What would you recommend for a $1000 spotting scope?

[alexnelon]

IMO there's no spotter in that price range that is worth buying new. $1,000 is kind of a dead zone.

Used Kowa if you can find one, or used Nikon for ~$400 and use it while you save up.

But also, good binos way before spotter.

 

[Alpine4x4]

Dont sleep on Athlon if you want to save some money. The Ares 65mm is a great little scope for the money and the Cronus 86mm is solid, especially if found used. Not Kowa/Swaro quality, but easily as good as the comparable Razor scopes.

That said I only have my scopes in the truck now. I went to a 10x Swaro on the chest and a 16x sig Zulu6 in the pack. The 16x gets me the info I need and is much lighter. The areas we hunt are steep valleys though so you dont really need the range of a spotter.

 

[MoeFaux]

I would agree with several points already made. My opinion, If u want a spotter get a gen 1 vortex razor 65 mm for $550-$600 and play with it. See if it scratches the itch or how much u actually use it/like it. Sell the vipers and upgrade yer binos to a better pair of tens. U will more than likely use those a lot more than the spotter. I have slowly upgraded my binos over the years, and as mentioned already, I’ve never wished I kept my lesser glass instead of the better glass I upgraded to.
There are deals on here a lot for used glass that can save u a ton over buying new.

Where abouts r u in Michigan. I have the gen 1 razor and some Slc 10’s and 8’s if yer not to far away and want to look through them sometime.

I used to have the razor 10’s and b 1.2 8’s. Really enjoyed the b 1.2’s but swapped those out for the b3 8’s for hunting around here. They r some great binos for hunting Michigan in a smaller size.

Sending PM.

 

[Bluefish]

Kowa. I got one a long while ago at the recommendation of a service rifle shooter and am glad I spent the money. This scope showed my why good glass is better. I had a cheap bushnell and at 60x is had less detail than the kowa at 27x. Mine isn’t even the expensive kowa, just one of the cheaper ones.

 

[NickyD]

I believe there is still great value in owning a budget to mid range spotting scope. I’d get a 65mm so you have a good idea if you want bigger or smaller when you go to upgrade.

Just understand that these optics will not perform well at the higher magnification range. But they are still very helpful to get a closer look at a potential animal or to determine sex or maturity.

A few people have mentioned it, and I agree that investing into a quality tripod would be most helpful. I’ve had cheap tripods and they are borderline useless compared to the top end tripods. A perfectly stable image really helps.

Personally, I’d take the $1,000 and split it evenly between a used spotter and a nice tripod/head

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

If you are still looking for, I have a Nikon ED82 Monarch Fieldscope that’s in phenomenal condition for $1,000. Listing it soon.

 

[SikaSeeker]

Another possible option is Kowa TSN823M if you find one in mint condition

 

[Grassymike]

Used Leupold GR 12-40 HD. I bought one on Ebay for $675. If it has any issues send it in to Leupy the warranty will cover it. These scopes have very good optics ,they are all most would ever need if Sheep or Goats are not a yearly event. Really easy to get behind with 30mm of eye relief and a very useable power range (12-40x). Also very easy to pack .The best part is if you want to upgrade after a few years they will retain most of their value unlike other brands. The real best option at $1000 is a used Kowa 553/554 . These have been on the Classifieds alot recently as Kowa has a new upgraded version.

 

[Buglebrush]

Used or refurbished Razor. I had a 65mm and it was worthless to me. Too heavy for backpacking and too small for day hunting huge open country. I have a 56mm and 85mm now. If I had to only choose one, it'd be the 56mm.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I’ll be the odd man out and suggest a middle of the road used spotter is all 99% of average hunters and shooters need for a first scope. I tell personal friends and family if they don’t know they need something better they should start with something like a Nikon Fieldscope 2 or 3, or the ed50 which some folks say is about like the larger Fieldscope 3 in clarity, all with a fixed 27x or 30x eye piece. Everyone should have a cheap window mount, a light weight packable carbon fiber tripod and a big heavy aluminum tripod tall enough to stand up for car use ($100 to 200 used).

This level of scope are the equivalent of rental skis or a basic Savage 110 or Remington ADL in 30-06. Some hunters will outgrow them and some will use them for decades. Even if someone upgrades down the road, I keep a similar quality scope in the glovebox with a window mount and never worry about it.

The scope I’ve taken on every hunting trip since the 1990s all over Wyoming is (now) a vintage Leupold Gold Ring fixed 30x and it’s about like the Nikons mentioned above in clarity. If someone is only using it to confirm antler size in this zip code even a 25x is usable, but for most glassing a 30x model is better.





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lol that’s what I have is a leopold 25x50 it’s all I have ever needed in the lower 48 , sheep and goats up north I rent some Swarovski glass for the hunt

 

[TaperPin]

lol that’s what I have is a leopold 25x50 it’s all I have ever needed in the lower 48 , sheep and goats up north I rent some Swarovski glass for the hunt

Nice! lol

 

[S-3 ranch]

Nice! lol

I have a window mount and a clip on mount for deer blinds, tripod for sitting on an open space.
Imo $$$ should be more well spent on good binoculars for locating game and mid range $ on spotting scopes

 

[Ed3645]

Athlon Ares 20-60 for $650ish has been a good middle of the road scope.

 

[WyoWild]

Just a touch over your price the Tract Toric UHD 22-45x65 is a very nice scope with Schott glass. They go for about $1500 new but are significantly better that a lot of scopes in the $1000-$1500 range.

I have one in like new condition that I will be posting for sale as I just purchased a high end spotter.

 

[Marbles]

I wouldn't buy a thousand dollars spotter. But the old Kowa 55s can be found for a decent price. I want to sell mine.

So, I would spend the money on better binoculars or save for another year.