Spotting Scope?

baddarryl · August 9, 2017, 07:40 AM

Hi all. I am looking for one and am one of those you get what you pay for guys, but it is usually a budget stretch for me to get better stuff. I am looking at spotting scopes and want to shy from the cheap stuff, but no way can I go high end. I am thinking this and looks like a good price. Will I be able to see .223 at 400 with a scope such as this? That is the goal.

What else should I be looking at? Thank you.

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/s...6046/cat125957

TXAZ · August 9, 2017, 08:35 AM

Look on Craigslist.org, or ebay.
If you're patient, you'll likely find a deal on a good name brand scope for 1/2 or less of a retail price.

I use a Celestron 8" telescope to look at 1000 yard targets, which I found on ebay for a song, and erector parts on craigslist to make it a terrestrial scope.

kenny53 · August 11, 2017, 07:14 PM

I bought an Orion spotting scope a number of years ago.. 20x60x100. I paid $350. It is fantastic. At about 400-500 yards I could see eye lashes on a deer. Watching fire fighters at over a mile away and could see their every movement.

DaleA · August 25, 2017, 01:42 PM

Quote:

I use a Celestron 8" telescope

Am I ever totally jealous!

Most every spotting scope I've ever used (but these were all sub $250 scopes) has been totally miserable when used to look at the moon or any other celestial object. Even sub $100 astronomical telescopes performed better.

You've probably done it already but if you haven't go out some night and take a look at Jupiter (my favorite) or Saturn.

Did you get an equatorial mount with it?

jw455 · October 16, 2017, 05:04 PM

Lucid Optics has a new one this year that is budget friendly. We've taken ours hiking, range, on 2 sheep hunts, 3 deer hunts ... lots of places and it's held up. Elk season is next, next week actually They have a great warranty so I think that helps. It's a compact size SC9 9x-27x.

Savage99 · October 16, 2017, 11:04 PM

That 65mm Vortex you link to is priced at $6500 and may not have any better resolution than the Konus I am using to spot at 200 yds.

reynolds357 · November 28, 2017, 08:56 PM

I have retired my spotting scopes. The best ones can't hold a candle to remote video camera and laptop computer on the bench.

baddarryl · November 29, 2017, 09:46 AM

Quote:

I have retired my spotting scopes. The best ones can't hold a candle to remote video camera and laptop computer on the bench.

How does the camera communicate with the laptop? Bluetooth? How far is that good for?

Dufus · November 29, 2017, 01:13 PM

You can get a better price on it at Optics Planet.

Just a note: I also use a Celestron.

marine6680 · November 29, 2017, 01:49 PM

I am thinking of picking up another spotting scope. Currently have a Simmons that was around $150, and it works ok for 100-200 yards.

Now I have access to a 600yd range, and need something better.

I am hoping a better scope will have better eye relief, eye box, and the focus be less twitchy.

I also need to get a solid tripod. I have an ok one for cameras, but it is not the best for a spotting scope, it's fine for remote camera work though.

I am thinking the $400-500 range is a good point to look.

reynolds357 · November 29, 2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

How does the camera communicate with the laptop? Bluetooth? How far is that good for?

Not sure how it communicates, receiver plugs in USB port. Mine works 100 percent at 1000 yards. Some of the more expensive ones over a mile.

marine6680 · November 29, 2017, 10:52 PM

What system do you use?

ms6852 · November 30, 2017, 12:36 AM

That is a lot of money for something that may not do the job . Please read the following article before you make a decision.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/h...-shooting.html

OzeanJaeger · November 30, 2017, 01:15 AM

The answer to your question is yes. @ 48x you will be able to see .22 holes @ 400yds. Vortex makes a great high clarity spotting scope. I have an older 65mm Swarovski (that cost twice as much) and I think the Vortex is just as clear and crisp. I have the 20-60X80, and I regularly use it out to 1,200yds at matches. There are usually flashers at that distance, but occasionally not, and 6mm/6.5mm doesn’t ring steel very hard at that distance. On a windy day you won’t hear the impacts, so spotting is critical, and that scope will do it.

reynolds357 · November 30, 2017, 11:03 AM

One of my nerd buddies built mine, but target vision seems to be the best for the money. 1 mile $700. 2 miles about $900. 300 yd systems are available from many manufacturers for low $300 range.

baddarryl · November 30, 2017, 03:06 PM

Quote:

That 65mm Vortex you link to is priced at $6500 and may not have any better resolution than the Konus I am using to spot at 200 yds.

Must have been something wrong with the link when you clicked on in.

Savage99 · December 31, 2017, 11:23 PM

The Konuspot 80 I am still using is working great and costs only $189 !! besides being much easier to handle than the complicated computer/camera system that was suggested.

Here is a link to the one I suggest:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219547-REG/konus_7120b_konuspot_20_60x80_spotting_scope.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C2763659969%2C4585581963537995&msclkid=1059648313e11829b45f3ecaa5d54825

Savage99 · December 31, 2017, 11:36 PM

std7mag · January 1, 2018, 07:25 AM

Personally after all my research i'm going to be buying the Celestron C70 this year.

Don Fischer · January 1, 2018, 10:50 AM

Let us know if you can see a 22 cal hole at 400 yds!

std7mag · January 1, 2018, 04:23 PM

Ummm, ok....
Looking more for deer at 1,200 yards..
But ok..

45YearsShooting · January 4, 2018, 02:48 PM

It's not likely you will see a .223 hole at 400 yards no matter what you get, even with a $3000 Swarovski. Atmospheric conditions can get in the way, no matter how good the glass is.

