Spotting scope help.....please

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Ruffinit

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I'm trying to determine what is the minimum spotting scope (specific brand and model) I need to pick up to do what I'm trying to accomplish.

The hope is to be able to spot fall of shot up to 500 yards.

I'm on my third try at being cheap (sub 300 bucks) and have been disappointed with every try.

Can folks with long range experience tell me what spotty scopes have served them well?

Thanks!
Ruffy
 
Can’t cheat physics. Sadly. Save up and buy a decent scope. Short stuff can be done cheap. Small holes at distance need good glass.
 
rdinatal said:
500yds, $300 or under?

Sorry, not going to happen. You need real good glass for that distance and it costs $$$.
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Sorry. I wasn't clear.

Previously I'd stayed under 300 dollars. I now understand that I have to throw the budget out the window and pay for what I want.

I'm not expecting to do 500 yards under 300 bucks. I'm slow sometimes, but I DO learn.

I'm just hoping to not waste top dollar. Thus my request for personal positive experiences with scopes that can handle that kind of yardage.
 
Ruffinit said:
I'm trying to determine what is the minimum spotting scope (specific brand and model) I need to pick up to do what I'm trying to accomplish.

The hope is to be able to spot fall of shot up to 500 yards.

I'm on my third try at being cheap (sub 300 bucks) and have been disappointed with every try.

Can folks with long range experience tell me what spotty scopes have served them well?

Thanks!
Ruffy
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I have a question or six.

1. Have you ever seen trace?
2. What tripod / ball head do you run?
3. What is your process to see trace? Walk me through your procedures
4. What spotting scope do you currently have?

Thanks
John
 
I don't know if they are still available or not but Sightron made a 20-60×85 with ED glass objective lense. We use them to spot hits (or misses) on steel at 600yds. Can sometimes see vapor trail into paper at 600. They were in the $600 to $750 range. I know they have been discontinued but there were some still a available at the first if the year. You can call them directly in Youngsville.
 
For NRA/CMP highpower matches, I use a Kowa TSN821 with 27x eyepiece. I can pick out golf-tee shot markers at 300yds and a 3” shot marker at 600yds. In favorable conditions (bright/clear) I can usually pick out 223 bullet holes at 300yds too.

As for a stand, I’m using one from FirstStrike products in GA. It’s designed position shooting but works well for general shot spotting & coaching. Cost is around $300.

As stated, good glass is a must. Be prepared to spend some money.
 
@Ruffinit give @gr8fuldoug a call and have him walk you through the Kowa lineup of spotting scopes and eyepieces. I'm in your neck of the woods if you want to see what a Prominar TSN-884 looks like.
 
@gr8fuldoug is a great guy to deal with. Good glass is one of those things that you get what you pay for....to some degree.

@Ruffinit , what exactly do you mean by "to spot fall of shot"?

On a good sunny day with good glass, I can easily see hits on steel at 500 yards with a 25x rifle scope. I don't know about carboard or paper (the holes will be smaller than the paint missing on the steel).
 
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BowWow said:
@gr8fuldoug is a great guy to deal with. Good glass is one of those things that you get what you pay for....to some degree.

@Ruffinit , what exactly do you mean by "to spot fall of shot"?

On a good sunny day with good glass, I can easily see hits on steel at 500 yards with a 25x rifle scope. I don't know about carboard or paper (the holes will be smaller than the paint missing on the steel).
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By fall of shot, im meaning where the round hits. Hugh , low, left, right, etc.
 
Ruffinit said:
By fall of shot, im meaning where the round hits. Hugh , low, left, right, etc.
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If you're only worried about seeing hits and not trace, you may want to consider looking into a target camera system in lieu of a spotting scope. There are options out there cheaper than glass in that price range, and it doesn't care about humidity, mirage, or lighting conditions.
 
nbkky71 said:
For NRA/CMP highpower matches, I use a Kowa TSN821 with 27x eyepiece. I can pick out golf-tee shot markers at 300yds and a 3” shot marker at 600yds. In favorable conditions (bright/clear) I can usually pick out 223 bullet holes at 300yds too.

As for a stand, I’m using one from FirstStrike products in GA. It’s designed position shooting but works well for general shot spotting & coaching. Cost is around $300.

As stated, good glass is a must. Be prepared to spend some money.
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I had that set up with zoom eye piece. The newer Kowa's have a plastic or fiberglass body. THe old ones were metal. The standard for NRA hi pwr matches for years. Kowa has a higher end set up (Prominar?) with better glass and higher price. I sold my Kowa set up and bought the Sightron. Kowa has better resale value.
 
Kowa are supposed to be good glass, although I've never owned one. When I was shooting Hi-Power across the course I used (and still own) a 20x Unertl. On a good day I could see shot holes in paper at 300 yards, beyond that was no problem to see spot markers. I'd imagine seeing hits on steel would not be a problem but I've never used it for that.
 
I'd call one of the experts listed above and describe what you're trying to accomplish.
 
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