Whats your favorite budget spotting scope?

Just got a used strong box for a great deal, previously I had just been using my 80mm Celestron I use for 3P smallbore on a floor stand. Might as well get a small scope for this box. I'd like to keep it at $100 or so, after all this isn't a scope being used for 1000 yard BR shooting. I've been really happy with the clarity from my large Celestron and a shooting friend recommended the Celestron Landscout line, they have both a 50mm and 60mm, both under $65. What are some other options. I see some use the Champions Choice scope but living in TN it will be probably $130 delivered and not sure how much better it will be than the Celestron. What other scopes should I be looking at?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B73JXKC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you mean this 50mm one.  I do not recommend it.  I purchased it and it is OK for 25 yards, but at 50 yards, it is blurry and hard to make out .22 holes.  The quality of the optics are not good enough.  I am going to step up to a larger scope.  On the plus size, it is small and lightweight.  I also like the angled eyepiece.

The Burris compact is my favorite. Easy focus and super clear. Just not making them anymore. I have this scope in two of my cases. Found this one just now on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BURRIS-spotting-scope-/252601246593?hash=item3ad0352381:g:oi4AAOSwXeJYDSWI

Currently I really like a Bushnell Competitor I have and use. Fixed ten power with focus adjustment. Great for 22 holes at 50 - but not for anything really beyond 50 yards. 

However - for 60 bucks you can get a simmons (or formerly Tasco) that's got plenty of zoom, and focus, clean image, and affordable. Just a bit big. Will fit into a box but maybe not every box. And it's angled and I like that in a scope. I use it for the muzzleloading pistols on a stand that clamps to the bench. 

But if I ever get the money - that micro spotter coming out of Canada on eBay would be SWEET!

I am very happy with Winchester (Vanguard) WT-541 scope. Fits well in strong case box. Good up to 100-150m with 22 holes. Mostly use it at 25-30X. Very clear and bright.

you may have gotten a bad Celestron Will. My nephew has one of the landscout scopes and it's been fine at 50 yards.. Might be worth have it checked.

The old bushnell competitor series was a pretty good budget scope in it's day. especially the ones made in Japan.

I also use the Celestron LandScout 50mm referenced in the link above. Works great for me and I have no trouble seeing the .22 holes. Granted, it is the only scope I ever used, so I may not know what a better scope can provide.

There's the Alpen 20x50 that does the job for $70. It's very small and light. There's an identical scope sold by Visionking for half the price if you can find it.

Ng 20x33 new fav scope

Anyone actually found the NG scope lately in stock?

Jocelyn at targets.ca usually has NG scopes for sale. He has an ebay store (OlympicMarksmanEquipment / Nikonos) where he may list them as well. Great guy.

I just purchased the Celestron Landscout, 30x. At 50 yards, indoor range, I cannot see 22 bullet holes in the black. I can see them outside of that though ( unfortunately lol).

Plan to return it for something better. Ideas??

gregbenner wrote:I just purchased the Celestron Landscout, 30x.  At 50 yards, indoor range, I cannot see 22 bullet holes in the black. I can see them outside of that though  ( unfortunately lol).

Plan to return it for something better.  Ideas??

The lack of lighting from the back of target is probably your biggest problem.

I purchased a Alpen 20x50 from www.Bullseyegear.com along with a Gil Hebard adjustable scope holder for for my shooting box. This combo works great, it folds up nice and I can close the lid on the box no problem. The scope is very clear and it shows .22 holes in the black at 50ft indoors and short and long line outside.
    I tried something new and bought a cell phone to scope adapter, it clamps to the eyepiece on your scope and holds your cell phone camera in line. This works great because you can see your shots on target without bending over and looking through your scope.
    My problem is my cell camera shuts off after about a minute and I haven't figured how to keep it on yet.
 Stan

The screen is a big battery drain, which is why they want it to turn itself off.  When you find the control to change the OFF timer, you may find that you run the phone battery down pretty quickly. YMMV.

Thanks Doc, that's probably the reason they sell them for picture taking. It's still a cool thing, I guess I'll use it for taking pictures of deer at long distances or birds.
Stan

gregbenner wrote:I just purchased the Celestron Landscout, 30x. At 50 yards, indoor range, I cannot see 22 bullet holes in the black. I can see them outside of that though ( unfortunately lol).

Plan to return it for something better. Ideas??

I'm sorry you had problems, but I'm glad to see someone confirm the issues from my first post. As Chris says, it could easily be poor lighting. If the target was brightly lit, maybe you could make out the holes in the black.

My direct experience with this scope is indoor at 50 yards where it was barely OK for .45 and not good for .22. For 25 yard indoor and 10M air pistol, it is light, compact,and nearly perfect.

I have a nice,older metal-cased Bausch and Lomb 60mm scope and want to try that next time for Indoor 50 yd. It's not fancy and is bigger and heavier, but the optics are nice.

If the weather holds, I will get to try the 50mm Landscout outdoors @50 yds. this week. Full sun may be what it needs to get the .22 holes to pop out.

gregbenner wrote:I just purchased the Celestron Landscout, 30x.  At 50 yards, indoor range, I cannot see 22 bullet holes in the black. I can see them outside of that though  ( unfortunately lol).

Plan to return it for something better.  Ideas??

I looked through Greg's scope and it wouldn't clearly focus at 50 yds.
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:

gregbenner wrote:I just purchased the Celestron Landscout, 30x.  At 50 yards, indoor range, I cannot see 22 bullet holes in the black. I can see them outside of that though  ( unfortunately lol).

Plan to return it for something better.  Ideas??

I looked through Greg's scope and it wouldn't clearly focus at 50 yds.
Jon

Jon, what is interesting is that the original comment I had was for a 12-30x50.  I returned it for a 12-36x60, which is what you looked thru. It is going back as well.

Looked through one of the Winchester 541s today and it is very clear.

Surprised me given it's a pretty cheap Chinese scope

I just picked up another Burris compact on E-bay. I still think they are the best of the cheap ones. There is another one coming up soon. NFI

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162281081174?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

That gives me three now. I will have an extra scope shortly. I will be replacing the green one. That would make someone a cheap scope.