help with spotting scopes

[Bill56]

Hi All,

I'm going to be trying out some LR shooting (for me) out to 600 yards this year at my local range. Right now, I've got a crappy Burris Landmark 20-60x spotter that's useless above 30-40x because it gets so blurry. To be honest, I can barely make out 17HMR holes at 100 yds with the stupid thing.

I'm looking a 2 different scopes now in 2 different price ranges and am wondering if the difference in cost is worth it. First, a used Nikon Sky and Earth 20-60x80 for sale here on LRH for $375. Second, a Pentax PF-65 ED II with 20-60x eyepiece for approx. $690.00.

Anyone with experience with these spotters, please I need all the help I can get. I'm not rich by any means.

Bill

 

[jeff 300]

I have a kowa 82mm lots of comp shooters use them mine has been great. just get a good tripod for what ever you get. a cheap tripod will make what ever you put on it cheap as well.

Spotting Scopes | Kowa Sporting Optics

 

[Sako7STW]

You get what you pay for cept when it comes to rifle scopes. I find this very true in spotters. It all comes down to just how much you plan to use your scope at what distances. Farther out ='s more $$$$ is the equation. A good all around scope for the money would be the Vortex HD. From there, Kowa all the way.

 

[Bill56]

The Kowa's are too rich for my blood even though I'm drooling pretty bad. Anybody else out there with other recommendations for under $1,000 including eyepiece?

Bill

 

[ToKeepAndBear]

I have a Leupold Mark IV 12-40 spotter with reticle that I like very much. It has very good eye relief, compact design, rugged, lightweight, and good image quality up to 30 power. Image degrades significantly past 30 power but I am often shooting at long range with heavy mirage. I got a good deal on mine for $1300 new. They make the Golden Ring that is closer to your budget, similar scope but no reticle.

 

[D.ID]

My partner uses a burris landmark 20-60x80 and it sucks on high mag at dusk, ok during the day, It inspired me to buy the nikon sky &earth 20-60x80 a couple years back and while it is not a swarosky it is head & shoulders above the burris.......Now I have one and my wife has one and I was looking at the one in the classifieds this morning thinking about my partner wanting one........... He dropped price to $325......... Please buy it, because I am tempted but should not buy it right now. I have heard all sorts of good things about all the others mentioned but have not used them.

 

[D.ID]

p.s. The nikon is about three times heavier than the burris.

 

[jeff 300]

The Kowa's are too rich for my blood even though I'm drooling pretty bad. Anybody else out there with other recommendations for under $1,000 including eyepiece?

Bill

i know you said under a 1000.00
but heres the kit i bought IMOP for what you get the you can't bet the deal for a great spotter.

TSN SV 82mm Angled Spotting Scope Body (Rubber Armor) (Includes: 82mm Angled Spotting Scope, 20-60X Eye Piece, Black Monfrotto 055XDB Tripod with Bogen 700RC2 Head & Quick Release Plate, Bogen Tripod Carrying Case, Kowa Soft Spotting Scope Case & Spotting Scope Hard Case ) 1425.00 but look what all you get with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you could go to a 66mm and eye piece and be under 1000.00 easy

Kowa Spotting Scopes Sale Kowa Digiscoing Acessories

 

[newmexkid]

I got the Nikon ED82 and it's great. However, it is big and heavy. As mentioned...Get the best tripod you can afford. I got a cheapie and it's worthless.

 

[boshine]

Try Jim Owens < JarHeadTop.com>. Has great price on Kowa 82mm scope package.

 

[SpikeSniper]

I just retired my Nikon 20-60x80 after several good seasons. I tried several scopes including the Pentax, but with 80mm objective. The Pentax was hands-down clearer and brighter than the Nikon I have been using. In fact, I was set on buying it until I compared with Swarovski looking at bullet holes at 500 and 1K. There's just no beating a Swaro if you can afford it, but between the scopes you listed, the Pentax is definitely the better choice. And I'm a die-hard Nikon fan. Good luck!

 

[Gene]

I had a Sky and Earth; it would not resolve bullet holes at 500M under any conditions. Sold it and bought a Leica 20-60x77 Televid. Great optics, but pricey.

 

[Bill56]

I should have mentioned this before. I wear glasses and am pretty blind without them. So, am I going to be limited to a fixed power eyepiece or can I use a zoom eyepiece? I do know the fixed ones have a wider FOV and a usually clearer at their rated magnifications, i.e., the zooms tend to get hazier the higher you go.

 

[D.ID]

I am in the same boat with the glasses. there are scopes out there with decent zoom eye relief. The nikon was allot better than the burris and I can't say which models but I am sure there are others out there. I can resolve bullet holes in white board with either of my nikons out to 600ish in good conditions but after that it gets real tough.