What power of spotting scope?
- Thread starter Kelly Timoffee
- Start date
I think having friends is good and being average is suffocating.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Well, you're half right.
Hi Rode,
I like the idea of a spotting scope with a reticle. Can you please tell me more about the spotting scopes you and your friend have? In general how do you like them, and are either of these two models good enough to see .22 holes at 300 yds?
I'm guessing the bushnell one is the Excursion FLP (15-45x60mm), since it's the only mildot spotting scope I could find from the company. Their website says 1st focal plane for the mildot reticle, which makes sense since it makes a mildot correction the same no matter what the magnification. For $450 it could be interesting. I also found the webpage for the Leupold Mark 4 (12-40x60mm), and it also says it has a 1st focal plane. Pretty neat.
Another thought is to use powerful riflescopes for spotting. For instance, a scope of 56 or 60 mm objective and a max mag of 32 or 50 (like some of the Sightrons) may be comparable to the 60 mm spotting scopes. It would be more bulky because it's mounted to a rifle, but it's efficient because it's dual use.
I like the idea of a spotting scope with a reticle. Can you please tell me more about the spotting scopes you and your friend have? In general how do you like them, and are either of these two models good enough to see .22 holes at 300 yds?
I'm guessing the bushnell one is the Excursion FLP (15-45x60mm), since it's the only mildot spotting scope I could find from the company. Their website says 1st focal plane for the mildot reticle, which makes sense since it makes a mildot correction the same no matter what the magnification. For $450 it could be interesting. I also found the webpage for the Leupold Mark 4 (12-40x60mm), and it also says it has a 1st focal plane. Pretty neat.
Another thought is to use powerful riflescopes for spotting. For instance, a scope of 56 or 60 mm objective and a max mag of 32 or 50 (like some of the Sightrons) may be comparable to the 60 mm spotting scopes. It would be more bulky because it's mounted to a rifle, but it's efficient because it's dual use.
Mango,
I have the Leupold myself and have used the Bushnell and a US Optics spotting scopes. To be very to the point the US Optics is terrible and it's around $1600. The field of view is limited and it has a dark image. My friend sent his back the next day after we put all the scopes head to head of course using the same power, target and distance. For the money the Bushnell is the best deal for range work, it is not the BEST because you can't compare a Leupold MK4 to a Bushnell at almost 5 times the cost.
If you have the cash and want the best, buy the Leupold MK4. It also feels half the weight of the Bushnell if you are taking it on your back hunting.
When it comes to the 60mm objective the 40 power is where it will max out. Yes you can buy a cheap spotting scope that will have a 60mm objective and go to 60 power and beyond. But check out how dark the image gets at that power, almost unusable.
I don't have much experience in spotting scopes bigger than 60mm so I'm not going to talk about them.
My Leupold on a poor light day will see bullet holes at 350yards from a 22-250 to answer your question. I use my spotting scope for shooting out to 1000 yards from prone, we shoot tactical/long range and it works very well for that. Whenever I give advice to other shooters asking about my spotting scope I always add that even if they don’t think they need a reticle it doesn’t hurt to have. In my opinion it just adds usable worth to the spotting scope. Have you ever been hunting and your range finder will not lock on to that animal or there is no tree line to reference from? Well bust out your spotting scope and range it with the reticle and take your shot.
The reticle is a great tool for everything that I use my spotting scope for. If you’re one of those people that don’t like it let me know and we’ll see who can lock onto targets faster in the wind or at unknown distances when your friend is saying with a shaky voice “I think you should aim about a foot high and 4 feet to the right” and my friend says with confidence “ dial up 1.5 MOA and 5.25 MOA right and smash that target”
I have the Leupold myself and have used the Bushnell and a US Optics spotting scopes. To be very to the point the US Optics is terrible and it's around $1600. The field of view is limited and it has a dark image. My friend sent his back the next day after we put all the scopes head to head of course using the same power, target and distance. For the money the Bushnell is the best deal for range work, it is not the BEST because you can't compare a Leupold MK4 to a Bushnell at almost 5 times the cost.
