What's a good spotting scope for a beginner target shooter?

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Crooton

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Hey all,
I don't have a very big budget, but I'm looking to get a spotting scope for doing a bit of distance shooting. I'm not planning on shooting anything over 300m for now, so there is no need for me to get a super high quality scope.
Is there anything you would recommend that's around the 200 dollar range? Or particular things to look for in a spotting scope?
Cheers
 
Don't waste your money on a cheap spotting scope. This is one item that you really get what you pay for. Lots of people will claim that their inexpensive scope works great and that they can see bullets holes at 300m without a problem, I call BS on this. In the $200 range you might be able to buy an eye piece for a good mid priced scope. I don't want to burst your bubble but also don't like seeing people waste money on Canadian Tire specials that are not up to the job.
 
Buckmastr said:
Look for an older Bushnell Spacemaster 2
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.. yes .. these are good value. I picked up a fixed 25 power used Nikon spotting scope for about $300 about 10 years ago -- it wasnt the higher end 'Fieldscope' .. the same one would be closer to $200 used in excellent condition today and is optically excellent... BUT has short eye relief and is a straight tube. For target shooting the angled scopes are really much more convenient and good eye relief is necessary as you should be wearing eye protection while shooting.

Scopes designed specifically for shooters arent cheap as Maynard explains and there is a lot of merit in looking at what is popular with target shooters (Kowa etc) and trying to find a clean used version ...but expect to pay more. You will always get your money out of it later though.

Make sure your expectations are reasonable with respect to seeing your shots on target at the ranges you wish to use it.
 
As mentioned above the old vintage Bushnell Spacemaster is a great value and it will likely have a 20 to 45x eye piece.

An alternative might be an old vintage Bushnell Sentry which is the same as the Spacemaster except a smaller objective and a fixed 20x eye piece.

The Sentry also does not focus quite as close as the Spacemaster... if you're an airgun guy, then get the Spacemaster.

I have both actually and find them to be the very best value and anyone considering a new scope should buy and try one of these oldies first. It might just be good enough.

I also have a Kowa 554 and obviously the old Bushnells wont compare to that, but I recently sold off a Vortex Viper spotting scope that I would be hard pressed to say was any better than either of the old Bushnells. (Which is why I sold it)

This might sound bold, but I dont know if I would buy any new $1,000 spotting scope over a vintage Spacemaster or Sentry.

If I wanted to spend more, I would look for a Kowa with Prominar glass from the 90s or so. I've seen them on ebay for around $600, and they will be close optically to a new $2000 scope today.

Here's a couple nice ones on ebay, but if you look around you can find them cheaper.

Pay attention to the eye piece!!

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Bushnell-Spacemaster-II-Prismatic-Telescope-Tripod-Stand-Sighting-Scope-30X/303737244045?hash=item46b826898d:g:muAAAOSwrCFfkcnN

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Bushnell-SpaceMaster-II-60mm-Spotting-Scope-With-Matching-Tripod/264891173193?hash=item3dacbe8949:g:DDQAAOSwsklffmsR

In bright sunlight you can see mirage easily with the old Bushnell scopes, but not very well in overcast conditions. That's were the big money pays off.
 
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Consider adding the spotting scope budget into your rifle scope. You will end up with better performance for the same total investment.

Ideally, you are in the $1k to 1400 range in a high mag variable quality scope. You will be able to see 30cal holes in the white at 300yd in lower mirage days.

If you want a spotter to see bullets holes that far out, it will be way more then your current budget.... and they will be equally affected by mirage.

If you are handy, a wireless camera set up solves the viewing problem, not affected by mirage, and even allows you to record the groups so you can use it help with wind training and/or load tuning. A simple home brew can be had for little money

Jerry
 
maynard said:
Don't waste your money on a cheap spotting scope. This is one item that you really get what you pay for. Lots of people will claim that their inexpensive scope works great and that they can see bullets holes at 300m without a problem, I call BS on this. In the $200 range you might be able to buy an eye piece for a good mid priced scope. I don't want to burst your bubble but also don't like seeing people waste money on Canadian Tire specials that are not up to the job.
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Agree'd. I have one that was $99 regular price at Crappy Tire (although I only paid like $40 for it) and you can usually make out holes at 200yds with it, but not always. 300 yds? Not a chance.

