The spotting scopes at my range aren’t strong enough to see bullet holes at two and three hundred yards. I’ve bought nothing but high-end stuff for my rifle, but this is one item I’d prefer to buy on the cheap.
What’s my cheapest option that will allow me to easily see bullet holes at three hundred yards? Spotting scope, binoculars, rifle scope… I don’t care. I want something that’s functional, but as cheap as possible.
I bought a spotting scope at wal mart last year. its a burris 60x with a tripod. It was 40 bucks. Came with a case, tripod, and lens cloth. Ive seen them since then for the same price. It works great for me. I rarely shoot past 300 yards and I can see my 223 holes at that distance easily. Hope it works for you as well as it has for me.
Stay the hell away from Barska. Bought one at Cabelas a while back for $40. I think its a 20-60 x 60 model. Looked good in the store, but it’s a piece of crap on the range. Lots and lots of haze can’t focus for squat. Can’t see 223 holes at 100 yds clearly or barely for that matter. My Millett 4-16 is clearer as is my IOR 2.5-10.
My experience with Barska is just the opposite. While it is certainly not a high quality optic, I have found it to be completely adequate for my limited needs. I don’t have any haze, it focuses well. Even the cheapo tripod is at least functional, and the whole unit actually does quite well sitting on a shooting bench and used for sighting in. Truthfully, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to get such a functional spotting scope for so little money.
I’d be very interested in a recommendation at the $100 and $300 price points.
Sounds like the Barska is hit or miss. I’d like to find out more about the Burris mentioned above. I’ve searched the net and can’t find a Burris that cheap.
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I have a Burris Lanndmark 15-45x60. it is quite compact, and is pretty clear - good enough to easily see .22 caliber holes in a 200 yd target, and is quite good in low light. I didn’t spend a lot on this and I’d definitely recommend it for general duty…
From personal,expensive!, experience I’ve learned once again that you get what you pay for with optics.
Low cost “usually” means less than clear lenses, improper parallax and so on.
Cheapest ,least expensive, spotting scope that I haven’t thrown away if my Yukon.
Pricey at about $400 but worth it.
this is true. but there is also a cost/benefit matrix that you need to place your needs on. with anything, ask yourself, “what is my intended use?”
the OP asked for a cheap scope that he could see holes on 300 yd targets. you don’t need a high end Swaro or Kowa for this. at longer ranges or in low light, or even if you want to “trace” bullets, the need for better resolution, clarity, and contrast starts to come into play.
if I was headed out into the backcountry for some longrange Elk sniping, I would also have a different set of needs in low light resolution and durability.
simply taking a spotter out of its case and setting it up on a shooting bench doesn’t tax any of its capabilities very much as long as it is capable or resolving the target in normal light.
General consensus for a “budget” spotting scope is the Konus 80. Can be had for around $200 and will hang with optics several times its value. Stay away from the Big5/walmart specials.
whose consensus, high power shooters? when I shot Match service rifle, I had a used Kowa that was worth every penny I paid and then some, and then sold it for what I paid for it.
if that Konus is the same as the one on Jim Owens’ site, it is a very nice piece but the OP asked for the cheapest option that would allow him to see strikes at 300 yds. I wonder if there’s others that will get him what he wants for a little less jingle.
maybe the OP should clarify exactly what he needs it to do…
That spotting scope I bought at Wal-Mart is a Tasco. I couldn’t find it when I went looking for it but I found it this weekend with my hunting stuff. It’s decent at best, but it was cheap and still available (at least at my Wal-Mart in TN).
I got a Burris 12 to 50 something…I have had it for a while now and it works good.
This. I have one and like it.
http://www.creedmoorsports.com/store/product.php?productid=889713&cat=561&page=1
http://www.opticsplanet.net/konus-konuspot-80-80mm-3-1-spotting-scope.html
Another +1 on “stay the hell away from Baraska”.
Big time POS.
For light duty at the range, the Walmart special will get the job done. Mine is a Simmons I think, in 20-60 power…$60 maybe?
I also have a Konus 80. For the $190, I paid it has been a great value. I have found that the tripod makes a big difference. I don’t use the cheap $5 tripod it comes with. I use a old heavy camera tripod that keeps the scope stable. I can easily view .308 holes a 500 yards.