Spotting Scope advice

rufrdr

rufrdr

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The wife bought me a Bushnell spotting scope decades ago. I've been struggling with it to see holes in targets at 100 yards and the most recent outing I realized the Leopold 4x scope on my AR was 10 times brighter than the dark Bushnell even though the objective lense is much much larger on the spotting scope than the hog hunter Leopold scope. I can see the target clearly with the spotting scope, but I can't make out the bullet hits unless the sun is shining directly on the target. Some of the problem could be my eyes which are starting to grow cataracts.

Any advice on an affordable ($200 max) bright spotting scope?
 
rufrdr said:
The wife bought me a Bushnell spotting scope decades ago. I've been struggling with it to see holes in targets at 100 yards and the most recent outing I realized the Leopold 4x scope on my AR was 10 times brighter than the dark Bushnell even though the objective lense is much much larger on the spotting scope than the hog hunter Leopold scope. I can see the target clearly with the spotting scope, but I can't make out the bullet hits unless the sun is shining directly on the target. Some of the problem could be my eyes which are starting to grow cataracts.

Any advice on an affordable ($200 max) bright spotting scope?
Click to expand...
Bout the only thing you can do would be to buy some Shoot-n-See targets if you are limited to 200.
 
I freely admit that I am now an optics snob after guzzling the Swaro (SLC 10x42) & Kowa (TSN-884) Koolaid over the past year. Prior to that I got bye with a Konus Sport spotting scope that does a pretty good job inside of 300 yards for the $$. It looks like they have done a redesign and increased the price since I bought mine ~10 years ago:

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I am also partial to Bushnell Optics and have been impressed with the 10x monocular:

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Shop All Spotting Scopes and More. Shop Today For All of Your Outdoor Needs!

Shop All Spotting Scopes and more for all of your outdoor needs. Shop now!
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I see that part of the issue is that the maximum magnification on my old scope is 45X compared to modern 60x scopes. It is Japanese optics which are high quality. Maybe the shoot and see targets are the answer.
 
Call @gr8fuldoug Seriously, CALL the store and talk them. Great deals and will pick your brain for what’s important and steer you in the right direction.

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$200 … even the Chinese scope with decent glass are $300 plus. In that group there is one the camp in Oriental is using for nature photography that actually seems decent … a GoSky 20-60X that claims ED glass for just over $300 from Amazon. The kids use it‘s iPhone adapter for some nice photos. I can’t say how it works on paper target holes but it does great resolution on heron feathers.
 
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You could send scope back to Bushnell. I did and they fitted it with a new eye piece (with more magnification) free of charge. My old one developed little black dots. There could be something wrong with the scope. It happens. IF it had an original nitrogen purge, its probably gone. That can cause clarity problems. They can fix that too. THere are some Athlon $200 20-6-X80 scopes out there for $200. IF I was going to get one I would do it thru Amazon or another vendor with no questions asked return policy. I just sold a guy a Sightron 20-60X80 with ED glass scope and he is very happy. Their ED glass is very good for the money. I had a big Kowa and they are not what they once were. I sold it and just have my old Bushy. For what it's worth. Shot at a 600yd range recently. Lots of wind and mirage. Between two 40+ power rifle scopes and two 60 X spotters, the guys 46X Weaver rifle scope was the only one that could see bullet holes in a shoot-n-see target at 600 yds.
 
Look on Craig's List for a Meade scope.
They have good glass and you may find one to suit your needs.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
You could send scope back to Bushnell. I did and they fitted it with a new eye piece (with more magnification) free of charge. My old one developed little black dots. There could be something wrong with the scope. It happens. IF it had an original nitrogen purge, its probably gone. That can cause clarity problems. They can fix that too. THere are some Athlon $200 20-6-X80 scopes out there for $200. IF I was going to get one I would do it thru Amazon or another vendor with no questions asked return policy. I just sold a guy a Sightron 20-60X80 with ED glass scope and he is very happy. Their ED glass is very good for the money. I had a big Kowa and they are not what they once were. I sold it and just have my old Bushy. For what it's worth. Shot at a 600yd range recently. Lots of wind and mirage. Between two 40+ power rifle scopes and two 60 X spotters, the guys 46X Weaver rifle scope was the only one that could see bullet holes in a shoot-n-see target at 600 yds.
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I just sent it back. I noticed the coating has come off the eye piece in spots. It is past their 20 year warranty for spotting scopes but I'm hoping they will work on it anyway.
 
rufrdr said:
The wife bought me a Bushnell spotting scope decades ago. I've been struggling with it to see holes in targets at 100 yards and the most recent outing I realized the Leopold 4x scope on my AR was 10 times brighter than the dark Bushnell even though the objective lense is much much larger on the spotting scope than the hog hunter Leopold scope. I can see the target clearly with the spotting scope, but I can't make out the bullet hits unless the sun is shining directly on the target. Some of the problem could be my eyes which are starting to grow cataracts.

Any advice on an affordable ($200 max) bright spotting scope?
Click to expand...
For your budget, you'd be better off putting that money into your rifle scope and spotting thru that. Doubtful you'll find a decent spotter unless you triple that amount as a starting point.
A cheaper option we've used is the shoot-n-see type targets. Makes it much easier to see your target hits at distance with a so-so spotter.
 
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My wife got me an Athlon Chronus that's quite compact. 12-36x50 is kind of limited, but for looking at .30 holes at 200-300 yards it's good enough. Bright and clear. She grabbed it on sale last September. Can't remember pricing, but was on sale. I'd recommend it.
 
rufrdr said:
I see that part of the issue is that the maximum magnification on my old scope is 45X compared to modern 60x scopes. It is Japanese optics which are high quality. Maybe the shoot and see targets are the answer.
Click to expand...

With decent glass, not great glass but decent glass, you should have not problems seeing your shots at 100 yards with a 25x scope, and definitely no problems with 45x. The cheaper Leupolds may be worth looking into but I can't say for sure. Leupold's bottom tier rifle scopes (VX Freedom?) have decent glass, I can't speak for their cheaper spotting scopes.
 
I got it back from Bushnell. They wouldn't work on it because they have no parts on hand. They offered to sell me a model 886520 for $195, about a $60 discount from on-line retail.
 
rufrdr said:
I got it back from Bushnell. They wouldn't work on it because they have no parts on hand. They offered to sell me a model 886520 for $195, about a $60 discount from on-line retail.
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Was it because it was decades old, so they just didn't have parts to fix even if they wanted to? Or was it more an out of warranty issue?

I'm curious.
 
I got the Replacement scope from bushnell. Optics aren't bad, clear and bright with great magnification. The tripod however is horrible. It is impossible to fine adjust the tripod mount to get the scope properly pointed at the target. It is floppy and loose. Fortunately the new scope will fit on the old tripod so all is is not lost.
 
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I have a very nice 60mm Kiowa 60x zoom but still use shoot n see targets at 300 Y
(You can get up to 18” dia)

Other tip is to put a smaller aiming point on a large sheet of light colored paper (or the back of the target)

Finding tiny holes in a dark background is pretty much impossible, especially in less than perfect sunlight.
 
The scope is fine it is the tripod that is now the problem. It is so loose and wobbly and getting the scope on the target and then locked into position is almost impossible. As mentioned before fortunately the much superior Japanese made tripod fits the Chinese made optic so all is good.
 
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