lower end spotting scope recommendations please



bucksnbears

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Unlike some scopes, there ain't a low end quality spotter worth buying.
I'd look on eBay and find a used Bausch and lomb { sp} discoverer.
 

SDMF

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If nephew doesn't have binocs yet, spend spotter budget on binocs, you'll get significantly more optical quality for the same $$.

- - - Updated - - -

If you can find a used B&L Elite they were closed out pretty reasonably when they were discontinued. Here's a good example and WAY better than anything you'd get under $500 today:

https://www.ebay.com/c/1901027224
 

5575

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Find a used Leupold gold ring spotter then.
Great glass for the money.
And being able to go down to 12 power is great for low light glassing.
 


2400

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Find a used Leupold gold ring spotter then.
Great glass for the money.
And being able to go down to 12 power is great for low light glassing.

I agree with a good used Leupold sporting scope, in fact a new compact scope is only $400.

I have one of these and it works really well, small, light, easy to carry and use.

Leupold Golden Ring compact spotting scope 10-20x 40mm

999083.jpg
 

Kurtr

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Low end and spotting scope don’t go together. I have a 85 razor and if I had to do it again I would take that and put it on some swaro slc
 

Rut2much

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I have a vortex for hunting and just picked up a NIB Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50 Camo Porro Spotting Scope off bisman today for the range or to throw on a little rifle stock for the Helluvit/vehicle. The pelican looking case it came in looks like it's worth the price I paid alone ha.
 


5575

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SDMF mentioned the B&L elite series.
It is good reasonably priced glass.
I believe my son has a like new pretty rare 20-60x70mm
B&L elite spotter he would sell. Probably get it for around
$300. Get ahold of me if your interested.
20200217_064709.jpg
Kurt, I just got rid of a new pair of SLC 10x42, not much difference between them and the new razors. I liked the older SLC glass allot better. The new models are allot lighter. Went with new model 10x ELs, much happier with them and got them for the same price as slc's.
 

Retired Educator

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I bought a Wind River (Cabela's brand) about 20 years ago. Spent about $300 and has worked well. Or at least I thought it worked well until my son bought an upper level Leupold, (in the $1200-$1500 range). Big difference looking through the two. Point being, a lower level scope will work fine until you look through an upper level scope. At the same time, the rule of buying the best you can afford is still very much in effect.
 

Migrator Man

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Anyone tried out the S.X-2 Leupold Alpine 20-60 spotting scope? Trying to decide between that and a vortex diamondback of the same power.
 

Kurtr

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Anyone tried out the S.X-2 Leupold Alpine 20-60 spotting scope? Trying to decide between that and a vortex diamondback of the same power.

I have a diamond back spotter I gave to my brother. It is what it is a low end cheap spotter that on high power isn’t clear and fades quick at low light. For range work or just seeing an animal not spending a bunch of time behind it . It will do that ok
 

SDMF

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Anyone tried out the S.X-2 Leupold Alpine 20-60 spotting scope? Trying to decide between that and a vortex diamondback of the same power.

For $500 I'd try to find a used Leupold 12-40x60, or one of the B&L Elites like pictured above. If you want to use a spotter w/glasses on, the Leupold really stands out due to longer eye relief. Another option you might have to search a bit for would be a Meopta Meostar S1 which were closed out from Cabelas for about $450, you may or may not be able to find someone willing to give one up for that $$ though.
 


Enslow

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If looking for low end you could consider vortex.
 

gunship

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Give Doug a call at Cameraland NY. He offers great prices. I bought an Athlon Ares 15-45x65 UHD and couldn't be happier. Glass quality is easily as good as the Vortex Viper HD but at less than half the price. Also much smaller and more packable.
 

Kurtr

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Calling doug is a good way to go. Got a hell of a deal on a pair of slc and now that my friend looked through them his razors are going away and getting the slc. Boy i would like a pair of NL those are next level
 

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