Least expensive acceptable spotting scope?

KChen986 · January 18, 2010, 02:15 PM

Hey All,

Recently took to shooting at my 200 yard range with my M4/ACOG. Found out that at those ranges, my shots really opened up, and I was patterning all over the cardboard. I would like to purchase a good spotting scope, as to get better at distance shooting (with a carbine, I know).

Can anyone recommend a spotting scope that's in the ~$150 dollar range? Or if those are not good enough, can anyone recommend an affordable spotting scope?

Thanks!

Oh and PS: Any tips besides the usual 'trigger control, breathing control, placement of finger, etc.?'

Placed this in the 'Art of the Rifle' as this section is much more trafficked than the 'accessories' section.

Jimro · January 18, 2010, 02:30 PM

http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestro...ing-scope.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestro...ing-scope.html

The 80mm is just outside your price range, but is worth it.

Jimro

kiwi56 · January 18, 2010, 10:58 PM

Whatever you do don't make the same mistake I did, I had an old Bisley fixed 40x 60 I decided to replace it with a Tasco 15-45 x 60
With the Bisley I could see 224 bullet holes at 100 meters with the tasco the optics were so bad I was struggling to make out 308 bullet holes at the same distance. I eventually replaced it with a Burris 20-60 x 80 and had no problem seeing 224 holes at over 200 meters and 308 at ovr 300 meters.

riggins_83 · January 18, 2010, 11:10 PM

Burris makes some great and very inexpensive spotting scopes with good glass and eye relief!

noyes · January 18, 2010, 11:20 PM

near bottom of page

Alternatives for the Shooter on a Budget

http://www.6mmbr.com/spotterreview.html

Art Eatman · January 18, 2010, 11:27 PM

I have found that the el-cheapo telescopes, 20x60, work okay up to around 40X. That's good enough for .22 holes at a couple of hundred yards. I sure wouldn't rate them above a "C" for quality, at best. However, works for me.

Hook686 · January 19, 2010, 12:51 AM

Economical ? I found the Burska 20-60x70 a decent range spotting scope for mid $100 price range.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-2...t-ad10528.html

bcrash15 · January 19, 2010, 01:13 AM

this coincides well with a question I have been dealing with myself, hopefully this aids the OP as well. What do you guys think about the following?

Barska (I have heard their scopes are suspect, but are they a brand to avoid in spotting scopes that don't have to take recoil?)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=556286

Vortex
http://www.spottingscopes.com/spotti...mpactscope.cfm

From this and other threads, it seems like you get best clarity from the first 2/3s of the magnification range in the bargain scopes. And it seems that 40x is needed for shooting out to 200 yards with .22 cal. Not sure about any guidelines for magnification and .30 cal, but am curious.

TPAW · January 20, 2010, 08:53 PM

20x60x80.......Can anyone tell me what those numbers mean?

bcrash15 · January 20, 2010, 10:41 PM

It is like rifle scopes if you are familiar with those. If it is standard it really could be written more appropriately 20-60x80. Which means it would be a telephoto scope capable of zooms of 20x to 60x magnification and the objective (the big lens) is 80mm in diameter. In general, the bigger the objective the clearer the picture and the less light you need to see well.

TPAW · January 30, 2010, 09:16 AM

Thank you.

vvaldez28 · February 4, 2010, 08:03 PM

Burris is a very reputable spotting scope: http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-...es-300111.html

Specifications:
- Magnification: 15-45X
- Eye Relief: .7
- Field of View: 105/60ft @ 100 yds.
- Length: 14.2"
- Weight: 32 oz.
- Finish: Green

http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-...es-300125.html

Specifications:
- Model: 15X-45X-60
- Field of View (ft. @1000 yards): 146 @15X 7 @45X
- Maximum Eye Relief (Inches): .7 @15X .7 @45X
- Exit Pupil: 4.0 @15X 1.3 @45X
- Objective Diameter: 60mm
- Weight: 24 Ounces
- Length: 12.7"
- Close Focus Feet: 13.0

Bushnell offers a great product too, but you get a tripod and case with the scope:

http://blue-sky-products.com/bushnel...es-781837.html

Specifications:
-Magnification: 18-36x
-Objective Lens: 50mm
-Field of View @1000 yards: 115ft. @16x, 75ft. @36x
-Exit Pupil: 2.8mm @18x, 1.4mm @36x
-Weight: 31 oz.
-Length: 14.7"

Good luck!

