Another Spotting Scope question

l recently got my slow fire into the low 90's, but I cannot see my shots to confirm my call. I want to learn what I'm doing to produce a 10 vs 9 vs 8, and it seems like a spotting scope is the answer. I'm also trying to spend less than $100.

I've read most of the posts about spotting scopes and from watching others use theirs, I have a few questions. 

Is a 45 deg eye piece worth it? From watching shooters, it looks much more natural.

Is the ability to rotate the 45 deg eye piece portion relative to the mount a feature I should look for? The champions choice 10-30x50 and cheap Celestron look to have this, but many don't. Worth it?

What are my options for holding a scope if I cannot afford a shooting box? Janky and crude is fine if it's cheap. 

Thanks

You might get lucky with a sub $100 scope, but there aren't any that can reliably pick out 22 holes at 50 yards in less than ideal conditions. Sorry.

If I had to get a cheap scope this Champions Choice would probably be my first choice. If you can visit Champions Choice store at Camp Perry you can try several different models.

Angled eyepiece is significantly easier to use than straight.

If you are technically capable it should be possible to make a camera system to spot your target (if you are allowed to leave a camera down-range while shooting). A quick web search found this post. I am sure there are more options out there.

Dear Stork:

For what it is worth, a number of my teammates have that champions choice scope and they are very happy with it.  

The angled eyepiece is worth the extra cost (if it costs extra) and the ability to rotate is good too.  

Personally, my pistol box scope is not as good as the champions choice scope and I can see 22 holes at 50 yards so I have not had the desire to upgrade.  It is a much older model that champions choice offered years ago. 

Regards, 
Crankster

Stork wrote:l recently got my slow fire into the low 90's, but I cannot see my shots to confirm my call. I want to learn what I'm doing to produce a 10 vs 9 vs 8, and it seems like a spotting scope is the answer. I'm also trying to spend less than $100.

I've read most of the posts about spotting scopes and from watching others use theirs, I have a few questions. 

Hi Stork,
I have an older "Focal" brand 17x60mm scope I use on my travel aluminum shooting box (I bought it off Ebay for $25). It is well built, has great glass, and is every bit as good as the Nikon I also have.

Here's a good deal: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Focal-Prismatic-Spotting-Scope-17x60mm/274211367881?hash=item3fd8456bc9:g:aJcAAOSwPa9eIrKT

Not connected with this ebay scope.
Wes

SteveT wrote:You might get lucky with a sub $100 scope, but there aren't any that can reliably pick out 22 holes at 50 yards in less than ideal conditions. Sorry.

I should have mentioned I currently only shoot .22 indoors at 50ft. Once I start shooting outdoors, I'll worry about that. For now, I'm hesitant to get caught up on seeing .22 holes at 50 yards because I don't need that right now. Right now, I'm hoping to solidify what is good vs bad in regards to my fundamentals.

Most scopes can find 22 holes at 50 ft unless the lighting is bad. I've seen people use monoculars and binoculars when starting out. A camera with a decent zoom or a clip on telephoto lens for a smart phone might be able to do it.

If it was me, I would stretch a little and get the CC scope I link to above so there are more options going forward.

A box mounted scope is nice, but it won't take much longer to set up a small tripod and scope. I see people doing it sometimes. It shouldn't be a big deal.

Best of luck.

Rather than fooling around with zoom features on phones or spotting scope/adapters.  Get yorself a spotting scope in Commercial Row and then get one of these:

https://www.shootingmadeeasy.com/spot_shot/

Then attach to your scope whether mounted on a tripod or box mounted.  Have a cheap WiFi tablet or old smartphone and you can record shot strings.  No need to guess which shot was the bad one.

Wobbley wrote:Rather than fooling around with zoom features on phones or spotting scope/adapters.  Get yorself a spotting scope in Commercial Row and then get one of these:

https://www.shootingmadeeasy.com/spot_shot/

Then attach to your scope whether mounted on a tripod or box mounted.  Have a cheap WiFi tablet or old smartphone and you can record shot strings.  No need to guess which shot was the bad one.

Wowza! 

How do you like it?

V

So far so good.

valbern67 wrote:

Wobbley wrote:Rather than fooling around with zoom features on phones or spotting scope/adapters.  Get yorself a spotting scope in Commercial Row and then get one of these:

https://www.shootingmadeeasy.com/spot_shot/

Then attach to your scope whether mounted on a tripod or box mounted.  Have a cheap WiFi tablet or old smartphone and you can record shot strings.  No need to guess which shot was the bad one.

Wowza! 

How do you like it?

