Legionnaire
Contributing Member
It looks like Zen-Ray may be out of business; you might be able to find one of their spotters on sale. Excellent glass for the money.
Spotting scope??
- Thread starter Sniper66
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I'm not sure if this is good news or bad news. I don't know a lot about spotting scopes, but picked up a Burris 12-24X compact scope along with a decent short tripod at a yard sale a couple of years back for $35. I've been thinking about upgrading, I can just barely make out 22 caliber holes at 200 with what I have. I was hoping a few more X's along with better quality might make it usable out to 500 yards. But if that isn't realistic then I might as well just use what I have.
My dilemma continues.....Stopped by the Bushnell Outlet to again look over the Legend Compact 15-45x. It is a step up from the cheap (under $200) Trophy series. The Legend is $290...good scope, not expensive, with straight eyepiece. Then I made the mistake of looking through a $900+ scope right next to the Legend.....crap, it was way better. I'm also thinking I might need the 60X offered on many other scopes and the 45 degree angle eye piece. Still looking.
I have too many spotting scopes. Someday I ought to take a picture of some of them on their scope stands. Scope stands are as important as the scope. Those cheap camera tripods, while they are very stable, they take a lot of floorspace, are in the way and you will either trip on one of the extended legs, and/or you will knock the stand over when you trip over one of the extended legs.
I like the zoom lenses, I am always playing with the things, and adjusting the things up and down, usually down. You will find that bullet holes can be "seen" at lower magnification, but disappear in the mirage at higher magnification. Every range I have been on, the mirage is the limiting factor. In fact, at my local gunclub, often I can't see 30 caliber holes at 100 yards, when I am in the prone position. The humidity is so high. At 200 yards we use a white back, on the berm, which shows a contrast between the hole and the black bull. If your shot is in the white, you are not going to see it! Often, you can't see the holes in the black either. I shot an entire M1a prone match this year, only saw about half of the bullet holes.
I much prefer the 45 off set eyepieces, it moves the scope out away from you. When the scope is close, you knock it over.
Just look through the scope, if the image is good, the scope is good. Give the scope to a teenager, if he can see things you can't, you will be happy with a cheaper scope.
Varminterror
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@Sniper66 I wouldn’t personally buy that Bushnell Trophy spotter. For your budget, and in your buying club, you should be able to get the 20-60x80 Bushnell Elite for under $500. Brownells has them for $580 or some such right now on sale as well, they typically run about $900-1100. I bought mine through an instructor discount about two years ago, for $480, when street on them was $1100-1300. They’re VERY clear, great resolution and color contrast, no fog, no glare, all clear. Spotting bullet holes in paper at 300 is a dream for any spotting scope, outside of ideal conditions. I’ve been fielding mine as a precision rifle match spotter all season this year, the only disadvantage has been size for carry, compared to the guys using compact spotters and binos, but I don’t miss any shots, pick up more trace, and can spot the longest range targets a lot better than any of the smaller set ups. Better glass and coatings than the Viper line, at a lower price.
Ok, we've established that no scope will spot holes at 300 with any reliability. So why spend the big bucks?
Quality. I shot with a well respected value scope for several years and thought those guys with Kowas just wasted their money. Hell I won a gold at the state games of America with it.
The next year at the same shoot one of the internal lenses came loose. Shot the entire match blind as this was a one relay match and no loaners were available. Got bronze.
I took the eye piece apart and could not believe how crappy the construction was. Contacted the company and was told it only has one year warranty even though they elude to a lifetime warranty.
What if this happened at Perry or on an expensive once in a lifetime hunt?
Just something to think about.
Quality. I shot with a well respected value scope for several years and thought those guys with Kowas just wasted their money. Hell I won a gold at the state games of America with it.
The next year at the same shoot one of the internal lenses came loose. Shot the entire match blind as this was a one relay match and no loaners were available. Got bronze.
I took the eye piece apart and could not believe how crappy the construction was. Contacted the company and was told it only has one year warranty even though they elude to a lifetime warranty.
What if this happened at Perry or on an expensive once in a lifetime hunt?
Just something to think about.
You bring a spare. I had the tensioning knob to the zoom head of a Freeland Tripod strip out at the Smallbore Nationals. What a mess trying to keep the scope from rotating on the extension rod like a propeller. It happened on Saturday. I was lucky that I was able to get to a hardware store just as it was closing, and find a wingnut that fit the screw. That wing nut and my Leatherman pliers got me through the match. But, I learned, bring a spare.
For prone use only, I brought out this vintage Freeland Tripod. This has been out of production for decades. The picture shows a 80mm Celestron on top and that turned out to be too heavy for the stand. The center of gravity with that big scope was so far out, the combination would fall over. I did put a 65mm Celestron on this stand and it works. I have used it just to test it out, and it works fine. It fits into a medium sized tool box which is always in the vehicle. I lined the tool box with foam rubber.
