I've got old school Redfields and Bushnells and current production Kowa and Swarovski stuff.

Honestly in bright daylight the 30-40 year old stuff works fine. For low light, trying to tweeze out the finest detail, or where color correction is important (like birding) then the newer high dollar stuff shines.

The law of diminishing returns definitely applies to optics and you can spend a lot more money for not that much better glass. If you can find a good deal on an older scope that's been taken care of I doubt you will be dissatisfied.

Can't speak to the low end import stuff, haven't tried any.

Hope that helps,

Frank

 

Can't speak to the low end import stuff, haven't tried any.

Hope that helps,

Frank

Does this include the older Japan made ones?

 

Lots of good glass comes from Japan. Just depends on the brand.

Just like Chinese optics, if the importer demands quality and is willing to pay for it they can make quality goods. Or if the importer wants lowest price they can make some really crummy stuff to meet a price point.

Sticking with known brand names with good reputations and reviews is always advisable. On used scopes sight unseen I would absolutely want a guarantee I could return it without fee (except return freight) if I wasn't satisfied. Older scopes improperly cared for can get moisture inside and fungus growing on the lenses internally which fogs them up. Not good.

Frank

 

I doubt that Nikon adapter is going to mate up to your camera although you might be able to buy a separate adapter ring from someone like B&H Photo or even eBay.

Frank

 

I kinda have a thing for anything old that's gun related, so I have some pretty old spotting scopes. One in particular is an 1890 Scelsi French spotting scope in 36x power. These were used in long range matches, but also used in WWI for artillery units. The one I own has both the tall tripod used for matches, but also the extremely rare short tripod used by the French Army to keep spotters low and not get shot by the enemy. I've occasionally taken it to all sorts of centerfire matches both short range, to long range 1000 yd. matches. The optics are amazing for a scope this old.

I own some old and new Kowa spotting scopes also, and one 45x is the first spotting scope Kowa offered in I think 1958? It's an angle eyepiece and still spots better than higher power scopes do.
I also stumbled across the first Swarovski 20x-60x spotting scope that company offered at an estate sale about 15 months ago. It was in a red plastic toolbox and when I opened it I was shocked to see it! Sitting beside it was a nice heavy duty tripod and the price was under $100 for scope and tripod. Couldn't get my wallet out quick enough! I use it a lot and switch between it and my Kowa 45x.

 

Happy to see others have appreciation for such things!!!
Makes me feel a little LESS out of touch 😅🤣!!!

 

I use an old Bausch and Lomb Balscope 60

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/new-spotting-scope-balscope.848465/

 

We have a Bushnel Sentry? 15x and a B&L Discoverer? variable 15-60x, both straight tube which isn't near as easy to use as the angled eyepieces Ive had opportunity to try. Yet we got into them right decades ago and they dont owe us anything, nor do I have a 'need' any longer to 'upgrade'. I have wished from time to time that the Bushy 15x was a 20x, and iirc the power eyepieces interchange.
Beware, the more power the more mirage you see, but with a variable you can dial back
MG, I LOVE that French rig!

 

Bausch and Lomb Discoverer. Made in Japan, old enough to be very cheap on the used market, and good enough to see bullet holes at 300 yards. It doesn’t hold a candle to my friends Leica, but it was way less expensive.

A good tripod makes a cheap spotter much better. Avoiding the wiggles at high magnification makes ho-hum glass much easier to use.

 

Range I go to makes you rent them if you don't have one of your own. Which I think is kinda lame but otherwise it's a great place.

I just use an old beater HAWKE scope instead. Little shaky but it gets the job done.

 

I generally use a Balscope Sr. or a Unertl 24x63. Both still perform today.

I've also got a Corssman model Bausch and Lomb with the additional eyepieces and original box that I don't get out much because I don't want to drop it.

Sometimes I use a Balscope 60 and NRA Model Bausch and Lomb as well.

 

I use a set of German WW2 Flak binoculars.

 

+1 on gotta have a Sturdy stand! The more power the better the stand needs to be.
I lucked into a HD commercial video camera stand at a buy/sell shop, it is Fantastic .; Not lightweight but NO wiggles.

 

I like this bogen made in Italy.
I picked it out of a pile of trash on the side of the road new in the box!!!!!
The box was toast, but the stand is perfect!!!

 

I have a Weaver 16X spotting scope that has served me since 1974. I had it "blueprinted" in 1985 by a gentleman in El Paso that worked exclusively on Weaver rifle and spotting scopes. He disassembled it completely, precision cleaned the lenses, body, and internal parts, replaced seals and nitrogen purged the scope. I don't know if he's still with us. I use the scope to this day. I use it when spotting for shooters at local silhouette matches and on our 500m range. It refuses to retire!

 

Here's a Thread I started at Cloudy Nights - a series of forums for those interested in Astronomy.
As Astronomical Refractors present an inverted image, many there use Spotting Scopes so their
field of view matches what they see on their star charts. Here's a comparison test between a
Bushnell Spacemaster and a much older B&L BALscope SR....
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/...-two-old-war-horses-a-brief-comparison/?hl=+two++old++war++horses#entry11062779

 

Sorry folks, an imbedded link in the above for Ken Rockwell's
Bushnell Spacemaster II page no longer works.
Here is what replaced it....

https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bushnell/spacemaster-ii.htm

 

This is all I have - a Bushnell Trophy. Not sure what vintage it is.

