Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics "Other brand" spotting scopes

I'm looking to buy a "nice" budget-ish spotting scope for a nephew wanting to do primarily range shooting. (can't rule out some packing/hunting use but living in the SE distance glassing isn't that common) Distance, at this point anyway, is going to be 400yds tops and probably 300 or less most of the time given where I know he shoots. There is a bewildering array of makers and models, including some "off the beating path" that spec out awfully nice but I know nothing about. This started with me getting a really good offer on a Barska Naturescape 15-45x65 that has all the goodies in the description; high density/extra low dispersion fully coated glass, dielectric prism coatings, etc. But Barska? Then there's offerings like the Hawke Endurance ED and Vanguard Endeavor ED.

I guess if I had a top benchmark it'd be a Viper HD 15-45x65 as that can be had for around $500. If there's some unicorn out there that is a lot better for only a little more it'd come under consideration but Uncle Guyandarifle isn't looking to spend much more than that.

Thoughts or suggestions?

I have the Viper HD you referenced. Its OK....I sure wouldnt get anything cheaper.

Uncle Doug is your friend: he can give you the lay of the land when it comes to "other brand" optics vs. the more well-known names.

I was also checking out the Hawke and the Vanguard, but ended up going with an Athlon Ares.

It's only been a few months since that review, but I'm still just as happy with it.

FC

Athlon Ares was another name that popped up but it's another $100 for the same layout as that Viper. Celestron Regal M2 has popped up several places I've looked and is under $500. Actually for the price of the Ares I found a Bushnell LMSS. That's a bit lower in mag (8-40) but was a 1K+ scope not long ago.

Be glad to work with you on this. please feel free to give me a call, 516-217-1000.