Multiple pronged question about Binoculars

baddarryl · October 21, 2012, 01:17 PM

Hi all. I need a decent set of glasses. I have been looking in the $250 range at Leopold's, Nikon etc. My first question is how much binocular do I need to see .223 at 300 yards on a target?

Are there any binocs in this price range that can do that? Which would you recommend?

If it is not possible I might just get a sub $150 pair and a spotting scope. If so what are the better low end spotting scopes that can do that. Thanks as always.

603Country · October 21, 2012, 02:07 PM

If you want to see 22 caliber bullet holes on a target at 300 yards, I think you'd best get a modestly priced spotting scope. As for what magnification you'd need on the spotting scope, I'll leave that to the competition guys.

oldandslow · October 21, 2012, 05:37 PM

bd, 10/22/12

I bought a set of Nikon ATB's about two years ago for a price in the low $200's. They worked well until the one year mark when all the "armor" coating started peeling off the binocular's body. I sent it back to Nikon for their warranty repair. They notified me that the coating was not covered by their "warranty" and I had to send them money to repair it and also to cover the return shipping to me. I paid up and have had the new ones about a year. On one of the objective lenses there is a bunch of bubble-appearing material over one-half of the new objective lens. It seems to still work OK and since I didn't want to pay for more of their "warranty" service I just use it the way it is.

One other thing I didn't expect was that this set of ATB binocs was made in China.

So needless to say I am not enthused about Nikon products. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

drail · October 22, 2012, 08:19 AM

For "spotting" hits on a target at long range a spotting scope will be much better. Binoculars will be very hard to hold unless you mount them on a tripod like a spotting scope. I would look for at least 15 power or stronger. (those are small holes)

springer99 · October 22, 2012, 09:44 AM

IMHO if you're trying to spot .22 cal holes in a target at 300yds, you'll need magnification of 30X or more. This is definately a spotting scope and stand" job; not for binos.

baddarryl · October 22, 2012, 10:54 PM

Ok. Thanks everyone.

baddarryl · November 12, 2012, 06:51 PM

Ok so I settled on a set of binocs understanding that they will not do what a scope will. http://www.eagleoptics.com/binocular...8x42-binocular.

So now that that is satisfied, what would you recommend as a good valued scope that can see .223 at 500 which is likely the farthest I will ever shoot, but normally out to 300? In reality my local range goes to 300 and 99% of the time that is all I will ever need. I am sure there is a big difference between those distances and $$$. Thank you.

Jim Watson · November 12, 2012, 07:00 PM

Something like the Hubble, pretty much.

Picking a .22 hole out of the black at any great range is very difficult.
If anybody here knows of a scope that will do it, I would like to know.

baddarryl · November 13, 2012, 06:36 AM

LoL Jim!

drail · November 14, 2012, 11:06 AM

Seeing a .223 hole at 500 yards will require a very powerful spotting scope. (don't count that insect on the target) Any binos that can resolve that small an object are going to be very large and heavy and will not be usefull unless mounted on a serious stand (if binos that powerful even exist). Are you doing this with a scoped rifle or what?

Rembrandt · November 14, 2012, 09:47 PM

Trying to see small holes at those distances will test even the best of glass....I can see rifle holes at 200 yards at dusk (w/Swarovski Glass) when everyone else is packing up for home. But 300-to-500 yards is beyond anything I've got.

Have also used 10X42 Swarovski binocs with 2X multipliers (which makes them 20X)....that's way beyond what they will do, even with a tripod.

Jim is right.....you need Hubble quality glass.

saands · November 16, 2012, 12:20 AM

I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think that Hubble quality will do it either.

The deal is that there is a lot of optical noise in the air (moisture, mirage, etc), so unless the conditions are just so, I think that you are wanting something that just can't be had. Maybe if you use those shoot-n-see targets ... then I think a nice bright 80mm objective spotting scope in the 20-25x range would be sufficient at 300 and might even get you to 500.

Saands

chucknbach · December 4, 2012, 11:41 AM

20x - 25x is pushing it at 300. .22 hole at 500 get the most powerful you can and hope for the best.

