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First time buyer advice |
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Commander72
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/26/2015 Location: Champaign IL Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Posted: May/26/2015 at 23:32 |
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I am looking into buying my first spotting scope. I have narrowed it down to a few choices.
A Celestron Ultima 80 with 20-60 mag A Redfield rampage 20-60X60 A Barska Gladiator 20-60X90 Or a Leupold SX1 Ventana I will mainly be using this for sighting in rife scopes. If you know of any other scopes in this range that are more bang for you buck I would be glad to hear them. |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Celestron, generally, makes pretty good stuff, but in that price range... not so much. The one you are looking at, really and truly, is about a 100 yard scope. Redfield, I don't know, but probably close to Celestron. Not bad... Barska... I have one... barely adequate and not pleasing... looking through it is always a chore... I would not purchase another, even though I got a "great deal" on this one... only $29.99. It wasn't worth it, really. Over time, I've tried to tell myself it is OK for the money, but I always lose that conversation. Leupold... used the 12-45x60 in Iraq and was really not impressed. I'm sure the SX-1 would be less impressive. One, in the lower price ranges, recommended to me is the Konus Spot 20-60x80. I've not used one, but have heard pretty good things about the scope "for the price". Some people like and use spotters more than I... you'll probably get a lot more responses soon. A spotter is really, normally, a fairly high dollar item... you want to see fairly small holes at fairly long distances... maybe that's why I like .458's and 50BMG's so much. Welcome to the OT. |
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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I also have heard good things about the Konus 20-60x80 spotting scope. I've heard the glass is good, but the scope itself is not as robust as others. I've never looked through one, but there was a high power shooter over on the Hide that was a big fan of the Konus for the money.
What distance are you sighting in at? If it's at 100yds then a decent 20 or 30x60 will be sufficient. If it's like 300yds or more, then your going to need some quality glass. |
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Commander72
Optics GrassHopper Joined: May/26/2015 Location: Champaign IL Status: Offline Points: 7 |
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Thanks for the advice. I am presently shooting mainly 223 at distance. Most of my local ranger do not go over a 100 yards the longest around 300. But from your comments it may be best for me to save up some money to buy a better scope. What are some of the scope you would recommend for me to save for. Also, I just spent the money I had saved up for a Zeiss rifle scope that was on sale at my local sporting goods store.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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Celestron is your best out of those.
ILya |
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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If you can do some "hands on" comparison, it would be good.
If you can wait for a bit and save a bit, the Zen-Rays are very highly rated:
A guy at the range I sometimes use has a Bushnell and it is very clear and clean. He has a Zeiss as well and the last time I was at the range, got to look at both. For the price differential the Bushnell was Very impressive. You should take a look at this one:
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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http://swfa.com/Pentax-20-60x80-ED-Spotting-Scope-P4400.aspx
This is the spotter I use, and I have no trouble seeing .30 cal. holes at 300yds. The Zen-Ray that Kickboxer recommended and the Vortex Razor 20-60x82 would all be good choices. Anything less may be a gamble on seeing .223 holes at 300yds. Also consider that the atmosphere will have an effect on how well you can see and a quality tripod helps too. |
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Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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I have to recommend shoot and see targets... Glass cannot conquer all...
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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NW425
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/16/2015 Location: NH Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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I would agree on the shoot and see targets, at 100 yards I can see .223 caliber holes with great definition even with a 4x simmons scope.
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NW425
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/16/2015 Location: NH Status: Offline Points: 56 |
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Still cant edit, but there are ways to make your own if you find them expensive..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCOVlwZM9K0 |
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