Recommend me a long range spotting scope on a budget

[shaneinhisroom]

Quick and to the point in order of priority:

1. Good glass- need to spot 6.5mm rounds on paper at 300yd, trace out to 1000+
2. Price - Under $1k if possible, if not what's the closes to $1k
3. Build quality - Sturdy
4. Brand name - who cares as long as I can see what I'm shooting at.

I don't know jack about spotting scopes, but I do come from a world of high quality camera equipment so I'm no newbie when it comes to optical quality. Give me somewhere to start.

Thanks!

 

[clmayfield]

Depends on what you want to do. If you are trying to find holes in paper at long range, a target cam will serve your needs better for a lot cheaper than a spotter.

 

[RobertB]

You can never replace a spotter. I don't dig target cams as they are for one thing only and its not the real world. I like my small leupold 15-30 compact as its small, light, glass is good, I can see 6.5s at 300 on shoo-n-c targets and I can take it anywhere since its so small. If I was ALWAYS at the range then the big 20-60 would be more valuable but I try not to buy much for range use only. If I buy something I think about using it in the field. Because really, when I'm at the range practicing, its practice for field use.

 

[fireEMT5]

Keep an eye out for a used or return Vortex razor spotter. I got mine off the SWFA sample list. You might have to go up $100 - $200, but a razor will hang with the big boys for less money.

 

[FN in MT]

I'm usually NOT big on going into debt for toys, but good optics are one of the exceptions.

Twenty years back I bought both a pair of Leica 10x42 binos and a 20-60X Swarovski spotting scope with a hi end bipod.
I've had 20+ years of use out of them....and could probably sell them for what I paid way back then.

I say buy once...Cry once when it comes to optics.

 

[jkonzal]

Look at Kowa.

 

[TireMan]

Midway has deals once a quarter on Leupolds line up. For what you are asking for, I think a $500

 

[TireMan]

I think a $500 spotting scope will do.

To reiterate FN in MTs point, if you see a use down the line, buy big on optica. Leica makes one of the finest spotting scopes around.

 

[Sevo2300]

US Optics has a compact spotter for around $1k.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[erslll]

Another vote for the Vortex Razor. A little over your budget but I believe it is worth it. I use the fixed 30x eyepiece on mine and have no regrets at all about spending that much money on a spotter.

 

[steve123]

This is the highest quality spotter around nearest your price point.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/optics-sale/217079-pentax-pf100-ed-25x-75x-eyepiece.html

Years ago I tried a new $600 spotter to "see" if I could stand the image quality, the answer is no, the optics sucked! I called the place I bought it from and returned it then ordered this PF-100 from them. It's the opposite of the other, a absolute pleasure to look through. You will not be able to distinguish a difference in optical quality of scopes twice the price!

 

[sandwarrior]

I like FN's idea. If you have something steadily bringing you in some money, IMO that would be the way to go.

Regarding the U.S. Optics spotting scopes, I would recommend against it. Great glass, but ergonomically far harder to get fine tuned than many lesser scopes. I love all their stuff except that one. If it was made as a porro prism with a fine focus knob convenient to where I hold it, I would give it the nod. The one major plus it has is you can get a reticle in it, unlike most other scopes, better or worse quality.

One thing I see in spotting scopes is the trend of keeping them 'slim' like a roof prism bino instead of a porro prism. The best glass I've looked through have been Leicas and Zeiss. They run about 2 grand. Porro prism is not much bulkier than roof type in a spotting scope. And therefore, not an issue as far as size goes. Ergonomics is the prime focus (no pun intended) when you buy a spotting scope. It gets really hard to make fine adjustments at long range when the scope is not an easy one to manipulate.

 

[7fingers]

Predator Optics (Saker) Read the reviews, I love mine.

 

[shaneinhisroom]

Thanks for all the replies- I never go into debt with any of the toys I own. The budget I set is soft, but I really don't want to spent 2500 on a Swaro when I can get very close for half the price. I just don't know the market. I'll keep an eye out on the Razor's (anyone tried the new HD 20-60?) and look at the Pentax. That thing looks like an absolute beast.

 

[Rem7]

There is a used vortex hd with 30 mil eyepiece in the optics section.... Great deal too

 

[erslll]

My Razor is the 20-60 HD and it is very good but I find it is even better with the 30x reticle eyepiece instead of the 20-60 eyepiece.

 

[trickyric]

I have a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 36x magnification and around $400. It works great out to 1000 yards.

 

[trickyric]

I have a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 36x magnification and around $400. It works great out to 1000 yards.