Best value high-end spotting scope?

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Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 15 Dec 2018, 5:24 pm

I’m looking to drop a slab of cash on said item, but I’m trying to avoid wasting money for the sake of it. I need high quality glass that’s good for long range target; I was looking at the modular Swarovski but shyed away from a $3500 transaction at the last minute. I don’t don’t need some fancy modular thingy just solid glass that’s popular in perhaps f-class or fullbore circles. My budget is anywhere between $1000 to $2500, but good value for money. Any experience would be greatly appreciated. In2.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Dec 2018, 8:47 pm

I look through everyone's spotting scope at comps and have seen quite a few. My opinion is that Swarovski is the best optics I have looked through. Nightforce also make some nice spotting scopes.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by tom604 » 15 Dec 2018, 9:08 pm

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/celes ... c98ba2045f

not sure if this would work but for a one min google search its a lot cheaper than 2000 bucks, just an outside the box thought :ugeek: 8-) :thumbsup:
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 15 Dec 2018, 9:12 pm

SCJ429 wrote:I look through everyone's spotting scope at comps and have seen quite a few. My opinion is that Swarovski is the best optics I have looked through. Nightforce also make some nice spotting scopes.


That’s what I feared- the Swarovskis are incredible. Do you know if the Swarovski ATS 65 HD is any good?
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 15 Dec 2018, 9:19 pm

tom604 wrote:https://www.bintel.com.au/product/celestron-astromaster-70az/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_s366deh3wIViSQrCh30UQf4EAQYAyABEgKBgPD_BwE&v=6cc98ba2045f

not sure if this would work but for a one min google search its a lot cheaper than 2000 bucks, just an outside the box thought :ugeek: 8-) :thumbsup:


Lol might do a bit of star gazing on the side ;) I like your thinking but was really after something a little more compact.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Dec 2018, 9:41 pm

This was a ATX 60x, it was very hot with lots of mirage and I could see .224 bullet holes at 500 metres. I could not see the same holes using my 55x Nightforce rifles scope.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by Rod_outbak » 16 Dec 2018, 9:26 am

I bought a Celestron C5 (Cassegrain) Spotting scope back in 2012.

I bought all the fittings and add-ons, to use it both as a spotting scope for shooting, as well as take some photos with it.

Barely use it for either; way too bulky and fiddly for spotting/shooting, and even taking photos with it has a lot of stuffing around.

Might be a different story for the later ones with the 'Edge' tech in them; looks like it will slave to your phone, which would make it worthwhile.

Oz scopes have a decent range of the mid-range scopes. Not a lot of the higher-end ones, but a couple of Leicas etc..
https://www.ozscopes.com.au/spotting-scope

There are 2 or 3 brands in the price bracket you are talking about, but also a lot of cheaper options.
I like the look of the 'Vortex Razor' spotters; if the glass is as clear as my Vortex Crossfire, I'd think they might be a serious consideration.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by deye243 » 16 Dec 2018, 12:59 pm

I bought one of these in happy with it ......
https://www.ozscopes.com.au/vanguard-en ... scope.html
Can see hits on still way out past 1200y
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by Gamerancher » 17 Dec 2018, 9:46 am

Don't know what your intended use is but these are by far the most popular spotting scope in The U.S for BPCR silhouette and long range target.
I don't know about seeing .22 cal holes in paper in heavy mirage at 500m, ( I've never looked through any scope that could do that ), but for seeing bullet impact on steel out to 1000 yards and reading mirage, they are excellent.

https://www.buffaloarms.com/kowa-82sv-s ... -tsn8230wa
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by No1_49er » 17 Dec 2018, 10:36 am

Gamerancher wrote:Don't know what your intended use is but these are by far the most popular spotting scope in The U.S for BPCR silhouette and long range target.
I don't know about seeing .22 cal holes in paper in heavy mirage at 500m, ( I've never looked through any scope that could do that ), but for seeing bullet impact on steel out to 1000 yards and reading mirage, they are excellent.

https://www.buffaloarms.com/kowa-82sv-s ... -tsn8230wa

Same one available from an Australian dealer for the same (equivalent) price.
https://www.scopeuout.com.au/collection ... ing-scopes
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by Gamerancher » 17 Dec 2018, 11:37 am

Yeah, was just the first link I had for an example. The eyepiece is interchangeable.
Had a look at that one No1_49er, that price may just be for the body only. I note that it is $2100-odd with the zoom eyepiece. I just use a 27x long eye-relief one on mine. I do have the 20 - 60x one as well, just don't use it.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 18 Dec 2018, 6:32 am

deye243 wrote:I bought one of these in happy with it ......
https://www.ozscopes.com.au/vanguard-en ... scope.html
Can see hits on still way out past 1200y

Ha funny you suggest that - I have one of those vanguard endeavor scopes on my 22 - surprisingly clear for a no-name brand. More than adequate for rimfire distances.
Last edited by in2anity on 18 Dec 2018, 7:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 18 Dec 2018, 7:02 am

The pertinent question is what will I use it for; well I shot an invitational 600m target event on Sunday, where I thought I'd would be at a severe disadvantage without such a top-end spotter. As it turned out, there were digital targets thus negating the need for any scope at all. In fact we had Jim Bailey spotting for us, and he only had a middle-of-the-road long eye relief scope for spotting any stray shots - the electronics did the rest.

Indeed the Swarovski ATX is amazingly capable - consistently capable of seeing 30cal holes on black targets at 600m (and probably beyond). That said, I probably would rarely need such quality as I'm not consistently shooting fullbore (for now). It'll more be used for silhouette and 3-p shoots out to 300m. And like gr said I really like looking through those long eye-relief scopes tbh - much more user friendly than fighting the half moons....
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by Gamerancher » 18 Dec 2018, 1:35 pm

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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by in2anity » 18 Dec 2018, 4:55 pm

Gamerancher wrote:Just buy this now!
https://www.usedguns.com.au/Product.aspx?p=140535


Yes this is one of those buy-once cry-once moments. Please hold ;)
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Re: Best value high-end spotting scope?

Post by Gamerancher » 18 Dec 2018, 5:08 pm

If I didn't already have the Kowa, I would jump on that.
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