I've been in the market for a better spotter, but just don't have the funds right now. I was looking at things like the Bushnell Trophy Xtreme and Leupold Marksman, but they're $400+ and I'm worried that even at that price point they will still leave me wanting...
 
A quality rifle scope will have better optics than a cheap spotting scope. With higher magnification you will often be able to spot your shots.
If you can't find one of the recommended scopes in clean used condition, consider upgrading your sight as Mystic Precision suggested.

For years I used a Kowa 20X compact, but that was mostly for viewing shot indicators and mirage. I now have a Kowa 663 with 25X eyepiece. It is a fine scope. I checked the price on a variable power eyepiece. It is significantly higher than what you wanted to spend on a complete scope.

At 300, don't assume that you will always be able to see bullet holes. Atmospheric conditions, the target paper, etc. are factors.
 
A camera shows you where the rounds hit sure but you wont learn how to shoot if you arent reading mirage from the firing point.
 
Crooton said:
Thanks Jerry. I hadn't thought of a camera setup.
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Something I had to develop years back when I wanted to really up my game wrt to wind reading, load tuning at long range. No way to see bullet holes and looking at the target shots later, didn't tell me what I needed to learn.

There are commercial units now.... watch the software styles as some are really laggy and overly complicated. I ran a digi camera with a live feed... don't care about fancy computer marking set ups... just need to see impacts.

Now if you have the funds AND are shooting way down range, the solo e-targets are a good investment. Lots of info but not cheap.

Jerry
 
I bought a Konus, Konus sport from Optics planet and it works well out to a mile(impacts in snow). See 308 cal holes at 500 yards. They are in Canada now!!. Order a camera tripod to hold it up as well. Konus 20-60x100 Zoom Spotting Scope 7127.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Consider adding the spotting scope budget into your rifle scope. You will end up with better performance for the same total investment.

Ideally, you are in the $1k to 1400 range in a high mag variable quality scope. You will be able to see 30cal holes in the white at 300yd in lower mirage days.

If you want a spotter to see bullets holes that far out, it will be way more then your current budget.... and they will be equally affected by mirage.

If you are handy, a wireless camera set up solves the viewing problem, not affected by mirage, and even allows you to record the groups so you can use it help with wind training and/or load tuning. A simple home brew can be had for little money

Jerry
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Jerry offers very good advice on the budget for a spotting scope as $200-$300 will get you an ok general viewing optic but will be almost useless to see bullet holes at 200-300 yards. If anyone has found an optic in that price range that works for that requirement then let me know as I have never found one. The older Bushnell Elite 15-45x50 straight body spotter was an excellent optic and easy to carry in a pack due to it's design. Keep an eye out for quality used optics. Phil.
 
Seeing bullet holes at 300 yards is just as much a function of your target as it is your spotting scope. Even 22 cal bullets show up well on the white cardstock sheets you get at the dollar store
 
MisterVRT said:
If you are set on a cheap spotting scope, check the Celestron Ultima 80, they go on sale from time to time, had mine for 170$ last year, for that price, it'll be really hard to beat.
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CELESTRON makes a lot of spotters for viewing the sky so they are quite clear and stand up to use

very well priced also
 
I haven't tested spotting scopes per-se but I've had some experience with rifle scopes. I wouldn't buy the Vortex at any price. It looks like they sell for about $600 right now. Leupold has some spotting scopes priced at $400 which I would wager five of my paycheques are optically superior.

Vortex trades on its image of having the best warranty in the business: even covering accidental damage. Believe it, you pay for that up front. Their optical quality is sub par in my experience and from what I've observed of their build quality, odds are better than even you're going to need that wonderful warranty.
 
I bought an Athlon Argos 6-24 and can just see 22 caliber holes at 200m with it. I've used it as a spotting scope when shooting a rifle with a lesser scope and it worked ok. The last couple trips to the range I've been bringing my DSLR with an ancient 500mm telephoto lens that I picked up for about $75, and it works pretty well. Considering that you can get a 10 year old DSLR for around $150, that could be a decent budget solution. The bonus that I've found for load testing is that I can take a picture after each shot, record the velocity of the round, and then matches everything up when I get home so I can just concentrate on my shooting and maximise my range time while I'm there. It wouldn't really work for a spotter watching your hits though, but I think I can trigger my camera by sound, and might be able to record video of the impact on a steel target that way. Something to try for my next range trip. A wireless target camera would be pretty slick too.
Kristian
 
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