Joe_S wrote on Nov 24^th, 2014 at 6:01pm:


Can't remember what make mine is (I'm on the net using a cafe's wifi), but it picks out clearly .303 holes at 1,000 yards. I bought it secondhand from a camera shop in Norwich (UK) for IIRC, 40 UKP

I happened to mention that a local charity shop had a good 'scope for 90 UKP, and I was offered the above. I could ask them to tell me about any other bargains they might get in if anyone's interested. Shipping from the UK might strip the gilt from the gingerbread though.

--
Aonghas

Quote:

If it will do that it is truly a 'magic' scope as I've not heard/read of any other spotting scope capable of doing so except on an exceptionally rare, clear, crisp, good seeing days. Am sure the high power folks would be buying them by truck load if that were so.

Spotting at distance depends on conditions, only way to compare scopes is side by side same day same target. Even same day holes fade in and out air between you and the target. I have seen times that you can identify targets very long distance others difficult even close.

You are looking through a soup bowl of moisture, lit up by changing light, how well the scope resolves depends mostly on the soup. Good Glass makes a difference not nearly as much as good conditions. Favorable light is a major factor too.

Buy what you can afford, is easy to carry, and has the features you need. Personally I never want variable, extreme high power or wide angle. I do like long eye relief however it degrades the picture a little bit.  Real choice is a big or little scope. Big looks better little is easier to use.  I have both large and small scopes and binoculars switch off depending on the situation.

Boats

OK, so I'm now in the market for something better than the $45 20-60x Northern Tool scope purchased 'new' at a flea market for $35.

Can one get by with a fixed 50 or 60x?

Looking down range only at 100 and 200yds.

Catwhisperer,

I think you can see by the various responses that opinions vary, as do experiences, and that what people consider "good" is highly subjective to what their expectations are.

Boats said it the best, and summarizes what I think:

Keep to lower magnification, 20 to 24x is great, 50 to 60X equates to poorer picture quality.  Fixed is as good as variable, and cheaper and more dependable.   

The one thing that really matters in clarity is the size of the front glass.  80mm is best, 60 is better than 40.

I set up an 80mm scope on the line at our hundred yard range every time I shoot.  There's usually an assortment of other scopes, I often see the small burris and Leupold, a rifle scope duct taped to a tripod, some chinese scopes, and sometimes the larger cheap scopes such as Nikon Sea & Sky and Celestrons.  There's a constant stream of shooters coming to my bench, to use my scope, because they can't see the bullet holes with theirs.  When there's a Leica or Swarovski or Kowa, they never come to borrow mine.  That to me says it all.

Guys that have a lot of pride of ownership in their particular scope will tell you it does everything they need.  But, when it comes to actually seeing, they will borrow a better scope to go where their favorite won't.   

I wish I could find and afford a scope that was 10 times as good as what I have.  But, like Boats said, it's mostly a matter of the "soup" that we're looking through, and the light, and the best scopes are limited by that.

If you really want to reliably spot what you are shooting at in a wide range of conditions, buy the biggest and highest quality you can afford, and it will still not be as good as you would like.  But, at least it won't be in the mostly useless category of poor money spent.  Or, if what you really need is a lower resolution, inexpensive scope, buy it and save your money to buy better beer or whatever your weakness is!  Only you have a good idea of what your real needs are.

dave   

Because of the things that Boats discribed, you'll have to use one for a while before you can really get a good idea of how well it fits your needs.

Frank

The person I shoot BPCR/BPTR with most frequently has a new 77mm Kowa with the fluorite lens. We agree that it is better than my 65mm Celestron Regal only in the most poor 'seeing' conditions at distances of 400m and longer. For a difference of $1700-1800, you will have to decide if it is worth it to you. The Kowa is truly a fine scope. But, on a 'value basis', there are better options. 

If I were to purchase a new scope for Schuetzben, BPCR & BPTR and money were no object I would go for the new 60mm HD model Leupold. Its compact size and Leupold quality would make the difference for me. They are very 'handy' on the firing line.

I use a Bushnell Elite 80mm scope.  I'm sure it's not quite as good as the top end scopes but in good light I've watched .45 cal bullets drop into an 800m target.  

Interestingly this scope has also gone up greatly since I bought it.  I just looked at the Black Friday sale price and it's listed at $729.   I think I paid $450 or $500.

I've never used a really high end spotting scope, but would love to see how they compare, especially in challenging conditions.

Chris.