Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Spotting Scope Recommendations

I have been looking for a spotting scope to see .223 holes in the black at 200yds. I'm trying to spend less than $600.00 and am looking for recommendations. I have bought several $200.00 spotters and ended up taking them back after being unable to see clearly at even 100 yards. Have been reading reviews on the Bushnell 20-60x80 Legend Ultra, the Vortex Viper HD 15-45x65 and the Leupold SX-1 Ventana 20-60x80 but reviews are so mixed. Several people see well and then several others cant. Can anyone comment on the three above or suggest something better within my price range?

Is this for use at a public range or a more informal setting?

I ask because i know people are now placing around with camcorders and wireless technology at the target end and displaying the results on a lap top or tablet at the shooters end.

However, this approach might not be a feasible in competions or on more formally organised shoots on public/club ranges ect..

Public range. I have finally found a local range I can shoot 100, 200 and 300 yard distances. I know seeing a 22 cal. hole at 300 yards is probably not feasible for under $600.00 but hope I can see that at 200 within my budget.

Did a quick search on google and this is the system I was thinking of..At first glance it comes in under $600 as well and would do the 300 yard targets, just depends how "practical" it would be to use?

I think some folks are also using a digital camcorder set up at the firing point and recording their shoots to be viewed back on a lap top..

A question on the Longrange Forum might come up with some ideas for a spotter or other alternatives like these..

Wow, very cool. However something a little more portable would be nice. This would be great if I had my own private range. But carrying a rifle, ammo, sandbags, laptop, camera etc is a little much for a public range.

Call Doug at Cameraland - they have a habit of steering folks in the right direction.

If this is a range scope, I'd suggest looking at as much 80mm scope as you can afford. You won't need to worry about every last ounce of weight, and range hours generally mean good lighting, so even a mid-quality 80mm can perform nearly as well as an upper-tier 65mm.

Again - call Cameraland.

FC

It's not easy to see small holes in the black at 200 yds with a 15-45X 60 mm spotter.

A quick solution is to use those Shoot-N-C targets however they seem expensive. So is a new spotter.

I have been using a Leupold 60 mm and while it's durable the resolution is not quite there.

The new Konus 80 mm I got is quite a bit better and I really like it.

Konus 20-60X80mm



$279.99 delivered w/tripod.

Someone asked about seeing at 300 yds? For that I might try their 100mm.

Thanks for the help.

I fixed the link to the Konus 80mm.

Konus 80mm

Thanks for the link. I like using Optics Planet. Good prices and good service. Plus in this case good useful reviews. Some are just " I can see a ruby throated nut cracker from my kitchen window nice and clear". Those kinds of reviews don't help me much. Thanks again.

California_Kid,

Did you happen to see the post "A couple spotting scopes and some rifle scopes" from a couple days ago? I don't know how they would work on black, but they certainly worked on the red.

With the Bushnell being a smaller package and being as good as it is I am going to sell the Kowa 20-60X77. I am asking $500 for it.

I'm going to go look at some today. Hopefully they will let me take them outside to see at enough distance which will best suit my needs. I live in a small enough town they should. Thanks for the input.

Take a shot-up target with you, park as far from the door as possible, & put the target on your car window. Voila - you can test the spotting scopes on actual bullet holes.

FC

That's a really good idea. Maybe I can put one a couple hundred yards away. Hadn't thought of that.

I have a Hawke Frontier ED. Think is same thing as Zen Ray. Pretty good for the money. Certainly not a Swaro but use it for range and screwing around.