Spotting scopes

[Bcwn]

Looking at a Vortex viper HD, I don't have much experience with spotting scopes so I would like some advice and practical experience. Angle vs straight? Pros and cons, or just any old thing you can think of, thank you in advance.
Brad

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

Here, read this article on how to choose a spotting scope. This is an old article but the information is still good.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/howto/how-to-choose-a-spotting-scope-for-target-shooting.html

 

[Johnny_V]

I've got the Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A, 20x - 60x and couldn't be any happier. I didn't have the funds for one of the high dollar scopes, but this scope can hold its own with them. A really nice feature of the Endeavor is it has an integral sun shade and a fine focus knob. The fine focus is a feature that even some of the high dollar don't have. Currently, B&H Photo has it on sale for $399.00 - a great value for the money.

 

[WildRose]

Looking at a Vortex viper HD, I don't have much experience with spotting scopes so I would like some advice and practical experience. Angle vs straight? Pros and cons, or just any old thing you can think of, thank you in advance.
Brad

I compared one to my Nikon EDG and was not at all impressed.

I gave a lot of vortex glass, all Viper line gear a long hard try for a couple or three years and got rid of all of it.

Overall the optics were pretty decent but with three of five scopes either busted on arrival or would not hold zero, then a fourth that failed in a year I was done with them.

Their customer and warranty service was however absolutely first rate.

 

[huntsman22]

vortex starts at Razor....

 

[CUTTER1]

Never skimp on glass or boots!
I've always used Swavorski spotters until recently and now have a Nightforce and will put it up against anything out there
Was in a hunt camp where several of us were watching a couple bucks at over 2500 yards and of the 6 spotting scopes (all high end) the NF had them all beat! Came home and sold my newest Swavorski and bought a NF! Couldn't be happier!

 

[yobuck]

Looking at a Vortex viper HD, I don't have much experience with spotting scopes so I would like some advice and practical experience. Angle vs straight? Pros and cons, or just any old thing you can think of, thank you in advance.
Brad

As for the angle vs straight aspect, there would be no advantage with either other than personal preference.
Type of use would come into play, and for that reason some hunters prefer the angle.
From a bench for range use the angle is a disadvantage, as it would be for use with a vehicle window mount setup.
We use spotting scopes in twin applications as large binnoculars. Angles wont work for that use due to the way they need be mounted for inter eye adjustments. Not a major concern for most, but maybe a consideration for some.
Over the last 40 or so years I have no doubt purchased over 50 spotting scopes. Sounds a bit outrageous but non the less fact. That would be 25 sets of glasses, 6 of which I currently have for my own (collection) plus a half dozen various scopes for backups. Very few of those ive bought have been new scopes and many have been bought on Ebay.
A 15/20 year old scope in good clean condition like say a Kowa 77mm will cost about 25% what the same type would cost new and maybe even less than that. Be patient and you will find a great scope at a great price.
If you insist on buying a new top quality scope, im told by someone I trust, that the Meopta is better than all the other big names. His name is Boyd and he works at Euro Optics, an excellent place to do business.

 

[Caveman0101]

I have a straight and angled one. When hunting I take the angle in the field because it allows a shorter lighter tripod. I use the straight out of the truck. Spend as much as you can afford on glass, a Vortex is not "as good as" a Swaro or NF but they will do the job.... mostly.

 

[yobuck]

With most optics, what you see is what you have.
Most people who are serious about their scopes wont hesitate to throw the old one overboard and buy another they think is better. But we will spend time with our guns attempting to make them shoot better.
Even rebarreling if necessary, but rarely just throwing it overboard for hopefully a better one.
If you take 2 quality scopes and put them side by side, most users would be happy with either. But a few would no doubt claim one to be superior. Now why would that be if in fact one does have a slight edge over the other? Most would say its the glass, yadda yadda has the better glass. Both have the same size objective, so what else could separate them?
Well chances are that if you could remove the eyepiece from the yadda yadda and place it in the other, then all of a sudden yadda yadda might become the lesser scope to the same guy, and thats just fact. You can in fact improve a scope by changing out the eyepiece by a considerable amount. Which is why still today the old 60 mm Bushnells and Bausch & lombs in twin application are so very popular among so many long range hunters in PA.