First spotting scope

[xzzx]

Goodmorning to everybody.
I start shooting with .22 few months ago. I shooted at 55 yard, but now I’ ve increased the distance to 110 yard, so I need a spotting scope.
I am going to use the scope also for seeing match at 300 yards , and sometimes at 500 yards (but I think is a miracle if I can see so far ;-) )…
I live in Italy and the price are very high, but I found this quite good spotting scope:

- celestron ultima 20-60x 80 at about 240$
- hawke 24-72x70 at about 225$

The first have 80 mm of lens, but hadn't rigid storage and tripod;
the second has 70 mm of lens, rigid storage and tripod included in the price.

Now I ask you, please wich is better choice ? the difference of price isn’ t a problem…
thanks

Sorry for my english..

 

[xzzx]

Re: First spotting scope

Nobody can help me?

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: First spotting scope

Ok, I'll try, but please understand that the following is just my personal opinion.

Save up your money. For the ranges that you intend to get to, you'll be hard pressed to see .22 holes. You might see them if you use something like shoot-n-see targets and mirage isn't bad. A decent spotting scope is going to cost - no way around that. The cheaper scopes just don't do what spotting scopes are supposed to do well, and that is to allow you to see clearly with detail at distance.

I have a Vortex Razor HD 85mm which is 5 times your budget and even that scope can't see .22 holes at 500 yds. 100 yds is easy, but get out to around 300 and beyond and it get harder in a hurry. Using very visable targets helps some depending on the enviromental conditions present (mirage).

With glass, you really do get what you pay for until you get up into the very top tier glass. At that point it becomes a case of diminishing returns.

I can't comment on the 2 models you are considering. I've never seen them in person or researched them.

Try reading all the reviews you can find online on shooting, birding forums. Better yet when you are at the range, just ask everyone you know and/or see using a scope if you could take a look through their scope. Let your eyes be the final judge. Take mental notes or write them down what you like or don't like about each scope you view through. If at all possible, look at targets with .22 holes in them and prove to yourself how far away you can clearly see the detail you desire to see.

If it were me, I'd keep saving and try to find a Nikon fieldscope, Pentax, or Viper HD scope to look through. Try before you buy if you can. I'd also wait until I could afford a scope that has HD glass. Yes, it's worth it and does make a difference.

Good luck in your quest. A good quality scope that your eyes like is worth every penny.

Yes, a good tripod is worth it's weight in gold, and a hard case or soft cover is nice. Many around here will spend $200 - $300 and higher just on the the tripod and head. Having a cheap wobbly tripod not only makes using your scope harder, you can run the risk of it not supporting your scope well and falling over. Realize that the include tripod and case are not really free. A portion of the price goes towards that, and not into the scope.

CameralandNY a site sponser has a closeout deal going on the Vortex Skyline right now. I don't know if they'll ship over there to you, but you can check out the sale price here - http://cameralandny1.reachlocal.net/optics/vortex.pl?page=vortexskyline

 

[xzzx]

Re: First spotting scope

thankyou for the answer.
Unlucky in my country price are very high, I' will pay everithing about 40% than US ...
If I bought something from outside Europe I' ll payd more than 40% of price in tax so I can't buy from US...
I never shoot at 300 meters with .22, but I' m going to see match at 500 m, but they use .308, .300wmag, ecc...
I read a lot of reviews about celestron and they said it' s very good for price, you can see hole of .22 at 200 m... I think I' ll buying that cause I can' t spend 800 $ for a better spotting (2 times the value of rifle) ...
Thanks again for the answer.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

Re: First spotting scope

yes, we do ship internationally, not a problem. BTW, for SH members the Vortex Skyline 20-60x80 Spotter (Straight) (Part# SKL-80S) is reduced to only $259.99