ELR spotting scope or target camera system

I'm going to start over because I was looking for advice from people more experience than I am at spotting at +1000 yards.

Unfortunately someone distracted from the previous thread and the original purpose was lost. The thread was locked by ADMIN or a moderator without notice. Reason or advice on how I upset the complainer(s).

We are finally getting our long range line setup. Something I have been working on for several years at the San Louis Obispo Sportsman's Association facility outside Morro Bay California. We have a couple bits of steel at 1,000 and others at intermediate ranges. More steel at longer ranges to come with time and $$ (more like $$$$). Then we will start having "contest" weekends open to those who would like to visit California's beautiful Central Coast and Wine country.

Here is the dilemma. We have a pretty constant coastal wind and thermals to create mirage. This means that even hits from large calibers are very difficult to spot with what I have been using. So far no one has brought a scope that can resolve well enough in those conditions.

Shooting/hitting at 1,000 and beyond is not a "new" thing for me. Spotting hits after impact for the purposes of making adjustment is, like many I have been relying on audio feed back and splash around the target, which can be resolved by the optics we have. My previous system was good to 700 yards where my Sightron SIII and Nightforce NXS scopes could resolve impacts to let me fine tune. After 700 yards things seem to change.

I would love suggestions on what direction to proceed. Higher end spotting scope? Remote video target system? Drone? Other?

We have already tried the Drone, it can not loiter on target long enough. It takes most of the battery go get out to 1000+ yards. There are difficult wind conditions for the drone to manage with uses even more battery. If the drone goes down due to dead battery we have to cease fire to retrieve it. Not good in a contest setting.

Conventional high end spotting scope is a known technology to someone out there, however, I do not know how well they can resolve impacts on steel targets at 1,000- to 1,400 yards and perhaps beyond if we get the approval.

I know very little about remote video target systems. I know lots about how they work/technology but not the practicalities. Solar power, weatherproofing, remote camera exposed for extended periods. What are the practicalities and problems.

@calib

Not sure about 2 miles, but look put the big eyes from Kowa. Their 88mm scope with the WA eyepiece is impressive enough, but having 2 side by side I know they use them for looking range looking I think at ko2m comp too.

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While the actual product has been discontinued. It's not hopeless. These seem to be the newer ones.

Kowa High Lander Series PROMINAR Pure Fluorite Lens for Large Binoculars https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H0FJIK/?tag=lrhmag19-20

Someone has a used pair here: http://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/kowa-highlanders-with-fluorite-glass-priced-to-sell.189501/

Meopta seems to be making a mounting system for any brand of 2 spotting scopes that turn them into binoculars. Not a bad idea and I am very interested.

@calib

Here is a link for 1 light
https://www.facebook.com/TargetHitIndicatorSystem/

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So far the reviews are not what I was hoping for. Still interested in the idea though.

@JeffVN

I was in the desert over the past weekend using the target hit flashing light system that I acquired for the Tonopah 2 Mile competition. We stayed fairly short, using it to 2,100 yards. The lights functioned flawlessly (flashing with every hit on the steel and sitting mutely when the shots hit the wooden support structure).

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Do you know brand and model?

We were using the no longer for sale IRIS system.

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Never mind.

That's a bummer.

https://www.facebook.com/LightReact/

Here is the one that I think took over the Roberts tactical iris

Since you're at a range why not set security cameras that transmit video via wifi to a computer near your bench. Each target could have a live feed and a recording, thus you can rewind if you miss the splash and easily spot hits. A battery will easily power a security camera for the day.

calib said:

https://www.facebook.com/LightReact/

Here is the one that I think took over the Roberts tactical iris

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Thank you sir.

That is surely a step in the right direction. Price is more what I expect. Possibilities of volume discounts.

At the moment my course of fire is steel targets of 1.5 MOA, 1 MOA and 2/3 MOA at various distances. The distances will be 200 yards apart from 200 to 1,400 yards. More if I can get it but it looks pretty difficult to get past 1,400 to be sure of a safe backstop. Working on it.

From 0 to 600 yards we can rely on spotting scopes. Multiple observers. A 1 MOA 400 yard target would be 4" and 2/3 MOA would be ~2.5 but I will be rounding up to 3. Those won't need lights. Probably will get a flag for hits.

I will be making up 100 yard, 200 yard, 300 yard for rimfire. Rimfire can use the same as everyone else at 400 yards.

We will have bigger steel for Black Powder Cartridge Rifle. More like 2 MOA, 1.5 and 1 MOA.

There will be practice steel of larger sizes. Scattered throughout the backstop.

I have never shot a PRS style match so for those of you who have I will take input.

The fun for me is I get to shoot this every week. You can too if you come to Morro Bay on Thursdays. If you can't do that, all the above is based on having matches once a month. At the beginning we could probably work in all 3 (rimfire, BPCR and Tactical), maybe even a little 200 yard bench rest (except we don't have benches yet so you would have to bring your own).

BTW: If you are interested, PM me.

Are your targets going to swing freely (as in hangers from chain or on pivots) or fixed in place? The difference matters for most systems - some do not have variable sensitivity. Plus, the target mounting system often makes the attachment of the hit sensor a problem. The IRIS system and the new Light REact system use fairly large impact sensors which need to be attached to the target.

Our goal for the Tonopah 2 mile (2500 yard further than what you are looking for), was a combination system using both flashers and cameras. I've used cameras for several years out to 2,000 yards (until recently they didn't reach out to 2 miles). If you find a decent method of protecting your camera that allows the signal out, it will work regardless of wind and in most cases weather (I assume you put the cameras out daily and retrieve them daily at the end of the day). The potential issue with a proposed system with 5 or 6 separate cameras is you'll need to run a hefty network and server system or multi frequency cameras with dedicated monitors. Depending upon the size of the various targets that you'll be using, there are some mechanical flag systems that work pretty well and can be seen with standard spotting scopes even in heavy mirrage.

Jeffvn

I was reviewing the target areas with the man in charge of the entire facility. He who says yes or no. We got approval for the 1400 and at least very 200 yards from 600 to 1400. Eventually we will have every 100. He wants to shoot it too....

@JeffVN For weekly practice day (Thursdays), cameras seem impracticable. For contests great bug at the moment spendy. Everything will be on swingers eventually. No frame mounted IPSC type targets. We will have those someday.

@calib I traced that link and I love it.Unfortunately that is $475 per target. Something to work toward.