I'm looking to add a spotting scope for use at the gun range at my lease. Typical normal range is up to 450yd. I might also have some need for it for an aoudad hunt, but not much more after that.

I'm not looking to spend a ton of money. But I subscribe to the "buy once, cry once" philosophy and hate to buy something I'll ultimately be disappointed in. So top end cap is probably $1500ish. I'm thinking probably angled instead of straight body, unless someone convinces me differently. It would mainly be used by the spotter, not the shooter. I did see that Eurooptics has a demo Zeiss Gavia at my top end and some others from Leupy and Vortex in the mid-range.

Anyone have some recommendations?

Maybe try the Maven demo program. If'n you don't like it, send it back. Or the gpo GPOTAC 45.

Shop for higher end used. Optics depreciate greatly. I sold a 85mm Zeiss angled for around $1000 here on the CF. Don't overlook eye relief, especially in high power variables. Factor too often ignored.

Here's a great scope that'll fit your budget (not mine, no affiliation):

https://www.longrangehunting.com/th...r-s3-spotting-scope.356975/#post-3081035

May I suggest the Revic Acura S65A Spotting Scope
Features:
Fixed magnification 18X reticle eyepiece
Included variable magnification 22-45X eyepiece
Included carry/travel case
Neoprene scope cover
Eyepiece cap covers
Integrated sunshade
Windage and elevation correction reticle
Spotting grid
MOA ranging scale
MIL ranging scale
65mm objective
Extra low dispersion glass
Enhanced multi layered anti-reflection coating
Anti-fog coating
Anti-scratch coating
Phase correction coating
Weight: 54 Ounces
Objective Lens: 43 Ounces
Fixed Eyepiece: 11 Ounces
Varable Zoom Eyepiece: 12 Ounces

10x ED binos are the winner for me. Hawk and Maven for cheaper versions, Meopta for great pro glass.

I recently bought an Athlon Cronus 20-60-86 from Doug for the same purpose. It’s big & heavy enough I wouldn’t want to pack it if I was carrying a rifle but for range work or scouting it’s very impressive. Best bang for the buck - my hunting partners who use Vortex Razors can’t see any difference in performance. My home range is only 225 yards but it’s easy to spot new scars on the 500 yard rock. I’m seeing features & reading signs well beyond what I could with my smaller Nikon fieldscope.

Will this scope be able to discern bullet holes out to the OP's 450 yd max range?

There's no such thing as a scope that will meet a criterion like that unless you specify the conditions. Under ideal conditions a lesser scope may perform acceptably, but light, contrast, mirage all affect what can be seen or discerned. The best scope can't discern bullet holes through significant mirage. I've BTDT.

A range I used to use had heavy rubber matting for target-backers (non light-leak from behind), and you shot from E to W. With Redfield targets (red/orange and white) I could find .224 bullet holes @ 10x or higher. This was possible until about noon or about as long as you had the rising sun behind you. That's a case of just the right lighting conditions. The private range I use currently, the 200yd and 300yd targets are shaded all day. Even w/50x-60x "Alpha" spotting scopes, I often can't see holes smaller than .30 cal. Additionally, I'm not saying it's impossible, but, I've never been in a situation where I'm able to reliably spot bullet holes in a target @ 400yds+ with any reliability no matter the lighting conditions. I've owned 15-45x65 Zeiss Victory, 20-60x85 Swaro, 20-60x65 Swaro, 16-48x62 Leica, 20-60x77 Leica, and 20-50x65 APO Leica and none of them show me bullet holes @ 400+ reliably.

Something on the order of a "Shoot-n-see" target is likely better past 300 but I HATE black backgrounds on targets.

What the horse said. You can buy a lot of Shoot-N-Sees for the price of a better scope. And if you're cheap like me you can make them last a long time with the Shoot-N-See pasters, or using a smaller one as a repair center.

The Revic brand will probably be as popular as Huskamaw optics.

At 450 yards?

I bought the Zeiss Gavia for the same task. I haven't had a chance to get it out as of yet but it does seem very clear from my initial testing.

That's the spotter I think I'm leaning towards.

Don’t get caught up in buying something new of less quality. Used alpha glass is still alpha glass and will save you plenty of money and get something that isn’t “almost as good.”

$1500.00 is a very good budget to get a high quality used Zeiss, Swarovski or Leica scope. I would also encourage you to get the angle eyepiece, once you get used to it, it is a more useful configuration…

I purchased the Athlon Cronus as well. Very happy with it compared to my older Leupold. My use is similar to yours…99% range use. It is heavy but that keeps it stable and it is wonderfully clear. You will need a good tripod due to the weight but with the Cronus, you will have room in your budget for that. I bought an Athlon tripod and it is great too.

That would be my plan as well. Good posts.

3 of the 4 clubs where I have regularly competed have used high end Kowa Prominar spotters for years (decades?). With the price getting up to the $3K+ range the one I frequent most decided a while back to test some of the more bargain TSN-82SV. I have to say that for sub $1100 with eyepiece they are pretty darn nice. With a $1500 budget, and solely for range use vs mountain humping, I'd do that in a blink...

Go to the classifieds and buy that 25x Leupold with the small tripod. Pretty cheap for what it can do.

Kowa's are awesome spotting scopes. I chose mine over the Swarovski and the Swarovski is top notch.

I took this advice. Cheap enough that I'll leave it at deercamp for use at our rifle range.

NOPE, you ain't seeing bullet holes at 450 yards with 10x binos.

The replies made me re-think my original question. I realize it isn't realistic to see bullet holes at 450yds and I guess that wasn't really what I was intending.

Our range is set up with a target holder for paper targets for working up loads/groups and also a 4", 6" and 8" AR500 plate. The shooting bench is moveable and can be dragged back to a distance of 450 yds.

I guess my real intent for the spotting scope was to check groups at 100- 200 yds when sighting in and working up loads. Distances beyond that, we start aiming for the plates, so you get a report of a hit.

I think this 25 x 50 Leupy spotter will be just the ticket for that purpose. heck, the price was right, so I also updated to a Garmin Chrono