Spotting scope upgrade

[megastink]

I'm in the same boat. I've got a Celestron 20-60x80 and I want something compact. Doug at Cameraland suggested the Kowa TSN-502. 15-45x50. I'll probably list the Celestron soon.

 

[baconeater20]

Well I plan to head and look through as many as I can. I have to say the vanguard has really been excellent. Thanks for all the reply's. I will let yall know how it goes.

 

[Elnicko]

Check out the Kowa 773/774 or 883/884. I have the 773 and it's awesome. Neil at cameralandny will hook you up

 

[ar10ar15man]

the smaller the front lense, the harder to see small holes
i have teh 100 ed celestron and in the right conditions have seen 6 mm holes at 1000 yards..white/blue target no black.
go for the 66 kowa

I'm in the same boat. I've got a Celestron 20-60x80 and I want something compact. Doug at Cameraland suggested the Kowa TSN-502. 15-45x50. I'll probably list the Celestron soon.

 

[ar10ar15man]

the most expensive eye pc will NOT IMPROVE THE FRONT LENSE quality.
it is a system, replace the whole thing. it is too low to suddenly become a $2000 scope because it has a new eye pc.

So eyepiece quality dosent count?
You are aware of coarse that the only so called hi def glass used in "any" scope is just the inner element of the objective lens, all the rest is standard glass. Side by side on most occaissions even you wont tell any difference between one having and one not having.
Mind you im not knocking your scope, just your opinions.
Absolutly the quality of a scope can be enhanced with a better quality eyepiece, which could mean using a fixed power as opposed to a variable power in many cases. Kowa is the only scope company im aware of that still offers individual power eyepieces. They like many others have a bayonet type attachment system for attaching the eyepiece to the scope. But, it is possible to have adapters made allowing for the use of threaded eyepieces. Even the very good quality terrestrial eyepieces can be adapted to spotting scopes.

 

[yobuck]

the smaller the front lense, the harder to see small holes
i have teh 100 ed celestron and in the right conditions have seen 6 mm holes at 1000 yards..white/blue target no black.
go for the 66 kowa

On the "right day", you can see bullet holes in the white part of the target at 1000 yds with lots of scopes including some very old 60 mm ones like the B&L Balscope and Bushnell Spacemaster, assuming of coarse they are in good clean condition.
On a less than good day you wont see them with any of them regardless of the objective size. Ditto with trying to put the right number of points on a buck before shooting, as is required in PA.
The most valuable tool a long range hunter can own by far, are the glasses he uses, and you wont go anywhere where that is taken more seriously than it is in PA.
Every serious hunter there uses large binnoculars on a tripod. Probably 90% of them are using twin spotters in adjustable brackets for a variety of reasons. Today I no doubt can count at least 10 of the hunters I know personally using twin 80 mm Swaros, and at least as many using large Kowas, including myself.
Bottom line is this, Side by side with the older 60 mms with good eyepieces, there is so little difference in actuall viewing quality that one needs to be questioning the logic of paying the huge difference in cost. And for the most part, the ones claiming otherwise have never spent any time behind them side by side on the same day actually comparing in order to find out. What we usually hear is "buy one like mine" you will love it. Well of coarse you will, but you would also be apt to love a different one also.
Especially one that will leave your wallet much thicker.
Another thing to consider is that with all the long range hunting that takes place today all across this country, very few animals are killed at even 1000 yds, let alone further than that.

 

[Chuckrub]

Check out the Minox MD88 its a sleeper. Priced at $2200

 

[muleystalker]

I'm in the same boat. I've got a Celestron 20-60x80 and I want something compact. Doug at Cameraland suggested the Kowa TSN-502. 15-45x50. I'll probably list the Celestron soon.

! would stay away from the Kowa 502, glass is not the problem, its justvtoo small and too lite. Its hard to keep it still so you can see good.
As far as KOWA though you are on the right track, best in the business. If you want it for hunting and range I would look at the TSN 663 Prominar or the TSN773 Prominar. If you just want it for range you could look at the TSN82sv and you could go with the zoom eyepiece or the 25x LER eyepiece.
I have both the TSN663 Prominar hunting and range and the TSN83sv with 25x LER for shooting prone in F-Class and wouldn't trade them for anything.

 

[zzchipster]

Just bought pentax 80ed-a...12%off coupon at optics planet...less than 900 with eyepiece...check out reviews on 6mmbr.com...rates zeiss first, swaro 2nd...and pentax 80ed third...also got ray-vin scout mount...i have a 14mm pentax xw fixed eyepiece with 20mm eye relief to use with scope that will provide 36 power ..

 

[megastink]

! would stay away from the Kowa 502, glass is not the problem, its justvtoo small and too lite. Its hard to keep it still so you can see good.
As far as KOWA though you are on the right track, best in the business. If you want it for hunting and range I would look at the TSN 663 Prominar or the TSN773 Prominar. If you just want it for range you could look at the TSN82sv and you could go with the zoom eyepiece or the 25x LER eyepiece.
I have both the TSN663 Prominar hunting and range and the TSN83sv with 25x LER for shooting prone in F-Class and wouldn't trade them for anything.

I'm looking for small and compact for scouting and hunting. Doug at Cameraland suggested the Kowa. My ranges top out at 600, and I use shoot n see targets for closer practice.

 

[muleystalker]

I'm looking for small and compact for scouting and hunting. Doug at Cameraland suggested the Kowa. My ranges top out at 600, and I use shoot n see targets for closer practice.

I had a Vortex Razor 11-33x50 for that exact purpose and returned it for the reason I stated above, too lite too small too hard to hold it steady up on the slope while glassing, especially if you get even the siltiest wind. Plus it did less than the scopes on my rifles and my 12-50 RAZOR binos, basically useless. The KOWA TSN663 Prominar doesn't weigh that much and isn't too big and is like night and day, it is a scope worth having along and is quit a bit lighter than the 77mm and 80mm+, its the minimum I would start with. I would even go the TSN600 series, which is not a prominar, before I went the 50mm. I know people who have bought the new TSN550 Prominar and said the glass is phenomenal but still sold them for the same reasons I listed above.
Good luck with your choice and if you can find one to look through first, especially with a little wind, it would be to your advantage.

 

[WildRose]

Can you actually see bullet holes at 500yds with all the scopes suggested here?

I don't need to see bullet holes in paper when hunting. I need good focus, resolution and definition to spot game and judge trophy quality.

Apples and oranges.

 

[WildRose]

I had a Vortex Razor 11-33x50 for that exact purpose and returned it for the reason I stated above, too lite too small too hard to hold it steady up on the slope while glassing, especially if you get even the siltiest wind. Plus it did less than the scopes on my rifles and my 12-50 RAZOR binos, basically useless. The KOWA TSN663 Prominar doesn't weigh that much and isn't too big and is like night and day, it is a scope worth having along and is quit a bit lighter than the 77mm and 80mm+, its the minimum I would start with. I would even go the TSN600 series, which is not a prominar, before I went the 50mm. I know people who have bought the new TSN550 Prominar and said the glass is phenomenal but still sold them for the same reasons I listed above.
Good luck with your choice and if you can find one to look through first, especially with a little wind, it would be to your advantage.

Light weight and high magnification are to me incompatible for a hunting spotter. Even the slightest wobble will eat you up at long range.

 

[Peddler 76]

Go Kowa 88 and don't look back!