Spotter options for the poor folk.

[Woodrow F Call]

I'm not quite ready to drop $1000+ on a spotting scope. I have a cheapie simmons that I use to spot shots at the range, but it was dropped and broke the eye piece off. It was really cheap.

I know buy once cry once, but I'm not there and I need something to at least spot my shots. If I can use it in the next year out west, that would be great. Compact would be good.

What budget options out there should I consider before buying another $60 simmons? Let's say $500 or less. Mil Reticle options would be even better.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

We have 2 great options for you in packable ED Glass Spotters from Hawke:

#56200 Endurance ED 16-48x68 Angled Spotting Scope - Green reduced from $629.99 to only $499.99
Extra-low dispersion glass for optimum clarity
Dielectric coatings designed to increase light reflectivity
Fully multi-coated optics to produce sharp images
Close focus - see detail from 16.4ft/5m
BAK-4 porro prisms for intense color and contrast
Dual focus knob to achieve ultra fine focusing
Body rotation for viewing in virtually any position
Stay-on soft scope cover for maximum protection
Twist-up eye cup and pull out sunshade
Digi-scope compatible for use with your camera

For something slightly lighter and smaller they offer the #56194 Endurance ED 15-45x60 Angled Spotting Scope - Call for special price
Ultra compact and lightweight construction
Extra-low Dispersion glass for optimum clarity
Dielectric Coatings designed to increase light reflectivity
Fully Multi-Coated optics to produce sharp images
Close focus – see detail from 8.2ft/2.5m
BAK-4 Porro prisms for intense colour and contrast
Dual focus knob to achieve ultra fine focusing
Stay-on soft scope cover for maximum protection
Twist-up eye cup and pull out sunshade
Digi-scope compatible for use with your camera
Nitrogen purged – water and fog proof
Hawke lifetime warranty

 

[Throwin Darts]

Take a look at the Athlon Ares 65mm. It is compact, light and budget friendly.

 

[sneaky]

A lot of the budget spotters are made in the same factory so find one you like and buy it. Hawke makes a good budget scope, they also make a 50mm packable compact scope, or it may be a 55mm. It's pretty dang affordable too.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[ChrisAU]

I really like my little $300 Kowa 502, especially for backpacking. Its lighter than my binos, no reason not to take it in case I want a closer look at something.

 

[Newtosavage]

I dunno, I've had a lot of guys at the range who had to ask me where their shots went at 300 yards, and my range scope is a (very) old Bushnell Spacemaster with a fixed 20x eyepiece. It's not the brightest scope, but it's sharp, and for the range that's all you need. For a hunting scope, you need brightness though.

The key to a lot of less expensive scopes is the quality fixed focal length eyepiece. Most guys will never know how much image quality and light they give up with a variable power eyepiece until the see a good fixed one.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I dunno, I've had a lot of guys at the range who had to ask me where their shots went at 300 yards, and my range scope is a (very) old Bushnell Spacemaster with a fixed 20x eyepiece. It's not the brightest scope, but it's sharp, and for the range that's all you need. For a hunting scope, you need brightness though.

The key to a lot of less expensive scopes is the quality fixed focal length eyepiece. Most guys will never know how much image quality and light they give up with a variable power eyepiece until the see a good fixed one.

I saw some spacemasters on ebay today.

 

[Newtosavage]

I saw some spacemasters on ebay today.

If you can find one with a fixed power eyepiece, I wouldn't hesitate to give it a try. Gonna be better than that old Simmons with the variable eyepiece for sure.

This is close to the one I use, except mine has the rubber camo armoring. But those fixed power eyepieces are what you want. Stay away from the variable power ones. They are junk.



This wouldn't be a bad way to go either. Fixed power Leupy for a little more $

Leupold Gold Ring 20x60 Spotting Scope Oregon, USA | eBay

Excellent pre-owned condition. Includes a threaded sunshade. Glass is very clear, the body has a few small marks but nothing major. Overall in very good condition.

www.ebay.com

But once you get up in the $300 range, I'd give Doug a call and see what he has that can compete with that old Leupy.

 

[StopMakingSense]

Honestly a used razor gen 1 with the two focus. I know for a fact you can get the 11-33 for under $500 on here and a 65mm for around $600

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Thanks for the input. I might go that route. Gotta pay for my lease in July, then funds with open up.

 

[OXN939]

I picked up a Bushnell Prime 16-48x50 spotter a few months ago and did a review on it. They're basically right around $300, and solidly packable. Had it out watching a resident herd of whitetail at last light a few days ago, and could PID individual does against each other at 600 yards.

 

[StopMakingSense]

WTS - Razor HD 16x48x 65mm angled spotter

Hey everyone. i have this spotter i want to sell. I run 20x kaibabs now and have shifted more toward just using those. Kinda want a Lite Outdoors Tipi so I am trying to fund that. I'd take $700 with the case and shipping. still have the original box. Couple scuffs from me being a bonehead and...

www.rokslide.com

$675 just as an example for a pretty good spotter, I preferred this one over my Zeiss Conquest Gavia.

 

[Matt G.]

I have the Cabelas Krotos 15-45x65 in the classified now for 450 tyd. I would put with at Athlon Ares and very similar to the vortex razor. it treated me well.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...&share_fid=45046&share_type=t&link_source=app

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Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Wrench]

I'd consider a used nikon fieldscope ed......especially if you can get a fixed eyepiece.

 

[bascott1]

I'm not a very experienced spotter person, but i have the athlon ares and i am pretty dang happy with it. Not super expensive, pretty dang clear to me and pretty light. But like I said, I'm no expert by any means. And it did get bounced around in my pack in the bed of a truck in montana for spring bear for lots of miles and the eyepiece broke, sent it in and they fixed it with no questions asked and no charge to me.

 

[Wassid82]

I recently bought two Kowa scopes. One for me and one for my son. His 502 came first and I was really impressed for the couple hundred dollars I think its a sweet scope and as mention before it is very light weight