Ive got the itch to purchase a spotter once again after toying around with a USMC M71 SSOT and bringing it home for a shoot going on later this weekend.
I know from playing around with the M71's Manfrotto 190CXPro4 Tripod and 322RC2 Head Assy... Im going with Manfrotto for my tripod and head assy.
Manfrotto 324/327RC2 Head Assy is what I'm guessing in thier budget line joysticks... Ive only had hands-on with the 322RC2 which seems to only have steel construction and friction adj. over the 324/327 model. Has anyone had any experience with thier plastic assy? Im wondering if I should spring for the Magnesium model?
As far as the 190CXPro4 Tripod, lots of features and very easy to use even for myself who had no experience with Manfrotto at all. Again, trying to save a little coin... thier 190XProB seems to be cast from the same mold (minus 1 leg section and alluminium instead of CF).
Now to the Scope itself. Mikes' review along with the thread on the Bushnell Excursion 15-45x60mm seems to be a hot item. For the price it looks like a solid entry level optic. Heres my one concern though... The reticle.
For use as an observation device and a spotting device it seems like it would suite me just fine. For ranging it looks as if the 1 Mil. substension might be a little too coarse. My rifle scope is good down to .5 Mil. and I can confidently Mil. targets down to .125 Mil. @ 25 power.
Even the M71 Leupold Mk4 is devided down to .5 mil.
I am sceptical of my ability to take advantage of 45 power with only 1 Mil. substensions... Ide only be confident to milling objects out to .25 mil. or coarser (more coarse?).
Is the Bushnell Excursion not specificly geared toward RANGING versus spotting/observing or should I concider myself not fluent enough in deviding mil. hash-marks down to less than 1/4 of thier value?
The whole kit would be running about $7-800.00 which isnt bad for what I'de be getting IMO.
Bushnell Excursion http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-15-45x60-excursion-spotting-scope-with-mil-hash-reticle.html
Manfrotto Joystick http://www.opticsplanet.net/manfrotto-light-duty-grip-joystick-ball-heads-327rc2-and-324rc2.html
Manfrotto 190XProB http://www.opticsplanet.net/manfrotto-light-duty-grip-joystick-ball-heads-327rc2-and-324rc2.html
Any advice and/or input on an alternative within the price range of the Excursion would be valued.
I know from playing around with the M71's Manfrotto 190CXPro4 Tripod and 322RC2 Head Assy... Im going with Manfrotto for my tripod and head assy.
Manfrotto 324/327RC2 Head Assy is what I'm guessing in thier budget line joysticks... Ive only had hands-on with the 322RC2 which seems to only have steel construction and friction adj. over the 324/327 model. Has anyone had any experience with thier plastic assy? Im wondering if I should spring for the Magnesium model?
As far as the 190CXPro4 Tripod, lots of features and very easy to use even for myself who had no experience with Manfrotto at all. Again, trying to save a little coin... thier 190XProB seems to be cast from the same mold (minus 1 leg section and alluminium instead of CF).
Now to the Scope itself. Mikes' review along with the thread on the Bushnell Excursion 15-45x60mm seems to be a hot item. For the price it looks like a solid entry level optic. Heres my one concern though... The reticle.
For use as an observation device and a spotting device it seems like it would suite me just fine. For ranging it looks as if the 1 Mil. substension might be a little too coarse. My rifle scope is good down to .5 Mil. and I can confidently Mil. targets down to .125 Mil. @ 25 power.
Even the M71 Leupold Mk4 is devided down to .5 mil.
I am sceptical of my ability to take advantage of 45 power with only 1 Mil. substensions... Ide only be confident to milling objects out to .25 mil. or coarser (more coarse?).
Is the Bushnell Excursion not specificly geared toward RANGING versus spotting/observing or should I concider myself not fluent enough in deviding mil. hash-marks down to less than 1/4 of thier value?
The whole kit would be running about $7-800.00 which isnt bad for what I'de be getting IMO.
Bushnell Excursion http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-15-45x60-excursion-spotting-scope-with-mil-hash-reticle.html
Manfrotto Joystick http://www.opticsplanet.net/manfrotto-light-duty-grip-joystick-ball-heads-327rc2-and-324rc2.html
Manfrotto 190XProB http://www.opticsplanet.net/manfrotto-light-duty-grip-joystick-ball-heads-327rc2-and-324rc2.html
Any advice and/or input on an alternative within the price range of the Excursion would be valued.
