The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Competition Shooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 23, 2002, 03:05 PM   #1
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
spotting scope

What is a really good spotting scope that a person can actually see the holes in a target at 200-600 yards......I thought I had a decent one when I bought a Winchester for $200....but, at 200 yards I could barely see the holes and it was too blurry anyway........I heard Kowa scopes were good but expensive....I am assuming that I will have to pay $400-$600 for a really good one.........
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old September 23, 2002, 03:51 PM   #2
Frohickey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 4, 2002
Location: People's Republic of Kalifornia
Posts: 579
Its really about magnification.

With a 60x magnification, you can see 30 caliber holes out at 200 yards clearly, and 224 caliber holes, not as clear. Over 200 yards, I have not had the luxury of having a 200+ yard range.

Spotting scopes are really just telescopes that adjusts the image so that what is up is up, and right is right. There are eyepieces for telescopes that do this, which allows you to use the telescope as a spotting scope.

I remember looking at the Celestron C5, with a 4.5 inch lens. Pretty cheap, though it might not be as well protected from the elements.
__________________
Frohickey -- TFL Alumni

SigSauer, if you are listening, MAKE A DOUBLE-STACK 10mm PISTOL!
Frohickey is offline  
Old September 23, 2002, 04:03 PM   #3
braindead0
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 28, 2002
Location: Canton, Oh
Posts: 896
The most important thing at those distances, is a very stable tripod/base of some sort. You'll really see the tiniest shake at those distances.
__________________
DoD# 2223
Meum scapha volitare plenum anguillae
braindead0 is offline  
Old September 23, 2002, 04:28 PM   #4
Steve Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 9, 1999
Posts: 4,131
Mas mis information.


Ok, I am a Highpower competitor, and I absolutely depend on a good spotting scope. I shoot both full-distance (up to 600 yards) and reduced course (200 yard) matches. At 300 and beyond, EVERYONE relies on spotter info from the pits for hit placement. At those distnces and beyond, we use our high-dollar scopes to watch the mirage. On 200 yard ranges, they don't have pits, so seeing hits is much more important.

I will tell you that what you're hoping for doesn't exist in an affordable and portable unit. At 200 yards, a good scope such as the Kowa TSN-1 (no longer made), the 611, 661, and 821 will easily show .223 holes IF mirage doesn't get you. The large and high quality scopes show mirage very well and often you won't see holes in the heat of the day at 200. A zoom will only magnify that effect. I use a 24X Long Eye Relief eyepiece in a Kowa 661. I have used 821s often but they are shut down by mirage just as quickly as the 661.

I would say 9 times out of 10 you'll see .22 holes at 200 with a good scope such as the ones listed above. You MAY be able to see .30 holes at 300. If you are in a hot area and shoting in mid-afternoon, forget it. Get out early in the morning.

One of the surprising scopes on the market is the Pro-Optic from Adorama.com. It will show hits at 200 easily and has adequate eye relief for position shooting. It is $109 or so, and they have a 30 day money-back guarantee. For a casual shooter, this may be the way to go.

Oh, and regarding stands, they are really important. If you shoot from position, you should get one made for Highpower shooting so you can get the scope very low and close to you fr prone, and very high for standing.
__________________
Favor the X.


Steve Smith
NRA Life Member

Last edited by Steve Smith; September 23, 2002 at 07:35 PM.
Steve Smith is offline  
Old September 23, 2002, 05:26 PM   #5
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Steve, thanks for the info........I was shooting at 200 with my Garand just to see how I could hit with military sights, but, the spotting scope just didn't cut it........very possible it could have done better if I had put it on a bigger tripod instead of the little one it came with........oh, well, will look at that website you mentioned.............thanks to everyone that answered.......
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old September 24, 2002, 02:28 PM   #6
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Steve, I ordered the Pro-optic for $109.......I will give it a try, hopefully it is better than what I have now........This will be my 4th spotting scope, and so far I am not happy with the other 3....will give them to the wife for bird watching.........
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old September 24, 2002, 03:44 PM   #7
Steve Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 9, 1999
Posts: 4,131
I have heard good things about it from seasoned HP shooters wanting a scope to help out beginners. If it doesn't work out, just get it back in the 30 days. FYI, Creedmore Sports (A HP equipment supplier) sells the same exact scope as the "Swift" for $209. huh.

