Spotters Spotting Scope Setups - Show Em!

[rlsmith1]

So I just got my first tripod and I'm starting to think about putting a spotting scope system together. I've seen a few systems that have LRF/atmospheric and NVG / illuminator together. Would love to see what you guys are running for that (bonus points if it works at night)!

Any discussion around use case for this type of stuff would be great too as I'm just starting down this rabbit hole. I've generally spotted for buddies while on my own rifle but want to learn more as I get into the 1,000+ range (starting a 300 NM build soon).

If I've missed a thread where spotter setups are shown please point me in the right direction. Otherwise, here's a pic to get things started (pulled from another thread, sorry don't remember who to credit)

 

[ken226]

Optolyth TBG80, flipped upside down, with a custom cover and mount.

 

[Birddog6424]

 

[rlsmith1]

Optolyth TBG80, flipped upside down, with a custom cover and mount.

Nice, you've got more in mounts than I'd like to think about!

How often do you use your spotter?

 

[rlsmith1]

Can you help me understand what I'm looking at? Almost looks photoshopped haha

 

[ken226]

Nice, you've got more in mounts than I'd like to think about!

How often do you use your spotter?

Here in the Pacific Northwest it rains nonstop about 9 months per year, so not nearly as often as Id like.

My spotter doesn't have a good way to get on target quick, especially when I use the fixed 30x reticle eyepiece. It's not quite as bad with the 20-60 variable, but sometimes still a challenge to get it on a target.

When I first set it up I like to use the rangefinders mini ballhead to align the rangefinder and spotter both onto the same distant point. Then the rest of the day I use the rangefinder as a rough sight, to get the spotter on target quicker. It's no prob finding targets using the 4x rangefinder as a rough coaxial aimer.

 

[Birddog6424]

Can you help me understand what I'm looking at? Almost looks photoshopped haha

Those are Steiner M1050r LRFs.

The have a mil reticle and laser rangefinder. 50mm objectives with the same light transmission rating as Swarovski ELs. Very nice Schott glass.

I didnt want to lug a bunch of stuff around for PRS, so I found a unit that combines a couple items. Pretty good piece of kit.

They do look funny compared to all the roof prism binos we're used to looking at. These are a Porro prism design, which generally has a better image quality and better light transmission.

 

[rlsmith1]

That’s sweet! I was thinking about what could be combined and that seems like a step in the right direction!

 

[theLBC]

Those are Steiner M1050r LRFs.

The have a mil reticle and laser rangefinder. 50mm objectives with the same light transmission rating as Swarovski ELs. Very nice Schott glass.

I didnt want to lug a bunch of stuff around for PRS, so I found a unit that combines a couple items. Pretty good piece of kit.

They do look funny compared to all the roof prism binos we're used to looking at. These are a Porro prism design, which generally has a better image quality and better light transmission.

johnny 5

 

[waveslayer]

After seeing other set ups I guess I need to add all sorts of stuff. Lucky Rabbits foot, dingle berries, Range finder, sniper's hide patch, thermal imaging, kestrel, toilet paper etc.

 

[Baron23]

Be it ever so humble but it is all mine. Actually, don’t have that tripod anymore. I have a 3/4 from 2 vets.

 

[ken226]

View attachment 7838011
After seeing other set ups I guess I need to add all sorts of stuff. Lucky Rabbits foot, dingle berries, Range finder, sniper's hide patch, thermal imaging, kestrel, toilet paper etc.

Why? It won't fit in that pink handled murse?

 

[waveslayer]

Why? It won't fit in that pink handled murse?

I need to add more Arca mounts to get that to fit

 

[rlsmith1]

@waveslayer if you can afford those Swaro's then you're just being cheap by not having all the extra doodads!

How do you usually use your spotter? More glassing while hunting where range / wind isn't as much of an immediate need?

 

[waveslayer]

@waveslayer if you can afford those Swaro's then you're just being cheap by not having all the extra doodads!

How do you usually use your spotter? More glassing while hunting where range / wind isn't as much of an immediate need?

I use it all the time! I normally place in in my pack or hook it to my pack. I have a nice case for it. If I'm Bow hunting I only use it for spotting. It just really depends on what I'm doing. I love it. I have Arca mounts on all of my stuff so I use my RRS tripod the most.

Or get a good hunting buddy who can carry the spotter

 

[rlsmith1]

Very nice!! Never understood the red dot on a spotting scope but I'm not one to throw too many stones!

 

[waveslayer]

Only thing missing is a BE Meyers Kiji for IR Illumination!
This L3 RULR is insanity! 9000 meter rangefinder; Bluetooth remote and Bluetooth display HUD that straps to the side of the shooters scope, so he never has to take his eye off the target/ scope and knows the distance the spotter just ranged for him…

EPIC!
View attachment 7838614

How much for this handy set up?