If you have the cash and want the best, buy the Leupold MK4. It also feels half the weight of the Bushnell if you are taking it on your back hunting.
When it comes to the 60mm objective the 40 power is where it will max out. Yes you can buy a cheap spotting scope that will have a 60mm objective and go to 60 power and beyond. But check out how dark the image gets at that power, almost unusable.
I don't have much experience in spotting scopes bigger than 60mm so I'm not going to talk about them.
My Leupold on a poor light day will see bullet holes at 350yards from a 22-250 to answer your question. I use my spotting scope for shooting out to 1000 yards from prone, we shoot tactical/long range and it works very well for that. Whenever I give advice to other shooters asking about my spotting scope I always add that even if they don’t think they need a reticle it doesn’t hurt to have. In my opinion it just adds usable worth to the spotting scope. Have you ever been hunting and your range finder will not lock on to that animal or there is no tree line to reference from? Well bust out your spotting scope and range it with the reticle and take your shot.
The reticle is a great tool for everything that I use my spotting scope for. If you’re one of those people that don’t like it let me know and we’ll see who can lock onto targets faster in the wind or at unknown distances when your friend is saying with a shaky voice “I think you should aim about a foot high and 4 feet to the right” and my friend says with confidence “ dial up 1.5 MOA and 5.25 MOA right and smash that target”
Hey Rode,
I am convinced of the utility of a reticle, even from past plinking with my brother. The fact that you can see 22 holes at 350 yds with your Leupold is very neat.
In the reviews of the two here:
http://www.snipercentral.com/bushspot.phtml
http://www.snipercentral.com/leupoldmark4spot.htm
It says the Leupold's street price is $1260. I'm guessing the Leupold is +75% more expensive in Canada because of this monopolistic Canadian distributor I've read about... Where did you buy your Leupold from?
Anyway, in those reviews they pretty much say the Leupold is great and the Bushnell is ok with uninspiring but useful optics. I'm kind of torn, but I'm leaning towards saving my pennies for the Leupold.
I am convinced of the utility of a reticle, even from past plinking with my brother. The fact that you can see 22 holes at 350 yds with your Leupold is very neat.
In the reviews of the two here:
http://www.snipercentral.com/bushspot.phtml
http://www.snipercentral.com/leupoldmark4spot.htm
It says the Leupold's street price is $1260. I'm guessing the Leupold is +75% more expensive in Canada because of this monopolistic Canadian distributor I've read about... Where did you buy your Leupold from?
Anyway, in those reviews they pretty much say the Leupold is great and the Bushnell is ok with uninspiring but useful optics. I'm kind of torn, but I'm leaning towards saving my pennies for the Leupold.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I am just using this scope for the range to help me with load development and testing.
Just to save me running back and forth to see groups at longer distances.
I think the Minox will do well for what I need.
Just to save me running back and forth to see groups at longer distances.
I think the Minox will do well for what I need.
Mango,
I got mine from Dudley's in Drayton Valley, Alberta. It's our local gun shop and a Leupold dealer. I got mine very quick and I'm sure Amber could also get you one and mail it. (780-621-3339). I'm sure the price is around $2200 now in Canada.
My friend got a Leupold MK4 with the P4 retical in it from Wolverine at a blow out price of around $1400 shipped. I'm not sure if they have any left but it was Guy he was dealing with. The P4 is now discontinued in the Leupold; it is used in S&B rifle scopes and is in mil rads. I have the TMR in mine and like it better.
As for a more powerful rifle scope taking the place of a spotting scope; it can be done as a lot of people do this with high end scopes like the Nightforce, Leupold, and S&B. I only want a 10x on my 308 so putting a huge power scope on my gun doesn’t make sense to me. Most people can’t use the huge power on their scopes due to the mirage problem in the summer time but this is all personal.
