Spotting scopes?

[fightingquaker13]

This is the third post of "What Quaker did on his summer vacation in Montana" series.
In this installment, the Quaker sees a wolf. Twice!
  The thing is, I saw them at about a thousand yards. This is to say that with my el cheapo Bushnell pocket binocs, I saw some four legged black to grey creatures moving around an elk kill. For all I know it could have been a ranger letting his labs loose just to mess with the tourists. This got me to thinkinking about spotting scopes. I have considered buying one for the range so I don't have to pull my targets. Now I am thinking something a bit better to actually perform its intended function. What power do you reccomend and who offers the best bang for the buck? I would love a Ziess, but let's keep it real.
Thanks
FQ13

[SwoopSJ]

I refuse to compromise when it comes to firearm mounted optics, however I will try to save a little money otherwise.  I have found Bushnell to be "middle of the road" optics manufacturer.  They generally don't offer much in the way of bells and whistles, but they are durable, affordable, and perform well.  There are other companies (Barska, BSA, etc.) in the same price range, but I can't vouch for quality.  Check out some of Bushnell's line at one of your local retailers, they might just be the perfect fit for your needs.  Power depends on the usage of your spotting scope.  Range only use, at rifle distances, I guess you could go as high as you want magnification wise.  If you are planning on using it in the field, however, your going to have to compromise between enough magnification to make it useful and a field of view wide enough to make it practical.  Its hard to glass a valley or hillside 3ft at a time.    

Swoop

[Big Frank]

Don't buy Russian surplus like I did.

[tombogan03884]

Weight is also a consideration in your compromise for field use.
You can get a Celestron, that will let you observe the moon buggy we left up there (make sure the Russians don't hot wire it    ) but what will you have to leave behind to compensate for the weight ?

[JC5123]

Hey FQ check these out! I have the older version of this. (straight 20X) I have been way happy with it! Great optic for a great price. Yes it's the lower end of the 2 that I have, but I find that I use this more just because it's so easy to pack.


http://swfa.com/Burris-12-24x50-Landmark-Compact-Spotter-P3646.aspx

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

Not cheap, but reasonable used if you find a high power shooter looking to move up, I have a Kowa Tsn9 60mm, with a 25 power long eye relief eye piece, you can see .30 caliber bullet holes in black targets at 200 meters, and you don't have to crowd your eye up against the eyepiece and move the scope, the resolution is incredible. I got mine for about 400 bucks 20 yrs ago, still have it, wince once, own it forever.

[sledgemeister]

I have a leupold 20x60x80 Green Ring it is very capable of seeing small holes at long distances, I got mine relatively well priced about 600.00 aus for the kit. Initially it was brought by a deer hunter but found it too big to carry about.
I would suggest only one thing no matter what spotting scope you get that is get a decent sturdy tripod, a cheap one is completely a waste of time. I ended up getting a Velbon which cost over 200.00 as the other ones was not steady enough, the one that came with it in a kit was a joke.
The lower 20x setting is plenty powerful enough to see .22 holes at 150-200 yrds Hell ya can see ants on a post at 100

[dipisc]

Hi;

     Glad to see this post since I am going through the same hard decision on which one to buy. My current spotting scope is good at 100yrds and could spot a hole at 200 yrds if conditions are right.

     I do not use scopes on my rifles at all. I do have a scoped rifle in the safe only due to the rifle was mentioned in Carlos Hathcocks book so I put a $400 scope on it and have never fired the rifle. I did this as a "got the same as the "pro's" satisfaction.

     I collect brass at the local ranges and on the afternoon of the first day of buck - there are 10-15 guys out there cursing about they bumped their scopes and have to resight them in.

     Since most deer are shot @ 100-150 yards by the 3 day hunter, I see no need for scopes. Spotting scopes are different, I am getting tired of the 2-300 yard walk to and from the benchrest to verify and plot my shots.