Straight or Angled Spotting Scope?

[Milkmaster]

Looking at buying myself a spotting scope to use at the range. I have picked out the model. It comes in straight or angled eyepiece. I was expecting to order the angled model until I was reading otherwise from a few shooters.

Which do you have? Angled or straight and why?

Experienced opinions only please and thanks.

 

[jakk280rem]

I use an angled on mine. I puts my head, and therefore my neck, into a much more natural position. Prevents fatigue.

 

[Walkalong]

You will want angled for shooting prone. I prefer straight for standing, but angled will work for both.

 

[tuj]

I use angled. The nice thing about angled is that if you need is to be level with your face you can just rotate the whole thing 90 degrees. I use various short tripods off the bench and have a big tripod also.

 

[LAGS]

I recently purchased a Vortex Nomad, and decided on the Straight Eyepiece for two reasons.
One and formost, I am old, or should I say Old School. I can get on target or game faster with looking 90 degrees to my face.
Second, I do not have my scope right next to me when I shoot, so the ability to turn my head to look thru the scope does not apply as much for me as it does for my friends that shoot targets and look after each shot.

 

[back40]

i think whatever you buy, you'll get used to and make work for you.

i use an angled eyepiece. it allows me to use it prone and is more convenient from the bench as well. i set it up just on the other side of my rifle, take a shot and simply lift my head and turn it slightly to view through the scope. same thing for prone.

getting on target with a straight eyepiece may be a bit faster for some. some angled scopes have a 'sighting hole' that give you a general location to point the scope in similar to bore sighting a rifle. others have a mount for a small RDS or reflex sight for faster acquisition.

i've personally never found the angled eyepiece to give me much trouble with regard to target acquisition.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I use straight because I use it on bench rest and easy to view without standing.Pic of my spotter.

 

[dubbleA]

i think whatever you buy, you'll get used to and make work for you.

i use an angled eyepiece. it allows me to use it prone and is more convenient from the bench as well. i set it up just on the other side of my rifle, take a shot and simply lift my head and turn it slightly to view through the scope. same thing for prone.

getting on target with a straight eyepiece may be a bit faster for some. some angled scopes have a 'sighting hole' that give you a general location to point the scope in similar to bore sighting a rifle. others have a mount for a small RDS or reflex sight for faster acquisition.

i've personally never found the angled eyepiece to give me much trouble with regard to target acquisition.

Pretty much agree with that above. You only need to point the objective and have the power down to the scope's lowest setting. I find that in just about any situation the scope can be lower position whether on a bench, blind, tripod etc. I often have one set up overlooking a feeder from my ranch house and use it for spotting hogs at night. With the angled eye piece it works well sitting on a desk and is comfortable to use sitting in a chair.

I think the angled head gives you the most versatility. This Swarovski is adjustable so you can turn the eyepiece 360 degrees.

Here's where one of my spotter spends a lot of time, it works excellent in this situation. It's eye piece is pointed up in this case and easily looked through while on the bench.

 

[back40]

here's a crappy photo that shows how i typically use mine. prone is no different. simply turn your head to the right a little and look through the eyepiece.

 

[Welding Rod]

Angled.

I bought very nice and pretty expensive straight spotting scope right BEFORE I took up Hi-power match shooting. Big mistake. When you are in position and slung up you don't want a straight scope.

 

[taliv]

for NRA/CMP style prone shooting, angled is a huge benefit

for anything else, either will work, but I prefer straight.

 

[ms6852]

I prefer straight as I use mine for glassing game from high places down into valleys, etc. it provides for a lower silhouette when hunting.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have an angled eyepiece spotting scope. As others have said, it is more convenient for prone.

I also like it for shooting on a bench as the scope can be placed a little father away from me and I do not have to move as much to view through the scope.

But, if you are trying to glass something on the move or many different spots quickly, I can see an angled eye piece would be a hindrance.

So, it depends on your use.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Angled -

(1) You can't look "up" with straight spotting scope without it being a PITA. Not a huge deal if you are shooting on a range. However, if you plan on pulling out your scope from time to time to see what birds are in a tree, showing your kids the man on the moon or seeing what people are doing on a hill over yonder you will almost have to lay backwards on the ground to get under the scope.

(2) It is easier to share with an angled scope. If several people want to look though a scope, you can set up an angled scope low and tall people can bend over a bit to look through it. If you have straight scope tall people have to kneel down.

I have a straight scope, which I inherited when someone moved onto an angled one. It is a PITA.

 

[Searcher4851]

I have a straight one purchase many years ago and it works fine for me but I'd rather have an angled one. An angled one can be set up to require very little movement from your shooting position.

 

[Nighteyes]

Angled. My wife and I enjoy bird- and wildlife-watching, so we use it for that as well.