Budget spotting scope for range days

[furiouspilgrim]

Afternoon all,

can I have some recommendations for a budget spotting scope? Currently using one of those Aldi specials, and for how much it cost, it's not bad, but I'm looking to upgrade.

I don't mind buying used to bring the price down. How much should I be looking to spend? Bearing in mind it will only be used a handful of times a year. I'm not looking for 'the best'.

I don't need it to see individual shots on the target as the markers do a semi decent job of indicating shot placement.

 

[ChesterP]

Why not invest the money in a rifle scope that allows you to do the same? Buy a decent scope with good resolving power and up to about 25x mag and you won't need the spotter. I bought a spotting scope but tbh never use it anymore as my Nightforce and Bushnell scopes are good enough to spot strikes to hundreds of yards. Good spotting scopes cost a lot of money. There's very few cheap ones that can be recommended, bar secondhand buys of spotters from the likes of Nikon and Kowa for example and then you'd be looking at a good few hundred for a 20 year old version. New, the jump from "rubbish" or "barely adequate" to "good but not great" is about the £500 mark for something like the Hawke Endurance ED spotters which are good. Nothing much cheaper is worth the outlay. You can buy budget but you'd end up not using it. You might also want to look at some of the Vortex and Celestron range as for similar money to the Hawke Endurance, they offer some equivalent glass.

 

[kennyc]

as you are just using it to see the marker then stick with the Aldi/Lidl scope, its an orange square on a black background whether you can count the flies on it is irrelevant
a scope that has Mil/Mil or MOA/MOA reticle and turrets and adequate magnification is of far more use, as you can use it to adjust POI far easier than a plain spotter! spend the money on that.

 

[tozzybum]

Ive got an Opticron IF classic 25x60 ,its a new old model.£70 from a local foto shop sat on their shelf for a few years the bloke admitted.Very good clear image and very well made.Started with the Aldi 1 but they are a bit basic.There,s a photo in my gallery if you wont a butcher,s .They turn up on evilbay from time to time look to pay about 40 quid atb

 

[paul o']

look at OLIVON mty they are at most shows, I use the t900 worth the outlay good for range work .

 

[furiouspilgrim]

Thanks for the replies.

On some of my rifles, I do have scopes. So no issue there. The problem is when I use my No4 or Mosin etc, no scope on those.

 

[furiouspilgrim]

Ive got an Opticron IF classic 25x60 ,its a new old model.£70 from a local foto shop sat on their shelf for a few years the bloke admitted.Very good clear image and very well made.Started with the Aldi 1 but they are a bit basic.There,s a photo in my gallery if you wont a butcher,s .They turn up on evilbay from time to time look to pay about 40 quid atb

That's the type of thing I'm looking for, cheap and cheerful, but still useable. Will have a look on fleabay now.

 

[kennyc]

Thanks for the replies.

On some of my rifles, I do have scopes. So no issue there. The problem is when I use my No4 or Mosin etc, no scope on those.

when I use my K31 I use 8x42 Binos to see the marker, I am not going to bother looking for the hole itself at 1000 yards

 

[Mauser243]

Redfield is worth a look.

 

[furiouspilgrim]

Just an update to say thanks for the advice. Went with an Optricron classic in the end. Paid just over £55 inc postage, but it came with an adapter to mount my dslr to it. Perfect for my needs, good enough to see the staples holding my target up at 100 yards.

 

[tozzybum]

Glad you got it sorted good little scopes handy for zeroing and recon if your on bunny or pigeon patrol and dont want to tip them off

 

[tarponhead]

I use a Vortex Diamondback -x20-60 and I can see .22lr strikes on shoot-n-C targets at 100yrds at Bisley. Not great glass but good enough to zero and get group sizes.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Redfield is worth a look.

I have one from 1978ish bought it in 1981 in Michigan still very good if anyone wants it £100
Martin