Inexpensive spotting scope not made in China

I bought a steiner spotter on here a few years ago for $300.

Probably pictures of similar in your Berlin SF pals book.

Probably a high speed spotter in its day but to me its kind of heavy now.

Thought I would use it to replace my M49 but I went back to the M49 after realizing its weight.

I started with a Sweet Kowa I bought at Creedmoor Sports with a full Cross the course tripod set up. Sweet scope, great optics but heavy.

Went to the M49, serviceable optics, light, built to beat hell. Can see bullets out to reasonable distance you can expect to see bullet holes on paper - say 300 yards or so.

Bought the Steiner....

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Ran it on my M49 tripod. Classic with its leather case and all but heavy went back to the M49.

Thing is everyone expects their spotter to see shot holes at incredible ranges, myself included before I learned better.

With .30 cal you are lucky to see shot holes on paper at 300. Easy if you are in the white but who wants to be in the white?

Mirage and atmosphere degrade your view fast.

Shoot on Shoot n Cs or on steel you can extend that range some.

First thing is to determine use of scope.

Are you going to be scanning for animals or are you static at a bench looking at bullet holes?

This will help determine whether you want angled or straight view.

As a matter of principle I try to avoid China and as a matter of satisfaction Id rather buy vintage "best" if I couldnt save to get the modern best.
 
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Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive spotting scope not made in communist China? I'm a new shooter who just likes to target practice occasionally. I have an AR-15 rifle, and I hope to purchase a scope attachment someday but I currently just have a red dot. I think I want 20x-60x 80mm but not sure, and I'd like to spend less than $300 if possible. Any ideas? Thanks.
Have you considered a pair of binoculars for your AR spotting application?
 
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Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive spotting scope not made in communist China? I'm a new shooter who just likes to target practice occasionally. I have an AR-15 rifle, and I hope to purchase a scope attachment someday but I currently just have a red dot. I think I want 20x-60x 80mm but not sure, and I'd like to spend less than $300 if possible. Any ideas? Thanks.
Inexpensive...not made in China........are conflicting concepts in spotting scopes. You'll have to resolve that conflict internally yourself. The Bushnell Legend T Spotter 20-45x60 is a lot of scope for the money....~$629 MSRP......but available for under $400 on Amazon periodically. I bought mine on Amazon at $387 shipped, plus local sales tax...about $411 total. (Amazon collects sales tax even though Missouri has not passed online sales tax law......guessing Amazon pockets the purported Missouri sales tax collection.) But, then actually got it for FREE....YEAH, $000.00 received.......using my Amazon bonus dollars. Wasn't even aware I had bonus bucks accrued. Can't beat that deal. See the several reviews on YouTube. Has a MIL reticle. Great value.......price paid versus performance...... glass........performance not equal to my Hensoldt Spotter 60, NF TW-82, or Vortex Razor HD, but not also doesn't cost $4330 like my Hensoldt either. (Actually got the Henny as a rebate on a rifle purchase......Barrett MRAD MK22 at Eurooptics. Yeah, over paid for the MRAD, and actually paid full price for the Henny, but really, really needed that MK22 color to keep my Barrett rainbow complete. Not adult supervision in my life. Life if GOOD.) Down in that price range you aren't going to get much glass and coatings. Glass and the lens coatings, which are the heart of the glass performance today, cost money. Save a couple more bucks and consider the Bushy. Buy once; cry once; be happy ever after.