Spotting scope and safety glasses

deepcore · April 16, 2011, 01:36 PM

Hi
Having trouble getting the most out of my (20-60) spotting scope at the local range because at higher magnifications the eye relief shrinks and it's not safe to lift my safety glasses up to look into the spotting scope.
At the risk of having to get a spotting scope that's more expensive than some of my guns... What are my options?
I can look into smaller and flatter lenses (less wrap around) safety glasses but would feel less protected.
May have to make that compromise though.
My spotter has no folding eyecup and has only a very small rubber rim to that's out.
So.. Looking for different scope suggestions and/or safety glasses suggestions.
Thanks

4EVERM-14 · April 19, 2011, 06:32 PM

Depending on the distance between you and the target lower power may be better. At ,say, 24x there is usually better brightness and contrast then 60x. At higher powers the view is dark and grainy. Try turning the power down. You may also not have to be really close to the eyepiece at lower power.

PawPaw · April 19, 2011, 06:53 PM

When I'm using my spotting scope, I simply lift my safety glasses to my forehead. 4ever is right that most times you get better light transmission at the lower power, but I've never had a safety issue with the brief time I've been on the scope.

Dr. Strangelove · April 20, 2011, 04:42 PM

I just take my safety glasses off when I need to look through the spotting scope. I shoot on a private range which isn't ever crowded, so I'm not concerned with the safety aspects of having my glasses off for a few seconds.

Mike40-11 · May 14, 2011, 07:05 PM

I rarely turn my adjustable scope (20-60) above 25X or so. Usually I leave it all the way down at 20. Brighter, more eye relief, wider field. Trying to find bullet holes at 200 I usually find it gets harder if I turn the power up unless it's very bright out.

I've got a pretty cheap scope though. Barska. Unfortunately I've had a chance to look through a lot of other shooters' scopes. Konus, Kowa, Nikon, Leupold, Swarovski (drool) etc etc. You do get much better scopes for the money but WOW do they cost.

4runnerman · May 14, 2011, 10:37 PM

I just crank up power on my scope.

10-40 x 50. I can see bullet holes from 400 yards very good. Many times i help others out there,Save them the time of walking down range and shutting us all down for a while. I have a spotting scope but have never found the need for it yet. I shoot on 32 power and check target on 40 power.Works great.

spacecoast · May 19, 2011, 09:33 AM

As you crank up the power on a telescope, it's the exit pupil (the size of the circle exiting the eyepiece) that shrinks and makes it more difficult to find the image. Scopes tend to work best when the exit pupil is somewhere close to the diameter of the human eye's pupil (about 3mm depending on light conditions). You can calculate the exit pupil by dividing the size of the objective (probably 50 or 60mm) by the magnification.

If by chance your scope has a removable eyepiece (which it likely doesn't), you can try substituting an eyepiece with a longer eye relief. A set of fixed power eyepieces will probably give you a better image than a variable power eyepiece.

Orion Telescopes (www.telescope.com) is a good source for spotting scopes and eyepieces that are better than your run-of-the-mill department store scopes.

April 16, 2011, 01:36 PM	#1
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2010 Posts: 364	Spotting scope and safety glasses Hi Having trouble getting the most out of my (20-60) spotting scope at the local range because at higher magnifications the eye relief shrinks and it's not safe to lift my safety glasses up to look into the spotting scope. At the risk of having to get a spotting scope that's more expensive than some of my guns... What are my options? I can look into smaller and flatter lenses (less wrap around) safety glasses but would feel less protected. May have to make that compromise though. My spotter has no folding eyecup and has only a very small rubber rim to that's out. So.. Looking for different scope suggestions and/or safety glasses suggestions. Thanks

April 19, 2011, 06:32 PM	#2
4EVERM-14 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2006 Location: Pennsy Posts: 720	Depending on the distance between you and the target lower power may be better. At ,say, 24x there is usually better brightness and contrast then 60x. At higher powers the view is dark and grainy. Try turning the power down. You may also not have to be really close to the eyepiece at lower power. __________________ David NRA Benefactor Member Distinguished Rifleman #731 Presidents 100

April 19, 2011, 06:53 PM	#3
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	When I'm using my spotting scope, I simply lift my safety glasses to my forehead. 4ever is right that most times you get better light transmission at the lower power, but I've never had a safety issue with the brief time I've been on the scope. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

April 20, 2011, 04:42 PM	#4
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	I just take my safety glasses off when I need to look through the spotting scope. I shoot on a private range which isn't ever crowded, so I'm not concerned with the safety aspects of having my glasses off for a few seconds. __________________ Just remember, when you pull the trigger, the bullets come out going very, very fast. So make sure to keep the weapon pointing away from you.

May 14, 2011, 10:37 PM	#6
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	I just crank up power on my scope. 10-40 x 50. I can see bullet holes from 400 yards very good. Many times i help others out there,Save them the time of walking down range and shutting us all down for a while. I have a spotting scope but have never found the need for it yet. I shoot on 32 power and check target on 40 power.Works great. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

May 14, 2011, 07:05 PM	#5
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 842	I rarely turn my adjustable scope (20-60) above 25X or so. Usually I leave it all the way down at 20. Brighter, more eye relief, wider field. Trying to find bullet holes at 200 I usually find it gets harder if I turn the power up unless it's very bright out. I've got a pretty cheap scope though. Barska. Unfortunately I've had a chance to look through a lot of other shooters' scopes. Konus, Kowa, Nikon, Leupold, Swarovski (drool) etc etc. You do get much better scopes for the money but WOW do they cost.

May 19, 2011, 09:33 AM	#7
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	As you crank up the power on a telescope, it's the exit pupil (the size of the circle exiting the eyepiece) that shrinks and makes it more difficult to find the image. Scopes tend to work best when the exit pupil is somewhere close to the diameter of the human eye's pupil (about 3mm depending on light conditions). You can calculate the exit pupil by dividing the size of the objective (probably 50 or 60mm) by the magnification. If by chance your scope has a removable eyepiece (which it likely doesn't), you can try substituting an eyepiece with a longer eye relief. A set of fixed power eyepieces will probably give you a better image than a variable power eyepiece. Orion Telescopes (www.telescope.com) is a good source for spotting scopes and eyepieces that are better than your run-of-the-mill department store scopes.