Let me know if you like it...or not.
__________________
Favor the X.


Steve Smith
NRA Life Member
Steve Smith is offline  
Old September 24, 2002, 10:48 PM   #8
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Steve..........thanks .......will let you know............
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 12:28 AM   #9
Gary H
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 26, 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,267
Agreed, not about magnification, but resolving power and lack of distortion. In the late hours, light gathering capability.
Gary H is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 08:09 AM   #10
No4Mk1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 18, 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 431
I'm going through this same process right now, too. Fortunately I'm not in a rush, and short on funds, so I haven't spent any money yet. jem375, please post back with your results. I would love to find a $109 scope that works effectively with .30 at 200 yds under reasonable conditions.

Hope this one is a keeper!

HL.
__________________
The beauty of Grace is that it makes life not fair....

http://www.guncollectorsforum.com
No4Mk1 is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 10:33 AM   #11
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
hlmcfa......will do........won't get it until next week,,,,they are shipping it Monday the 30th....
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 11:01 AM   #12
Steve Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 9, 1999
Posts: 4,131
I am anxiously awaiting your comments on the scope. Someone tell the UPS driver to step on it!
__________________
Favor the X.


Steve Smith
NRA Life Member
Steve Smith is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 12:15 PM   #13
Gary H
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 26, 2000
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,267
Why would you wish for someone to step on his brand new scope???
Gary H is offline  
Old September 27, 2002, 11:33 PM   #14
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Good one, Gary.................
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 4, 2002, 01:21 PM   #15
Steve Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 9, 1999
Posts: 4,131
Got that scope yet?
__________________
Favor the X.


Steve Smith
NRA Life Member
Steve Smith is offline  
Old October 4, 2002, 02:16 PM   #16
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Not yet, Steve, expecting it today though.......I ordered it last week on Monday and they said that it would not be shipped until this last Monday, so, hopefully it will come today.....2 weeks is long enough to wait........
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 5, 2002, 09:33 PM   #17
No4Mk1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 18, 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 431
I'm getting antsy too! Let us know the minute it gets in....

__________________
The beauty of Grace is that it makes life not fair....

http://www.guncollectorsforum.com
No4Mk1 is offline  
Old October 6, 2002, 09:53 PM   #18
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Will do........
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 7, 2002, 10:41 AM   #19
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Called Adorama today, and they said I should get it today...2 weeks, wow......I told them they should have sent it Pony Express, and it would have arrived here quicker........oh, well, maybe will get it today........
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 8, 2002, 09:44 PM   #20
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
OK....took it to the range today and it works great........I could actually see 30 cal holes at 200 yards........guy was shooting an M1A and could see the shots hit........wish someone had been shooting a 223, but, no matter........the scope is really clear and thanks, Steve, for recommending it to me.............for that kind of money......$123.50 including shipping, it is worth it..............
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 8, 2002, 09:46 PM   #21
Steve Smith
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 9, 1999
Posts: 4,131
Great! Let us know how things go with the .223 when you get the chance!
__________________
Favor the X.


Steve Smith
NRA Life Member
Steve Smith is offline  
Old October 9, 2002, 10:27 AM   #22
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
Steve....will do..........we will be out with the ar-15's soon.....
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Old October 9, 2002, 11:10 PM   #23
No4Mk1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 18, 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 431
Wooo-hooo! Glad to hear the positive report!

Aside from the slow delivery, sounds like a great product. Keep us posted.

Thanks,
HL.
__________________
The beauty of Grace is that it makes life not fair....

http://www.guncollectorsforum.com
No4Mk1 is offline  
Old October 10, 2002, 12:29 AM   #24
jem375
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2002
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 390
HL.......will do......that 45 degree angle eyepiece is really good also......all my other spotting scopes were straight....
__________________
Life is too short to spend it with an ugly gun.....
NRA Life Member
jem375 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:49 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07874 seconds with 10 queries