Spotting Scope

[BigBear]

Does the addage "you get what you pay for" also apply to spotting scopes as it does regular rifle scopes?

Is there a good $100 or so spotting scope or is that just wasting money?

Someone school me.... I still need someone to school me on using scopes too... I just use the holdover method... not even sure my turrets move, lol. (I'm kidding)

[Ranger]

You know, I picked up a Bushnell with a tripod on 1SaleADay for $39, it's not the top of the line but it works for what I want it for. I'm not saying that a more expensive scope isn't better, but I suppose it depends on what you're using it for. I really only use it for sighting in up to about 300 yards. I would like to get one that let's me see further but I honestly haven't found a good place to shoot at 1,000 yards anyway (I know there are some ranges, but I like to just fool around in the mountains).

I can tell you that finding the vapor trail on my $39 scope is a challenge :).

[cowboykjohnson]

Does the addage "you get what you pay for" also apply to spotting scopes as it does regular rifle scopes?

Is there a good $100 or so spotting scope or is that just wasting money?

Someone school me.... I still need someone to school me on using scopes too... I just use the holdover method... not even sure my turrets move, lol. (I'm kidding)
I'm sure it does if your a scout for a Marine sniper or calling in artillery, but I've used some cheaper ones for scanning open country for elk, and they work decent. The optics aren't as clear and they tend to strain your eyes a bit more, but they are definitely usable.

[esaabye]

I have a cheap simmons, is hard to pick out 223 at 200yds, fine for 308 at 300 yds. I have looked thru some better scopes at high power matches and they are much nicer, clearer and more light. Can easily pick at 223 holes at 200yds with a 45 magnification when I struggle at 60 magnification.

On the other hand, for what I do it works OK and I would rather spend the extra money on ammo.

[BigBear]

Thanks for teh replies. I have an old pair of binos I've been using, not very successfully since they are cheapos themselves. So I've been looking into actual spotting scopes.

[cowboykjohnson]

Look into Nikon optics. I have a pair of binos from them that are spectacular compared to the cheapos I have used and they weren't all that expensive. They still aren't top of the line but I just need them to ID elk out to 8-900 yds, my scope lets me count the points and judge size. They don't make your eyes hurt looking through them all day either.

[OgenRwot]

Yeah it does make a difference. I have a cheaper Bushnell as well and it's tough to see things out over a few hundred yards when spotting. Plus the eye relief sucks and you have to be dead nuts straight to see through the thing. I got it for free so I'm not complaining but you're gonna want to spend the dough to get a good one.

[Ranger]

Plus the eye relief sucks and you have to be dead nuts straight to see through the thing. I got it for free so I'm not complaining but you're gonna want to spend the dough to get a good one.

+1

[spencerhenry]

i looked at swarovski, pentax, nikon, leica, and zeiss when i bought mine about 10 years ago. i thought the leica was the best, i still do. 20-60x77 i spot elk in the summer, i can tell if a bull has his eyes open at 500 yds or better. mostly the clarity will allow you to see things that a cheaper scope will not. the leica when i bought it was about $1300, not sure what they are now.

[MoNsTeR]

I have a $90 Barska 18-36x that I'm totally happy with. I don't have anywhere to shoot beyond 100 yards, and up to that distance it does the job just fine.