spotting scope advice needed.

BATattack · Post by **BATattack** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 12:39 am

hi everyone!

im looking for a spotting scope that is good value for money. im not expecting to be able to see bullet holes at 1000yds as it will b used mostly when checking spotters during scoreing and coaching but good resolution would be an advantage.

im not shure i should get an angled eyepiece or how all the removable eyepieces work?

the nikon optics that i have looked through seem to be quite good and i have seen a nikon sky and earth 15-45x 60 but dont know what they are worth over here.

any experience or opinions are appreciated.

id like to try and stick to a budet (hasnt worked with any other shooting equipment yet! haha) of $300-$450

thanks in advance!

bruce moulds · Post by **bruce moulds** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:22 am

bat,
i am in the process of getting one from optics planet.
i elected to get a kowa 66 mm prominar because it is more compact than the big 80 mm scopes, and the flutite glass in a66 mm prominar will probably be as clear as an 80 mm with std glass. also we do not shoot in low light so the 66 should have enough light gathering.
i am getting a 20 to 60 zoom etepiece and after using it, might get a 20x wideangle. the higher powers will be useful for fly shooting, an 20 will be good for seeing spotting discs, and hopefully other peoples targets.
kowa seems to be one of the best jap optics, only bettered by the best euro glass which is incredibly expensive.
nikon makes some good scopes, their most expensive being superb. midway handles them.
i went for angled eyepiece, but it is really a matter of personal choice.
remember that even the best scope can't see through dirty air.
bruce.

bobped · Post by **bobped** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:03 pm

I do a fair bit of Coaching as well as shooting. My previous Spotting Scope finally carked it about a year ago. After looking around a lot, I finally chose a Konuspot 65. Its the smaller version of the Konuspot 80 but lacks nothing in quality and clarity. It has an angled eyepiece, which I now prefer for spotting and coaching. Its more than good enough for mirage reading and when we put it side by side with a Leica Scope and a Kowa, we could not discern any difference. The major difference is price.

The good part is that the S. Aust (SARA) Web Site has it for $295 and the NSW Shop has it for $240. Its variable power from 15-45 and I usually set it on 20 power which is more than enough for accurate mirage reading.

http://www.riflesa.asn.au/price%20lists/Spotting.htm

http://www.nswra.org.au/categories/Spot ... es/Scopes/

Cheers
Bob Pedersen

BATattack · Post by **BATattack** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:43 pm

i have looked through several Konuspot spotting scopes and thought they were very nice. they seem to be just as or clearer than my nightforce scopes and thats all i need :lol:

so the next question is where should i go to get the best price?

if i could get a good deal on an 80mm konusport id be more than happy!

RAVEN · Post by **RAVEN** » Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:57 pm

I have PM sent to U POLEAXE
I have one and more than happy with it.
Cheers
RB

bruce moulds · Post by **bruce moulds** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:19 pm

bat,
you make the point that you want something better than your nightforces.
i replaced a leupold with a nightforce, as their advertising at the time stated that nightforce compared to top end spotting scopes.
the only reason i still have a nightforce is that it offers more power than the leupy did.
if as you say the konus is better, it is (while quite good) by no means high end.
what does this say for nightforce optics? are they overpriced? camera quality low dispersion lenses can be had for cameras for less money than a nightforce cheaper, and they are quite mechanically complicated.
bruce.

BATattack · Post by **BATattack** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:11 pm

haha very good question bruce. . i never said i was looking for something beter i just made an observation that a 80mm objective seemed clearer!! as i can see that stirring spoon hiding behind your back!

i did not buy a nightforce because i think they have UBER fantastic optics. my opinion is with my eyes is that they are beter than tasco, bushnell etc etc and are as good as the leupold.

BUT you get what you pay for and considering they are cheaper than the vx4 and have higher power they are a good option. the euro stuff that has fantastic glass is 3x the price with poor reticle choice and sometimes has mil adjustment 10mm @ 100 clicks!!!

why did i buy several if i dont think they have fantastic glass??

probably for the same reason that many people do when they shoot at different ranges every week. the clicks are super repeatable. . . they have large selection of calibrated reticles (NP-R2 my fave) handy for adjustments and hold offs if you like doing the maths and they are mechanicly well built for a long life of hard use.

that is my opinion only! i personally like my 5.5-22x56 NXS because it is easy to use as each revolution of the elevation turret is 10moa and that corresponds to the x mas tree on the turret aswell. it also has side focus paralex so i dont have to reach so far forward. the only thing it lacks over the BR is the 1/8th clicks!

bruce moulds · Post by **bruce moulds** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:34 pm

my kowa tsn663 turned up today, & the big squeal i let out when paying for it was worth every decibel.
clarity is superb at 20x, & at 60x.
it makes the old tasco look like a coke bottle. check out opticsplanet for prices on many spotting scopes.
bruce.