Swarovski spotting scope

[Outlander71]

After much on line research (but almost no recent real world experience) I am close to pulling the trigger on a spotting scope. I want to follow the 'buy once, cry once' concept and get one that I won't outgrow. My goal is to shoot out to 1,000 yards. The leading contender for purchase currently is the Swarovski 30-70x95. Is that scope going to be overkill and/or is there some other scope I should be considering.

As a side note, I am also looking at getting a long range target camera system.

Any advice?

 

[Rthur]

While Swaro makes excellent glass the conditions will dictate how much you will see.
On steel shouldn't be much of a problem.

R

 

[NY700]

Honestly way overkill. Now that being said, if money isn't an issue and size and weight isn't an issue then yes get it and don't look back. Just remember $200+ for a decent tripod plus head and with a scope of that size even more.

I'm using a celestron regal 65 with a 22x LER eyepiece and have no issues spotting to 1000 and picking up Bullet impacts on steel. So that's like $400 scope less actually and has a 20-60x eyepiece which on the 65mm lease is actually 15-45x. And then I spent I think $150 on the LER eyepiece. I like celestron cause they use standard 1.5" eyepieces


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[Sheldon N]

Overkill only if you either will have to pack it around a bunch or if the cost will limit your ability to buy other things that might be more important. If you have to pack it a bunch then might consider the 65 or 85mm versions for lighter weight. As far as budget goes, just make sure you've got the other more important things covered... quality rifle, quality scope, LOTS of ammo for range time, reloading setup if you plan to shoot a lot or shoot seriously, etc etc. And as noted earlier... make dang sure to get a good tripod. $200 isn't enough in my book, plan to spend at least $500 for a set of quality legs plus a head, maybe more.

Funny thing about high end spotting scopes.... either you're spotting for a friend in which case you're not actually shooting, or a friend is spotting for you and they're the one getting to enjoy your uber expensive optic. It's always struck me as a bit ironic.

 

[Outlander71]

Good points, thanks for the feedback.

The budget factor is not driving the train on my set up.

I plan to get a good tripod setup (somewhere in the $500 range) and good tripod head. I have also factored in the scope case and other odds and ends.

The 95mm weighs 75.8 oz and the 85 is at 67.4 oz. There is 2.2 inches of length difference (16.8 vs 14.6). One appeal to me about this set up is the modularity. I expect to use this spotting scope primarily at the range so weight and size is not much of an issue. If however I should get the chance to hunt something that requires a spotting scope then I can always add the 65mm objective lens (55.9 oz and 13.3" OAL) for the weight and size reduction without having to buy a 2nd eye piece.

The heat mirage issue is going to be mitigated by a camera system.

 

[surgeon260]

is there some other scope I should be considering.

For that kind of money, you would be remiss not to look at the Kowa Prominar 88mm. I can't objectively say it is better than the Swaro, but it is definitely in the same league while costing much less. It is big and heavy, much like the Swaro, but it also happens to have the best glass I have ever seen in an optic. Google some reviews - the Kowa is widely considered to have the best glass of any spotter out there (although Swaro glass is also incredible). It is not modular like the Swaro, but it is also $2k cheaper which to me makes it an incredible value. Every person who has looked through my Kowa has been impressed. Both the Swaro and the Kowa are likely overkill for 1000 yards, but if you have the coin, high end optics like this are just so sweeeeet.

 

[Wiley Coyyote]

The glass in my Athlon Ares 15-45X is damn near even with a buddy's swaro., as three of us agreed in a side by side on steel out to 1400.
This afternoon looking at steel at 1315 yds I could tell the difference between 30 cal and 6.5 creedmore hits. !000 yds is a piece of cake for this lightweight $600 spotter. If you want to step up we compared the Athlon Cronus with the Swaro and all admitted it was a tossup.

For 1000 yds and decent conditions I would go Ares. As mentioned above if significant mirage is there then all bets are off at 1000 no matter what glass or mag.

 

[ratton]

Looking through high-end glass is very personal and subjective thing . Every user may literally see something different and every user will be influenced by different things (IE color, field of view, clarity, chromatic aborration, contrast etc. I urge you to seek out and physically look through the different spotting scopes before purchasing one. I took me a long time to physically put my hands on a Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss and Kowa. All were very close in my opinion. Took me a long time to find a Kowa Prominar to look through. In the end, I purchased a Kowa Prominar 88mm. I am still very satisfied with my purchase and enjoy it everytime I use it. They are all quality devices and in the end it will be your individual preference. Good Luck with your search

 

[JayOpticspecialist]

buy once cry once, you can't get a better spotter than the atx 95. it's overkill for steel, but it has many uses. also, if you need a lighter spotter, you just have to get the objective.

 

[jetmd]

Buy once and Cry once is the best advice.

Back in 1989 I purchased a Kowa TSN-1 and a 25X LER eyepiece. That spotting scope is still serving me at 100%!

Buy the best quality glass you can afford. Spend several hours behind cheap glass and you will realize the merits of Excellent quality glass.

Don't be afraid to look at a used Kowa, Swarovski or even a good old Unertl as they are a good solid spotter also.

Overkill in my opinion is underrated.

 

[regency]

I have the Swaro version that is one step down in zoom. It's plenty for steel targets at great distances. Heck, I watch my hits on steel at 1,000yds through my NXS 2.5-10 scope. If you have a good scope and know proper recoil management, there is really no reason to buy a spotting scope honestly. Just my opinion.

 

[wahootwo]

I've got the 95 and love it! Like everyone has mentioned, it's bulkier and weighs more, but fantastic for long range shooting. Check out the new BTX eyepiece module. Would be perfect for staring at steel for long periods.