spotting scope question
 

Planing on buying a spotting scope, will spend $400 to 500 Probably a leupold. What power is best ? This will be used for antelope and mule deer.

Look at Vortex optics.

As much power as you can get!

Choice of straight or angled;

http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-o...ng-scopes.html


No questions asked warranty - gotta like that !

Cameraland is another excellent company to do business with and get great prices on just about anything in binos, scopes, cameras, etc.

You can't go wrong with a Leupold, though my experience is with a rifle scope. I have a Vortex spotting scope, one of the older 80 mm Nomads. They fixed it without charge when my son knocked over the tripod and the base of the scope broke. If you have the luxury, I'd strongly encourage to look through a scope before you buy. People's eyes are different and what may seem like the best scope to one may not be the case with another.

X2 on looking through the scopes. Most places will let you take them outside so you can compare them next to each other. I have heard good things about Vortex and just picked up one of their rifle scopes. Nikons have nice clear glass. I have a Winchester spotting scope that I have used for a few years that i like.

I've got an older Redfield. It's 20x45 with a 60MM lenses. IMO anything that goes above 45 is not worth it. At 60X you get a lot of mirage. I've used my scope on 3 separate sheep hunts & a mtn goat hunt all here in Colorado. I had no problem seeing & judging the animals.

I would look at Nikon before the Leupold. I think with Leupold you are paying a premium for that gold circle.

Swarovski is crystal clear above 45....

But no where near the OPs price.

And not "crystal clear" on hot days with a lot of mirage!

I agree on the Swarovski Optiks. I know they are not in the $400-$500 range, but they are the best and the clearest out there. I know many people don't want to spend alot on their optics, which I never understood, they are a key part of your gear. I'd say the 2nd best choice would be the Vortex

Got a Burris Landmark 15X45X60 for sale in the classifieds. Really nice spotting scope for the money.

Huntress----I agree but disagree. I think Leica are the best. I've got Leica bino's but I don't think a spotting scope is where to put my money. Bino's yes but spotting scope I went a lot cheaper.

But I'm not a record book hunter. So, the bino's will tell me if he's legal. Spotting scope will give me a good look as to if he's want I want on a premium tag here in Colorado.

IE----my mtn goat bully has @ 9" horns. A nice billy but no where near book, but if I was in BC--that extra 5/8" means ALOT.

270 have you ever used a spotting scope for antelope? from my experience between the wind and the the heat waves anything over about 20x was about worthless, didn't matter weather leopold or nikon or bushnell all about the same. Just my opinion, just dont count on using very high power magnification without distortion. Just my opinion, maybe somebody else has had better experience's than mine.

Looking through a spotter won't help much unless you can look through it at dawn and dusk. Most spotters in your price range and up will look all close to the same. the main difference will be their "crispness" on the edges of viewed items. For your price range a lupy would work fine, Vortex, Nikon all fine spotters for what you may be needing. For long distances you will want a large spotter, the bigger the better (assuming your not a backpack hunter).