October 21, 2012, 01:17 PM	#1
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	Multiple pronged question about Binoculars Hi all. I need a decent set of glasses. I have been looking in the $250 range at Leopold's, Nikon etc. My first question is how much binocular do I need to see .223 at 300 yards on a target? Are there any binocs in this price range that can do that? Which would you recommend? If it is not possible I might just get a sub $150 pair and a spotting scope. If so what are the better low end spotting scopes that can do that. Thanks as always.

November 12, 2012, 06:51 PM	#7
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	Binoculars acquired, now about a scope? Ok so I settled on a set of binocs understanding that they will not do what a scope will. http://www.eagleoptics.com/binocular...8x42-binocular. So now that that is satisfied, what would you recommend as a good valued scope that can see .223 at 500 which is likely the farthest I will ever shoot, but normally out to 300? In reality my local range goes to 300 and 99% of the time that is all I will ever need. I am sure there is a big difference between those distances and $$$. Thank you.

October 21, 2012, 02:07 PM	#2
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	If you want to see 22 caliber bullet holes on a target at 300 yards, I think you'd best get a modestly priced spotting scope. As for what magnification you'd need on the spotting scope, I'll leave that to the competition guys.

October 21, 2012, 05:37 PM	#3
oldandslow Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2007 Posts: 641	bd, 10/22/12 I bought a set of Nikon ATB's about two years ago for a price in the low $200's. They worked well until the one year mark when all the "armor" coating started peeling off the binocular's body. I sent it back to Nikon for their warranty repair. They notified me that the coating was not covered by their "warranty" and I had to send them money to repair it and also to cover the return shipping to me. I paid up and have had the new ones about a year. On one of the objective lenses there is a bunch of bubble-appearing material over one-half of the new objective lens. It seems to still work OK and since I didn't want to pay for more of their "warranty" service I just use it the way it is. One other thing I didn't expect was that this set of ATB binocs was made in China. So needless to say I am not enthused about Nikon products. Good luck. best wishes- oldandslow

October 22, 2012, 08:19 AM	#4
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	For "spotting" hits on a target at long range a spotting scope will be much better. Binoculars will be very hard to hold unless you mount them on a tripod like a spotting scope. I would look for at least 15 power or stronger. (those are small holes)

October 22, 2012, 09:44 AM	#5
springer99 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Posts: 355	IMHO if you're trying to spot .22 cal holes in a target at 300yds, you'll need magnification of 30X or more. This is definately a spotting scope and stand" job; not for binos.

October 22, 2012, 10:54 PM	#6
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	Ok. Thanks everyone.

November 12, 2012, 07:00 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	Something like the Hubble, pretty much. Picking a .22 hole out of the black at any great range is very difficult. If anybody here knows of a scope that will do it, I would like to know.

November 13, 2012, 06:36 AM	#9
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	LoL Jim!

November 14, 2012, 11:06 AM	#10
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	Seeing a .223 hole at 500 yards will require a very powerful spotting scope. (don't count that insect on the target) Any binos that can resolve that small an object are going to be very large and heavy and will not be usefull unless mounted on a serious stand (if binos that powerful even exist). Are you doing this with a scoped rifle or what?

November 14, 2012, 09:47 PM	#11
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Trying to see small holes at those distances will test even the best of glass....I can see rifle holes at 200 yards at dusk (w/Swarovski Glass) when everyone else is packing up for home. But 300-to-500 yards is beyond anything I've got. Have also used 10X42 Swarovski binocs with 2X multipliers (which makes them 20X)....that's way beyond what they will do, even with a tripod. Jim is right.....you need Hubble quality glass.

November 16, 2012, 12:20 AM	#12
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think that Hubble quality will do it either. The deal is that there is a lot of optical noise in the air (moisture, mirage, etc), so unless the conditions are just so, I think that you are wanting something that just can't be had. Maybe if you use those shoot-n-see targets ... then I think a nice bright 80mm objective spotting scope in the 20-25x range would be sufficient at 300 and might even get you to 500. Saands

December 4, 2012, 11:41 AM	#13
chucknbach Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2011 Location: Gillette, WY Posts: 135	20x - 25x is pushing it at 300. .22 hole at 500 get the most powerful you can and hope for the best.