Hunting/Target Spotter Reccomendations?

[Clem Doore]

Hi,

I'm wanting to stay at or under $2K and will be using it for hunting and target shooting. Does anyone have suggestions based on scopes they own? I've been looking at Zeiss, Meopta, Vortex, Athlon, Minox and Leupold. Other suggestions welcomed.

Thanks

 

[MilDot1960]

If you want one with a Reticle in it go for the Leupold Mk 4, If you want one without the Ret then go for the Leupold GR 12-40x60 HD, It's the same as the Mk 4 with HD Glass and a bit cheaper,, I have Both types but I prefer the GR Version because the Ret becomes annoying when general scoping.

Hope that helps.

John.

 

[wind gypsy]

From a purely optical perspective, I'd pick up one of these with the 15% off promo. http://www.sportoptics.com/meopta-543230.aspx

They have been running that same promo since I bought mine last October. Only reasons I would look at something else is if you're looking for a reticle or light weight for extended trips in the mountains. If a reticle is important I'd pick up a Gen 1 razor 85mm. If light weight is crucial I'd look at used Swaro 65mm or Leica 62 APO models.

 

[Clem Doore]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've added these to my shortlist and hope to get behind them before I make a final decision.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I have had excellent performance from a Vortex Nomad, which uses a lightweight housing, but it is no longer being marketed. I would suggest the Vortex 20-60x80 Diamondback, as it duplicates the Nomad's specs pretty closely, and does it for $500 at Amazon.

The Vortex 27-60x85 Razor HD Spotting Scope takes things to a higher level, and retails for $1599 at Amazon. I have had nothing but excellent performance from my Vortex products, which consist of my Nomad, and several SPARC dot sights.

I don't use reticles for ranging, and consider them to be a distraction when spotting. I use an LRF for ranging, because it's cut and dried, with a smaller likelihood for error. My LRFs have capabilities for 600yd and 1600yd. The latter cannot be used (by me, anyway) without a tripod for the really longer distances. Angle compensation may not be all that necessary when shooting on close to horizontal planes, but it's another one of those things I prefer not to leave up to anything other than the electronics.

For an LRF, I suggest the Vortex Ranger 1500. Get it done right; I wish I had gone with this instead of my Chinese one with gibberish instructions.

Greg

 

[Clem Doore]

Thanks Greg, any experience behind the Viper HD? Curious as to how it compares to the Diamondback.

I have had excellent service from a Vortex Nomad, which uses a lightweight housing, but it is no longer being marketed. I would suggest the Vortex 20-60x80 Diamondback, as it duplicates the Nomad's specs pretty closely, and does it for $500 at Amazon.

The Vortex 27-60x85 Razor HD Spotting Scope takes things to a higher level, and retails for $1599 at Amazon. I have had nothing but excellent performance from my Vortex products, which consist of my Nomad, and several SPARC dot sights.

I don't use reticles for ranging, and consider them to be a distraction when spotting. I use an LRF for ranging, because it's cut and dried, with a smaller likelihood for error. My LRFs have capabilities for 600yd and 1600yd. The latter cannot be used (by me, anyway) without a tripod for the really longer distances. Angle compensation may not be all that necessary when shooting on close to horizontal planes, but it's another one of those things I prefer not to leave up to anything other than the electronics.

For an LRF, I suggest the Vortex Ranger 1500.

Greg

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Sorry, no. My only experience with a spotting scope of note is with the Nomad.

Greg

 

[longrange2]

If you shop carefully you should be able to score a great used Swarovski ATS or STS for under 2K, either a 65 or 80mm. If you can find one of those in your price range you will not regret it.


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[Clem Doore]

Thanks I might just go that route. I'm not in a huge hurry so I'll see what pops up in the next few months.

If you shop carefully you should be able to score a great used Swarovski ATS or STS for under 2K, either a 65 or 80mm. If you can find one of those in your price range you will not regret it.


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[athanasios23]

I had a Leupold mark 4. I sold it as the reticle did get annoying when used for viewing not ranging. I picked up first generation razor in 65mm. The 85mm was just huge for my purposes. I really like it and the warranty made it a no brainer at the sale price when the gen 2 came out.

