Barska Tactical Spotter; Anyone Tried this little guy?

WWWJD · March 14, 2011, 09:21 AM

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=251836

The magnification looks good, eye relief looks good (I wear glasses), and it's relatively compact with a 45 degree eyepiece.

It also has a Mil-dot reticle for range estimation. Just wondering if anyone here's tried it before I hand them my $150. I know I've got to do something. I've got a 10X scope on my rig and I can barely see my hits.

g.willikers · March 14, 2011, 05:38 PM

Opticsplanet has an 11-44, too, for $130, but no reviews as yet.
It does sound good.

WWWJD · March 14, 2011, 06:53 PM

Well.. After surfing around (some more), I decided to take a gamble on this one:

burris-25x-75x-70mm-xts-2575-spotter-spotting-scope.html

I'm attempting to get something small and functional, without telling myself after a while "you get what you pay for". I'm not too picky, but I am fascinated by the Cassegrain design on this one and the size. I've looked through some pretty cheap cassegrain optics on SLR cameras, and have been impressed. This one has much better eye relief as well. We'll see what happens.

shanzlik · March 15, 2011, 08:21 AM

That Burris looks interesting, let us know how it works for you. FWIW, I'd rather take a risk on a Burris than a Barska.

WWWJD · March 17, 2011, 06:12 PM

Got the Burris today, and for $225? Well, I don't know how this thing could get any better! Eye relief is excellent with my glasses on at 25-75X. Image stays brighter than I expected at full power. The zoom knob isn't overly stiff as some reported on opticsplanet.

This little scope to my surprise is truly a Maksutov design. The focus is like other cassegrains, in that the focus knob moves the main mirror back and forth. It can be touchy, but once you're on it, you're not going to accidentally throw your focus off by touching the eyepiece or anything like that. The depth of field isn't very deep at full power, but... again.. $225!!!

The little tripod that's included will be great for shooting prone or from a bench. It's wobbly, but you're shooting at a stationary target. Once you're focused and on target, do what other telescopers do and don't touch the tube while viewing, and it will be great. Others have said that these little cheap scopes are useless at higher powers; I will have to disagree. I read the serial number off of a 25kVA pole mounted transformer at 400 yards. Resolution was pretty good. Pretty sure I'd be able to see .3" holes out to 600 without too much argument. All in all, for the average shooter, I don't see how you could think you've done wrong in buying this thing.

In addition to the scope, I went ahead and bought a Burris tripod. It comes with slewing knobs that are very useful for dialing in an object, and separates so that you can mount the head on a car window. It was $25.

I'm a happy dude.

shanzlik · March 17, 2011, 09:40 PM

Sounds good, thanks for the report.

March 14, 2011, 09:21 AM	#1
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	Barska Tactical Spotter; Anyone Tried this little guy? http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=251836 The magnification looks good, eye relief looks good (I wear glasses), and it's relatively compact with a 45 degree eyepiece. It also has a Mil-dot reticle for range estimation. Just wondering if anyone here's tried it before I hand them my $150. I know I've got to do something. I've got a 10X scope on my rig and I can barely see my hits. __________________ *~Mark* NRA Endowment FTW

March 14, 2011, 05:38 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Opticsplanet has an 11-44, too, for $130, but no reviews as yet. It does sound good. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 14, 2011, 06:53 PM	#3
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	Well.. After surfing around (some more), I decided to take a gamble on this one: burris-25x-75x-70mm-xts-2575-spotter-spotting-scope.html I'm attempting to get something small and functional, without telling myself after a while "you get what you pay for". I'm not too picky, but I am fascinated by the Cassegrain design on this one and the size. I've looked through some pretty cheap cassegrain optics on SLR cameras, and have been impressed. This one has much better eye relief as well. We'll see what happens. __________________ *~Mark* NRA Endowment FTW

March 15, 2011, 08:21 AM	#4
shanzlik Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 547	That Burris looks interesting, let us know how it works for you. FWIW, I'd rather take a risk on a Burris than a Barska. __________________ TSRA Life Member, NRA Endowment Life Member, SAF Life Member My EDC - STI Shadow My blog - firearm reviews, etc.

March 17, 2011, 06:12 PM	#5
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	Got the Burris today, and for $225? Well, I don't know how this thing could get any better! Eye relief is excellent with my glasses on at 25-75X. Image stays brighter than I expected at full power. The zoom knob isn't overly stiff as some reported on opticsplanet. This little scope to my surprise is truly a Maksutov design. The focus is like other cassegrains, in that the focus knob moves the main mirror back and forth. It can be touchy, but once you're on it, you're not going to accidentally throw your focus off by touching the eyepiece or anything like that. The depth of field isn't very deep at full power, but... again.. $225!!! The little tripod that's included will be great for shooting prone or from a bench. It's wobbly, but you're shooting at a stationary target. Once you're focused and on target, do what other telescopers do and don't touch the tube while viewing, and it will be great. Others have said that these little cheap scopes are useless at higher powers; I will have to disagree. I read the serial number off of a 25kVA pole mounted transformer at 400 yards. Resolution was pretty good. Pretty sure I'd be able to see .3" holes out to 600 without too much argument. All in all, for the average shooter, I don't see how you could think you've done wrong in buying this thing. In addition to the scope, I went ahead and bought a Burris tripod. It comes with slewing knobs that are very useful for dialing in an object, and separates so that you can mount the head on a car window. It was $25. I'm a happy dude. __________________ *~Mark* NRA Endowment FTW

March 17, 2011, 09:40 PM	#6
shanzlik Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Sounds good, thanks for the report. __________________ TSRA Life Member, NRA Endowment Life Member, SAF Life Member My EDC - STI Shadow My blog - firearm reviews, etc.