When your spotting scope goes down in any match, you are really and truly hosed. If you are shooting irons, you can't see what you are doing on target. Even with a scope on the gun, you can't see the mirage shifts down range because your rifle scope is focused on the bull.
Engineer1911
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Konus 80 MM scope: https://www.amazon.com/Konus-20x-60...&pf_rd_p=a670abbe-a1ba-52d3-b360-3badcefeb448
Konus 100 mm scope: https://www.amazon.com/Konus-7122-2...&pf_rd_p=b841581f-e864-5164-afa6-4c18a8348879
Both are remarkable scopes for the money. I have seen the target at 200 yards, 5.56 bullet holes in the black with another shooter's Konus 80 MM scope -- very bright and clear. The 100 MM scope is very "Muzzle Heavy" and needs a real tripod to hold it. I would add a home made attachment point at the scopes balance point.
At age 70, I'm still arguing with myself about "needing" another $325 spotting scope. I know I don't need a $500+ spotting scope. I've given away 2 less than $100 spotting scopes because they were junk. I told the recipients, "Don't complain about the price. It is free." They still paid too much, I should have paid them to take the scopes.
Konus 100 mm scope: https://www.amazon.com/Konus-7122-2...&pf_rd_p=b841581f-e864-5164-afa6-4c18a8348879
Both are remarkable scopes for the money. I have seen the target at 200 yards, 5.56 bullet holes in the black with another shooter's Konus 80 MM scope -- very bright and clear. The 100 MM scope is very "Muzzle Heavy" and needs a real tripod to hold it. I would add a home made attachment point at the scopes balance point.
At age 70, I'm still arguing with myself about "needing" another $325 spotting scope. I know I don't need a $500+ spotting scope. I've given away 2 less than $100 spotting scopes because they were junk. I told the recipients, "Don't complain about the price. It is free." They still paid too much, I should have paid them to take the scopes.
Nature Boy
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That 80mm Konus is on sale at midway for $204
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...m_content=product_3_link&utm_campaign=process
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...m_content=product_3_link&utm_campaign=process
OK....Thanks for all your comments and recommendations. Does anyone have experience with the Leupold Ventana 2 SX-1 20-60X? It is their cheaper model, selling for $569. Next up is their Kenia series that jumps to over $1000. But, I may be able to get the Ventana for 45% off MSRP+ shipping, making it $335; quite affordable. If I choose that one, it can be had with straight eye piece or 45 degree angle eyepiece. Which would you suggest, given that I'll use it for target shooting, mostly 100-300 yards and some prairie dog spotting?
Varminterror
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The Ventana isn’t as clear as the Bushnell Elite, and the price isn’t any better. I absolutely hated my Ventana.
BigDog1955
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I would first go to all your local pawn shops, a good spotting scope will always be taken care of so u can pick up one for 10 cents on a dollar at a good deal. I found a 15x45x60 Leupold with case, pod for125 dollars after all the smoke cleared. 
This is good at 200 yards for my .22LR holes and no problem for the 6.5CM holes at 400 yards when the wind is not blowing. good luck
This is good at 200 yards for my .22LR holes and no problem for the 6.5CM holes at 400 yards when the wind is not blowing. good luckOOPS...I meant Kenai...not Kenia
Shanghai McCoy
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^^^
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
BigDog1955
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u can purchase a nice rifle and scope for that discount price??
Varminterror
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Not a very nice rifle and scope, and you still wouldn’t be able to see what it where it was hitting...
I have the good fortune of already owning good rifles and good scopes. I have a Bushnell Elite 6-24X that allows me to see the targets OK. But when I shoot another gun, who wants to take the Kimber 204 on which the Bushnell rests, just to see where another gun is shooting. I'm leaning toward buying the Leupold Kenai. Even though it is a hellava deal, it's still $200 above my max price. I've looked seriously at a Bushnell Elite 20-60X 80mm. It is a big honking scope and heavier than maybe I want. But, I may be able to pick up a used one for around $400. Or can buy a new one thru my buying club for about $100 less than the Leupold Kenai. Going to a gun show tomorrow and will look around for a bargain. Since I won't be going to the range for a while due to shoulder surgery, I'm in no hurry.
I don't have a lot of experience with different scopes, but for the price point you are focusing on (little joke there), I suggest looking at the Redfield Rampage line. They are imported, but the company is owned by Leupold and they carry a decent warranty. They retail at $300 to $350, but you can find them online for $250. I have an angled 20x60x80 that I have been very impressed with for the price. I need more range time before I'd give a review, but it's one to consider.
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