spotting scopes ?

I have to agree with Clifford on this.

I've coached the AK NG Rifle team for about 12-15 years. Anything over 20-24X is over kill and defeats the purpose.

I used a 100 MM Team Scope for coaching. It came with varying powers between 15 and 32 eye pieces. My shooters kept putting the 32 X eye piece in thinking it would be easier for spotting holes and bullet trace. It wasn't, I ended up throwing the other eye pieces in the trash keeping the 20 & 24X.

Depending on the light, sometimes the 20X worked sometimes the 24X worked.

One of the best scopes I've used was the old military M-49 w/20x eye piece.

Right now I use a Bushnell 20X and it works great on 223's at 200 & 300s.

You have to understand that in some light conditions, no scope will spot bullet holes at 2 & 300.

It also depends on the back gound behind the target. I've shot when the ground was snow covered, you could dern near see the bullet holes with any glass. Then with a dark back ground, like ranges up against a dark tree line you'll never see them.
 
Bang for buck, the Celestrons are hard to beat. Here is a guide from OpticsPlanet I used to research my own purchase.

I ended up with a Pentax 80mm ED, but mine does triple duty: nature watching, low level astronomy, and target shooting. It allows me to use a variety of astronomical eyepieces, and is rather rugged.

A few other things:
  • Don't neglect the tripod / mount. The best scope can be rendered useless if the mount isn't solid.
  • Eye relief is important, especially if you wear glasses.
  • Sometimes what you are paying for is durability as well as good glass. For example, the Celestrons have just as good or better glass than many competitors in its price range - however, they will require a bit more care in handlling.
 
I have had a Nikon 16-48X60 for about 4 years now. Clear as can be and you see those little bitty holes.

I use a camera tripod for mine and once I get it dialed in, I don't have to guess at anything.

Mine has been troublefree.
 
I also have to admit to owning a Barska spotting scope. Cabelas had/has them in their Bargain cave for about 25% of what the Celestrons are going for on Amazon. I figured for that price I could buy a that thing as something slightly better than disposable for taking in the field as opposed to the range, while I saved and researced what I wanted to spend the big bucks on.
 
It looks like we have two threads of the same title started by the same member about 3 months apart.

Merging threads.
 
I just acquired a Leupold 45x-60 mm scope kit. It's pretty sharp, even at low light. The scope itself is not heavy, at all.
 
It looks like we have two threads of the same title started by the same member about 3 months apart.
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sorry for the double post, I am still looking for a spotting scope and was hoping someone had a current model and would post how it worked for them.
 
I found a Simmons Blazer 20-60 x 60 at Walmart today for 59.95 and bought it just to check it out, I can always return it. No hard case and a crappy tripod, but the scope isn't too bad for the money. I'll see how it does at the range and let you guys know.
Has anyone on here ever had a simmons spotting scope ?
 
rebs said:
I found a Simmons Blazer 20-60 x 60 at Walmart today for 59.95 and bought it just to check it out, I can always return it. No hard case and a crappy tripod, but the scope isn't too bad for the money. I'll see how it does at the range and let you guys know.
Has anyone on here ever had a simmons spotting scope ?
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I saw it at Walmart but I decided to pass on it. I hope it works for you. Bear in mind, the higher magnification doesn't work very well.
 
I saw it at Walmart but I decided to pass on it. I hope it works for you. Bear in mind, the higher magnification doesn't work very well
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It goes to 60x, I am already knowing not to expect much at that magnification. I am mainly interested in up to maybe 40x at best. Hoping to see the bullet holes at out to 300 yds at best. I figured for the price I would give it a try. As I said it can always be returned for a full refund. If this one doesn't work out I will try a Celestron like was recommended earlier.
 
I have a Burris landmark 20-60x80 that works wonderfully at the range and in the field. Saves me many trips to the target.
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what distance range is your Burris good at ?

I took the Simmons to the range today and it was what I thought it was going to be, a cheap scope. It goes back to Walmart tomorrow and I'll keep looking.

Has anyone had a Meade spotting scope ?
 
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I can see 243 hits at 200 yards and the elk at about 600 yards looked like they were right in front of me. The scope is clear and it has a fine adjustment focus knob that is nice. Look through several different models at a sporting goods store. Look out a window if possible. Clarity is the most important quality so try to see which one can see fine details as far away as you can.
 
It depends is a mighty useful phrase. I had a fixed 20x scope that fit all my needs for years. It proved inadequate in October when we head for Ystone to look for wolves.

So I upgraded and bought a Leupold 15-45x scope which I rarely use above 40 because of distortion and the narrowed field of view.

This past fall we were in the Lamar Valley trying to see wolves over a mile away. I remember some gal telling me "look for his ears." For the record 40x was totally inadequate for seeing a wolf's ears from a mile away. Her 60x Swarovski with better glass was a game changer but I figure it'll be cheaper to look for closer wolves or ones with bigger ears.
 
frustration

I am the owner of a Nikon 16-48 x 65 ... model number WP65A.

Here's more about it.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/Products/Spotting-Scopes/8309/ProStaff-16-48x65mm-Angled.html


I live in Colorado Springs, CO .... The summit of Pikes Peak is about 10 miles away... at max zoom I can see the house on the summit with clarity.

However, when I shoot at targets at 210 yards, I can't see if my 270 win bullet has hit the target or not. Where I shoot, I'm not supposed to use anything but paper targets. I've experimented with Shoot N See and other splatter targets, but a 270 bullet just doesn't make that much of a hole.

I thought I would try even more magnification, but I'm starting to doubt that will make any difference, based on someone's earlier comment.

I can't afford a Swarovski (sp?) but am willing to spend more. I CAN see the 150 yard targets.

Any ideas?

I have a few old time SLR cameras.. I wonder if a monster telephoto will help?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Pat
 
I am the owner of a Nikon 16-48 x 65 ... model number WP65A.
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I have that same model scope and I have no problem seeing 22 caliber holes at 200 yards with it.

I do have some issues trying to see 30 caliber holes at 300 yards. We cannot post targets at that range any more at Rio Salado, so it is not a big concern to me.

I do notice the scope must be mounted securely to keep vibration from moving it around. I have mine on a wide base camera tripod that I set at the very front of my bench. At 200 yards, focusing is a very touchy process when you dial the magnification up.

Are you experiencing problems with the focus? Has the scope been dropped or bumped?
 
@geetarman.

Thanks...

No I haven't dropped it. It does seem hard to get that "sweet spot" of focus at 200 yards. Which I guess is not odd, considering I'm at max zoom and depth of field is probably very small.
 
It does seem hard to get that "sweet spot" of focus at 200 yards.
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I have that same issue. It would be really nice if one had a small rubber wheel and cable device to tweak the focus without having to touch the side of the scope. In my head I visualize something like either a cable release used on cameras or a precision stepping motor that would allow easier focusing.

I am sure that someone will come up with some sort of instant focus like you see on digital cameras today.

I am thinking the shorter and more rigid your setup, the easier it is to focus at higher magnification and longer distances.

That is also where some of the really expensive spotting scopes are going to shine.

I have never looked through a Zeiss or Swarovski spotting scope. . .I am afraid what it might cause me to do:rolleyes:
 
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