 

[ken226]

Very nice!! Never understood the red dot on a spotting scope but I'm not one to throw too many stones!

I figured it out when I moved to Northern Washington. I never found a need when I was in Southern AZ.

A tiny target plate in a sea of forest covered mountains is easy to see with the naked eye, but as soon as you get on the spotter you can't find shit. When on the scope, you can't see any of the reference points that are visible to the naked eye. The lowest magnification I can dial is 20x.

With a low magnification Aimer that's coaxial with the spotter, it's a breeze. It works exactly like the little aiming thing on astronomical telescopes.

 

[Deadeyeky81]

Night Group Spotter setups

 

[101stAirborne20]

Do you guys notice a big difference between running a clip-on vs a pvs-14 on the back assuming same level of quality in the tubes?

 

[Deadeyeky81]

Do you guys notice a big difference between running a clip-on vs a pvs-14 on the back assuming same level of quality in the tubes?

Yes, With PVS-14 mounted to the ocular side for the spotter. You end up with a reduced amount of light entering the 14. It works but not ideal. Having the clip-on front mounted, you maximize your light gathering.

 

[101stAirborne20]

Yes, With PVS-14 mounted to the ocular side for the spotter. You end up with a reduced amount of light entering the 14. It works but not ideal. Having the clip-on front mounted, you maximize your light gathering.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, just trying to gauge what I want to end up with for a setup.

 

[Deadeyeky81]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, just trying to gauge what I want to end up with for a setup.

Feel free to ask anytime. If I can’t answer your question. I have a handful of very knowledgeable friends at my disposal.

 

[avidflyer]

Haven’t priced it out yet. The RULR was $24,000 when they were sold. I just picked this one up NEW with full kit for less than a quarter of that at $5000. Wanna know the coolest part, atleast to me…. I got serial number #3 off of production. My lucky number being three it was only right!View attachment 7838641

$5k thought Cory had a bunch around $3000 for the last batch....

 

[Conqueror]

Henny 60 with full Cadex surveillance rig, Tig, and Kestrel on a CF pole. I am working on getting one of Cory's RULRs for it. The Tig is on it just for grins but actually is surprisingly usable at 20x within a few hundred yards. When my xELR comes I will throw it on there and make a comparison video.

 

[Conqueror]

Thanks but he has one for me, just working on sending him payment.

 

[rlsmith1]

Henny 60 with full Cadex surveillance rig, Tig, and Kestrel on a CF pole. I am working on getting one of Cory's RULRs for it. The Tig is on it just for grins but actually is surprisingly usable at 20x within a few hundred yards. When my xELR comes I will throw it on there and make a comparison video.

That’s sweet. Are you tying your kestrel to anything or just doing manual readouts?

 

[Conqueror]

That’s sweet. Are you tying your kestrel to anything or just doing manual readouts?

Yeah it links to my Raptar.

 

[Capt_Right]

Kestrel in a weather vane is the new hotness. Links to a RAPTAR, but they need to be close. @Conqueror do you have a similar experience with connection range?

 

[Conqueror]

Honestly I can’t say I’ve pushed the distance limit a lot, usually with this kind of set up I’m shooting on a fairly static range and I can put the Kestrel relatively close to my shooting position. Now I’m kind of curious though, I will have to see what kind of range it can do next time I’m out.

 

[SHGronk]

Kestrel in a weather vane is the new hotness. Links to a RAPTAR, but they need to be close. @Conqueror do you have a similar experience with connection range?View attachment 7851499

Have you got any links to the kestrel riser pole and fittings? exactly what Im chasing!

 

[SHGronk]

Henny 60 with full Cadex surveillance rig, Tig, and Kestrel on a CF pole. I am working on getting one of Cory's RULRs for it. The Tig is on it just for grins but actually is surprisingly usable at 20x within a few hundred yards. When my xELR comes I will throw it on there and make a comparison video.

Same query, any links to the kestrel riser pole and fittings?

 

[Conqueror]

It’s a Sunwayfoto carbon tripod extender, a Leofoto 36mm leg collar, and a Smallrig 2903 swivel/tilt monitor mount. You will have to drill into the leg collar to accommodate the ARRI anti-rotation pins on the 2903 but it’s relatively straightforward.

The other setup above is done with a picatinny rail grabber that mounts straight to the side of the spotter cage (there are more pics on Instagram). I didn’t want that exact setup because the Kestrel vane will lose its level every time you move the spotter, whereas mounting it to the leg allows you to move the spotter at will without adjusting the kestrel each time.

 

[SHGronk]

It’s a Sunwayfoto carbon tripod extender, a Leofoto 36mm leg collar, and a Smallrig 2903 swivel/tilt monitor mount. You will have to drill into the leg collar to accommodate the ARRI anti-rotation pins on the 2903 but it’s relatively straightforward.

