Author Topic: Spotting scope - what is a good one to see .223 holes in a target at 300 yards?  (Read 4261 times)

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Offline Phlyers13

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Aside from the Mark 4 which is way out of your budget, all Leupold spotters are made in China and are no better or worse than the Diamondback that you picked up. Plus Leupold is a royal pain in the neck when it comes to warranty work. Vortex is about as easy it it comes to deal with. And yes, you never need to use the Leupold warranty on their US made optics, but that?s not the case with their cheaper spotters.

Offline Dan_69GTX

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Got the Diamondback yesterday.

The eye relief seems to be a bit less than the one I looked through when checking various ones out.  Not sure if the one I looked through is an older version or not.

Other than that will be fine for what I need.  Was able to read the license plate on a truck that was about 550 yards away.

The vortex tripod that came with it (Summit SS-P ) isn't as steady as I'd like it to be - for the max power of the scope.  But it should do for what I need.
Some trust in chassis, Some in Horsepower, But we trust in the Lord our God.

If it goes "boom" or "vroom" I'm intersted.

Offline Phlyers13

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Manfrotto makes some really nice tripods at a decent price. I got one with the adjustable ball head and it?s awesome. Really well made and sturdy. And easy to make small adjustments without losing your target.

Offline Dan_69GTX

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Thanks.  Started looking at them and then found one in the scrap pile at work.  A nice Bogen with a nice fluid filled head.  No idea why it was scrapped.  It needs one clip for a leg (already sourced for $3) and it needs the quick release adapter (already sourced for $17).  Looks like they are selling used on E-Greed for about 150.  So, I scored!

Definitely not something I'd want to backpack with!  But for the range it is more than awesome!
Some trust in chassis, Some in Horsepower, But we trust in the Lord our God.

If it goes "boom" or "vroom" I'm intersted.

Offline eastman

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Thanks.  Started looking at them and then found one in the scrap pile at work.  A nice Bogen with a nice fluid filled head.  No idea why it was scrapped.  It needs one clip for a leg (already sourced for $3) and it needs the quick release adapter (already sourced for $17).  Looks like they are selling used on E-Greed for about 150.  So, I scored!

Definitely not something I'd want to backpack with!  But for the range it is more than awesome!

"Bogen" used to be the name put on the Manfrotto gear imported into the USA. So if you found an Italian-made "Bogen" it is a high quality item.
I don't look like my avatar!

Offline BG ARMORY

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Leupold all the way. I've had no good experience with vortex optics

Could you please elaborate on both?

Why Leupold, what have you liked about them?  What models are you referring to and what about them is better than other scopes that you have tried?  Have you compared these to other brands besides Vortex?

"no good experience with vortex optics" - again,  please elaborate.  Just one of their models or several?  What types of optics have you had trouble with - rifle, spotting, binoculars?  What were the issues?  If possible, were you able to attempt to resolve the issues?

Thanks!

Vortex strike fire could shake the rifle by hand and optic would turn itself on and off. Warranty replacement. Ditched it for Trijicon MRO

Vortex  Viper PST 1st scope, glass was hazy. like they didn't polish the glass left compound on it, or didnt purge the tube properly, they replaced it. second scope would not retain zero or track. I could shoot a string of rounds and watch the rounds walk off my point of aim. sent back for warranty. They "fixed" that issue but turrets dont track. I move it 1 moa, it moves what ever it decides to move. I tried to do the box test to see if it was working right. move it 2 moa right 2 moa down 2 moa left 2 moa up. should return back to zero. Wasnt even close on any of the movements.

They are a joke to most of the industry guys, they have to warranty their stuff because if they didn't they would go out of business because no one would buy them.

4 leupold scopes, never had to send one for a warranty.

vk3i lrp, 2 rifleman, and a mark ar

Offline Dan_69GTX

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BG - Thanks!

eastman - good to know.  It says it was made in Italy.

Some trust in chassis, Some in Horsepower, But we trust in the Lord our God.

If it goes "boom" or "vroom" I'm intersted.

Offline eastman

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eastman - good to know.  It says it was made in Italy.

then you got a good one. Even the used price you saw on evilBay is reasonable for the quality and durability of the Italian-made Manfrotto. I have a couple of the Italian-made items, but unfortunately newer Manfrotto stuff is made in China.
I don't look like my avatar!