V

Wobbley wrote:Rather than fooling around with zoom features on phones or spotting scope/adapters.  Get yorself a spotting scope in Commercial Row and then get one of these:

https://www.shootingmadeeasy.com/spot_shot/

Then attach to your scope whether mounted on a tripod or box mounted.  Have a cheap WiFi tablet or old smartphone and you can record shot strings.  No need to guess which shot was the bad one.

OMG!
I've been looking all over for a possible solution. And was waiting for the Hawk from https://www.longshotcameras.com/ to be available (seems it finally is).
My scope can have T-mount adapters screwed to it and I have a T-mount to 10mm adapter but couldn't find a webcam that was suitable.

What software is the SME camera compatible with? The specs say "COMPATIBLE WITH CURRENT BULLSEYE APP". Which app is that?

The longshotcameras have their own app for detecting shots (https://www.longshotcameras.com/pages/targetvision-app).

iOS 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bullseye-target-manager/id812264899

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Bullseye+Camera+Systems&hl=en_US

Optics Planet sells SME products, and it is slightly cheaper - https://www.opticsplanet.com/sme-wifi-spotting-scope-camera.html

Side note, - you can find useful review posted by someone shooting BE at the above link.

However word of caution. This camera is compatible with scopes that have eyepiece up to 1.5", which is roughly 40mm. Scope from Champion Choice suggested above by SteveT, looks like, has larger diameter then that. Something to be verified.

AP

PhotoEscape wrote:Optics Planet sells SME products, and it is slightly cheaper - https://www.opticsplanet.com/sme-wifi-spotting-scope-camera.html

10$US cheaper after international shipping isn't bad.

How's this for ridiculous? Cabelas.ca lists the SME for 149$CAN.

Canadian pesos, free shipping to me. 

Moral of the story ALWAYS keep looking till you're fed up.

For the US consumers: even better price on Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/SME-WiFi-Spotting-Scope-Camera/dp/B07MC572D3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Is the ability to rotate the 45 deg eye piece portion relative to the mount a feature I should look for? The champions choice 10-30x50 and cheap Celestron look to have this, but many don't. Worth it?

I have and use the 50mm objective celestron. I can see 90+% of 22 holes at 50 yards in so so lighting conditions. For the price, I think I paid $50 or so, and size I'm happy with it.  I mount the scope directly to the box (no swing arm) so different bench heights give me issues. The angled eye piece and mount rotation are very handy to resolve this. I believe there is also a 60mm objective version. I suspect that one would allow you to see 22 holes at 50 yards. I was going for minimal size weight and knew I'd give up something on the long line

I am one the idiots who spent almost 285 to get the NG 20x33 but I love it! Can see 22’s in any light at 50 and the glass is as clear as it gets! But the damn thing cost 285!!!!!!!

I would find a good used Bushnell Sentry 20X

James Hensler wrote:I am one the idiots who spent almost 285 to get the NG 20x33 but I love it! Can see 22’s in any light at 50 and the glass is as clear as it gets! But the damn thing cost 285!!!!!!!

If you're an idiot, I'm certifiably insane. Spent 600$Can on my scope. And the hundreds for a Ray-Vin scope stand and bench mount. :p

Jack H wrote:I would find a good used Bushnell Sentry 20X

I have one setting in the SUV for outdoor range trips. I bought it in about 1976 or 77 and maybe I spent $50 on it.  Somewhere I lost the 30X  eyepiece  and with just 20X 22's are a bit of an issue at 50 yards.

I have the Bushnell Sentry, 2 B&L old green scopes from my benchrest and prone days, and have or have used a Bushnell Competitor, one of the short stubby Leupolds, and a Leupold big 45deg scope, and last, the CMP little Kowa with 45deg eyepiece.  For pistol box, I prefer the Bushnells.

B&L



I added a weight to it

Slartybartfast wrote:

James Hensler wrote:I am one the idiots who spent almost 285 to get the NG 20x33 but I love it! Can see 22’s in any light at 50 and the glass is as clear as it gets! But the damn thing cost 285!!!!!!!

If you're an idiot, I'm certifiably insane. Spent 600$Can on my scope. And the hundreds for a Ray-Vin scope stand and bench mount. :p

This is my setup!

Under 50.00. I have 3 of these scopes. Burris Compact. A lot of scopes won't focus at 50'. These work great with a focus wheel. No twisting the scope to focus. There are 3 on Ebay right now. I know nothing about the individual scopes.. NFI  I wish the one I am posting had a picture of the lens instead of the cover. These scopes come up a lot on Ebay. Burris sold/gave them away with their hunting scopes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BURRIS-SPOTTING-SCOPE/114111078668?hash=item1a918ce10c:g:fOQAAOSwUOReRAmk

The Burris IS a great scope. I had one, loved it... till the internal focus mirror fell out. Sent it in, they sent me back a massive 80mm scope cause mine was discontinued...