The other setup above is done with a picatinny rail grabber that mounts straight to the side of the spotter cage (there are more pics on Instagram). I didn’t want that exact setup because the Kestrel vane will lose its level every time you move the spotter, whereas mounting it to the leg allows you to move the spotter at will without adjusting the kestrel each time.

champion thank you. Whose instagram page do you know?

 

[Conqueror]

Check vvicmed, he’s got more pics of that setup with the Storm SLX (lucky mofo whoever got one of those). The Kestrel pole appears to be on some sort of right-angle GoPro picatinny mount.

 

[SHGronk]

Check vvicmed, he’s got more pics of that setup with the Storm SLX (lucky mofo whoever got one of those). The Kestrel pole appears to be on some sort of right-angle GoPro picatinny mount.

Awesome thanks mate.

 

[Feniks Technologies]

 

[Feniks Technologies]

 

[Capt_Right]

Awesome thanks mate.

That is my set-up, but conqueror pretty much called it correctly. Here is a closeup and all the parts can be found on Amazon. I prefer to mount everything to the spotter so I don’t have to worry about crashing into a pole or repositioning the tripod legs when I pan around. You do have to pay attention to level though.

 

[CoryT]

Basic day configuration - Leupold 12-40 TMR in Cadex cage, Vector 21A slaved to Nautiz X8 running Field Firing Solutions. L bracket mount to get co-witness mounted to Manfrotto 410 gear head.

In full night mode, PVS-14 on the Vector, PVS-27 ahead of the Leupold with KIJI for extra illumination, IR-Patrol M300W with 3x lens for thermal target detection. The 10x lens for the Vectors can be added to any configuration.

In night mode, I normally add shuttered eye guards to everything. I still need to score a longer remote cable for the KIJI though.

 

[rlsmith1]

@CoryT since this doesn’t look like a budget setup, what do you like so much about the MK4 spotter?

Does this system have any ability to pass the firing solution to the shooter or is that all verbal? Pardon my ignorance but I assume the Vector captures atmospherics too?

 

[CoryT]

The Mark 4 is compact, light, has a great reticle and pretty good glass. MET info goes to the computer via a Kestrel, there’s just no reason to mount it on the tripod. Vector’s provide range, azimuth and angle. That is passed verbally to the shooter.

For ELR work I often use a Pentax ED 80 with a modified Burris reticle eyepiece. That’s fantastic glass, but very large, and very hard to get NV suitably mounted.

The Hendsolt scopes are great glass, but the reticles are pretty crappy. The 45 with the Tremor is usable, but I won’t pay the premium for what I view as a marginal reticle.

The Vortex scopes seem usable, but the fixed power for the Mil eyepiece is a downer, it needs a FFP reticle installed.

The Swarovski STR 80 is nice, though a bit large. The eye relief makes it a non-starter for eyeglass wearers.

All the others I’ve seen have no better glass then the Leopold, with far worse reticles.

 

[Conqueror]

The Hendsolt scopes are great glass, but the reticles are pretty crappy.

The man speaks the truth. I would never give up my Spotter 60, the glass is phenomenal, but the reticle could be much much better. That was always Hensoldt's riflescope problem in the last 15 years, they made outstanding optics with dogshit reticle choices. Cory just sent me a RULR though so that will make the Henny even sweeter.

 

[Ogbybay]

For ELR work I often use a Pentax ED 80 with a modified Burris reticle eyepiece.

What mods are required? I’d be sweet to finally have a reticle on the Pentax!

 

[avidflyer]

Has Leupold updated the Mark4 to include a rear focus yet? (diopter) that was what I remember to be the biggest issue with it. (for the reticle models). I thought the hendsolt had that feature?

 

[Conqueror]

Yes the Hensoldts have both the zoom and focus adjustment rings on the eyepiece.

 

[avidflyer]

Yes the Hensoldts have both the zoom and focus adjustment rings on the eyepiece.

So it does have a diopter focus (reticle) unlike the mark 12? Guess Leupold never thought it mattered that much.

 

[CoryT]

What mods are required? I’d be sweet to finally have a reticle on the Pentax!

You need someone with a lathe to turn the barrel down to 1.25". I'm still working on the final dimensions, the collar needs to be set back some to get the focal length correct. Right now it shows 10.2 mil on a 10 mil target. I may not be able to get it exact, but I should be able to get closer.

 

[Conqueror]

So it does have a diopter focus (reticle) unlike the mark 12? Guess Leupold never thought it mattered that much.

Sorry, I misinterpreted your question at first, but yes, it also has that. It can do +/- 3 diopters. When the diopter and focus are both perfect you can see the legs on insects over 200 yards away.

 

[CoryT]

If you have a challenge with the fixed dipoter on the Leupy you can always get a lens from these guys.

Scope Aid