spotting scope for 300 yards
- Thread starter newguy07
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I bought this Celestron Ultima 65 18-55X scope, paid just over $100.00 delivered. It was a good deal at the time.
It did not come with the scope cover, scope stand, or lense covers. However I am really impressed with the clarity and brightness at the lower settings. It worked fine all the way out to 600 yards.
As for seeing bullet holes at 300 yards, it all depends on the atmospherics at your range. I shoot every month at a 100 yard reduced Highpower match. I typically shoot a M1a or a Garand, just for the heck of it. The range I shoot has such bad mirage that starting in June, through the summer, I cannot clearly see what is going on during my 20 round slow fire prone. I can see the group but cannot see the individual shots to determine what is going on in the ten/nine ring.
At 200 yards we put white backers behind the targets and you can see the white for bullet holes in the black. You do not necessarily see the white when your bullet hole is out of the black.
I have seen 308 bullets holes at Camp Perry at 300 yards, but that range has a lot of wind blowing the mirage away and it is exceptionally clear compared to the ranges around here. Still, it is rare that I can see a 308 round in paper at 300 yards, and I have looked through a lot of different spotting scopes.
I believe you should be able to see 223 and 308 holes at 200 yards with a good scope, assuming the image is not washed out by mirage.
I was able to buy a Celestron Ultima 100 (a 100 mm front lense) on at Champion Shooters on Commercial Row at Camp Perry for a very good price and I am going to see how it does at distance. I was reading names and numbers on the mail boxes up the street, so I am optimistic for the future use of this scope. Champion Shooters honored their $100.00 off coupon for the 100 mm scope http://www.championshooters.com/store/pages.php?pageid=7
It did not come with the scope cover, scope stand, or lense covers. However I am really impressed with the clarity and brightness at the lower settings. It worked fine all the way out to 600 yards.
As for seeing bullet holes at 300 yards, it all depends on the atmospherics at your range. I shoot every month at a 100 yard reduced Highpower match. I typically shoot a M1a or a Garand, just for the heck of it. The range I shoot has such bad mirage that starting in June, through the summer, I cannot clearly see what is going on during my 20 round slow fire prone. I can see the group but cannot see the individual shots to determine what is going on in the ten/nine ring.
At 200 yards we put white backers behind the targets and you can see the white for bullet holes in the black. You do not necessarily see the white when your bullet hole is out of the black.
I have seen 308 bullets holes at Camp Perry at 300 yards, but that range has a lot of wind blowing the mirage away and it is exceptionally clear compared to the ranges around here. Still, it is rare that I can see a 308 round in paper at 300 yards, and I have looked through a lot of different spotting scopes.
I believe you should be able to see 223 and 308 holes at 200 yards with a good scope, assuming the image is not washed out by mirage.
I was able to buy a Celestron Ultima 100 (a 100 mm front lense) on at Champion Shooters on Commercial Row at Camp Perry for a very good price and I am going to see how it does at distance. I was reading names and numbers on the mail boxes up the street, so I am optimistic for the future use of this scope. Champion Shooters honored their $100.00 off coupon for the 100 mm scope http://www.championshooters.com/store/pages.php?pageid=7
Jim Watson
Member
If anybody comes up with a scope that will pick bullet holes out of the paper at 300 yards RELIABLY, I would like to hear about it.
SlamFire1 is on to something. I use a Meade ETX telescope bought used many years ago. They take regular astronomy eyepieces. I can't say that they will work at 300yards because I haven't actually tried. But I strongly suspect that mine would work just fine.
atblis
Member
With good conditions (light and mirage), this will do it.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52268-C90-Mak-Spotting/dp/B0038QYRDO
For the money, I don't think you can beat it. The downside is that it isn't sealed. It's more of an astronomy instrument that works well as a spotting scope. I've since purchased a Vortex Razor. Comparing the two, the Razor is definitely better, but you're left thinking "Wow, for $150, that's not bad at all".
With less than ideal conditions, even a fantastic scope will sometimes be unable to resolve bullet holes at that range.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52268-C90-Mak-Spotting/dp/B0038QYRDO
For the money, I don't think you can beat it. The downside is that it isn't sealed. It's more of an astronomy instrument that works well as a spotting scope. I've since purchased a Vortex Razor. Comparing the two, the Razor is definitely better, but you're left thinking "Wow, for $150, that's not bad at all".
With less than ideal conditions, even a fantastic scope will sometimes be unable to resolve bullet holes at that range.
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hapidogbreath
Member
KONUS (sp) Works well for me and was about 250 with a case and it came with a cheap tripod.
Pete D.
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- Sep 13, 2010
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The top shelf in spotting scopes has long been the series made by Kowa. The 88mm Kowa will provide sharp images at three hundred yards and further.
$$$$
I have an old Celestron C90 Maksutov that I use with an terrestrial prism. I have no doubt that it will allow me to see bullet holes at 300 if atmospheric conditions allow. I have read license plates at one half mile.
Pete
$$$$
I have an old Celestron C90 Maksutov that I use with an terrestrial prism. I have no doubt that it will allow me to see bullet holes at 300 if atmospheric conditions allow. I have read license plates at one half mile.
Pete
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My Leupold won't pick out 223 or 308 reliably at 300 yards. If it's an overcast, non-windy day, and I'm not shooting something with a dark center, I have a pretty good chance of seeing it. But give any haze or mirage.. all bets are off.
A friend of mine brings his telescope's alignment spotting scope with him when he shoots. It's a complex, multi-thousand dollar gadget. You can pick out tears in the paper of your bullet holes at 300 yards with that monster.
Personally I'm not spending that much on a scope.
I use the spotting scope for 100-200 yard shooting, and drive or walk to my target at 300 yards to check it.
A friend of mine brings his telescope's alignment spotting scope with him when he shoots. It's a complex, multi-thousand dollar gadget. You can pick out tears in the paper of your bullet holes at 300 yards with that monster.
Personally I'm not spending that much on a scope.
I use the spotting scope for 100-200 yard shooting, and drive or walk to my target at 300 yards to check it.
atblis
Member
There's also this option. It is the future IMO.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578693&highlight=wireless+target+camera
Sorry, I've deleted the pictures. I've since started using an Alfa Wifi camera that runs off 12 VDC. Due to having Wifi, it does not need a router down range. It is also pan and tilt. It might not be allowed at competitions though. I've bought a few IP cameras, and so far it is the best one.
http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-Surveill...n-Technology/dp/B0041ON1VG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_6
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=578693&highlight=wireless+target+camera
Sorry, I've deleted the pictures. I've since started using an Alfa Wifi camera that runs off 12 VDC. Due to having Wifi, it does not need a router down range. It is also pan and tilt. It might not be allowed at competitions though. I've bought a few IP cameras, and so far it is the best one.
http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-Surveill...n-Technology/dp/B0041ON1VG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_6
TXdefender
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- Dec 1, 2010
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- 80
Depends on what a reasonable cost is to you. Before I could afford my Swaro I bought a used Pentax PF80ED for $600. Those are VERY good scopes, 300yds was no problem. In the arena of good glass you have to pay to play. The Pentax is a best bang for buck scope and most versatile as it will accept many eyepieces. Sometimes I regret getting rid of it though I love my Swaro STS80HD, just wish I had both. One day I might buy it back from my dad
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