Name your spotting scope

Waterengineer · November 3, 2008, 08:32 AM

All you western hunters glassing valleys and mountainsides for mulies, bulls, speed goats and sheep, please name your scope, its power and likes/dislikes.

Thanks.

Rembrandt · November 3, 2008, 08:23 PM

Swarovski Optik.....25-40X75. Compact for backpacking, superb clarity.

Waterengineer · November 4, 2008, 08:39 AM

Rembrant:

Nice scope. Swarovski is definitely on the wish list for scope and binos. Infortunately, with the second about to enter college it won't happen....yet.

But thanks for the suggestion.

- Craig

Daryl · November 4, 2008, 11:37 AM

I use a pair of 15x Zeiss bino's, and a 25x Leupold spotting scope for long range glassing.

A pair of 10x Wind River bino's work pretty well for carrying/casual glassing.

Daryl

Waterengineer · November 4, 2008, 01:23 PM

Daryl:

Do those 10x and 15x bino's get the whole shake-y, blur-y thing going, along with the anticipated headache?

Scorch · November 4, 2008, 04:36 PM

I have an older Bausch & lomb spotting scope, 15-60X. It is longish, but not too heavy. I used to carry it mounted on an old rifle stock when I hunted Nevada, but now it does mostly range duty. I still use it when I am hunting if I need to look at something really far away or to check out an animal that I am considering as a trophy, but in general I rely on my binoculars.

Daryl · November 4, 2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Daryl:

Do those 10x and 15x bino's get the whole shake-y, blur-y thing going, along with the anticipated headache?

Not for me and the way I use them.

I chose 10x for my "walking around" bino's because it's the max power that I can hold steady and view through without problems. I hunt some pretty open country, so I chose those over 7x or 8x.

The 15x Zeiss do shake a bit when used as hand-held bino's. From a tri-pod, they're great, and that's how I use them. I like to use a tri-pod anytime I'm going to be glassing for more than about 10 minutes or so, and have never had a problem getting a headache with any of the glass I'm using now.

Cheaper bino's, OTOH, have done terrible things to my eye's and head before I finally got these. I wish I could afford even better, like the Swarovski's and such, but these work for me. I'll never use the likes of Bushnell, Jason, and other cheaper brands of bino's again...ever.

Daryl

Waterengineer · November 4, 2008, 06:22 PM

Daryl:

That is good information.

Thanks - Craig

Daryl · November 4, 2008, 09:00 PM

Yer welcome!

Daryl

Swampghost · November 4, 2008, 09:07 PM

My son and I are looking for one for the range. Could you include pricing? Finances are kinda tough right now and the range scopes take special effort to use. We're not looking to spend a mortgage payment on one.

fbrown333@suddenlink · November 4, 2008, 09:14 PM

Burris 20x50 compact. My step dad gave it to me last year when we went to visit them.

Heck I don't even have a stand for it yet.

It is nice to be able to check my targets with out having to walk down range

hunter6541 · November 6, 2008, 05:02 AM

I've got a Nikon 16-48x scope that does the trick for me and won't break the bank.
I have Leica binos 10x that fill most of my needs in the field.
I'm hunting rugged AK country so things I spot with binos can still be out of stalking range.
No shake with 10x, get good glass and you shouldn't have the headaches.
Leupold makes really good glass for the price.
I'd stay away from steiner and bushnell.

HiBC · November 11, 2008, 02:15 PM

I wanted a spotter for range use.I contacted one of the NYC discount camera outfits and bought a flourite lense 77 mm Kowa.

I can do my 300 yd zero work without going down range.

When the light and air are just right,I can see .30 cal holes in a black bullseye at 500 meters.

I don't know the rest of the Kowa line,but bang for buck I think they might be the choice.

I have some older 10x50 mm Brunton Eterna binos that are extremely good.
If you are evaluating a trophy,a spotter makes sense.IMO,if you are spending a lot of time glassing,good binoculars are easier on your eyes as both eyes are open.

November 3, 2008, 08:32 AM	#1
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 863	Name your spotting scope All you western hunters glassing valleys and mountainsides for mulies, bulls, speed goats and sheep, please name your scope, its power and likes/dislikes. Thanks.

November 4, 2008, 04:36 PM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I have an older Bausch & lomb spotting scope, 15-60X. It is longish, but not too heavy. I used to carry it mounted on an old rifle stock when I hunted Nevada, but now it does mostly range duty. I still use it when I am hunting if I need to look at something really far away or to check out an animal that I am considering as a trophy, but in general I rely on my binoculars. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 4, 2008, 06:22 PM	#8
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 863	Thanks Daryl: That is good information. Thanks - Craig

November 4, 2008, 09:07 PM	#10
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	My son and I are looking for one for the range. Could you include pricing? Finances are kinda tough right now and the range scopes take special effort to use. We're not looking to spend a mortgage payment on one. __________________ NRA Patron Member

November 4, 2008, 09:14 PM	#11
fbrown333@suddenlink Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 240	spotting scope Burris 20x50 compact. My step dad gave it to me last year when we went to visit them. Heck I don't even have a stand for it yet. It is nice to be able to check my targets with out having to walk down range __________________ Accuracy over volume

November 3, 2008, 08:23 PM	#2
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Swarovski Optik.....25-40X75. Compact for backpacking, superb clarity.

November 4, 2008, 08:39 AM	#3
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 863	Rembrant: Nice scope. Swarovski is definitely on the wish list for scope and binos. Infortunately, with the second about to enter college it won't happen....yet. But thanks for the suggestion. - Craig

November 4, 2008, 11:37 AM	#4
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	I use a pair of 15x Zeiss bino's, and a 25x Leupold spotting scope for long range glassing. A pair of 10x Wind River bino's work pretty well for carrying/casual glassing. Daryl

November 4, 2008, 01:23 PM	#5
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 863	Daryl: Do those 10x and 15x bino's get the whole shake-y, blur-y thing going, along with the anticipated headache?

November 4, 2008, 09:00 PM	#9
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	Yer welcome! Daryl

November 6, 2008, 05:02 AM	#12
hunter6541 Junior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 2	I've got a Nikon 16-48x scope that does the trick for me and won't break the bank. I have Leica binos 10x that fill most of my needs in the field. I'm hunting rugged AK country so things I spot with binos can still be out of stalking range. No shake with 10x, get good glass and you shouldn't have the headaches. Leupold makes really good glass for the price. I'd stay away from steiner and bushnell.

November 11, 2008, 02:15 PM	#13
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,289	I wanted a spotter for range use.I contacted one of the NYC discount camera outfits and bought a flourite lense 77 mm Kowa. I can do my 300 yd zero work without going down range. When the light and air are just right,I can see .30 cal holes in a black bullseye at 500 meters. I don't know the rest of the Kowa line,but bang for buck I think they might be the choice. I have some older 10x50 mm Brunton Eterna binos that are extremely good. If you are evaluating a trophy,a spotter makes sense.IMO,if you are spending a lot of time glassing,good binoculars are easier on your eyes as both eyes are open.