cheapo spotting scopes

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bender

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I need a cheap spotting scope for use at the range... 50 yds to 200 yds.

cheap in price, but not in quality. I searched and found the other spotting scope thread, where many THR members were recommending Konus. I've never heard of Konus, but I found this one on opticsplanet:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/konus-konuspot-90-2-6-65mm-maksutov-cassegrain-spotting-scope.html

seems like a good price. My questions are: is there a focus or parallax problem with "zoom" spotting scopes? I've only used my buddy's fixed 20x50. Would this scope be good for 22 cal holes at up to 200 yds? What are some other "sub-$100" spotting scopes that are a good deal for the money?
 
ok, thanks. I should have mentioned in the first post that the "200 yds" is very infrequent for me, at least with my 223. I usually stay at 50 and 100 yds with that caliber.

For 200 yd shooting, it would mostly be my .30 cal rifle.

what about the focus/parallax question on "zoom' spotting scopes? I mean, if something is in perfect focus at 25x, if you zoom up to 50x, will it still be in focus, or do these scopes lose their focus slightly?
 
All spotting scopes I have seen whether fixed or variable, have eyepiece focus. They don't have reticles, so parallax is not a factor.

The Konus 80mm linked by 1911user is getting more and more common at rifle matches. I have seen them at BPCR silhouette where the spotter must call the hits on steel and the misses in the berm; and at Long Range Highpower where shots are spotted with a 3" disk at 600 yards and a 6" disk at 1000, and the shooter is looking at the mirage.

I have not seen the cheapo Konus (or other) in use but I go to regulation matches where at least a fairly good spotting scope is essential.
 
ok, I'm tempted to order one of those. Too bad I can't try one out in person at a local store... I'd like to see how the angle of the eyepiece would work for me while I am sitting on a bench. I wouldn't want a spotting scope that is a little too high (because of a too tall tripod) so that I would have to stand up every time I looked through it. I would want it low enough to comfortably look through it while sitting.

edit: I wish opticsplanet had customer reviews like midway does !!
 
The scope I linked comes with a small tripod with basic pan and elevation movement adjusters. The scope body rotates within its ring mount so you can turn the eyepiece to the side instead of up. The included tripod is a short one but it has a standard size adapter to use a larger tripod. I can't tell if the scope body is plastic or aluminum.

I have only used the scope once (not at the range). The biggest annoyance for me is you don't see much of the image while wearing glasses especially at higher magnification. The good spotting scopes can use a long eye relief eyepiece, but that's not an option for this one. It doesn't have that much eye relief.

The quality is probably decent for the price, but don't mistake this for a good (or rough duty) spotting scope; those cost much more. It's not a small scope at close to 18" long. I would not take it on a backcountry hunting trip. It's probably adequate for range use.
 
Any sub-$100 that's serviceable?

I'm in the same position as the original poster. I need a cheap spotting scope for an indoor range which will be used almost exclusively within 75yds.

I see a lot of suggestions pointing to opticsplanet.net, do they typically offer the best value?

I saw the suggestion at $180. Anything cheaper suggested for those of us that don't plan on anything long range?

Anyone tried the Target Sports brand stuff from CDNN? I had one of their cheapo rifle scopes (fixed 6x) that worked out fine for what I needed.

Thanks.
 
bp78,
I was looking for the same thing, an inexpensive spotting scope. I don't think you can go wrong with the stuff from CDNN. I ended up going with the #tar95 binoculars they are 12-40x70 I figured I could get more use out of the binos than the spotting scope. They come with a free tripod and adapter so that I use them as a spotting scope. Look at them or there are several nice spotters for under $70.

Cazio
 
Im in the same boat, and have heard good things about the Konus stuff. Just dont buy one of those NCSTAR scopes...mine fell apart on the way to the range for its first use. I wasnt expecting a Zeiss, but thought it could survive a trip in the trunk of my car. BUT It was fascinating pulling it apart later to see how it ticked.
 
I have a Kowa 821 with a 27x LER eyepiece. Sometimes, even I have problems spotting .22cal holes at 200 yards on paper. It all depends on angle of the sun and your target. I shoot on NRA SR targets so what i do is cut a hole in my cardboard backer slightly larger than the size of the black. That way, light shows through better and gives better visual aid. Plus, there are times I'll hit a scoring ring and I can't make out the bullet hole.

One of the other guys who practices his offhand and sitting at 200 at my range uses shoot-n-c targets on top of the SR target even with his Kowa.

That said, get what you can afford. The Konus is a popular scope right now because of it's features which work well for highpower use.
 
Unfortunately there are no bargains in optics, try to go with at least the Nikon Prostaff. Optics are timeless, the optics themselves never wear out, get a decent internal focus scope, it will provide years of service. If you go with a low end pos it will only provide you a steady stream of headaches......literally.
 
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