Spotting Scope Recommendations ( 500 yards )

[Turkeytider]

I know that they are like other optics, you can spend all the way up to the national debt amount. I just need something to help me spot .223 hits on a big white target at 500 so I can dial in adjustments for smaller gong targets. Would like to stay around $300 ( less would be nice ). Really would appreciate some recommendations. Thanks.

 

[ms6852]

When this article was written it was about 20 or 30 years ago but a lot of the points made to me remain unchanged. Hopefully you will read it, about a page and a half, and it will help you make a more informed decision. It high lights the magnification required to see bullet holes at various distances. At the distance you are demanding you will be better off buying a long-range shooting camera, might be cheaper in the long run than a premium scope that won't deliver what you want.

Choosing A Spotting Scope For Target Shooting

How to use a spotting scope for target shooting. One of your best tools for effective and efficient target shooting is using a spotting scope.

www.opticsplanet.com

 

[LiveLife]

After using several binoculars and spotting scopes for shooting, I have happily settled on $120 Visionking 25-75x70 Maksutov spotting scope - https://www.amazon.com/Visionking-2...ting-Waterproof/dp/B00GH2JWTA#customerReviews

Unlike traditional spotting scope with long body, I like the short compact body and 75x magnification allows me to see smaller .22 caliber holes at 100-200+ yards. (Definitely recommend using sturdy tripod or using included short tripod on solid bench to steady image at higher magnifications but you will see the bullet holes)

need something to help me spot .223 hits on a big white target at 500 so I can dial in adjustments for smaller gong targets. Would like to stay around $300 ( less would be nice ). Really would appreciate some recommendations.

I think up to 300 yards is maybe doable but not at 500 yards with most spotting scopes. Seeing movement of small gong targets is probably doable with Vision King.

And if you don't like it, since it's from Amazon with free return, just return it. No risk.

If you want to see bullet holes at 500 yards, I think you are looking at target cam set up - https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Ballistic-Precision-Waterproof-Construction/dp/B01B7OYN1Y

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the input. Nice start.

 

[Walkalong]

Another thought is buy a full sized IPSC steel target and paint it white, hits will be so much easier to see.

 

[Turkeytider]

Whatever scope, it just needs to be able to give me a better view of bullet splatters on white painted steel, not little bullet holes in paper targets. I thought perhaps that would be possible with a decent spotting scope, even at 500.

 

[LoonWulf]

Whatever scope, it just needs to be able to give me a better view of bullet splatters on white painted steel, not little bullet holes in paper targets. I thought perhaps that would be possible with a decent spotting scope, even at 500.

These are from a cheap Gotsky 20-60 at 5,7, 1k, 1.9k.
Pretty sure i had it set at 20 for everything besides the 1.9.

Hits on steel out to 1k are plenty visible, and when the wind wasnt shaking my tripod i could pick out the impacts (as the bullets were striking) at 1900. There wasnt enough definitions for me to pick out actual hits after the fact.








Im happy enough with this one, and will upgrade my tripod before my spotter.

 

[doubleh]

The wind is almost always blowing some here. I gave up and built my own spotting scope stand. A chunk of 3/4" steel plate, a pickup handle on each side made from 1/4' steel rod, center column of 1 1/2" aluminum because it was on hand, and a tripod top. I painted it BBQ back and glued no-slip on the bottom of the base.This heavy rascal defies the wind. It will be solid when the wind is moving me around. When it gets that bad it's time to roll up and go home as it's no fun anymore. My scope is a many rears old Leupold that was gift from my wife. Since my range only goes to 300 yards and I never shoot at that distance I have no idea how well it works past 200 yards.

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks again, guys. I ended up going with Bushnell Forge 15X56 binoculars. I`ll mount them on a tripod since hand holding high powered binocs doesn`t work very well. I really hadn`t considered long range binocs until I had some back and forth over on Sniper`s Hide.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I have a couple spotting scopes. A cheap Bushnell 20x that I got on clearance forever ago. But more recently, I got a Herter's 20x-60x and a Simmons 20x-60x. Cheap? Yes. But they work well enough for me. If I were going to be seriously shooting out to distance, I might spend the money on a Vortex

 

[Turkeytider]

I have a couple spotting scopes. A cheap Bushnell 20x that I got on clearance forever ago. But more recently, I got a Herter's 20x-60x and a Simmons 20x-60x. Cheap? Yes. But they work well enough for me. If I were going to be seriously shooting out to distance, I might spend the money on a Vortex

It`s pretty much like most things, you can spend as much (or as little ) as you want. If one doesn`t mind pre-owned, there appears to be a pretty active used market in optics.

 

[dranrab]

When it comes to spotting scopes a good rigid tripod is as important as the scope. The best spotting scope will suck on a cheap tripod. A cheap spotting scope will get better with a better tripod.

 

[Walkalong]

Thanks again, guys. I ended up going with Bushnell Forge 15X56 binoculars. I`ll mount them on a tripod since hand holding high powered binocs doesn`t work very well. I really hadn`t considered long range binocs until I had some back and forth over on Sniper`s Hide.

Those are nice binoculars. Very good in the middle.