Spotting Scopes

ttarp · March 15, 2014, 01:31 PM

I bought a cheap simmons 20-60 spotting scope a while back, and have difficulty seeing the holes in the targets past 75 yards(yes I am hitting the target, juts usually have to walk out to check it). I'm looking for suggestions for a decent scope, what are you using?

n8ball · March 15, 2014, 01:42 PM

bushnell 15-45x50 an old one, gets tough after 125yds though. im looking forward to the suggestions! hopefully something that wont break the bank!

nemesiss45 · March 15, 2014, 03:25 PM

I have an old m1910 spotting telescope I use... its awesome (.30 cal holes are really easy to see at 200), but now you will pay antique prices for them... so Im sure you can get something better for much less... id like to get something cheaper (and lighter) one day so I dont have to lug an antique to the range.

wogpotter · March 15, 2014, 04:30 PM

Try dropping the power just a little at a time. Many scopes are "over powered" so they can advertise crazy powers. A lot of them get much sharper if you drop the mag just a little.

Lucas McCain · March 15, 2014, 05:10 PM

As far as used spotting scopes go the old Bushnells, Baush & Lomb and the Redfield are good scopes. But they are almost impossible to find.
I too had a Simmons and had the same experience you did. They are OK for a Bullseye pistol shooter, but not for rifle shooting or hunting.
The best scope is the Leupold, Gold Ring. They work well in low light, Lifetime warranty on the scope, regardless of who purchased it, compact and easy to carry for hunting. They hold their value, and are generally passed down as a legacy to heirs.
They are expensive, but because of their quality once you own one its easy to justify having spent the money. I own one so I know its true.
I have no experience with Nikon, but I have heard and have reason to believe that they are a good quality glass also. I don't know about their warranty, but I have seen them offered on E-Bay.

g.willikers · March 15, 2014, 05:10 PM

How's the tripod?
If the scope isn't held really steady, the view through the scope will blur, no matter how good or expensive it is.

ttarp · March 15, 2014, 06:12 PM

The tripod certainly is a large part of the issue, its unsteady enough that a slight breeze will shake it pretty bad. I thought I might be better off getting a new scope and tripod than looking for another tripod for the simmons.

Mike40-11 · March 15, 2014, 07:58 PM

For a decent, not too expensive scope check out Konus. I found a 20-60x 80mm 3 or 4 years ago for around $225. Can see 30 cal holes at 200 yds, .22 cal if the lights right. Starting to see a good number of these on the firing line at rifle matches.

Another very popular and very good make is Kowa. Superb, but your more like $700 to get started.

Savage99 · March 15, 2014, 10:55 PM

The Leupold Windriver 60mm 15-45X spotter is not quite good enough to see shots in the black at 200 yds.

The new Konus 20-60X 80mm I got is outstanding. Sure its big but not a problem at the range.

http://http://www.opticsplanet.com/konus-konuspot-80-80mm-3-1-spotting-scope.html

wogpotter · March 16, 2014, 09:46 AM

You can use a weight hanging off of the center of the tripod to "hunker it down" a little tighter, its an old photographers trick where they'd hang the camera bag under to "pre-stress" the legs a little.

It might help to try that, but tripods need to be solid to work well, particularly at high magnifications. This is actually a little under-gunned for the scope at 64X. Tripods with braced legs are a big help as well.

Mike40-11 · March 16, 2014, 06:21 PM

That's exactly the one I was talking about Savage. But I have a Champions Choice scope stand for it. They work for any position from prone to offhand.

http://www.champchoice.com/store/Mai...&item=CC700SJC

Bart B. · March 18, 2014, 03:27 PM

Fixed power scopes are typically sharper than variables. My 25X Kowa TSN-1 resolves 30 caliber bullet holes at 1000 yards. And my old Bushnell 45 deg. Spacemaster with a 25X eyepiece resolves 30 caliber holes in the black at 600 yards. Mirage permitting, of course.

Cowboy_mo · March 18, 2014, 08:03 PM

I have used an Alpen like this one ( http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/...FVQV7AodpGoAEw ) for 3 years and been very happy with it.

At 100 yds I seldom go above 20x. Not sure if the price in the link is a good one or not but if you're interested, you can search that out.

zukiphile · March 20, 2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

The tripod certainly is a large part of the issue, its unsteady enough that a slight breeze will shake it pretty bad. I thought I might be better off getting a new scope and tripod than looking for another tripod for the simmons.

I use that Simmons. The tripod that comes with it is garbage, and literally worse than nothing.

I have mine mounted on a second hand video tripod, which is very heavy. I find 22lr holes without issue at 100m.

I found my tripod on craigslist at the suggestion of someone here.

Huffmanite · March 20, 2014, 09:23 AM

Kowa spotting scopes have a decent reputation at range I'm a member. Several of the gents I shoot with on a regular basis own one.

BumbleBug · March 20, 2014, 10:22 AM

I recently bought an inexpensive (i.e. cheap) Meade spotting scope. I wanted it for shooting off a bench at 100yds. My big disappointment was that the model I bought has an angled eye piece instead of a straight line. I can't get it low-enough, close enough, convenient enough to use without being a contortionist. Something to consider. As several mentioned the mount as being critical & I agree.

