I need a new spoting scope for 200yds plus

Can someone recommend a not so expensive good scope?

Rick

You will get every set of recommendations from expensive high end scopes to mid range. Avoid the very cheap. Myself, I shoot Palma and long range to 1000 yards. My old reliable Kowa that I had been using for 20 years suffered a fall that was unrepairable so I also had to look for a new scope.

Budget considerations made me look at the mid range- $150 to $250 - but other shooters had a range of scopes that I could look through and check. I wanted a angled scope and after a lot of asking around,I decided that I would be happy with a Celestron Ultima 65mm or 80mm, Konus, or Meade - Redtail or Condor, etc - their users were happy with them and they were in my price range. I settled on a Meade 77mm Redtail - in the upper range of my budget, but I got a good deal on it - waterproof, sealed and good optics - just keep the magnification at 25X. Am happy with the optics. The Meade Condor 50mm can be got for $100. Look around and make your own decision.

This is not really an answer, just a similar question.

Field and Stream had a spotting scope article and recommended the Alpen mini 20x50 for under $100. I am curious if anyone has experience with them.

Here's a possible alternative. A lot of BR, F class, and long range varmint shooters like to see their targets through the scope and not have to mess with spotting scopes. http://www.bulzeyepro.com/ This item was developed by a well respected BR shooter and is a quality product. I have 2 of them. They work as advertised. It does take some time and effort to set up on your scope, but the results are worth it. I could not see 6mm bullet holes with a 24 power scope at 200 yards--with a 4x ultra bright--now I can!!! I liked it so much I bought one for my 36 power scope for when I go even blinder--probably next season.......BTW--I don't use my spotting scope anymore--at the range but it's really great for looking at the moon---when the clouds go away--3 days a year----

What do the bulzeyepro's cost? Thanks and God Bless, Louis

Corax - I have the Alpen 15-30x50. It's very nice, works great. I believe they are around $111 now. I think I got it a little cheaper a couple years ago. The zipper broke on the soft case, which I'm not happy about, but I doubt Alpen make their own cases...ha ha. The scope itself is excellent quality.

I recommend the Konus 80mm for $235. The 100mm sells for about $100 more but must be very big and heavy. It comes with a cheap tripod, cheap but adequate nylon bag and T camera adapter.

I have one and am pleased with it's price /quality.

Jim Owens sells Kowa scopes too but some high power shooters claim they can't tell much difference. He sells a great scope stand for $135 too. It can be easily adjusted for prone sitting or standing off hand shooting.

Optics Planet sells them too.

I looked through an Alpen 60mm this week and it does not compare.

Check out;
www.jarheadtop.com/products.html

The website has the prices on it--mine were both $95.00 as I recall, but there are others that cost a bit more. I'm thinking $125 was the top price, but don't hold Gene to it--it's his lens and my memory.

I went through the same thing a few weeks ago. I went to the Optics Forum of at SWFA. There were two spotters that were recomended to me.

The Bushnell Excursion and the Vortex Sandpiper. The Sandpiper sells for about $300, I found it here for $199. For $200 I think it is about the best there is.

http://www.cameralandny.com/op...page=vortexsandpiper

Here is the link to the Optix forum.

http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13794


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I bought a straight Vortex Sandpiper a couple of months ago & am happy with its performance so far, though I haven't used it much for targets over 200yds.
Eagle Optics told me it was being discontinued & only the angled eyepiece version would be available once current stocks were exhausted.

Here's a pretty comprehensive test of several spotting scopes in each price range:
http://www.livingbird.org/NetC...id=272&srcid=265#top