Long Range Hunting (back East) I need Spotter advice.

[libertyman777]

Might not qualify as long range but we have three different cut overs that we will be hunting over the next few years. Ranges up to 600 yards.

Weight is not a primary concern. I do think I would prefer a straight body but I've owned neither so I really don't know. Money is an object.

From what I'm reading, the $500-$600 that I wanted to spend is probably not going to cut it and I'm going to need to at least double that or wait for a really good deal on a used scoped. What is recommended and what should I be on the lookout for in used glass?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[BadDogPSD]

I really like my Vortex Razor spotter...

 

[toddc]

Dude its 600 yds for cryin out loud. Are ya wanting to count points or NOSE HAIRS? 600 yds is very close for a spotter. Our 10 year avg shot distance is 180 yds further. SHOT DISTANCE. So IMO any decent scope will work fine at those ranges. You are lucky that the market has changed because 10 yrs ago a $400 spotter sure wasnt what it is today. Look into the bushnell legend 20x60x80 and the vortex hd 20x60x80. I bought one of the vortex so my hunters would quit putting grubby fingerprints on my zeiss and now I'm moderately wondering if I should let them have the zeiss instead. Very very very good glass for that price range. I havent used the bushy but have looked thru them and they are better than my old bl 20x60x70 which werent bad and are still in thier lineup after 20 yrs. I like the angled eyepeice for sure it results in less neck cramps(I spend 12 hrs a day on glass). Also remember that I regularly spot deer and get an idea of quality at 10 miles(when the air is clear) so your 600 yd glass should be really easy to buy.
When buying glass buy once cry once and remember if you are LR hunting 90% of your time in the feild should be with glass stuck to your face. I run 1 guy bare eyed or binoe'd and 1 guy glassing. Even better is three guys 1 close 1 middle on binos one long on big glass.

 

[libertyman777]

Dude its 600 yds for cryin out loud. Are ya wanting to count points or NOSE HAIRS? 600 yds is very close for a spotter. Our 10 year avg shot distance is 180 yds further. SHOT DISTANCE. So IMO any decent scope will work fine at those ranges. You are lucky that the market has changed because 10 yrs ago a $400 spotter sure wasnt what it is today. Look into the bushnell legend 20x60x80 and the vortex hd 20x60x80. I bought one of the vortex so my hunters would quit putting grubby fingerprints on my zeiss and now I'm moderately wondering if I should let them have the zeiss instead. Very very very good glass for that price range. I havent used the bushy but have looked thru them and they are better than my old bl 20x60x70 which werent bad and are still in thier lineup after 20 yrs. I like the angled eyepeice for sure it results in less neck cramps(I spend 12 hrs a day on glass). Also remember that I regularly spot deer and get an idea of quality at 10 miles(when the air is clear) so your 600 yd glass should be really easy to buy.
When buying glass buy once cry once and remember if you are LR hunting 90% of your time in the feild should be with glass stuck to your face. I run 1 guy bare eyed or binoe'd and 1 guy glassing. Even better is three guys 1 close 1 middle on binos one long on big glass.

I've had good luck with both Bushnell and Vortex riflescopes in the past and was tempted to go in that direction.

You're talking about these two correct>

Vortex 20-60x80 Viper HD Spotting Scope

Bushnell 20-60x80 Legend Ultra HD Spotting Scope

 

[toddc]

Yep. They are a lot of value for the money. May not hang with a $2500 unit but a $2500 unit is nowhere near 3x as good. Or even 30% better for that matter. A realistic diff between the vortex and $2500 stuff is under 10%.....and thats if your eyes can register the diffs and if the distance is great enough and light low enough to matter. The vortex and my zeiss quit working about the same time every evening....2-3 minutes diff?

 

[Nitroman]

The best value under a grand is the Pentax PF80-ED. I used Leica ED spotter for one five month season then bought the Pentax and the mighty PF100-ED to compare them. If the Leica is a perfect 100, then the Pentax comes in around 90. You have to spend another $1500 to get that last nth degree of resolution, but the Leica will give that to you.

I found the Pentax is MUCH brighter than the Leica at full magnification due to the 1-inch eyepiece (which is included in the price). Looking across the Kuskokwim River I could see fox and the colors of the animal with the Pentax, but the Leica would let me see the clear delineation of the colors on the animals fur.

Get the Pentax.