|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926 |
Hoping to find a moderate priced unit to use for spotting hits at longer range. I know nothing about spottings scopes, would appreciate some help.
Regards,
David
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581 |
The Theron Saker 60 mm
Spotting 30 caliber holes past maybe 400 yards is not an easy feat necessarily.
Last edited by SteveC99; 01/20/13.
Steve
Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can where you are with what you have"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926 |
The Theron Saker 60 mm
Spotting 30 caliber holes past maybe 400 yards is not an easy feat necessarily. Not looking to spot holes, splats on painted steel... Thanks, David
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,948 Likes: 27
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,948 Likes: 27 |
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 127
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 127 |
The Theron Saker 60 mm
Spotting 30 caliber holes past maybe 400 yards is not an easy feat necessarily. I agree with Steve!
Regards,Steve
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4 |
The Theron Saker 60 mm
Spotting 30 caliber holes past maybe 400 yards is not an easy feat necessarily. I agree with Steve! The problem with the Saker is availability. When was the last time schmalts had them in stock? The price has gone up a fair amount (still not expensive though) since I bought one.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4 |
The Redfield site only shows a straight 20-60x60mm Rampage model available. Is this the one you are recommending? While searching for real-world prices of the Rampage I noticed some 80mm and angled models that must have been discontinued so am wondering which one for sure you're recommending. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,948 Likes: 27
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,948 Likes: 27 |
When I did a spotting scope evaluation for Successful Hunter a couple of years back I put a lot of spotters in the field for a season and the Redfield Rampage was quite impressive, even when compared to some top-end scopes. It was one of two that I purchased. The other was a Swarovski.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581 |
The Theron Saker 60 mm
Spotting 30 caliber holes past maybe 400 yards is not an easy feat necessarily. Sorry the telephone went off on a phone call I was expecting, so this post got cut a little short. The Saker is a good deal, but as mentioned it is in somewhat of an availability dilemma. The one I was going to mention in my first response is the Zen Ray Ridgefield. After Phil mentioned the Redfield, I looked it up. It looks like a Ridgefield clone. In spite of the price, the Ridgfield is sharper than hell. The only thing is the fov drops off real fast as you get above 30x. That is probably not an issue as any scanning is likely to be done at lower power and you will probably use the higher magnification to zoom on something you have already centered. I wound up with ZR's larger 20-60x82 ED 2. It has advantage over the Ridgefield in resolution and fov above 30x. But up to 30x there is not enough resolution difference to notice.I almost never use more that 30x anyway.
Last edited by SteveC99; 01/21/13.
Steve
Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can where you are with what you have"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,369
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,369 |
Celestron Ultima. The Regal is better, more money.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,513
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,513 |
Great question!! Tagging this thread.
Eric
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926 |
I appreciate all the responses, the Redfield seems like a good buy.
Follow up question - what Tripod/Compact Tripd?
David
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,817 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,817 Likes: 5 |
Vortex Nomads are not too shabby and on close out in lots of places for $239.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,581 |
The tripod is as important, maybe even more so than the scope. Don't skimp. Vortex has the High Country for around $100 which is as low as I'd go.
Also I've looked somewhat closer at the Zen Ray and Redfield scopes, and they are in fact different. For one the Zen Ray is a 65mm, other specs are different too.
Steve
Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can where you are with what you have"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,128 Likes: 4 |
Does the Ridgefield or Rampage offer anything the Saker does not? IOW, do I need to sell my Saker and get a Ridgefield or Rampage?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926 |
The tripod is as important, maybe even more so than the scope. Don't skimp. Vortex has the High Country for around $100 which is as low as I'd go.
Also I've looked somewhat closer at the Zen Ray and Redfield scopes, and they are in fact different. For one the Zen Ray is a 65mm, other specs are different too. Steve, I appreciate all the information! How about a compact tripod? I was thinking of getting both a full size and a compact tripod. Any recommendations? David
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 488
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 488 |
I can see bullet splats from 39 gr .204 SBKs on steel at 500 yds with a 10X VariX III and 14X VX3. They really show up if you paint the steel orange. That said I do like my Swaro 20-60 x 65 spotter for many different uses hunting and around the range, but that wasn't the question.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 278
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 278 |
Vortex Nomads are not too shabby and on close out in lots of places for $239. The Vortex Nomad and the Redfield Rampage are the same scope.
I hunt, therefore I am.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,933
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,933 |
Keep an eye open for an older made in Japan Bushnell Spacemaster II. They can usually be had for about $150.00, and I would put it as good or better than most of the glass mentioned on this thread.
R.
You can run, but you'll just die tired.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,421
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,421 |
Tag. Great information here. Thanks.
Last edited by BlackHunter; 01/27/13.
SCI Life Member DAV Life Member NRA Life Member North American Hunt Club Life Member
Your true character shows in your conduct
You cannot solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it - Einstein
|
|
|
|
457 members (1lessdog, 160user, 1936M71, 17CalFan, 163bc, 10ring1, 49 invisible),
11,470
guests, and
1,269
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,195,345
Posts18,546,536
Members74,060
|
Most Online21,066 May 26th, 2024
|
|
|
|