Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics What's the Leupold Yosemite equivalent in spotting scopes?

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

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

The Redfield spotter

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.

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.

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.

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.

Celestron Ultima. The Regal is better, more money.

Great question!! Tagging this thread.

Eric

I appreciate all the responses, the Redfield seems like a good buy.

Follow up question - what Tripod/Compact Tripd?

David

Vortex Nomads are not too shabby and on close out in lots of places for $239.

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.

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?

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

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.

The Vortex Nomad and the Redfield Rampage are the same scope.

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.

Tag. Great information here. Thanks.