January 18, 2010, 02:15 PM	#1
KChen986 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Location: Ninja Mall Posts: 818	Least expensive acceptable spotting scope? Hey All, Recently took to shooting at my 200 yard range with my M4/ACOG. Found out that at those ranges, my shots really opened up, and I was patterning all over the cardboard. I would like to purchase a good spotting scope, as to get better at distance shooting (with a carbine, I know). Can anyone recommend a spotting scope that's in the ~$150 dollar range? Or if those are not good enough, can anyone recommend an affordable spotting scope? Thanks! Oh and PS: Any tips besides the usual 'trigger control, breathing control, placement of finger, etc.?' Placed this in the 'Art of the Rifle' as this section is much more trafficked than the 'accessories' section. __________________ E Pluribus Unum

January 18, 2010, 02:30 PM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestro...ing-scope.html http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestro...ing-scope.html The 80mm is just outside your price range, but is worth it. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

January 18, 2010, 10:58 PM	#3
kiwi56 Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2009 Location: Auckland NewZealand Posts: 350	Spotting Scope Whatever you do don't make the same mistake I did, I had an old Bisley fixed 40x 60 I decided to replace it with a Tasco 15-45 x 60 With the Bisley I could see 224 bullet holes at 100 meters with the tasco the optics were so bad I was struggling to make out 308 bullet holes at the same distance. I eventually replaced it with a Burris 20-60 x 80 and had no problem seeing 224 holes at over 200 meters and 308 at ovr 300 meters. Last edited by kiwi56; January 18, 2010 at 11:13 PM.

January 18, 2010, 11:10 PM	#4
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,506	Burris makes some great and very inexpensive spotting scopes with good glass and eye relief! __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen

January 19, 2010, 12:51 AM	#7
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	Economical ? I found the Burska 20-60x70 a decent range spotting scope for mid $100 price range. http://www.opticsplanet.net/barska-2...t-ad10528.html __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.

January 18, 2010, 11:20 PM	#5
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,032	near bottom of page Alternatives for the Shooter on a Budget http://www.6mmbr.com/spotterreview.html

January 18, 2010, 11:27 PM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I have found that the el-cheapo telescopes, 20x60, work okay up to around 40X. That's good enough for .22 holes at a couple of hundred yards. I sure wouldn't rate them above a "C" for quality, at best. However, works for me.

January 19, 2010, 01:13 AM	#8
bcrash15 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Posts: 455	this coincides well with a question I have been dealing with myself, hopefully this aids the OP as well. What do you guys think about the following? Barska (I have heard their scopes are suspect, but are they a brand to avoid in spotting scopes that don't have to take recoil?) http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=556286 Vortex http://www.spottingscopes.com/spotti...mpactscope.cfm From this and other threads, it seems like you get best clarity from the first 2/3s of the magnification range in the bargain scopes. And it seems that 40x is needed for shooting out to 200 yards with .22 cal. Not sure about any guidelines for magnification and .30 cal, but am curious.

January 20, 2010, 08:53 PM	#9
TPAW Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Posts: 2,860	20x60x80.......Can anyone tell me what those numbers mean?

January 20, 2010, 10:41 PM	#10
bcrash15 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Posts: 455	It is like rifle scopes if you are familiar with those. If it is standard it really could be written more appropriately 20-60x80. Which means it would be a telephoto scope capable of zooms of 20x to 60x magnification and the objective (the big lens) is 80mm in diameter. In general, the bigger the objective the clearer the picture and the less light you need to see well.

January 30, 2010, 09:16 AM	#11
TPAW Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Posts: 2,860	Thank you.

February 4, 2010, 08:03 PM	#12
vvaldez28 Junior Member Join Date: January 18, 2010 Posts: 3	Burris/Bushnell Spotting Scope Burris is a very reputable spotting scope: http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-...es-300111.html Specifications: - Magnification: 15-45X - Eye Relief: .7 - Field of View: 105/60ft @ 100 yds. - Length: 14.2" - Weight: 32 oz. - Finish: Green http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-...es-300125.html Specifications: - Model: 15X-45X-60 - Field of View (ft. @1000 yards): 146 @15X 7 @45X - Maximum Eye Relief (Inches): .7 @15X .7 @45X - Exit Pupil: 4.0 @15X 1.3 @45X - Objective Diameter: 60mm - Weight: 24 Ounces - Length: 12.7" - Close Focus Feet: 13.0 Bushnell offers a great product too, but you get a tripod and case with the scope: http://blue-sky-products.com/bushnel...es-781837.html Specifications: -Magnification: 18-36x -Objective Lens: 50mm -Field of View @1000 yards: 115ft. @16x, 75ft. @36x -Exit Pupil: 2.8mm @18x, 1.4mm @36x -Weight: 31 oz. -Length: 14.7" Good luck!