Spotting scope question?

BPS BLASTER

BPS BLASTER

New member
Hey could you guys tell me what power and brand of spotting scope I need or would be happy with for putting on the shooting bench to see bullet holes at 100 yards or more and for maybe taking on a elk hunt if I am lucky??

Thank you,
BPS Blaster
 
If you are going to pack it, you want one of the compact ones. Bushnell makes one I think, and probably Cabela's too.
For clarity, the Kowa's are very nice (but pricey). Seeing holes at 100 you can get away with probaby 25-30x. Quality of glass helps in resolution too.
 
I have a Nikon spotting scope that is a 45 power and it is perfect. But you can see them with 20-30 power just fine.
 
For spotting holes a fixed power will do fine. If your going to use it for hunting then I prefer a variable with a top power in the 45 to 50 range.

This is one place where more money buys better glass. If you get a chance to go in Cabela's they usually have their scopes lined up where you can look thru several from one place. It's nice to compare them. I like as wide a field of view as I can afford.
 
For hunting elk,I would think you'd get more use out of good binoculars. However, the guys that spot game with scopes use the really BIG scopes. In either case read several reports/article before buying. Clarity is important to prevent eye fatigue.
 
Assuming you are a young guy and intend on living and hunting awhile longer, I would look at it as a lifetime investment.... I have a Zeiss 65MM with fluoride HD glass and a 15-45 Vario eyepiece...The whole rig cost around 1500. I have ALOT more than that in some of my rifles, and a great peice of glass is just as valuable as my rifles while hunting...Especially if you live out west. Not sure how deep your pockets are but my suggestion is if ya ain't got the funds to get a good one then DON'T!!! Wait until you save up the money. There are alot of great scopes out there as I am not saying you have to have a Zeiss or Swarovski. At a minimum I would START looking at the Pentax 65MM and go up from there. Buy the HD or fluoride type glass. If you intend on hunting with it I would NOT go any bigger than a 65MM. I also would without a doubt have a variable eyepiece. The fixed does have more field of view if you compare them at the same power setting, but they are nowhere near as versatile. As for them being any more clear, I am not to sure about that. As for seeing bullet holes at a hundred yards, about any scope will do that, even most of the cheapys. Don't be afraid to wait and buy a good piece of glass...Trust me you will be VERY glad you did in the end! Another thing not mentioned is strait or angled eyepiece....If you will be looking alot out of the truck the straits are the way to go but for off a tripod or laying prone the angled has the edge. I prefer th angled over the strait, but it is personal preference.
 
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Thanks for the info, I knew this would be the place to ask. The older I am getting, the more I appreciate good optics, and with them you usually get what you pay for.
Thanks again,

BPS Blaster
 
I had a Leupold Wind River 14X45, don't waste your money! I went to a Cabelas store and lined up 5 or 6 scopes in the $4-7 hundred dollar range. There was a bull elk mount all the way across the store. Some scope wouldn't focus to see his eye lashes, some would. One allowed me to count them. I bought a Cabelas Big Sky HD. It was the sharpest through the entire range of magnification. Definitely go somewhere where you can compare. I would have loved to buy a Swarovski or Leica but it wasn't in the cards.
 
BPS BLASTER,

Although some may scoff. I used a little Winchester 20-50x55mm spotter for 5yrs or so. Spotting coyote, way out there. Spotter scope is 9" long, lightweight & very rugged. Pretty good glass as well. Cost me around $100.00.

I generally buy the best for the price. As the more expensive glass is not always the best for the buck, IMO.
Especially, if it gets knocked around. Et your warranty has ran out.

BTW, what county do you hunt coyote?
 
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Nikon's Fieldscope line with ED glass is consistantly rated as having image quality better than most anything out there, and it's ~$800. That makes me believe their "cheaper" models are a pretty good bang for the buck, too.
Personally, I'd get good binos for elk hunting, unless you're going to be glassing out of the truck. You'll want to reduce weight as much as possible, if you walk any amount.
I'd think with 45X you could spot hits out to 500 yards, minimum.
 
BPS,

i'm fixing to list a KOWA TS612 spotting scope for sale in the classifieds. 99% Mint condition in original boxes and could pass for "as new". I bought 2 with the expectations of making a "big eyes" binocular. This one was taken to the range once and boxed up, never used again.

Straight body , 20x - 60x eyepiece adj. magnification, 60mm obj lens with multi-coated glass, 11.80" long and 27.5 ozs. Has a lens hood that extends forward to protect glass and minimize sun glare. Compact, high performance, lightweight and perfect dual use for checking out bullet holes at the range or spotting game in the field.

If money were no problem, I'd recommend some of the higher end ED or Flourite glass priced at $1000 and above. If you're on a budget and looking to spend a few hundered dollars, this KOWA is a very good deal.

I paid close to $300 for the body and over $200 for the 20x-60x eyepeice. Selling this set-up for $325 + $10 for shipping and insurance. IMO, a quality spotting scope should last you a lifetime and buy the best you can afford. Spotting scopes are just like binoculars and rifle scopes, you get what you pay for.

original pics available. PM me if interested as I'll be listing it in the classifieds soon. **Others welcome to PM me; however BPS has first right of refusal since this is his thread and he is looking for a spotting scope.

In case you've never heard of KOWA, their glass is considered top notch by many shooting disciplines (Benchrest, silhouette, small bore, Camp Perry, F-Class, etc...) and comparable to Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski.

thx

Cajun Blake {

612.jpg


612%20hood.jpg
 


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