Spotting scopes

rosco61

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I am looking for a spotting scope for the range. Current range is 100 yards would like it to work out to 200.
I have no experience with these and need some sound advice for a scope. Price range out to $300 would be fine.
Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Do you where glasses all the time when shooting?
Then your going to need a scope with long eye relief.
At $300 I found the Konus 20x60x80 to do well enough on good bright days i could pick up 22 holes at 200.

dont get fooled by magnification and objective size
80mm is pretty big and bulky. Knowing what I know....I wont by a scope with out
45' lens
Rotating body
And get a pole stand. Tripods get n the way.


what is your end use. Even high $$$ scopes can have a hard time picking up holes in targets at 200 yards. Thats really not the purpose of the scopes anyway.

the bigger the lens and the more magX it has you will loose clarity and resolution on the lower priced scopes. The glass is the important part and the most expensive piece IMHO.
Heres the Konus I had , if it did not get sto len I,would still have it.

Several guys shooting with me are using these at 200 yard
Amazon product ASIN B0002CTZ70View: https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52250-Ultima-Spotting-Scope/dp/B0002CTZ70/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=celestron+spotting+scope&qid=1573474521&sprefix=celestron+&sr=8-3


this is my current scope. Discontinued but pops up from time to time
Last thing , TR Y as many scopes as you can .
lots of cheaper scopes cast a hue of gold/blue on high X especially at close range. You will also loose clarity on the edges.
To give you a idea my celestron is a fixed 27x and most days I can see 22 holes at 200.
My other cheap scopes even on great light days cant pick up 22 holes at 100. No matter the MagX
 
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I shoot at 200-300, and can vouch for the Konus 20X60X80. Paid $179. Found it floating in my brother-in-laws basement, and it survived. Served me well for 7 years, riding around in a trunk and generally getting treated like shit, then finally went tits up. You can see .223 holes on black paper at 200. At 300 it is a NO_GO, and mirage becomes a factor. You can see .30 cal on white, or on a shoot and see, or maybe on black paper with a white garbage bag stapled behind the target.

I replaced it with the SVBony SV13 20-60x80. They make a x65 for less money. Get the X80.

Amazon product ASIN B07DCPG5P7View: https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Birdwatching-Activities-Digiscoping-Adapter-Get/dp/B07DCPG5P7/ref=pd_sbs_200_t_1/139-1170339-8523015?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07DCPG5P7&pd_rd_r=8e8bb1b4-9108-410b-ab1e-080c12142b01&pd_rd_w=Rdldh&pd_rd_wg=FLaYV&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=PPA0RKXF0J6YK4G864PB&psc=1&refRID=PPA0RKXF0J6YK4G864PB



The optics are equal to the Konus, but the build quality is probably not as rugged. I don't know that for sure, only time will tell.

If you research the specs, you 'll note that the scope has "fully multi-coated lenses", is waterproof to IPV7 standard, and has BAK4 optical prisms.

All of that means something, and it's all good, especially for a $129 spotting scope.

I also like that (like the KONUS) the barrel of the scope rotates, so you can adjust the eye-piece for optimal viewing.

Eye relief is kinda tight with glasses on--that would be my only complaint--but at the price point, hey.

Someday I'll have a good spotting scope. Someday. But for now this one gets me down the road.

If you shoot from the bench, a good video tripod set off to the side (isolated from bench vibration) gives you a nice stable image.

You can find a good video tripod cheap on Craigslist or at a yard sale.
 
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A few years ago I was planning on getting the Ultima 80 but I wound up getting the Ultima 100 for not much more $$ (I think I paid $200 for it at the time). I would highly recommend any of the Ultima spotting scopes

Amazon product ASIN B0002862UWView: https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52250-Ultima-Spotting-Scope/dp/B0002862UW/?pldnSite=1&th=1
 
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