Best Spotting Scope without breaking the bank

[carbine85]

I'm shopping for a good spotting scope. My Barska crap isn't cutting it. What scope do you guys use? I'm looking for something under $250.00. Usually 300 yards or less is what I'm shooting. I have access to 500 yards.

 

[gamestalker]

A Leupold 15x45x60 can be had for under $300. and they aren't bad. Plus you can up grade the eye piece later down the road if you decide you want a bit mroe clarity. They are 100% water proof, so you can litterally wash them off under running water without concern, nitrogen filled and "O" ring sealed, and covered by Leupold's legendary warrenty.
I have one and it does real well for spotting target groups at 300 yds.. I owned a cheap Bushnell some years ago and it was crapola.

GS

 

[mjw930]

In a word, Celestron. The C90 Mak is probably the best sub $300 scope out there. You can pick it up on Amazon for $149!

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-522...e=UTF8&qid=1357739064&sr=8-2&keywords=C90+MAC



I use the C70 up to 200 yards and it's great and only set me back $80!

The Maksutov-Cassegrain design lets far more light in than a typical refracting scope and the amount of light at long range is critical to being able to actually see detail. Celestron, although mostly being Chinese built, have a long reputation for quality optics.

 

[SwampWolf]

I agree with gamestalker. I paid $336.45 for a Leupold "Sequoia" 20-60x80mm spotting scope with the angled eyepiece from Sinclair Intl. last year. Yes, there are better scopes out there, optically speaking-but not at this price imo. As gamestalker noted, completely waterproof and guaranteed for life; this Leupold is hard to beat for the money.