Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Spotting scope or Ar?

I have neither, but was going to get a spotting scope for a deer hunt this fall in WY. I have some offers to loan me a spotter, and just got the new Zen ray Prime 10x42 (awesome btw). The only thing is I am really starting to get concerned about future gun laws.

I am leanimg towards an Ar and was going to get one today, but thought I would throw it out here on the fire.

ive never been sorry bout purchasing good glass but am not sure how bad you need a spotter in TN.....guarantee you you will love having one hunting in Wyoming but if yah can borrow a good one for that hunt and dont need one in TN cause ranges are short than maybe an AR makes more seance.....but as i said ive never been mad at myself for spending money on good glass....

I acquired a good spotting scope long before I began building my arsenal. Just too many different uses for the scope, especially out here in big sky country. There are always one or two scopes sitting out in our home.

I hunt a bit in SW Virginia, and never needed a spotting scope. Decent pair of binoculars does the job.

I'd buy the AR. Today. Before anyone in DC can restrict magazines, ammunition, features...........

Thanks, it irritates me to buy something because I am worried my tax dollars might restrict me in the future. I wish I had chosen ar instead of mini a couple years ago. Oh well. Thanks!

I guarantee you will use the AR 5 times more than the Spotter.

AR. Nothing is more fun than panic buying.

After the recent Colorado episode your AR will double in value shortly. Go that route.

Since I already have the AR, I am going to continue the spare parts buying binge I've been on for several months. Eventually I'll have two ARs.

Buy a spotter and a stipped AR lower. The lower is the part that will be restricted, and you can get a stripped one for $100-150. Build your AR at your leisure.

Buy the AR, it'll give you a reason to stock pile ammo.

Unless you shoot in matches and practice for them go with the AR.

Spotting scopes are old school. Go drone. That's what our government is using to spy on us.

I haven't lost my sense of humor...


R

I bought an AR and then started buying parts but decided that buying three ARs made more sense. Also have an AK-47. Have just over 25,000 rounds for the ARs and 3,000 for the AK - a life time supply, or close. My best buddy and hunting partner bought a very expensive spotter and gave me his old scope that works perfectly but didn't have a famous German name on it. Buy the AR or an AK and borrow the spotter.

Terry

Out west, I strongly suspect the reverse is true. We may be hunting 3 to 5 miles ahead of our present position. Binos are useful for spotting game, but that is about all. Unless one is in to walking up game and total exhaustion, a spotting scope is absolutly required for assessing trophy potential in big sky country. The scope is used to decide whether or not one is going to climb that mountain or make a stalk. In a day of simply scouting, I will spend 2 to 3 hours in active scope use. During an actual hunt that will almost double. In the last 2 weeks we've spent around 6 days out in the field scouting for a pending pronghorn hunt. Three spotting scopes were along, but no AR's.

If I was firing any firearm for that same duration, the cost of ammo would have depleted my bank account, and I would have gone through several barrels.

One possible out is a high end scope on ones rifle. On my long-tom Weatherby's, the high end zoom for their scopes stops at 18 to 24X. When I'm packing those, I often leave the spotter in camp.

Ok,but the OP is from Tennessee, and going out west for one hunt, maybe a few more, and has offers for a loaner spotter..

And Yes, I do own a spotter and hunt out west also...

Thanks guys. I went with a colt ar. The rancher were we are hunting and my taxidermy buddy out there who hooked me up with him said not to worry about the scope, that they will help out if needed. So it will be good binos and a pair of monarchs on abolts in 270 n 308 with handloads.