[roadie]

I'm looking for a decent spotting scope. I have been looking on ebay and other sites like optics planet.com and can't decide and am not sure which reviews to trust. I'm not looking to spend a ton of $$$ less than $60 new or used. I'd like something that goes up to at least X45 and have found many at that price and below, I just don't know which ones are ok. It's only for target shooting so I can see my strikes. What do ya'll think?

[M14man]

It is a hard recommendation to make. Power does not necessarily mean clarity or that you will be able to see your bullets better.There are 20 power scopes that do a better job than some 40-60s. You want an objective lens of at least 40mm. I would ask to look thru peoples scopes while at the range and note which ones do good, and what ones are no good. I have seen new Nikons that give poorer definition than some older Tascos. Expect to pay at least $60 and closer to $100 for anything decent enough to see holes clearly at 100 yds.

[samuel]

Stay away from asian scopes.They work at shorter ranges but most wont be clear enough to see a bullet hole at 300yds.If you are 200yds and under a decent 8x32 will see the holes.I use a nikon 16-47x60 that was about $700. for knocking around.When I competed I had a little more invested in my spotting scope.I still have it,I just dont take it where it can get knocked around.You can get several decent scopes for $250 and up. sam.

[rfc357]

Cheap scopes are junk. You really get what you pay for. Stay away from "Winchesters." I have an old Bausch & Lomb I really like, but the equivalent Bushnells of today are not as good. Spend your money for objective size rather than power. A good 20x scope is better than a poor 60x scope. You will have to pay at least $250 for a new scope that delivers good performance at 100-200 yards. Farther than this and you need more resolving power, which comes from objective size, not power. Larger objectives cost more $$$. Champion's Choice carries a Kowa for about $700 that they say is good at 300 yards!

Look for a used scope. Try bird-watching clubs. Birders are pretty picky about their optics, and, being liberals, usually have a lot of money to spend. But by all means try to see a bullet hole at 100 yards before you buy a scope.