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Best $1000.00 spotting scope for hunting???

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billiam13 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billiam13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Best $1000.00 spotting scope for hunting???
    Posted: February/27/2013 at 18:06
OK spotting scope experts, I have $1000.00 and want to know what is my best scope for the money. I will be mainly using this scope to watch deer in North Dakota, whether it be from vehicle in alfalpha fields, are in the badlands searching for muleys. I will also use this scope for elk hunting in Wyoming and Idaho. Right now I am most interested in compactness and quality of image. For now, the front runner is the Pentax PF-65ED II    with the XW 14 eyepiece. I think this would make it a 28 power. What do you think about this setup?? Thanks
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JGRaider View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/27/2013 at 21:17
I'd look hard for a Leupold 12-40x60 GR HD.  It's small, great optics, tough as all getout, and has the best eye relief of any spotter anywhere.  Great stuff.  
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billiam13 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billiam13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/28/2013 at 17:42
Thanks JGRaider

Any other opinions??? Come on peoples...
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Bitterroot Bulls View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/28/2013 at 18:34
I like JG's advice. 
 
The Pentax is a good spotter optically.  Mine broke in my pack though.
 
I think a Nikon ED50 or Vortex Razor HD50 would give you another option in an even smaller package.
 
If you can find a Razor HD 65 in your price range, it would also likely do well for your uses.
-Matt
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billiam13 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billiam13 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/10/2013 at 17:33
Hey, Bitterroot Bulls, I can get a brand new Razor HD 65 for $1000.00 should I jump on this?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/10/2013 at 20:26
Originally posted by billiam13 billiam13 wrote:

Hey, Bitterroot Bulls, I can get a brand new Razor HD 65 for $1000.00 should I jump on this?


IDK, but the 85mm version is excellent.

I am expecting a Razor 65 for eval soon. I will know more then. My original post should have mentioned that I expect it to be good. I will have to spend sometime with it to really know.

Sounds like a good price though, if you want to roll the dice.
-Matt
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boats View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boats Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/13/2013 at 06:52
If you have to carry it, outdoors subject to bad weather, nothing can come close to the Leupold.  Good weather weight not an issue it's nearly as good as the best.
 
My personal prefrence is the older fixed power compact Leupolds, however have to use them with a pair of binocs for scanning. New variable you can scan on low power then crank up, not have to carry binoculars. Friend dropped mine eyepice worked Ok but had a little click in the adjustment after. Mailed back to Leupold fixed no charge total turn time 10 days.
 
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chromatica View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chromatica Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2014 at 17:43
I purchased  a Pentax ED65 IIA 6 months ago and it is awesome.  It is small and light and the image quality is head and shoulders above every other sporting optic I looked through.  I really wanted a scope that uses standard 1 1/4 astronomic eyepieces because the price performance of these eyepieces is way better than any of the other proprietary eyepieces.  I like fixed focal length eyepieces so I picked up a 21 mm Badder at a local camera/telescope shop.  Badder also makes a host of adapters for their eyepieces so I bought one to allow me to attach my Lumix camera to the eyepiece for digiscoping.  B&H  has a special on these for $450 (eyepieces sold separately) and it includes a free tripod with fluid head which is definitely worth the $99 value that B&H claims.
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stickbow46 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/18/2014 at 22:14
chromatica,maybe you should go back & reread the rules on not posting any competitors on SWFA OT.
 
I'm sure you understand this site is free & will stay this way as long as SWFA stays in business.Your new here so this time will probably be over looked with a warning.We are a very friendly group,with lots of info & sharing.Please come back & feel free to participate.
 
With that said Welcome to the OT!
Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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FrankD View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/19/2014 at 10:05
Nothing wrong whatsoever with the Pentax 65 XW14 combination. I had the XW20 combo with it and thought it was excellent. Used it for many years both for hunting and hawkwatching.

Having said that, and if size/weight are a huge concern then I would suggest a newcomer to the compact spotting scope market...the Opticron MM3. It is a 50 mm class spotter. I did a review of it over on birdforum recently. I will post a new thread here on this forum with the review info included. Pic of it is below:






Frank
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