FWIW...

..bug

March 15, 2014, 01:31 PM	#1
ttarp Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2013 Posts: 888	Spotting Scopes I bought a cheap simmons 20-60 spotting scope a while back, and have difficulty seeing the holes in the targets past 75 yards(yes I am hitting the target, juts usually have to walk out to check it). I'm looking for suggestions for a decent scope, what are you using?

March 15, 2014, 04:30 PM	#4
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Try dropping the power just a little at a time. Many scopes are "over powered" so they can advertise crazy powers. A lot of them get much sharper if you drop the mag just a little. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 15, 2014, 05:10 PM	#5
Lucas McCain Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2013 Location: Callaway, MN Posts: 361	As far as used spotting scopes go the old Bushnells, Baush & Lomb and the Redfield are good scopes. But they are almost impossible to find. I too had a Simmons and had the same experience you did. They are OK for a Bullseye pistol shooter, but not for rifle shooting or hunting. The best scope is the Leupold, Gold Ring. They work well in low light, Lifetime warranty on the scope, regardless of who purchased it, compact and easy to carry for hunting. They hold their value, and are generally passed down as a legacy to heirs. They are expensive, but because of their quality once you own one its easy to justify having spent the money. I own one so I know its true. I have no experience with Nikon, but I have heard and have reason to believe that they are a good quality glass also. I don't know about their warranty, but I have seen them offered on E-Bay. __________________ If you have time to do it twice, then you have time to do it once right and put your name on it

March 15, 2014, 05:10 PM	#6
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	How's the tripod? If the scope isn't held really steady, the view through the scope will blur, no matter how good or expensive it is. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 15, 2014, 10:55 PM	#9
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	The Leupold Windriver 60mm 15-45X spotter is not quite good enough to see shots in the black at 200 yds. The new Konus 20-60X 80mm I got is outstanding. Sure its big but not a problem at the range. http://http://www.opticsplanet.com/konus-konuspot-80-80mm-3-1-spotting-scope.html Last edited by Savage99; March 15, 2014 at 11:02 PM.

March 15, 2014, 01:42 PM	#2
n8ball Member Join Date: December 13, 2013 Location: stafford ct Posts: 39	bushnell 15-45x50 an old one, gets tough after 125yds though. im looking forward to the suggestions! hopefully something that wont break the bank!

March 15, 2014, 03:25 PM	#3
nemesiss45 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2014 Posts: 526	I have an old m1910 spotting telescope I use... its awesome (.30 cal holes are really easy to see at 200), but now you will pay antique prices for them... so Im sure you can get something better for much less... id like to get something cheaper (and lighter) one day so I dont have to lug an antique to the range.

March 15, 2014, 06:12 PM	#7
ttarp Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2013 Posts: 888	The tripod certainly is a large part of the issue, its unsteady enough that a slight breeze will shake it pretty bad. I thought I might be better off getting a new scope and tripod than looking for another tripod for the simmons.

March 15, 2014, 07:58 PM	#8
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 842	For a decent, not too expensive scope check out Konus. I found a 20-60x 80mm 3 or 4 years ago for around $225. Can see 30 cal holes at 200 yds, .22 cal if the lights right. Starting to see a good number of these on the firing line at rifle matches. Another very popular and very good make is Kowa. Superb, but your more like $700 to get started.

March 16, 2014, 09:46 AM	#10
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	You can use a weight hanging off of the center of the tripod to "hunker it down" a little tighter, its an old photographers trick where they'd hang the camera bag under to "pre-stress" the legs a little. It might help to try that, but tripods need to be solid to work well, particularly at high magnifications. This is actually a little under-gunned for the scope at 64X. Tripods with braced legs are a big help as well. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 16, 2014, 06:21 PM	#11
Mike40-11 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 842	That's exactly the one I was talking about Savage. But I have a Champions Choice scope stand for it. They work for any position from prone to offhand. http://www.champchoice.com/store/Mai...&item=CC700SJC

March 18, 2014, 03:27 PM	#12
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Fixed power scopes are typically sharper than variables. My 25X Kowa TSN-1 resolves 30 caliber bullet holes at 1000 yards. And my old Bushnell 45 deg. Spacemaster with a 25X eyepiece resolves 30 caliber holes in the black at 600 yards. Mirage permitting, of course. Last edited by Bart B.; March 18, 2014 at 03:38 PM.

March 18, 2014, 08:03 PM	#13
Cowboy_mo Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,039	I have used an Alpen like this one ( http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/...FVQV7AodpGoAEw ) for 3 years and been very happy with it. At 100 yds I seldom go above 20x. Not sure if the price in the link is a good one or not but if you're interested, you can search that out.

March 20, 2014, 09:23 AM	#15
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	Kowa spotting scopes have a decent reputation at range I'm a member. Several of the gents I shoot with on a regular basis own one.

March 20, 2014, 10:22 AM	#16
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	I recently bought an inexpensive (i.e. cheap) Meade spotting scope. I wanted it for shooting off a bench at 100yds. My big disappointment was that the model I bought has an angled eye piece instead of a straight line. I can't get it low-enough, close enough, convenient enough to use without being a contortionist. Something to consider. As several mentioned the mount as being critical & I agree. FWIW... ..bug