Rifle Scopes Spotting scope confusion

[kujuak]

I have a Swarovski STS 65 20-60x spotting scope, about 10 years old. I was quite happy with it until I started shooting longer ranges with a Kahles K624i rifle scope. I find when conditions are less than ideal ( mirage, dust/wind, heavy overcast skies) I can spot my shots better with my rile scope at 24x than my spotting scope at 60x. Could someone explain this for me.

Thanks!

 

[isofahunter]

You are magnifying poor conditions (mirage etc..) they overwhelm the distant target. Backing down power helps in poor conditions.

 

[lash]

You are magnifying poor conditions (mirage etc..) they overwhelm the distant target. Backing down power helps in poor conditions.

^^^This^^^

Sometimes, when shooting out to 1500-1800+ yards, I back down the magnification even with my S&B in order to cut down on seen mirage. At higher powers, it is almost impossible to get a picture clear enough to pull the trigger. At lower powers, I may barely be able to see the target, but it will be clearer and that allows me to be sure of my target and aiming point before breaking the shot.

I leave my 30-60 zoom spotter eyepiece home now and almost always just use the 20X for that reason.

 

[kujuak]

I really appreciate you guys thoughtful replies , they helped a lot and i wasn't even made to feel like a dumb old fart! Off to the range to test it out, it's "shooting Friday" my slow slide into retirement plan

 

[flyer]

At 1,000 yards I find I need all the magnification I can get to spot a bullet hole in a target. I use about 66.6x power.

The biggest problem for me is shaking so I have fine adjust mounts on big hefty tripods so it is very stable and as hands off as I can manage.

It's not like I have Parkinson's, at 66.6x setting a fairly steady hand on a spotting scope will blur things a lot.

 

[Lowlight]

Less is more ...

Never spot on full power, 20x -30x max

 

[AznTactical]

My budget for my next scope, rings and spotter is $2200. Had planned to do a Razor spotter and a PST II scope (or any it's competitors). Do I really to consume some of that budget on a spotting scope if my only plan for it was for range use?

 

[Lowlight]

Spotters are barely used anymore beyond paper shooting events.

If you shoot steel, you spot your own impacts by employing the proper technique you don't need someone spotting or helping if you do it right. Every video of mine on YT has me by myself, I call my own hits and misses.

Spotters have dropped in use beyond match spotting or F Class, most guys don't bother with them.

 

[flyer]

I have about $300 in my two spotting scopes and a few tripods.

I did it with Craigslist.

They are Chinese 90mm Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes with 500mm focal length.

I use a cheapo 45° erecting prism and a couple Chinese long eye relief eyepieces.

The 90mm objective gives resolution as good or better than anything in the 80mm range and the optical design is good at eliminating chromatic aberration.

It's also fairly sealed unless you're changing the eyepiece a lot.

My tripods are old Bogen Manfrotto tripods. People are going to carbon fiber and don't need a tripod that can handle a 1980's camcorder any more. You can get something one or two steps down from a studio tripod pretty cheap.

If you can find and live with a cheap spotter, it will let you spend more of that on your scope.

 

[AznTactical]

Thanks for the info Lowlight and flyer. I'm currently using a Leupold Ventana 15x45 and it's getting hard to spot 22 Nosler & .223 groups in paper over 200yds. When I'm spotting I'm doing it for the shooters so I guess I can tell them they'll have to provide the "better" spotting scope if they want me to actually see them.

 

[lash]

My budget for my next scope, rings and spotter is $2200. Had planned to do a Razor spotter and a PST II scope (or any it's competitors). Do I really to consume some of that budget on a spotting scope if my only plan for it was for range use?

Well, this is one of those "it depends" questions. It depends upon if you spot for people at matches. I use a spotter, but only because I R.O. a lot of matches and practices. Otherwise, I use my rifle scope while on the rifle. Like Frank said.

Edit: I guess the answers are already done. I had mine typed up but had forgotten to post it, lol.

 

[Birddog6424]

I don't even use the 20-60 eyepiece on my spotting scope. I use the 30x fixed with a mil reticle.

The 30x fixed has a little better clarity than the variable eyepiece and has the same field of view as the 20x variable.

 

[Wyzrd]

My budget for my next scope, rings and spotter is $2200. Had planned to do a Razor spotter and a PST II scope (or any it's competitors). Do I really to consume some of that budget on a spotting scope if my only plan for it was for range use?

I think, if you’re really set on wanting to get a decent spotter, save some $ and go with a Zen Ray ED2 20-60 instead. Then, you’ll have some extra $ to put towards a better scope. I’ve found that the ZenRays are every bit as nice as the Razors, and I have owned both-still have the ZR. I use mine on 20x or use the 30x WA eyepiece, and I bring it to our local long range matches to help spot. Like others have said, they’re not really necessary, but I like having one as I bring it scouting/hunting too.

 

[patriot07]

I got a used Razor 11-33 spotter for around $400-$450 IIRC. It's a good compromise of price, size, and performance. I've been very happy with it.

 

[Bender]

Who makes an inexpensive spotter with a reticle? Fixed power even?

 

[isofahunter]

Bushnell Legend Tac 15-45 is in the 500 range new. It is the least expensive one that I have found that meets my requirements.

 

[Bender]

Bushnell Legend Tac 15-45 is in the 500 range new. It is the least expensive one that I have found that meets my requirements.

Does it have a Mil reticle?

 

[isofahunter]

Mil Hash.