Bushnell Sportview 20x60x60mm Spotting Scope?

[Doug S]

Any opinions on the Bushnell Sportview 20x60x60mm zoom spotting scope? I'm looking for a cheap spotting scope for my clubs 100 yard range & the local hardware store has one (Bushnell SV). I compared it to a cheap Simmons & another Bushnell 15x45x50mm & liked it. Are these of decent quality for casual target practice. I've been dealing with a foot problem since last summer & want to lessen the footwork while target shooting. Also don't want to spent lots of dollars. The above model is going for $89. Thanks for any info. Doug.

 

[BamBam-31]

Shouldn't this be in Accessories?

Anyhoo, I bought one of these from Big 5. IIRC, it worked okay for spotting 100 yard groups. Not great, but I managed. You get what you pay for with optics, however. IIRC, image quality was kinda dark, and I'd get weird mirage-like effects with high magnification. I ended up selling it to a buddy so I could buy a Bushnell Space Master ($250). Much better, IMHO.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

I use the Bushnell Spacemaster 15x45x50 with the adjustable eyepiece (looks a bit like a snail shell). It works great on .223 holes at 100 yards, so it should do everything you need. I think they go for about $180 w/o bipod (add another $35) and I have never had a problem with them (although I have never shot groups farther than 100 yards). I think 45x power is plenty for 100 yards so the 60x power is probably unnecessary IMHO. HTH.

 

[Doug S]

Thanks for the info guys. I took a chance & purchased the Bushnell. Didn't make it to the range today, maybe tomorrow. I will only be using it at 100 yards so hopefully it will be adequate.

 

[Doug S]

I thought I’d post a small “review†in case anyone else is considering a Bushnell Sportview. I made it out to the range today with my 20x60x60 Sportview. It was fairly late in the day (about 6-6:30pm), but good lighting. The day was fairly hectic I didn’t actually bring a rifle, I just wanted to take a few minutes to try out the new scope. I posted a target at 100 yards (that I found at 25 yards). It had been peppered by shotgun pellets, 22lr, & some other smallbore rounds (possibly 30 caliber). It was one of the black circle military targets. At 100 yards I could easily make out the shot pellets in the white. The black was a bit harder to see, but I could see the larger rounds without a problem & probably some of the 22 holes, although they (22) did blend in pretty well with the black. The target had been so peppered with shot & 22 that it wasn’t exactly easy to differentiate between these. As I said the 30 caliber stood out satisfactorily, not great but easily identifiable. The scope was actually a little more clear (bright) at 45x than at 60x. Overall impression is not great but the scope is definitely usable. I’m satisfied for $89 & it seems to meet my need for a 100 yard spotter.

 

[johnnie]

Target Video

I have seen some relatively cheap B/W video camera at Sam's, Wal-Mart etc.. I wonder if these could be set up at the range and be used for spotting scopes for visuals on the target. I think the range on these are about 1-300 yds. would need to be protected somewhat from errant rounds, and most ranges have some electrical around them. Anyone tried these - let us know if so and how they work, may save us some agony later on.