spotting scope: Black Friday?

[kcub]

I have come to need a spotting scope. What's good?
Are there any good Black Friday specials to consider?

Thank you in advance!

[g.willikers]

At what distance will the scope be used?
The quality and price that's needed will vary with the distance requirements.
As it will with the size of the bullet holes, to some degree.
Whatever the choice, a sturdy support is as important to clear viewing as the scope.

[rebs]

I am also looking for a spotting scope. I shoot 223 from 100 to 300 yds.

[kcub]

50 -500 yards

[kilimanjaro]

For 50-100 yards, don't spend more than $100. For longer ranges, look at Bushnell or Bausch & Lomb. Don't buy the cheap Chinese units, you'll regret it.

[BillM]

50 -500 yards

50 yds is a pair of cheap binoculars.

500 yds is difficult on a clear cool day with a very expensive spotting
scope--unless you are shooting something that makes big holes!

You can stretch the range of a spotting scope by using targets like the
shoot-n-see. Do your shooting early in the day before the mirage comes
up. Shoot with the sun behind you--makes the targets a bit easier to
see.

Actually, the cheapest way to see bullet holes at 500 yds may be a
camera/transmitter setup. They are becoming affordable.

I've got paper and steel out to 450 yds on a permanent private range.
Spotting scope is a garage sale Celestron 6" celestial telescope, with a image erecting 90° eyepiece. Stuck a piece of picatinny rail on top and a
old 4-16 rifle scope as a spotter. On a clear cool morning I can see
individual blades of grass at 450. Big, heavy, not easily portable,
but I've got less than $200 in it and it works.

[Unlicensed Dremel]

The more important question is, for what purpose? Range or field? That determines your weight/size.

Second most important question is budget.

[kcub]

Range

[Unlicensed Dremel]

If I could afford to buy a mid-ranged one dedicated to range use, I'd get a large objective one with ED glass - like this:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell...-786081ed.html

But you'll need a heavy duty or medium duty tripod, not big box store junk.

But I don't know about BF sales; sorry.

My big one dedicated to range has been the Celestron C130 Mak. I believe it's discontinued now. But it's even a bit cumbersome to set up.

[wahsben]

You might want to take a look at Konus. There were recently deals on them.

[Clark]

A spotting scope that works at 400 yards to spot a hit on a reactive target:
http://www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Case...WQK/ref=sr_1_3

That is cheap spotting scope.
Here is a pic of a Nikon 65mm objective 15 to 45X eyepiece spotting scope I got for $160 used off Ebay.


If you want a top of the line new Kowa with Flouride in the lens to correct for color fringing, you can pay $2k before you get the eyepiece
http://www.amazon.com/Kowa-Prominar-.../dp/B00NFJFEPE

How much further can you see?
600 yards instead of 400 yards?
It pays you a lot of money to drive your vehicle to the targets out past 400 yards, because you have a cheap spotting scope.

The tripod is a big deal.
Dogs knock them over.
They shake while you are touching them.
Your body shakes.
You gonna sit on the ground?
It is real dirty out there at 400 yards.
You'll see.

[kcub]

The range I just became member at has targets up to 1000 yards. I might try up to 500 just for kicks with my SCARs and Zastava M76 8mm sniper. Need a spotter for that. Objective to spend as little as possible to get the job done. Paper targets, not reactive.

My iron sight lever guns I will fire at 50, 100 & 200 yards. For that I could use my 4x16 scope on one of my SCARs.