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8/14/2009 2:59:38 PM EDT
If money were no object, what spotting scope would you buy?  I want one that is variable power, so I can use it for short range stuff with my smaller guns, but also out to 600-1000 yds. with my Barrett 82A1, and which can double as a telescope for general viewing on our lake.
8/14/2009 3:39:55 PM EDT
[#1]
zeiss spotter 60

it costs about 5 grand....   nothing comes close
8/14/2009 4:21:20 PM EDT
[#2]
the Televue are sppose to be some of the best in the world high power tele scope/spotters

8/14/2009 4:59:54 PM EDT
[#3]
I love my Kowa.  Best money I ever spent on optics.



http://kowa-usa.com/frontend/proddetail.asp?pn=TSN-772&co=10000391,10000374





And if you want the ultimate binoculars: http://kowa-usa.com/frontend/proddetail.asp?pn=BL8J3&co=10000325
 
8/14/2009 5:25:06 PM EDT
[#4]
zeiss or nikon tf3 both are awesome you can keep the leup mark 4 ( junk )
8/15/2009 6:57:14 AM EDT
[#5]
Do you have a budget in mind?
8/15/2009 3:28:07 PM EDT
[#6]
Instead of a budget, I guess I would consider it cost versus time.  If there is a really great scope for less than $3,000 I would probably buy it now.  If the Zeiss is clearly worth the wait at 5K, I would probably wait another year until I recover from some recent big purchases for my gun room this past year.
8/15/2009 5:22:45 PM EDT
[#7]
Hard to beat a Swarovski 80mm.  I've watched bullets fly in at 1000 yards with one.

Of course they're only $1800 or so.

Cheap junk :)

By the way, I don't care how good of a spotting scope you get, you can't see .50 cal holes at 1000 yards unless there's no mirage whatsoever.  Even then it's iffy.

-David
Edgewood, NM
8/15/2009 10:00:11 PM EDT
[#8]
Is a ranging reticle desired?
8/16/2009 6:22:30 AM EDT
[#9]
I would prefer one with a reticle, but it's not an absolute.  I know the Zeiss Spotter 60 has an illuminated reticle.  Are there others?
8/17/2009 11:04:58 AM EDT
[#10]
This is evidently under your price point, but I think it would suffice:
US Optics Spotting Scope
Click on the options button for reticle of choice.
8/19/2009 6:54:49 PM EDT
[#11]
Look for spotting scope reviews by the birdwatching crowd.  Apparently they are VERY serious about their optics.  IIRC they rated Nikon the tops but I can't remember which model.
8/19/2009 9:44:05 PM EDT
[#12]
That is a good point.  They don't have rifle and ammunition to split their funds on.  Reticles aren't a factor, though.
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