The best solution would be the Athlon Talos 20-60x80 Spotting Scope

 

Thanks. I have been looking at this one.

 

That is very temping. Quit trying to take my money

 

It appears you need to buy the stand seperate. So figure that in the price. I dont consider this a deal breaker, but needs to be figured in.

I assume it has lens covers but nothing would surprise me these days. The question needs to be asked. It better be yes.

Curious if it comes in a plastic box suitable to carry it around? I would assume it does but these days that needs to be asked too.

Be warned most of these require you remove your club mandated shooting glasses to use. That might also require you lift the ear muffs first, then glasses, then return the muff, look and after that, reverse the procedure. Its pretty standard, yet not mentioned when folks give a referral. I forgot what spec is required (eye relief) to use glasses.

 

Its almost easier to carry along a 2nd rifle with good scope to spot your shots when shooting a low power scope or iron sights. I do suffer a cheap spotting scope. The reason is that to upgrade cost a lot of money. I made that last post and this one because i was pretty surprised how poor a low cost scope performs. Keep expectations low and you be fine.

 

I paired the talos with the following tripod which has worked well

Amazon.com : 80/85 inches Heavy Duty Tripod for Camera and Phone, 85" Camera Monopod Tripods, DSLR Binoculars Spotting Scope Camcorders Video Tripod Stand, 360 Degree Ball Head, 35 lbs Loads : Electronics

Amazon.com : 80/85 inches Heavy Duty Tripod for Camera and Phone, 85" Camera Monopod Tripods, DSLR Binoculars Spotting Scope Camcorders Video Tripod Stand, 360 Degree Ball Head, 35 lbs Loads : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Frank

 

That looks like it would be stable on the bench top with the legs fully compressed.

Edit: I am feeling like I have been a little slow to think about this. I read before using these tripods and even using astronomy scopes Two separate idea's. I just had my cheapo Simon's tripod break. It came with my cheap scope. I got my bipod down from the upstairs storage room where I have my old 35mm equipment. Yes, its works real good.

This is bulky enough that I am going to keep a cardboard box with rests, 2 muffs, stapler, etc and now tripod in a box in my daily driver suv. I will be ready when visiting and not have so much to load &unload when shooting at my club.

 

It comes with case, caps and a table top tripod

 

That is good. And in spite of my warning about lowering expectations, it actually is a lot better than nothing. I don't have that angle eyepiece. If i ever do upgrade I want that for ease of viewing.

 

spend as much as possible. I bought a spotting scope in that same price range as the Athlon. A 20-60x80 for $140. At 100 yards it’s great but I have no need at 100 yards. I like to shoot at 200-300 yards. At full power it’s useless but I need that much power at 300 yards to see the bullet holes. You get what you pay for and if you have the need at 200-300 yards you need to spend accordingly imo. I’ll end up giving mine away and spending 3-4 times as much to find something useful at 200-300 yards.

 

I still haven’t picked anything up. Can’t fathom paying much more just to see out a couple hundred yards past 100. While I could use a spotting scope, it won’t get used very often. I just need to find a used one.

 

I’m basing this on the assumption you want to see where your bullets are hitting at 200-300 yards.

A random thought. I just purchased a Leica rangefinder on EBay for a fraction of the new model costs. Do some research on what will work at those 2-300 yard distances you use and go from there. As long as you have patience you’ll likely find something. I made a poor choice in buying a $140 spotting scope. I won’t use the pricier one on every outing either but I can’t use the one I have on any.

 

With a $200 budget I'd buy the best used Kowa spotting scope I could find. It's going to be better than anything new you'd buy for $200. I've found two under $200 at $25, and $100. The cheaper one is a Kowa compact in a 20x, and the other is a 20x-60x full size Kowa. Both are nicer optics than any of the newer cheap junk I've looked through. Even the 20x compact sees holes at 100 yds. better than some friend's 60x cheap scopes.

 

Absolutely agree with this, and there's others of very high quality from the 50's and 60's. The B&L Balscope sr is one of them.

 

If you only want to spend $200 , I agree with buying used.
There are some pretty decent , older spotting scopes out there if you look around.
Ebay has quite a few.

 

Yea i keep looking but don’t know the first thing about an older scope and whether they will work for my needs.

 

bGriffith..…. If possible go check out some higher end units new. Or if you can check out what others are using. I double checked what paid for mine, $170 plus tax
on sale at that. Far as I’m concerned the only thing it’s good for is 100-125 yards which I don’t need. My rifles optics are good enough for that.

I’m on the lookout myself for something used in the $300-375 range that I can use out to 300 yards. . I’m patient, it’ll happen, just takes time.

 

bGriffith..…. If possible go check out some higher end units new. Or if you can check out what others are using. I double checked what paid for mine, $170 plus tax
on sale at that. Far as I’m concerned the only thing it’s good for is 100-125 yards which I don’t need. My rifles optics are good enough for that.

I’m on the lookout myself for something used in the $300-375 range that I can use out to 300 yards. . I’m patient, it’ll happen, just takes time.

How about a Bushnell Sentry 20x50 for $75. Used on FB marketplace. I just don’t know much about scopes and what I’d need. Originally was looking at 20x60

Kona Spot 65 for $165

2019 Gosky 20x60 for $130

 

I just picked up a really nice higher end spotting scope that is 2 generations old for a decent price from a guy who was a shooter, but also an avid birdwatcher. You might want to check some of their forums as well. Those guys are fanatical about their optics and sell older stuff in pursuit of the latest and greatest.

I found it on Craigslist but there were several for sale on Facebook marketplace also.

High quality optics that are older are still better than today's low budget glass. Mine still has a lifetime warranty even though it is 20+ years old.

 

Kowa Prominar glass is pretty amazing.

 

Don’t do long range myself but of late I’m shooting more with dioptre sights at 50m, I find it very relaxing and therapeutic.

I just whip off the scope (Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 10-40x56 BLR), put on rear Anschutz dioptre sight and I use the scope to check my targets.

Recently I got an ancient Bisley 14-45x, ok for 50, passable at 100, I knew it wouldn't be good enough but I just wanted it for the history/to go with an old rifle, sometimes the heart over-rules the head.

For 200/300USD go second hand, plenty available, the issue with most is the stand, light/wobbly/no way to properly secure/etc. Buy a good stand or make your own from a cheap clamp available in any hardware store.

Kowa are excellent, cheaper ones came with a basic 20x/25x eyepiece, more powerful aftermarket eyepieces are also available.

Just my tuppence worth.