A friend recently became a member of the Cherry Ridge range and invited me out a couple of weekends ago. Loved the place, awesome range.

 

It was the first time I had my AR on a range where I could shoot beyond ~25 yards. Neither one of us have any magnifying optics; when shooting at cardboard at 50 and 100 yards I just could not reliably see where the shots were landing.

 

Would like to get a spotting scope or a set of binoculars for next time I go out. Don't need anything fancy, just enough magnification and clarity to tell where .223 holes are appearing on cardboard at 50 and 100 yards. Any recommendations?

 

Cabela's has a Simmons spotting scope for $50 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Simmons-20-60x60-Spotting-Scope/753486.uts) but the reviews are a less than inspiring. Am I wasting my time looking at spotting scopes or binoculars under $100?

I have this: http://www.amazon.com/Barska%C2%AE-20-60x60-Waterproof-Spotting/dp/B001HN9QZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291001701&sr=8-1

 

It's limit is about 150 yards, beyond that it gets fuzzy. But 150 and closer it works beautifully for me.

I have this: http://www.amazon.com/Barska%C2%AE-20-60x60-Waterproof-Spotting/dp/B001HN9QZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291001701&sr=8-1

 

It's limit is about 150 yards, beyond that it gets fuzzy. But 150 and closer it works beautifully for me.

My friend has that scope, I have used it when we went shooting. I can vouch for it being clear out to 125 yards.

+1 for the Barska scope. Used one that another member has at Cherry Ridge, and bought one that night. It really is a good value for the money considering everything that it comes with.

I use Binoculars that my parents bought for me when I was a little kid (less than 10 yrs old). I have gotten more use out of that pair of binocs than probably any gift I ever got as a kid. I have used it to inspect roofs from the ground, I have used it to spot stars (in the sky, not the movie kind). Finally, since getting into guns, I have used it at Cherry Ridge. I know that it's nice to have the tripod setup with a spotting scope, but I know that I can take my binocs into the field.

 

Most garage sales have at least one set for sale, and they're usually dirt cheap.

Keep an eye out on woot.com or 1saleaday.com. I picked up a Yukon Firefall 15-45x60 spotting scope for $55 shipped. It included a hard case, tripod, filters, soft case, etc.

I guess if the range is 150 or less it might not matter much. But if you shoot beyond that, a good spotter is a great investment. I went with Kowa. It has been fantastic. I was easily picking up bullet trace with it yesturday when Sam and I were playing with optics and doing some testing.

I use an 80mm Konus scope. Its fantastic. I've learned about it from a few guys at my range. I've been told by more than a few people that the quality rates along with scopes twice its price. http://www.amazon.com/Konus-7120-20x-60x80mm-Spotting-Tripod/dp/B001DX7Q8W

 

Bit more pricey than 60mm scopes, but if you need to reach out 150+ yards, it will do it happily. I went from a 60mm Bushnell scope to the 80mm Konus. Wow, night and day difference.

 

That being said, there are other 80mm lens scopes out there for less, such as http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52250-Ultima-Spotting-Scope/dp/B0002CTZ70/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1 . I don't have any first hand experience with them though.

Spotting scopes:

http://www.telescope.com/control/telescopes/spotting-scopes-and-monoculars

 

Binoculars:

http://www.telescope.com/control/binoculars

 

I have a couple of their telescopes for astronomy purposes and also a couple of binoculars, and they sell very good quality stuff and the price isn't bad depending on which model you pick.

I use an 80mm Konus scope. Its fantastic. I've learned about it from a few guys at my range. I've been told by more than a few people that the quality rates along with scopes twice its price. http://www.amazon.com/Konus-7120-20x-60x80mm-Spotting-Tripod/dp/B001DX7Q8W

 

Bit more pricey than 60mm scopes, but if you need to reach out 150+ yards, it will do it happily. I went from a 60mm Bushnell scope to the 80mm Konus. Wow, night and day difference.

 

That being said, there are other 80mm lens scopes out there for less, such as http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52250-Ultima-Spotting-Scope/dp/B0002CTZ70/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1 . I don't have any first hand experience with them though.

I use an 80mm Konus scope. Its fantastic. I've learned about it from a few guys at my range. I've been told by more than a few people that the quality rates along with scopes twice its price. http://www.amazon.com/Konus-7120-20x-60x80mm-Spotting-Tripod/dp/B001DX7Q8W

 

Bit more pricey than 60mm scopes, but if you need to reach out 150+ yards, it will do it happily. I went from a 60mm Bushnell scope to the 80mm Konus. Wow, night and day difference.

 

That being said, there are other 80mm lens scopes out there for less, such as http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52250-Ultima-Spotting-Scope/dp/B0002CTZ70/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1 . I don't have any first hand experience with them though.

 

I have the 80mm Konus and it is good. Only used it for 250 yds so far, no problem. Midway puts it on sale pretty regularly. I paid $198 for it.

 

On sale now, but out of stock.