Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

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Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by shovtel » 07 Feb 2019, 3:46 pm

Hey all,

I have a little .17hmr which I take to the range every so often.

With a little .17, I am unable to see through the scope at 100m if I have hit the target etc even with my nice Meopta 4-12x50 scope... so I have to wait 30 minutes till the range is open to walk up and view the target paper.

I have been thinking about getting a cheap spotting scope. Maybe something under $500.

Am I kidding myself thinking this is going to help me out... and am I kidding myself that a cheap spotting scope is going to be any good anyway?

What type of features should I be looking at or considering when buying a spotting scope?

I'm also more then open to a second hand unit.

Thanks in advance,

Mick.
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by SCJ429 » 08 Feb 2019, 8:23 pm

Whatever spotting scope you buy for $500 is going to be disappointing. I can see 20 cal bullet holes out at 500 with a 25x scope. Perhaps use your $500 as a deposit on a nicer scope with extra magnification.... Nightforce?
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 08 Feb 2019, 8:38 pm

Have you adjusted the focus properly I had a luepold vx3 4.5-14×40AO on my 17 and had no problem seeing holes in paper at 100y.
What range as you shooting
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by No1_49er » 08 Feb 2019, 11:03 pm

Ever contemplated one of these: - https://www.theoutpostarms.com.au/index ... ct_id=1729
Not necessarily from them - they are available.
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 08 Feb 2019, 11:48 pm

If he took that to the range some dick would shoot the s**t out of it .
And at that price it should work at a 1000+
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by TassieTiger » 09 Feb 2019, 2:16 pm

I’ve just purchased a cheap drone to fly out and view my 200m plus targets lol. $150...works brilliantly!
I have a cheap eBay 60x for $100 that is better than it has any right to be - can see .22 rims at 100m on white paper.

I agree with others - a more mag scope would be a better option.
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by Bill » 09 Feb 2019, 4:51 pm

I have a 20 x Kowa spotting scope that a rarely use.

It use it to look at the 2-300m target.

Let me know if ur interested
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by Stix » 09 Feb 2019, 8:54 pm

TassieTiger wrote:I’ve just purchased a cheap drone to fly out and view my 200m plus targets lol. $150...works brilliantly!
I have a cheap eBay 60x for $100 that is better than it has any right to be - can see .22 rims at 100m on white paper.

I agree with others - a more mag scope would be a better option.


Hey Tassie...
Thats domething ive thought about doing for a long time, but ive been informed battery life wont see out a load test at 400yds even just sitting there & only flying back a couple of times, & image quality is really poor...even with the expensive ones... :unknown:

So im intrigued you say it works a treat... :D

Have you got any details of what you bought...?...or a link...?
Cheers :drinks:
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 09 Feb 2019, 9:02 pm

The drone my son has has a great camera this is at about 400ft over a well known coastal town .
The resizing has stuffed it but it was a 4meg pic .it has a return range of about 4 or 5 k at 55kmh
Screenshot_20190209-215857.jpg
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by TassieTiger » 09 Feb 2019, 9:43 pm

If you’ve researched drones you’ll know the name DJI - who make the $1k hobbies that do everything and have 4K cams, and 5klm range etc.

Well DJI also make lower models like the tello and similar.

Google dji tello.
It takes me about 30 secs to fly out, view the board, take a snap, get back. With battery fly time of 13-14 mins, that’s quite a few pics.

If I were going past 200, I’d up spec transmitter but I wanted to see this one work first before making any amendments.
The cams on these things now - even in lower spec versions of 720p are more than adequate for viewing holes in paper - just get the drone within 5m or so of targets and view via your medium of choice live.

That above drone pic is cool and specs say it’s not a cheap unit - dji mavic or spark maybe?? Major guess...lol.
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 09 Feb 2019, 11:07 pm

I don't know but here is a pic of it its small and wind don't bother it as it has a GPS unit and proximity and oll the good stuff .

Screenshot_20190209-220951_Gallery.jpg
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 09 Feb 2019, 11:12 pm

This is one of the sunset and you can see a bit of the lakes and the ocean on the left .
It also does this sphere shot and it was amazing

Screenshot_20190130-175529-1024x640.jpg
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by TassieTiger » 09 Feb 2019, 11:33 pm

The drone capabilities are getting pretty crazy, some have a follow target feature and will lock on and video that target - with built in collision avoidance. So mountain bikers can have their drone hover 20m away - circling to take different angles, follow them at speed and automatically miss trees and over hangs - then auto land before the battery runs low.

I have heard of some being used to scout our deer in tassie...first person view and a 5klm range and well...they can look over ridges that many might not be able to climb.
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by Stix » 10 Feb 2019, 9:19 am

Thanks guys...
No i havnt bothered researching them...
Reason being i know a couple of people with them that have payed well in excess of $1k & they all mention that battery life will not see out a load test & that camera quality is crap & may not resolve bullet holes in a target from 5m ir so away..

Ill have to have a look into them...!!

Have either of you guys (or anyone) got any pics of targets you post up or send via pm...?
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by deye243 » 10 Feb 2019, 1:20 pm

Not me as I do load testing at 1000+ yards on heavy cals and 500y with 223 and can see hits on steel through every scope I own that and any load at or under 4" is a good load .
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by TassieTiger » 11 Feb 2019, 8:11 pm

Stix wrote:Thanks guys...
No i havnt bothered researching them...
Reason being i know a couple of people with them that have payed well in excess of $1k & they all mention that battery life will not see out a load test & that camera quality is crap & may not resolve bullet holes in a target from 5m ir so away..

Ill have to have a look into them...!!

Have either of you guys (or anyone) got any pics of targets you post up or send via pm...?
:drinks:


There are two types of video from the drones - the first person view, that is the transmitted view back to you - is low resolution and not great for fine detail. But the camera footage itself is much higher and easily captures the detail.
As for battery life - do the calculations 12-14 min flight time on one lion battery...if your just dialling in - heaps of time or buy another...it takes mere seconds for drones to cover 100 metres...quick little fuggers lol.

The real issue is you end up messing around with the drone and wasting battery life looking at other s**t.

I don’t have any feed currently as at end of day I wipe and start again - recording end of day results on a proper cam.
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
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Re: Spotting scopes to suit .17 HMR

Post by Stix » 11 Feb 2019, 10:08 pm

Thanks guys...
If you get still pics of targets send me a couple... :thumbsup:

And apologies for the hijack shovtel... :drinks:
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