Spotting Scope

[KillShot]

Hello guys and gals, forgive me if this is being posted in the wrong forum. I couldn't figure out which forum this question would be better suited for, seeing as how I didn't see a specific forum for optics. Anyway, I'll get right to the point.

I'm wanting to purchase a decent spotting scope and I've been looking at the Leupold Sierra at Academy Sports. The range I use is only 200yds but I want something that will provide clarity up to say...500yds.

If anyone has any experience with this, I would very much appreciate your input. If there's something other than the Leupold that you'd recommend, that is in the same price range, by all means let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tyromeo55]

The one I looked through was nice but a little under par for the price and Leupold name. Before you buy I'd try and get my hands on one of the newer Redhead scopes ( If you can find one) or Go to bass pro and look at the Redhead's

 

[ez bake]

My friend bought that spotter after I bought my Burris and I could consistently see further than his - mine is only a 24x and it was well more clear than his Leupold (Mine's for sale in the classifieds btw *cough*shameless*plug*for*my*classifieds*ad*). I was extremely disappointed with the lack of clarity on his and told him to take it back, but he ended up selling it.

If you want a good spotter, go for clarity above all else. Bushnell makes some nicer ones but you won't find them in stores. Mine came from Sports World in Tulsa but Burris' spotters are available online at places like swfa.com or opticsplanet.com .

Vortex makes some nice ones for the money, but in my opinion, the best spotter out there is the Bushnell Excursion tactical spotting scope FFP mil dot.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-excursion-lightpath-spotting-scope-15-45x60-ed-781560ed.html

Its the only spotter with a reticle (and FFP) in that price range. Its more expensive than the ones you'll find in stores, but aside from the Vortex, its on my short list for my next spotter.

 

[Nighthawk]

It might surprise you that NcStar makes Redhead brand.

 

[LtCCMPUnit42]

I just can't bring myself to pay that much money for optics that can't be mounted on a rifle.
Spend the same amount of money on a good rifle scope and have something that you can do both with.

 

[Nighthawk]

I do not normally comment on remarks like that, but I have heard that alot from customers.

 

[KillShot]

...Spend the same amount of money on a good rifle scope and have something that you can do both with.

That's what I was thinking initially, having my heart set on the Vortex Viper PST series. However, it has yet to be released and has been on backorder for quite awhile now.

I would like to have a decent spotting scope and range finder, which would allow me to practice on a country road somewhere instead of going to the range whenever I want to practice.

ez_bake...thanks for the info. I'll take a look at your spotting scope and the link you provided.

 

[redline]

I just can't bring myself to pay that much money for optics that can't be mounted on a rifle.
Spend the same amount of money on a good rifle scope and have something that you can do both with.

what do you mean can't, duct tape man duct tape

 

[ez bake]

I just can't bring myself to pay that much money for optics that can't be mounted on a rifle.
Spend the same amount of money on a good rifle scope and have something that you can do both with.

That's easier said than done - try spotting shots at over 500yds with a scope that goes all the way to 20x and you'd have a hard time finding holes in paper (or even chipped spots on white-painted steel).

A good spotter is well worth the money when playing at those distances (its truly handicapping not to have one).

Now my little Burris is good to past where my scopes are, but its not enough to reach out further, so I'm upgrading.

I've had a friend spot out of his Vortex 6-24 rifle-scope but even he was limited to about 700 or so yards before we just really had to use the spotting scope to really see where the hits were going (especially with my wild shots at that distance - lot of white in between my paper-holes ).

 

[Dr. Barry Greyson]

Here is an assortment:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/spottingscopes.html?cmp=spottingscopes-bing
http://www.usoptics.com/product.php?partnumber=SPO-100