Looking at buying a spotting scope that will be used almost exclusively at a rifle range, looking at targets.
Want to spend under $500. Thinking of a Bushnell Spacemaster.
Any opinions on that scope or other recommendations?

Thanks

Bushnell use to be a quality product. Recent experience for me has been terrible. Both the product and customer service. Go to EBAY and find a Rochester NY made Bausch&Lomb spotting scope. Mine is the 15-60 zoom and it's clear and Mac truck tough and they can be had well under your budget.

I've been well satisfied with a Minox MD62, with a 21-42 LER eyepiece works great. Might slightly break your budget unless you find one used, but well worth it.

I was beginning to wonder that unless one spent 1k+ they were buying junk, not much in the mid-price range that isn't junk.

Alpen 20-60X80 is a fair scope and in your budget. The Sightron 20-60X85 is also worth a look. Also the Vortex Diamondback 20-60X80. I have used the Alpen and Sightron. Both are good scopes, and are sharp and clear up to about 45X. Over that they lose contrast quickly. You will find this in almost all lower priced scopes. They drop off in clarity well before you get to the top power.

Otherwise, I would look for a used Bushnell Elite, Pentax ED, Minox ED, or Nikon Fieldscope.

Jeremy

I second the Bausch & Lomb, If made in NY. I have one (15-60) and it is perfect for the bench. Heavy but as long as you are not packing it on a hunt, no problem. These were made when American quality was expected.

Lawdog--I frequently recommend B&L NY made, I suspect folks get tired of reading it. I don't think many heed it. Truth is all those B&L binoculars that survived WW2 and are at least 70 years old and still working fine is a very fine testimony of their quality. Best bargain in optics in my books.

I've got the 20X and 30X eyepieces.
I don't think a $2000 Swarofski or Zeiss would be a worthwhile
improvement at the bench.
In my opinion there is not a $500 spotter on the market that comes close.
Field use is a different matter, not so much for image quality, but weight.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
Bushnell use to be a quality product. Recent experience for me has been terrible. Both the product and customer service. Go to EBAY and find a Rochester NY made Bausch&Lomb spotting scope. Mine is the 15-60 zoom and it's clear and Mac truck tough and they can be had well under your budget.

I agree. You can usually pick up a B&L Balscope in 20X for under $200. I have been using one for years, and it easily resolves 22 caliber bullet holes at 100 yards.
The only downside to these is, if you don't get one with a tripod, they usually don't have the camera mount so you need to find a tripod with the saddle mount. The later ones have the camera type mount, but you won't see those near as often.

And of course, you will see the eBay-idiots that think they found a telescope (Balscope)made by Gallielo himself and are asking Kowa money for them, but of course, they never sell. They are just hoping for a P.T.Barnum idiot to come along..

Here ya go... Good spotters CHEAP

Balscope 15x30 x 60

Here is another... I have one of these.. great scope..

Balscope Sr 20X