SirPorl
Member
Looking to pick up a nice spotting scope to help me out at the range. Wondering if anyone has any recomendations. I prolly won't be shooting over 300 yards.
thanks in advance,
SirPorl
thanks in advance,
SirPorl
Good Spotting Scope
- Thread starter SirPorl
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Fatelvis
Member
Ive found anything by Kowa is of quality. They have different models to cover almost any range/purpose needed.
WalkerTexasRanger
Member
Second the Kowa.....
Zak Smith
Member
I've had excellent luck with Leupold's high-end spotting scope, the 12-40X60mm Gold Ring.
It's compact and light enough to carry with you, but also has no problem spotting .22 caliber holes at 200 meters from the bench.
-z
It's compact and light enough to carry with you, but also has no problem spotting .22 caliber holes at 200 meters from the bench.
-z
J Calhoun
Member
Kowa's are very good. Leupolds are too. So are any of the German made scopes.
I have a Burris spotting scope. They're not bad for the money.
I have a Burris spotting scope. They're not bad for the money.
Master Blaster
Member
If you wear glasses check the eye relief.
I looked at a $300 Kowa and $500 kowa and discovered that the eye relief is terrible (maybe depends on the eyepiece since on the $500 + model they are sold seperately. That meant that with the eyecup folded down my glases were against the eyepiece and I still could not see squat (like looking through a pinhole)
The Burris 15x to 45X that midway sells for $160!!!!!!!!with a case and tripod has much better eye relief no problem with my glases, I bought one after looking through someone elses at the range.
I can see .22lr holes at 100 yards with no problem with it on 30X even in low light in late afternoon.
http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/731581
YMMV
I looked at a $300 Kowa and $500 kowa and discovered that the eye relief is terrible (maybe depends on the eyepiece since on the $500 + model they are sold seperately. That meant that with the eyecup folded down my glases were against the eyepiece and I still could not see squat (like looking through a pinhole)
The Burris 15x to 45X that midway sells for $160!!!!!!!!with a case and tripod has much better eye relief no problem with my glases, I bought one after looking through someone elses at the range.
I can see .22lr holes at 100 yards with no problem with it on 30X even in low light in late afternoon.
http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/731581
YMMV
Jim Watson
Member
Kowa makes long eye relief eyepieces. They are the only way to go.
I ordered one of those Midway sale price Burris Landmark scopes. It was poor, I sent it back and started looking at actual scopes at stores and at the range. The Leupold Wind River (Korean economy model) is ok, as is the Bushnell Spacemaster.
I paid the once in a lifetime expense and got a Kowa. Just the little 60mm with 25X long eye relief eyepiece, but it is noticeably brighter and clearer than anything except a bigger Kowa, expensive European, or maybe the best Leupold like Zak's.
I have not seen any scope that I can pick .22s out of the black at 200 yards with like Zak, though.
I ordered one of those Midway sale price Burris Landmark scopes. It was poor, I sent it back and started looking at actual scopes at stores and at the range. The Leupold Wind River (Korean economy model) is ok, as is the Bushnell Spacemaster.
I paid the once in a lifetime expense and got a Kowa. Just the little 60mm with 25X long eye relief eyepiece, but it is noticeably brighter and clearer than anything except a bigger Kowa, expensive European, or maybe the best Leupold like Zak's.
I have not seen any scope that I can pick .22s out of the black at 200 yards with like Zak, though.
charleym3
Member
Buy the Kowa. I have the same set up as Jim. Bought it used from someone who upgraded to a 82mm Kowa. Got an excellent deal on it though it was still expensive. The LER 25x eye piece is very easy to use with glasses. My model is no longer in production and it is not water proof. The new ones are. Though it hurt at the time, I've never regretted buying the Kowa.
Jim Watson
Member
Jap.
Premium, my 25 LER 60mm was over $400 at Champion's Choice. The 66mm is more, the 82mm is expen$ive.
I think it would take a side-by-side comparison under different lighting conditions to tell a difference between the better scopes. I got a look through a Swarovski once and it was very sharp and bright, but I can't say it was better than a Kowa.
Premium, my 25 LER 60mm was over $400 at Champion's Choice. The 66mm is more, the 82mm is expen$ive.
I think it would take a side-by-side comparison under different lighting conditions to tell a difference between the better scopes. I got a look through a Swarovski once and it was very sharp and bright, but I can't say it was better than a Kowa.
TrapperReady
Member
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Walk the line at most any of the highpower shoots around here, and you will see that the better shooters use Kowa scopes almost exclusively.
Personally, I've got a 15-45x Nikon, which actually has decent optics, but the eye relief is kind of marginal. It's functional and will have to do for this upcoming season, but will likely get replaced with a year or two.
Personally, I've got a 15-45x Nikon, which actually has decent optics, but the eye relief is kind of marginal. It's functional and will have to do for this upcoming season, but will likely get replaced with a year or two.
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Agree with TrapperReady. Kowa is the standard amongst HP shooters. Now, that doesn't mean it's the "best" but it is very good. Swarovski might be a hair better, and Optolyth blows them both out of the water, but it's three times the cost of the Kowa 60 and 66mm scopes.
I think the main reason Kowa is such a favorite with HP shooters is that they are the only premium brand that offers a true long eye relief eyepiece, which we ALL like.
I think the main reason Kowa is such a favorite with HP shooters is that they are the only premium brand that offers a true long eye relief eyepiece, which we ALL like.
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