 

I still use my Unertl 63 with both 24x and 32x eyepieces. 24X was great indoors and out to 50 yard, but it takes 32X for longer range. Also had an insert made to extend the optical lens rearward so I could use it at 10M. Not sure if it qualifies as old school.

 

Is there anyone out there still using any vintage spotting scopes when at the range, and if so what are you using??

1950s vintage Kowa.

 

Old Kowas are still better than a large number of brand new spotting scopes! And often can be purchased used at great prices!

 

Like the pipe clamp mount

 

I still use my Dads B&L he bought in late 50's.

 

I have an old B&L Discoverer I bought in the 70's. 15-60. It was never great but good enough. Above 40x it was not so good in hot weather. It has been to Co. Wy. Oh. N.Y. and Montana. To this day I use it but mostly on the bench now. Like I said it is good enough and was fairly reasonable way back then.

 

I understand that I can use an addapter and install a phone or a camera to a scope, but has anyone used one of these wifi/Bluetooth devices like this one or one similar???
For the price (have saw them down to around 40 bucks)if they work would be much easier to wireless connect directly to my laptop and record shooting data.

 

Still using a Unertl spotter, just like the vintage stuff.

 

Hey RJJ:

I have some experience with one of those but out of respect for the original poster I will start a new thread instead of hijacking this one.

Regards,
Crankster

 

I am the original poster.
Will take a look at the link 🙂

 

Ok guys, you guys will flame me and I understand but...........

I compete in bullseye a couple times a week and as such, use my spotting scope on my pistol boxes quite a bit. Outdoors, inside, bright lighting, lousy light, drenched in sweat and also teeth chattering in sub freezing weather. Sometimes we conduct matches with trucks idling behind us using their headlights to illuminate the targets in front of us. I got enough experience to comment on the old spotters.

A good spotter is a good spotter. I have tried to use the old Kowas and bushnells but their image was too dark and sent them down the road.

My primary pistol spotter is a Nikon Fieldscope ED with a 20x LER eyepiece, a bit big for a pistol box but works with 22 holes at 50 yards with dim light. Would like to upgrade to a small Swarovski but dang those things are expensive. It compares favorably to the Vortex Razor HD 11-33-50.

A number of my fellow competitors are using these old bushnells, redfields, and ancient kowas and yeah.........they do let you see the bullet hole most/some of the time.......but the image is dark and then there are those times that you cannot see the bullet hole. Eye relief or eye box? Gotta take your glasses off to see! Personally, I get a headache peering at the lousy image through those things. And you waste too much time trying to get a image when you need to be preparing for your next shot in competition.

Once you take a look at the newer spotters, especially some of the more moderately priced brands that have come on the market in the last five to ten years, the old stuff just looks like junk. Shure you can get them to work but really, take a look at the newer Athlons, Vortex, etc. I can understand trying to look experienced and grey whiskered with the vintage accessories but you're really giving yourself eyestrain which is detrimental to your performance. Do yourself a favor and peek through some of your fellow shooter's spotters please.

And then with Rifle..........I shoot high power and I simply do not see any of those old bushnells or Kowa's on the line. they will not deliver!

Ok, let the flaming begin................

Regards,
Crankster

 

Ok guys, you guys will flame me and I understand but...........

I compete in bullseye a couple times a week and as such, use my spotting scope on my pistol boxes quite a bit. Outdoors, inside, bright lighting, lousy light, drenched in sweat and also teeth chattering in sub freezing weather. Sometimes we conduct matches with trucks idling behind us using their headlights to illuminate the targets in front of us. I got enough experience to comment on the old spotters.

A good spotter is a good spotter. I have tried to use the old Kowas and bushnells but their image was too dark and sent them down the road.

My primary pistol spotter is a Nikon Fieldscope ED with a 20x LER eyepiece, a bit big for a pistol box but works with 22 holes at 50 yards with dim light. Would like to upgrade to a small Swarovski but dang those things are expensive. It compares favorably to the Vortex Razor HD 11-33-50.

A number of my fellow competitors are using these old bushnells, redfields, and ancient kowas and yeah.........they do let you see the bullet hole most/some of the time.......but the image is dark and then there are those times that you cannot see the bullet hole. Eye relief or eye box? Gotta take your glasses off to see! Personally, I get a headache peering at the lousy image through those things. And you waste too much time trying to get a image when you need to be preparing for your next shot in competition.

Once you take a look at the newer spotters, especially some of the more moderately priced brands that have come on the market in the last five to ten years, the old stuff just looks like junk. Shure you can get them to work but really, take a look at the newer Athlons, Vortex, etc. I can understand trying to look experienced and grey whiskered with the vintage accessories but you're really giving yourself eyestrain which is detrimental to your performance. Do yourself a favor and peek through some of your fellow shooter's spotters please.

And then with Rifle..........I shoot high power and I simply do not see any of those old bushnells or Kowa's on the line. they will not deliver!

Ok, let the flaming begin................

Regards,
Crankster

I have no interest in torching your points of view, especially since I have already posted that I'm sure newer options ( like with rifle scopes) even in budget price ranges will probably out preform even relatively high end old scopes.
HOWEVER........., I'm the type(and I doubt the only one here)that simply has appreciation for the aesthetic and reminiscents of the past and whare that still might cross with my interests of today.
To me, that is in some cases more important than pure performance, otherwise I assume I wouldn't own a single rifle that wasn't composite of some sort, and c.n.c. or 3-d printed, rather than the walnut and blued steel I prefer and mostly own🤔😉!?!?

 

Notice the solid adjustable stand, it's not some wobbly tri-pod piece of carp.

 

B/L scope?