What would be a spotting scope under $200 that you would recommend? Best value and performance?

If that's all you're willing to spend on a spotting scope, save your money and upgrade your rifle scope with better glass.

If you only had $200 and someone had a gun to your head and said pick the best spotting scope under $200 and tell me or else...what would you pick…? By the way, he let you get opinions.

I don’t remember the actual cost, but I bought an Athlon spotting scope that wasn’t too expensive. I like it just fine, but the serious long range guys probably wouldn’t be satisfied.

I don't own a spotting scope for this reason. I’m not willing to buy what I don’t want and won’t spend the money on what I do want.

I have considered the Bushnell that’s about twice your budget but my scope blows it away after looking through one. I am a bit spoiled on the scope side though.

The ones that NF rebranded from Meopta and sold for a while are really good scopes. Maybe you can find one of them used.

Althon because it has lifetime warranty, but most the sub 400 spotters you only get half mag out of them due to lack of glass quality, especially in summer

Or, if it's 20X on bottom, you can't dial magnification up at all. Clarity goes away.

Thanks guys!

You are welcome to come look through the Athlon. It’s a lot for a low price. I paid $200 and they’ve dropped the price to $129. I suppose it all depends on how far you want to see bullet holes.

I’ve never looked through one before but for that price I can’t imagine it’s going to perform well. I would hunt the used market for better glass. There are smoking deals out there for pre owned spotters for those who are patient.

I’d just do like Bobo. Save my money and borrow my friend’s Swarvos!

I haven’t used your 80 in a long time, way too heavy. I upgraded to the 65 HD as it’s more my style…

I agree a 200 dollar spotter won't be worth your 200 dollars.

I paid 350 I think for my used Vortex Razor 11-33. It will tear apart any other spotter in the sub-500 price range. But spotters are kind of like thermals where the entire bottom end of the market is borderline useless.