Personally, I don't think the very high-end glass is worth it. I can't tell the optical difference between my neighbor's $3000 Swarovski and my much cheaper Leopold. I can tell that build quality is higher on the Swarovski, but can't see any better through it at long range. I think atmospheric conditions are the reason why.

I actually think I do better with a Nikon P900 camera for less than $600, and I get to save a picture of the elk (or target) too. It's much smaller than a spotting scope and you can zoom in on the camera's LCD screen after taking the picture to examine the area of interest. This camera has the 35mm equivalent of a 2000 mm lens on it.

Don Fischer · February 6, 2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reynolds357

I have retired my spotting scopes. The best ones can't hold a candle to remote video camera and laptop computer on the bench.

How do you hook that remote camera up to the side of a sage rat? :-)

August 9, 2017, 07:40 AM	#1
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	Spotting Scope? Hi all. I am looking for one and am one of those you get what you pay for guys, but it is usually a budget stretch for me to get better stuff. I am looking at spotting scopes and want to shy from the cheap stuff, but no way can I go high end. I am thinking this and looks like a good price. Will I be able to see .223 at 400 with a scope such as this? That is the goal. What else should I be looking at? Thank you. http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/s...6046/cat125957

August 9, 2017, 08:35 AM	#2
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Look on Craigslist.org, or ebay. If you're patient, you'll likely find a deal on a good name brand scope for 1/2 or less of a retail price. I use a Celestron 8" telescope to look at 1000 yard targets, which I found on ebay for a song, and erector parts on craigslist to make it a terrestrial scope. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 30, 2017, 12:36 AM	#13
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	That is a lot of money for something that may not do the job . Please read the following article before you make a decision. https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/h...-shooting.html __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

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August 11, 2017, 07:14 PM	#3
kenny53 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2015 Location: My back yard Posts: 971	I bought an Orion spotting scope a number of years ago.. 20x60x100. I paid $350. It is fantastic. At about 400-500 yards I could see eye lashes on a deer. Watching fire fighters at over a mile away and could see their every movement.

October 16, 2017, 05:04 PM	#5
jw455 Junior Member Join Date: August 30, 2017 Posts: 4	Lucid Optics has a new one this year that is budget friendly. We've taken ours hiking, range, on 2 sheep hunts, 3 deer hunts ... lots of places and it's held up. Elk season is next, next week actually They have a great warranty so I think that helps. It's a compact size SC9 9x-27x.

October 16, 2017, 11:04 PM	#6
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	That 65mm Vortex you link to is priced at $6500 and may not have any better resolution than the Konus I am using to spot at 200 yds.

November 28, 2017, 08:56 PM	#7
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,164	I have retired my spotting scopes. The best ones can't hold a candle to remote video camera and laptop computer on the bench.

November 29, 2017, 01:13 PM	#9
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	You can get a better price on it at Optics Planet. Just a note: I also use a Celestron.

November 29, 2017, 01:49 PM	#10
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	I am thinking of picking up another spotting scope. Currently have a Simmons that was around $150, and it works ok for 100-200 yards. Now I have access to a 600yd range, and need something better. I am hoping a better scope will have better eye relief, eye box, and the focus be less twitchy. I also need to get a solid tripod. I have an ok one for cameras, but it is not the best for a spotting scope, it's fine for remote camera work though. I am thinking the $400-500 range is a good point to look.

November 29, 2017, 10:52 PM	#12
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	What system do you use?

November 30, 2017, 01:15 AM	#14
OzeanJaeger Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2014 Posts: 301	The answer to your question is yes. @ 48x you will be able to see .22 holes @ 400yds. Vortex makes a great high clarity spotting scope. I have an older 65mm Swarovski (that cost twice as much) and I think the Vortex is just as clear and crisp. I have the 20-60X80, and I regularly use it out to 1,200yds at matches. There are usually flashers at that distance, but occasionally not, and 6mm/6.5mm doesn’t ring steel very hard at that distance. On a windy day you won’t hear the impacts, so spotting is critical, and that scope will do it.

November 30, 2017, 11:03 AM	#15
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,164	One of my nerd buddies built mine, but target vision seems to be the best for the money. 1 mile $700. 2 miles about $900. 300 yd systems are available from many manufacturers for low $300 range.

December 31, 2017, 11:23 PM	#17
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	The Konuspot 80 I am still using is working great and costs only $189 !! besides being much easier to handle than the complicated computer/camera system that was suggested. Here is a link to the one I suggest: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1219547-REG/konus_7120b_konuspot_20_60x80_spotting_scope.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C2763659969%2C4585581963537995&msclkid=1059648313e11829b45f3ecaa5d54825

December 31, 2017, 11:36 PM	#18
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567

January 1, 2018, 07:25 AM	#19
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Personally after all my research i'm going to be buying the Celestron C70 this year.

January 1, 2018, 10:50 AM	#20
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	Let us know if you can see a 22 cal hole at 400 yds!

January 1, 2018, 04:23 PM	#21
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Ummm, ok.... Looking more for deer at 1,200 yards.. But ok..

January 4, 2018, 02:48 PM	#22
45YearsShooting Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 105	It's not likely you will see a .223 hole at 400 yards no matter what you get, even with a $3000 Swarovski. Atmospheric conditions can get in the way, no matter how good the glass is. Personally, I don't think the very high-end glass is worth it. I can't tell the optical difference between my neighbor's $3000 Swarovski and my much cheaper Leopold. I can tell that build quality is higher on the Swarovski, but can't see any better through it at long range. I think atmospheric conditions are the reason why. I actually think I do better with a Nikon P900 camera for less than $600, and I get to save a picture of the elk (or target) too. It's much smaller than a spotting scope and you can zoom in on the camera's LCD screen after taking the picture to examine the area of interest. This camera has the 35mm equivalent of a 2000 mm lens on it.