass.

Jerry