Hello fellow shooters!

Looking for your list of recommendations or comparisons for spotting scopes for our sport (smallbore & high power silhouette).
We all can recite typical guns, scopes, ammo recommendations, but we don't usually talk about spotting scopes.
We know for certain, good spotters help shooters get hits! We know those spotters have to use good equipment to make the best calls.

So, tell me what you got, what you want or what you think about the various scopes (and stands/tripods) - THANKS in advance!

ShootingStar
Greg Chandler

We use a Kowa TSN 82-SV with a 25x eyepiece. It's pretty-much perfect.

Dustin

I'm with you on that dustin. Sometimes I think the straight one is best and other times I lean toward the 45 eye piece.

Jerry G wrote:I'm with you on that dustin. Sometimes I think the straight one is best and other times I lean toward the 45 eye piece.

Tureau likes the angled eyepiece because he can peek at the wind flags without moving his head, so we use an angled one.

Dustin

We see very few spotting scopes with straight eyepieces on the line in use by top-end shooter/spotter teams. There are a few "best" models out there depending on who you ask, but the most common "best" is a Kowa 80mm model with a fixed power long eye relief eyepiece like Dustin mentions below. There are a few others out there that are great at certain price points, including the newer "M2" version of the 80mm Celestron Regal ED (extra-low dispersion) with 27X LER (32mm eye relief) eyepiece shown here.

http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/sp ... -scope-kit

You definitely want to get a scope with plenty of eye relief. If your budget allows it, be sure to get a scope with ED or ultra ED glass. I would rather have a Celestron with ED glass than a Kowa without it, as long as it has enough eye relief. The ED-glass scopes from higher-end brands like Zeiss, Leica and Kowa have some breathtaking price tags if you haven't shopped for them before.

If you truly want to go top end on functionality, the "dual spotting scope" binoculars are truly something wonderful to behold and will make you think that everything else is inferior. I've only gotten to look through two pairs of these ever. Of course, they also carry a $5000 price tag along with their shockingly clear view.

http://www.kowa-usa.com/Sporting-Optics ... Binoculars

Big Kowas with the LER eyepiece are the standard any rifle range. We had a pretty good exchange on spotters over on the ASSRA forum last week.

Boats

B&H Photo has the best price on the Kowa's and eye pieces that I found. I just purchased the TSN-82SV with the angled eyepiece (25LER)for Silhouette and Prone shooting.

Older TSN-821 25x angled...I think my spotter prefers straight. All personal preference. Wouldn't mind using his straight 721? if he had all the homey hookups to hang all the stuff on (hint, hint)
Dennis
PS. I also shoot prone matches, the angled is mandatory.

Buy a heavy tripod that's extremely sturdy. Yeah, it's a pain in the butt to carry, but very difficult to knock over and it won't vibrate on windy days.

I bought a used Manfrotto off eBay for $125 that has a geared center column. The three legs are connected to the center column and this really stiffens it up. I bought a new fluid video head off amazon to top it off. Also a Manfrotto

There's no doubt that Kowa 80mm scopes are popular with shooters. If this isn't your price range then check out the Alpen

I bought a used Kowa TSN-4 off eBay. This model has fluorite glass. I've yet to experience better resolution from any spotting scope. I have resolved 6.5mm bullet holes in cardboard at 500m when spotting one Sunday for Mark. No one else's scope could resolve the holes including a new kowa 82. You don't need this capability for smallbore but I paid less for the eBay purchase of an old Kowa than a new 82 model. And here's the truth about glass, it doesn't wear out. And there's nothing better than fluorite and there never will be. So if you can find an old TSN fluorite model buy it.

I also have an angled 82 and it's nice. The LER eyepiece is convenient to spot with your safety glasses but you sacrifice some FOV as compared to a wide angle eyepiece. No big deal because our targets are stationary. I never use use it because the old fluorite model is that much better and lighter.

2nd that Manfrotto center geared and Flud head advice . Price portability and solid it's the best solution. You can get them off eBay little over 100 bucks if your carefull.

Boats

I have the Leica 62mm APO with the fluorite (ED) glass. Lens size matters for light gathering, but I traded that attribute for the ED glass. So hopefully I can resolve as much as a standard Kowa 82mm but without the top heavy weight. It is pretty crisp. Top of the line optics today is simply amazing.

Use a Nikon Field scope 82 mm objective 25-75x.. good optics, clear picture. was a good price $1000.00 complete with eye piece.. use it for HP & SB..
brett

Had a Kowa TSN 82-SV with a 25x 45 degree eyepiece for awhile. Can't beat it. Started to do some long range sighting in and added the 20-60x eyepiece to spot small holes at distance. Works great.
ppkny

ppkny wrote:Had a Kowa TSN 82-SV with a 25x 45 degree eyepiece for awhile. Can't beat it. Started to do some long range sighting in and added the 20-60x eyepiece to spot small holes at distance. Works great.
ppkny

Wow, you sprung for a good scope after I moved, trying to get Paul to go with you again huh lol