Spotting Scope - Straight Or Angled?

Sniffer

Sniffer

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I plan to get into longer range and want to push out further (got to 800 so far) so I'm looking to pick up a spotting scope.

Cant decide on straight or angled? I kind of feel like angled scopes are better for viewing while standing (setup on a table or similar - range setting) and straight scopes would be better suited to prone shooting (crown land etc) which is probably where I will be as there aren't any ranges in my locality that offer that kind of distance.

Thoughts?

What about brands? I generally buy things with a view to long term ownership so I prefer quality. Been looking at Nightforce, Swarovski and Vortex Razor HDs. I'm thinking of using this scope with a phone attachment so I can record /see my shots if shooting alone so thats a consideration.

Any pointers are appreciated.
 
All f class shooters I have been shooting with all use angle Minox are very good you don't need big power 15 45 is good you need to watch mirage at all times
 
I would go the other way. Angled is better when prone, you don't have to pull your head all the way up to look through the eyepiece. And straight is better for standing/sitting, because you have your head in a more natural upright alignment.
 
I am a prone shooter and prefer the angled as the other shooters I shoot with use.
Not one straight eye piece among us. Shooting off a bench right handed I set it up
on a tripod to my left and just have to turn my head to look through as I do
in prone shooting.

Those are just my thoughts.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Looks like angled is the ticket (definitely for prone and sounds like its fine for bench too).

Has anyone used the scope adaptor / recording method to see their hits / misses? Does it work?
 
I have a straight back one and I wish I had an angled. It's pretty uncomfortable on your neck to get in right behind the lense especially if you are using it to glass while hunting. An angled one makes it more comfortable for sure. Lots of good points on here though so your best bet is to try one and see how it feels. Dealers choice...
 
I think it depends what purpose. For prone and square range shooting, more seem to prefer angled. Me personally I find angled scopes awkward. Also find it harder to acquire targets. For field use I think a straight eyepiece works better. I went to the CISC twice and I saw no team either time using an angled eyepiece,that there is a clue.
 
Give me a shout and you can try both styles... I have both styles cause they each have their place and utility

And features will vary depending on the brand so that can also help you decide what is 'best'.

Jerry
 
Sniffer said:
Nightforce, Swarovski and Vortex Razor HDs.
Click to expand...

Of these 3, my vote would go to the Swarovski... This been said, you might also want to consider the Kowa/Nikon/Zeiss/Leica are worth look.

Just to confuse things a little, a few years back when I was shopping for a new spotting scope. I was given some serious thought the Kowa TSN-773... and since I live in the boonies with no decent optic stores within driving distance to compare/view the scopes...

I did the next best thing: Spent some time at the local birding spots. If you think shooters are a friendly bunch, wait until you meet some birders. (In my part of the wood at least). Not only are they interested in showing you the stuff they use, they'll often make a trip back to the car to show you and discuss their "backup" scope(s)!

Long story short,
- Zeiss Diascope 85 was probably the nicest
- Swarovski with the BTX viewer, that's one fancy-smoochy piece of kit!
- Nikon Fieldscope ED50-A. What a surprise for such a small package. Just about followed me home, but couldn't find one in stock when I was ready to order.

I ended buying a Pentax PF80 (angled)
- Unless I looked into them right after another, the difference between the scope was (to my eyes) marginal
- The Pentax uses readily available 1.25" astro. eyepiece. The whole reason why I ended up shopping for a spotting scope in the first place was because I had a hard time finding LER eyepiece for a old Spacemaster. So didn't want to be locked into using a proprietary lock mechanism again.
 
sillymike said:
I did the next best thing: Spent some time at the local birding spots. If you think shooters are a friendly bunch, wait until you meet some birders. (In my part of the wood at least). Not only are they interested in showing you the stuff they use, they'll often make a trip back to the car to show you and discuss their "backup" scope(s)!
Click to expand...

^^ this, I live in Southern Ontario, and we have Port Rowan/Long Point and Pee-lee in either direction to us. My wife likes 'birding', and the 'birding people' I have met are just like people I meet at the range. Always helpful, can share insight, and even give you a peak at what they are using and how to use it. Just don't come right out of the box as a 'firearms' person to the 'birders', just another person interested in 'seeing fine detail at great distance'.
 
Alpheus said:
I would go the other way. Angled is better when prone, you don't have to pull your head all the way up to look through the eyepiece. And straight is better for standing/sitting, because you have your head in a more natural upright alignment.
Click to expand...

Most good quality scopes allow you to rotate the angled portion of the eyepiece so all you really have to do is turn your head 45 degrees and look into the scope. Even one that you can't rotate you could just tilt the tripod head to 90 degrees and, voila, a straight shot into the eyepiece.
 
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