My old Bushnell 15x45 spotting scope has served me well, but I am thinking of getting a different scope. I am sure this has been bantered about here, but I would like to hear it again.

So what max Magnification, brands, 40-50-60mm, do you guys like? I know that "You should buy what you can afford" which puts me in the under $600 range. How are Leupolds, Pentax, or BaushLomb (sp?). Lots of low light spotting for mulies in high altitude.

Thanks guys. I am sure I will be more confused and better informed when I read your posts.

I have a Bausch& Lomb Elite 15-45X60 that I bought used from a friend for $300. Another friend of mine has a leupold 12-40X, and I can swear there is no difference in the picture when seen during day light on the shooting range. The only difference is that the new elite sells for $400 and the Leupold sells for $700.

As for magnification, I think 40 or 45 X is more than you will ever need. 45X is more than enough to see and judje a mulie at 1000 yards.

As for the objective lens, 60 is probably the best. Anything above that and the scope starts to get heavy. You might wanna look into different sizes and let your eyes decide.
BB

MGC,

Do a search on the bird watching sites as many of these have informative articles on scopes and bino's ect.

I bought my first spotting scope last year. It is a modern version of the old 3 draw scope by a German firm called Optolynth(sp?)
Swarovski do a very similar model, although I suspect the optical quality is probably better! Mine is a 30x80mm and retails for around $700-$800 here in the UK...I bought it for around $140 secondhand! Why? Basically this style of scope is now unfashionable in the UK as all the birdwatchers are switching
to spotting scopes. Its only draw backs so far is that it has a straight eye piece and due to its construction it is only "water
resistant" not "water proof". It goes against the grain to buy optics not waterproof, but for that price I thought I'd give it ago..so far so good!

I'm not sure if you get these in the US, but another medium priced scope which is getting good reviews over here is the Opticron Mighty Midget. See the offer at:
Http://www.warehouseexpress.co.uk

Go to the Bins and Spotting scope page,
and then look for the end of line/ special offers page.

It is 14-36x50mm, fully waterproof with a straight eye piece although I think you can also get the angled version. It comes with a
stay on case and a "hide clamp" for mounting on the rail of fence or pack frame...
Normal cost here in the UK is �270 which is around $400, but the offer price is �134
which is around $190.

Regards,

Pete

While I cannot offer advice for a good one, I can say that the Nikon Spotter XL 16-47X60 is one to stay away from. It was a mistake of my own doing.
I would suggest that you go to a store that has many different models. Try all of the models that are in your budget, then try a few that are over as well as under your budget. With this side by side test, your eyes will be able to tell you which is the best one that you can afford. Also, when you do this test, do it outside and look at targets in excess of 400 yards.

I use a Nikon 20X60mm. Not bad but seen better. 25X would be better. In my experience anything over 25 power is overkill. A friend has a Swift 60mm with a 20X and a 40X eyepiece....very rare to use the 40X eyepiece...,too much mirage summer/winter early morning/late afternoon.
As always....spend as much as you can, but compare as many as you can first. Dan

Leupold 12x-45x is the best for the money. I have looked at everything below, between and above and NOTHING compares to the midrange Leupold. It is extremely durable as well. Heaven knows I ride it down the mountain at least once a week. I can't tell you how many times it has fallen off of things. It just keeps ticking and is the scope all my buddies want to use when we scout or are at the range. That 12x power is REALLY nice to look around with and will see in the dark. My next choice would be the Leica 20x-60x, but it is in another league. I bought a bunch of the so called "nicest" scopes out and put them all on tripods and looked through them all side by side for a week in all kinds of weather and light. The Leupold blew the doors off of everything out in its class, bar non. The Swaravskis and Leicas were the only exceptions, but for twice the money, I will still keep my Leupold. No complaints from me on buying the leupold. Flinch

I've compared all of the scopes mentioned at Cabela's and have decided on what brand to buy. My question is in the advantages or disadvantages of an angular 45 degree offset eyepiece versus the straight models. Any opinions on that question?

Thanks guys.

Flinch - I am in American Fork. Thanks for the advice. Do you want to sell any of those left-over scopes you bought?? he

MGC

Bob,
The 45 works great on the shooting bench.
Finding game in the field is diffucult (at least for me). I would go for the straight eye piece.

Thanks Dan.

Do what I should have done and but the Leupold. I bought a Redfield because it was a deal, but the Leupold is a better setup.. It's only money and years down the road you'll know you made the right choice.

There is something else you may want to know about spotting scopes: Comparing one to another in the store will help you decide which one is sharper or something like that, but only at the store. Once you take it outdoors and put it to the test, that will give you the final answer.

Buy it at a place where you can return it if it does not work for you, or at least a place where you can exchange it for another.

I have an old camo TAsco or Bushnell taped to a cut off milsurp rife stock with a sling, it has served me well enough over the years that I have chosen not to replace it...

That said I would not own that brand in a rifle scope and if I ever replace it, it will be with a Leupold....

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com