 

[The King]

If I remember right the old razor was made in Japan and the new one in China.

Meopta makes a very fine spotting scope.

 

[MilDot1960]

I had a Leupold mark 4. I sold it as the reticle did get annoying when used for viewing not ranging. I picked up first generation razor in 65mm. The 85mm was just huge for my purposes. I really like it and the warranty made it a no brainer at the sale price when the gen 2 came out.

I bought the original Bushnell FLP with the Mildot Ret from someone here and although it's a great scope Like you I found it to be very annoying too So I keep it for ranging etc and I bought the Leupold GR HD Kit, I find it much more useful for scoping etc.

John.

 

[NY700]

If your total burger is
Check out the celestron regal M2. The reason I went that direction is the number of national match service rifle guys who suggested it. And it has been outstanding so far.

The other big advantage is it used traditional 1.25" eyepiece mount. This is a standard for midrange to lower high end telescopes (the more expensive ones use 2" eyepieces). This means you have a whole host of eyepieces to choos from including the extremely good Pentax eyepieces.
I went with the 65mm for a lighter weight option but they have 80 and 100mm as well. I picked up a 27x LER eyepiece and a 20-60x Zoom eyepiece.

I even used the zoom eyepiece on my sons telescope last night. Not the best pic as I'm still trying to figure out the digiscope mount and my phone

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[SporterII]

Eye relief, fov and weight/size.
I just went thru this and the three features are very important.
The lower power Leupold is plenty of mag, 3" eye relief and not a monster.
Lots to consider.

 

[southerngolfer]

You might watch to check the post I just bumped to the top Swaro vs vortex. It's a pretty good thread on binos being used in the field except of spotting scopes. I currently own the gen 1 vortex razor 85mm spotter and it's amazing glass but after my first PRS match and reading what others are using at these matches, 15x56 Swarovski binos is what I'll be switching over. I wanted some perspective on the kaibabs by vortex to. I've got a buddy that owns a pair and I will try those out to spot our shots

 

[Clem Doore]

Interesting read thanks for the heads up. Perhaps when more funds are available I will pick up a pair. I do own a decent pair of Steiner binos that should suffice for now.

I found a member locally selling a gen 2 85mm Razor for a good price that I could not pass on. I shoot a decent amount of paper and wonder how far out the Swaro binos would spot holes vs the spotter?

You might watch to check the post I just bumped to the top Swaro vs vortex. It's a pretty good thread on binos being used in the field except of spotting scopes. I currently own the gen 1 vortex razor 85mm spotter and it's amazing glass but after my first PRS match and reading what others are using at these matches, 15x56 Swarovski binos is what I'll be switching over. I wanted some perspective on the kaibabs by vortex to. I've got a buddy that owns a pair and I will try those out to spot our shots

 

[southerngolfer]

Yes, the binos are beneficial for spotting hits on steel or for spotting misses. My friend who own the vortex kaibabs claims he was spotting elk 2 miles away but needed a spotter to see how big the rack was. Shooting paper, I would imagine difficult to see the holes with binos so spotter would be your best bet

 

[zeroz]

I got the little razor 11-33x. It is great to carry around (light and small) has nice glass and does a pretty good job overall for hunting and shooting. I do find myself wanting a little more mag at times but dont know that I want to lug around a bigger scope along with all the other shit I carry on an elk hunt. I can see adding a high mag scope soon but for hunting the little guy is great.

 

[MilDot1960]

I got the little razor 11-33x. It is great to carry around (light and small) has nice glass and does a pretty good job overall for hunting and shooting. I do find myself wanting a little more mag at times but dont know that I want to lug around a bigger scope along with all the other shit I carry on an elk hunt. I can see adding a high mag scope soon but for hunting the little guy is great.

Yeah I think that 11-33 is a great compact scope, I have an old Camo Tasco 12-36x50 that I bought back in 96/97 and I have 4 other spotters but to be honest that old Tasco is my favourite, I noticed long ago with all scopes that once mirage gets up 22x is the most you can use anyway So your 11-33 I think is the Ideal size and it is light and compact, just because a scope can go up to 60x + I think can be very misleading because over a couple of hundred yard Bullet holes on paper get washed out with mirage and the more zoom you use the worse it gets,

John.