Spotting scope help!!

stenger

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 25, 2009
224
4
46
western Pa
what do you all recommend, to try and spot my own shots at long range. An angled eye piece, or a straight eye piece. dont have any friends that can get away from their wives need to be my own spotter. what you all think. thanks!!
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">straight.....also a must for glassing game </div></div>

I like the straight one too, which is what I have on mine. Mind you, even with a good spotting scope. It's very hard to spot for yourself. Depeding on the distance, with a good rifle scope and at a lower magnification, you can tell where your miss is. When you turn up the magnification, when it's harder.
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

If your shooting paper from a bench or mat and are static, an angled is ok.
I went with a straight because I primarily hunt and want to get on my target quickly and it is easier to point and see with a straight.
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: stenger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i dont want to spend a fortune on spotter what do you all recommend?

thanks! </div></div>

here is the deal with glass......if you spend enough time in it and its cheap.....you will hurt yourself, by that i mean to TELL you you will suffer eye strain and headache and discomfort to eventual fatigue.
additionally good glass will afford you to see things that cheap glass can not allow especially at times when you need the eyeballs on target the most ....its the way of the world.....SO get the best glass you can afford and cry once.
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

dont have any friends that can get away from their wives need to be my own spotter. what you all think. thanks!!

Expand your friend pool. Spotting for yourself sucks, it can be done but there are days when it just doesn't work. Like the others I like a straight spotter, figure on spending around a grand maybe a little less for decent glass. Nothing wrong with good used glass.
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

Like others said it's hard to spot for yourself but is possible due to bullet flight time. I have a Unertil straight and also a Kowa angled. The angled was hard to get used to at first but if you are on target already with the scope, you shoot and just look to the side into the angled eyepiece it would be faster than leaning further over and looking thru a straight eyepiece. It took some getting used to at first to find objects with the angled eyepiece but it does get easier with use. Best thing to do is see if you can borrow one of each and try it with your different shooting positions and see what works for you. Most angled spotters rotate in their mount so the eyepiece can be just a slight head turn away.

Nothing beats a sharp eyed spoting buddy. You should try to get into the midpriced optics and stay away from the low end spotters that some advertise for $100 or under.

Topstrap
 
Re: Spotting scope help!!

I agree with a previous post up top about clarity of the glass. Clear glass is a must. Looking through anything else for prolonged periods of time will make you wish you had a different scope.

Price doesn't always mean clear glass either. I own a USO spotter, and paid a pretty penny for it, but the glass seems dark to me and its hard to remain on target because I have to be so exact when looking into it. However, I still use it because its reticle matches that of my scope. This is great for exact shot calling and telling distance.

If price isn't a factor, you should look into a Swarovski. Every single one of these I have ever used has simply blown me away with its clarity and ease of use. They are pricey though. The higher end can be 2K+ (just a quick SWFA check there).

If price is a factor maybe look into Barska. A little on the cheap end, around $300 on there high side. My dad uses this this brand while guiding in Alaska and he swears by it. Tells me how his client can't tell the difference between that and a Swaro. The only difference is he wont cry if it falls out of his pack and goes tumbling down the mountain or gets lost when his boat tips over in a river.

Either way, there are a lot of brands out there to try and they all offer different features. I truly recommend that you go down to a local Cabelas or Gander Mountain and just spend some time looking through all the different types/brands. Then, when you've found one that works, come back home and look it up online to find a competitive price.