Hope this helps.
I got mine from Dudley's in Drayton Valley, Alberta. It's our local gun shop and a Leupold dealer. I got mine very quick and I'm sure Amber could also get you one and mail it. (780-621-3339). I'm sure the price is around $2200 now in Canada.
My friend got a Leupold MK4 with the P4 retical in it from Wolverine at a blow out price of around $1400 shipped. I'm not sure if they have any left but it was Guy he was dealing with. The P4 is now discontinued in the Leupold; it is used in S&B rifle scopes and is in mil rads. I have the TMR in mine and like it better.
As for a more powerful rifle scope taking the place of a spotting scope; it can be done as a lot of people do this with high end scopes like the Nightforce, Leupold, and S&B. I only want a 10x on my 308 so putting a huge power scope on my gun doesn’t make sense to me. Most people can’t use the huge power on their scopes due to the mirage problem in the summer time but this is all personal.
Hope this helps.
I use a Leupold Sequoia (green ring). 15-45x60. Got the kit- hard case, soft case, scope, tripod for $450. Pretty good for the money. May be looking into a Mk IV next but I've got a nightforce scope on the priority list a couple notches before a new spotting scope.
M
M
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I've got a Leupold that goes up to 60x. The problem I have isn't the scope, but as someone mentioned before, the tripod (that came with it). The one I have is, to put it nicely, garbage. I think a half assed scope with a very stable base is probably more useful than a hubble telescope on a piece of trash base. When I get time I'll build a proper solid steel behemoth to set mine on. I only use it out to 200 yards, but with very small bullets and it works ok. I end up googly eyed pretty quick though due to the shakyness. If anyone has links to post for excellent mounts please do, its half the equation.
I have used a ray-vin stand for a few years now and it's rock solid on the table or from the ground. They are a few buck and cost as much as a cheap spotting scope but well worth putting under a nice piece of glass. The ray-vin folds up nice so it's easy to put in a pack for hunting.
http://www.ray-vin.com/
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Just a side option for some, but something to think about: I know my Kowa can be fitted with a camera lens adapter, and not all spotting scopes have this extra gadget to add on to existing optics.
While I save up for a spotting scope, I'm hoping I can get by with my 223's 6-24x40, 4200 side-focus + 1 square foot Shoot N Cs for the purpose of .22LR shooting at 300 yds.
I have a number of scopes. I used them for TR shooting. For F class i just use the rifle scope. It sees score markers, bullet spotters and mirage just fine.
My top end spotting scope is a 50mm Unertyl HLER in 20 power. It is light and compact and will hold its own with a 70 mm Kowa.
The good low end scope is the Minox 45 degree angle zoom. Very compact. The focus ring is a bit too stiff, but I only have to focus once at each distance, so I can live with it. It would suck at bird watching, though.
One thing to be aware of is eye relief. More is better, especally if you are wearing glasses. And we all should when shooting.
For prone shooting a 45 degree eyepiece is a must, so you can just turn your head slightly to comfortably use the scope.
For TR and F Class the power to use is around 15X to 20X. This is enough to see markers and spotters and you can see other targets, too, so you can see if everyone is out to one side.
My top end spotting scope is a 50mm Unertyl HLER in 20 power. It is light and compact and will hold its own with a 70 mm Kowa.
The good low end scope is the Minox 45 degree angle zoom. Very compact. The focus ring is a bit too stiff, but I only have to focus once at each distance, so I can live with it. It would suck at bird watching, though.
One thing to be aware of is eye relief. More is better, especally if you are wearing glasses. And we all should when shooting.
For prone shooting a 45 degree eyepiece is a must, so you can just turn your head slightly to comfortably use the scope.
For TR and F Class the power to use is around 15X to 20X. This is enough to see markers and spotters and you can see other targets, too, so you can see if everyone is out to one side.
