Cheap Spotting Scope - recommendations?

Does anybody make a decent spotting scope for under $200? Primary use will be .24-.30 caliber target shooting out to 300 yds, can use splatter targets to assist in spotting.

Not a Barska.

spend $300 and you are into a leupold Ventana - burris has one at the $200 level

I am an optics snob, and while I will not say it is good--it is serviceable, and has passable optics quality.

http://swfa.com/Konus-15-45x65-Konuspot-Spotting-Scope-P48972.aspx

Ed

The Burris is not rated well, and you have to spend over $400 to get the Leupold in 20-60. I was just hoping that maybe the Redfield, Bushnell, or the like might be okay but it appears to be a pipe dream. Start saving my shekels, I guess.

This will last you a lifetime:

http://swfa.com/Kowa-60mm-Spotter-P1985.aspx


Good glass too

Ed

Red feild not a bad little combo set.

Vortex diamond back is better if you find one used or demo

If your budget is $200 you are probably going to be left with wasted money - the Ventana is $299 maybe cheaper if you look around and at your 300 hundred yard distance 45x will give a 6.66 view, with shoot and see targets not sure if you need more ...I comment a lot on go into a store and try out the optics only way you can tell if it will do want you need it too

option B - try and buy a quality used spotting scope

I like Option B best as well. Go on EBay and bid on a used B&L Elite 15x45x60.

If you MUST have a new spotter, you will have to look toward the excellent stuff coming out of China these days:

ZenRay, Promaster, Vanguard, etc.

I've been all over eBay and am certainly not opposed to used. I just didn't want to sink a lot of money into one being that it will almost solely be used for target shooting. I hoped some of you might know of a cheaper one that I hadn't stumbled across yet. I will check out the b&l. Thanks!

For about $330 you can pick up the 100mm Konus spotter. The only down side is that it's big and bulky. But the image quality is quite good for a low $$ scope.

My vote would be to find a used Nikon Sky & Earth series. They are not bad for the money. Ebay or Google would probably be your best bet.

In life there are many opportunities to "go cheap". But optics is not one of those times....!

Don't forget to shop Amazon for a specific item once you've ID'd what you want. Gun Broker also has an Optics section, broken down into sub sections for major categories like Spotters etc...and NO FFL required lol on Optics.
Ron

I'm not going to drop $2500 on a spotting scope that I'm going to use 5-10 times per year for punching paper.

I will 2nd this. I had a very nice one that I sold on eBay for $150. Very good for the money.