I just need it to be clear up to maybe 200 yd 300 at the most, I want to set it on the bench and be able to see where my bullets are going on the target, most shots will be around a 100 yd. This is just for sighting in and target pratice. I was looking at a bushnell for $89.95 I think it was a 20 by 60 power.
You pay have to cut and paste these.
Yukon //www.opticstore.com/Yukon%2020-50X50.htm

Bushnell http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0016662710574a&navAction=jump&navCount=12&indexId=cat20762&podId=0016662&catalogCode=XC&parentId=cat20762&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Fv%2F1460%2F1339%2F6h%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcontent%2FPod%2F01%2F66%2F62%2Fp016662ii01.jpg

I've got a Bushnell 12-30x spotting scope that was around the same price.  Not extremely crisp, but good enough if you won't be using it much.  Clarity is about what you get with scopes in that price range.

If you want to see bullet holes at 200 or 300 yards, you either need to limit your shooting to 50 calibers, or spend more $ on the scope!

I have a Nikon 15-45 scope.  I think it's the Earth & Sky or some such model, which I paid $
300 for a few years ago.

If lighting & conditions are ideal, I can see .223 holes @ 200 yards.  300 yards though is a real stretch!

(GETTING) A 20-60 bURRIS FOR XMAS. mY FATHER GOT IT FROM MIDSOUTH SHOOTERS SUPPLY FOR ABOUT $279.

Just noticed the caps lock was hit,... oh well, I'm not retyping it!

It gets little dark when cranked to 60x, but it does a great job!

I've been looking for a spotting scope lately for use at the range. This past weekend I was there and rented a Bushnell that had up to 35 power. I could not see .223 holes at 100 yds to save my life.

In the course of looking and researching all the types brands available. I'm inclined to give up the scope being waterproof and compact in trade for a 80 mm objective lens and higher zoom power. Why should I pay for waterproofing when my range is covered and I dont shoot on rainy days anyway?

I'm really considering this. The Landmark 20x60x80. Burris pt. # 300124, retails for $322. It comes with a tripod and has a 20-60 magnification eyepiece included and an 80 mm objective lens. That ought to gather some light. And with up to 60 power magnification I think I ought to be able to see .223 holes in paper out to about 300 or 400 yards.

Unless I can find a better deal or somebody can steer me in a better direction this is the one I will get.

Not the best scope but the best **deal** seems to be BSA's 20x60x60 for about $90 including a hard plastic carry case. It's the first thing on my list to get after Christmas.

www.jarheadtop.com/Coleman.htm

I've been looking to this one...it's gotten some pretty good words on a few shooter boards. At least, with regards to seeing .223 at up to 200 yards (depending on weather conditions).

$199 gets you a Coleman 20-60, 80mm with 45 degree eyepiece, soft carry bag, tripod, and hard carry case.

Assuming the optics are half-way decent, it is the objective diameter that is most important.  Get an 80mm, like the Coleman above.  I use a Nikon 20-60x80.  Kinda pricey at about $500, but it's a great scope.

Just about anything will work at 100 yards, even a rifle scope mounted to a block of wood and clamped to the bench.

.22 holes in a black bullseye are very hard to see at 200 yards with any spotting scope, unless the light is just right.  One method that helps - lay a white sheet on the ground in front of the target to reflect light onto the target face.  Some folks have put a white board hung at an angle on the back of the target board in an attempt to reflect light back through the bullet holes - sometimes it works.

.30 caliber holes are fairly easy to spot at 200 yards in black bullseyes unless the sky gets too dark.

If I am shooting with a scope at 200 or 300 yards I use targets with low contrast aiming points; either store bought with orange, or targets I designed on the computer with blue, orange, or turquoise aiming points.  Low contrast targets with small aiming points allow .22 bullets to be seen easily at 300 yards since the target is mostly white.  Low contrast targets of about any size are useless with iron sights beyond 100 yards, and they pretty well suck at 100.

For a budget scope, check out the 60 mm scope Champion's Choice sells for $210. Eyepieces are available from 22X to 60X for $50.  They don't have a web site, call 615-793-4066 to ask for a catalog.

If you buy a 60mm Kowa, you will probably be very happy - the buyers remorse won't last long, especially if you take a look through someone else's scope after you get yours.

If you wear glasses do yourself a favor and get a scope with a long eye relief eyepiece, one that specs at about an inch.  The only eyepiece I have ever looked through that is truly LER is the Kowa.  I owned a Bushnell Spacemaster with variable magnification eyepiece that was advertised as LER, but it's not by a long stretch.  The look through variables is too compromised to add LER.

Jim Owens' prices are as good as any, and his service is first class.  Occasionally he has used scopes.

Damn, the wife just gave me a Kowa TS-612 spotting scope for Christmas with a 20-60X occular, and holy shit is this thing awesome.  I mean, clear, crisp image.  Small and lightweight.  I'm just kinda flabbergasted.  Hope to get to the range this weekend.  This is one SWEET piece of kit.

btt