The spotting scope that I use is a Kowa 822. Mine has the straight eyepiece, it is also available with a 45 degree eyepiece which is probably a better choice. I use the 27 power long eye relief lens. With this setup I can see .22 holes at 200 yards when many other scopes can't

Steve Durren

I started a similar quest as soon as we started shooting those little holes at 200yds.  After a couple of years, here is what I learned.

Let Claudia spot for you!

Having 20/15 or better vision yourself is more important than your spotting scope.  We have a Kowa similar to Steve's and on a good day I can see the .22 holes.  My vision is 20/25 at best.  I still use the scope on the rifle (24X Redfield) more than I do the spotting scope.  A binocular set up with two Kowas would be better, but only marginally and the cost would not justify the difference in performance.

While I am still researching the idea, I think a wireless transmitter and video camera at the target butt is the answer.  So far I have found that to get the resolution needed to clearly see the .22 holes at that distance video is not cost effective.  Plus, even if it worked, you have to deal with weather (rain) ,set up/tear down, transportation, storage etc.

Corky

If you don't mind a little rambling on spotters

There is no doubt the big modern scopes like Kowa with very large objective lens and fixed power eyepieces are the best you can buy. (I doubt if you can buy a Unertl team spotter)

But I like my little Leopold a lot. It resolves well, is very small and tough too. It's a shame they don't make it anymore. Friend of mind has one of there new variables and the picture is half as good as my fixed model. He is a bird watcher and took me to a spot were some Eagles were nesting last weekend. He could not beleave the picture through my fixed power Leopold

I think it has to do with the varable feature, and Leopold is building them for game spotting which is much less demanding than bullet hole resolution.

At the Smallbore Silouette nationals one year Leopold had a set up showing off new scopes. The 40x Varable had just come out. Old guy Put his well worn Unertl 24x spotter on the line and said if the new scope resolved better than his he would buy one.  As you can guess the Unertl beat it hands down.

I think the scopes overall leingth has something to do with it too. I have a English draw tube scope marked "Quick focus Marksman" JH Steward London. It's about 20 power and the guy that cleaned it for me said it was made in the late 40's  The scope is about 3 feet long drawn and on a clear day gives resolution as good as any. The lens are not coated and the Occular lens has some scratches but still it performs well.

If you can avoid varable it helps a whole lot and the longer and wider the better.

Boats

I have used a Nikon Earth and Sky for years.  Bought it from Midway because of their no like return policy.

I have used it at 1000yds and down.
It is a 60mm front objective and havehad very good results with it.

I have spoted 200yd 22 holes quite abit and it does well. Nothing is going to be perfect no matter what you pay for one.
A bud a few years back couldn't see his 22 holes at 200yds, so I found all the hole for him, oh he had a Kowa 821.
None can see through the mirage. Takes some study sometime to wait it out.

I paid $350.00 for mine with a varible eye piece, 15 to 25 or so I believe.

It is a buy at 200.

Joe-S
I have a Kowa, really great scope, but at the SHOT show I saw a great new spotting scope that Celestron has that has not been out long, has 100mm objective lens and the price was very reasonable for the quality, models are Ultima 100 and Ultima 100ED.
Yes the Unertl Co.out of Vegas is going to make the Unertl Team Spotting scope again, BUT the price retail $3,624, the whole team would have to chip in to buy one of these.
Bob