Vortex spotting scope

[Owens]

Hey guys I am an avid hunter and have been holding off on purchasing a spotting scope so i can spend some money on a spotting scope instead of spending a little on several spotting scopes and being unsatisfied. My question is do you think its worth spending $600 on a 15-45x65 viper hd spotting scope or should i spend $800 and get a 20-60x80 viper hd? It's only purpose will be spotting whitetail deer and mule deer in some rugged country where most people won't go because you can't drive it. thanks for the replys in advance.

also would you recommend straight or angled

 

[wapitiwhacker]

I would try and look through both before you buy to see what the real world difference is. Having said that, from the research I did prior to a scope purchase,..... HD is desirable is you are 1: a birder, and concerned with observing colour at its truest, or 2: into digiscoping and want true colour and fine detail in photos. If you aren't concerned with either of those or maybe trying to age a ram at long distance and require very fine resolution I would think the HD is not really necessary.

 

[redrams9]

I've looked thru both just a couple weeks ago. The owner and I set those and the Razor up outside and compared all of them. For the money the the Viper 20-60x80 HD is definitely the one to get. The Razor is fantastic but at almost twice the price, it just isn't worth it. I'm primarily looking for a range scope to see out to300-400-500 yards for target shooting, and the smaller viper wouldn't quite up to it in IMO, although at under three hundred yards, it was hard to tell any difference.
I would also get the angled eyepiece as you can more easily look thru it on a tripod and easy to look thru it on the bench when set up beside your gun, going back and forth.
Hope my experience helps your buying decisions!

 

[TV-PressPass]

I have a razor, and I love it. Gorgeous scope.

But it is heavy.

For the kind of use you're describing I'd lean toward the 15-45x60 Viper HD. Why? Because 60mm is light. Way light. You're much more likely to bring it with you. I personally do see a substantial increase in image clarity when you jump to HD glass, but they're your eyes. So if you see a difference, get it, and if you don't see it, don't bother.

I personally like angled in spotting scopes, because you can rotate around the base and turn that 45 degree bend any direction.