Least expensive acceptable spotting scope?

K

KChen986

New member
Hey All,

Recently took to shooting at my 200 yard range with my M4/ACOG. Found out that at those ranges, my shots really opened up, and I was patterning all over the cardboard. I would like to purchase a good spotting scope, as to get better at distance shooting (with a carbine, I know).

Can anyone recommend a spotting scope that's in the ~$150 dollar range? Or if those are not good enough, can anyone recommend an affordable spotting scope?

Thanks!

Oh and PS: Any tips besides the usual 'trigger control, breathing control, placement of finger, etc.?'

Placed this in the 'Art of the Rifle' as this section is much more trafficked than the 'accessories' section.
 
Spotting Scope

Whatever you do don't make the same mistake I did, I had an old Bisley fixed 40x 60 I decided to replace it with a Tasco 15-45 x 60
With the Bisley I could see 224 bullet holes at 100 meters with the tasco the optics were so bad I was struggling to make out 308 bullet holes at the same distance. I eventually replaced it with a Burris 20-60 x 80 and had no problem seeing 224 holes at over 200 meters and 308 at ovr 300 meters.
 
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I have found that the el-cheapo telescopes, 20x60, work okay up to around 40X. That's good enough for .22 holes at a couple of hundred yards. I sure wouldn't rate them above a "C" for quality, at best. However, works for me.
 
this coincides well with a question I have been dealing with myself, hopefully this aids the OP as well. What do you guys think about the following?

Barska (I have heard their scopes are suspect, but are they a brand to avoid in spotting scopes that don't have to take recoil?)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=556286

Vortex
http://www.spottingscopes.com/spotting-scopes/hunting-spotting-scopes/vortex2575x70mmimpactscope.cfm

From this and other threads, it seems like you get best clarity from the first 2/3s of the magnification range in the bargain scopes. And it seems that 40x is needed for shooting out to 200 yards with .22 cal. Not sure about any guidelines for magnification and .30 cal, but am curious.
 
It is like rifle scopes if you are familiar with those. If it is standard it really could be written more appropriately 20-60x80. Which means it would be a telephoto scope capable of zooms of 20x to 60x magnification and the objective (the big lens) is 80mm in diameter. In general, the bigger the objective the clearer the picture and the less light you need to see well.
 
Burris/Bushnell Spotting Scope

Burris is a very reputable spotting scope: http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-spotting-scopes-300111.html

Specifications:
- Magnification: 15-45X
- Eye Relief: .7
- Field of View: 105/60ft @ 100 yds.
- Length: 14.2"
- Weight: 32 oz.
- Finish: Green

http://blue-sky-products.com/burris-spotting-scopes-300125.html

Specifications:
- Model: 15X-45X-60
- Field of View (ft. @1000 yards): 146 @15X 7 @45X
- Maximum Eye Relief (Inches): .7 @15X .7 @45X
- Exit Pupil: 4.0 @15X 1.3 @45X
- Objective Diameter: 60mm
- Weight: 24 Ounces
- Length: 12.7"
- Close Focus Feet: 13.0

Bushnell offers a great product too, but you get a tripod and case with the scope:

http://blue-sky-products.com/bushnell-spotting-scopes-781837.html

Specifications:
-Magnification: 18-36x
-Objective Lens: 50mm
-Field of View @1000 yards: 115ft. @16x, 75ft. @36x
-Exit Pupil: 2.8mm @18x, 1.4mm @36x
-Weight: 31 oz.
-Length: 14.7"

Good luck!
 
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