04-24-2008, 20:41
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#1
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,149
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Bench rests and spotting scopes
Need some advice....I want to purchase a spotting scope and a bench rest....I know absolutely nothing about either one. Can you fine folks give me some pointers on what to look for?? I am okay for a little cash to burn. I am currently getting ready to start the gunsmithing course at MCC and need to save my pennies, I don't want to spend too dang much....and I want to have some left to go to the range once a week (range fee, targets and ammo).
Thanks in advance!!
__________________
The question is never simply IF someone is lying, it's WHY. - Lie To Me
We must always fear the wicked. But there is another kind of evil that we must fear the most, and that is the indifference of good men - Boondock Saints
Iraq was never lost and Afghanistan was never quite the easy good war. Those in the media too often pile on and follow the polls rather than offer independent analysis. Campaign rhetoric and politics are one thing - the responsibility of governance is quite another.
- Victor Davis Hanson
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AngelsSix is offline
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04-24-2008, 20:53
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#2
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BANNED USER
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,189
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Fill up some sand bags, worked for me. 
I have a cheap 8x-36x spotting scope. $87 from Wal Mart.
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82ndtrooper is offline
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04-25-2008, 05:15
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,804
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If Mark is your instructor, tell him we said howdy.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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04-25-2008, 08:37
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Occupied Pineland
Posts: 4,701
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
If Mark is your instructor, tell him we said howdy.
TR
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If Mark's your instructor, wait until you get there and ask him. Otherwise research Sinclair, Champion's Choice, Champion's Shooters Supply, Creedmore, Brownells, and Midway for the benchrest. Caldwell has a reasonably priced one I'm considering - The Rock, IIRC. Midway usually has the best price.
My personal favorite for the scope (price/quality) is a Kowa 82mm. I did a lot of research and "fondling" before I reached that conclusion. There are other scopes that cost less or have better optics but it's a good compromise with lifetime quality. I ran across another one that would make a good entry level scope but can't remember the name (info's at home).
Go to a couple matches and ask around. Everybody I know will be happy to help.
__________________
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (42B.C)
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Peregrino is offline
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04-26-2008, 13:17
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#5
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Asset
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hill country
Posts: 18
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For an entry level spotting scope, check out a Konus at: http://www.jarheadtop.com/KONUS.htm
Jim Owen sells them for $235 including shipping and will buy them back for $100 and donate them to the Marine Junior team at Camp Perry.
I have one and we used it along side a Kowa at a reduced match last weekend. For the 2-300 yard targets the Konus was very good and we could see mirage very well and see .223 holes without problems. The Kowa is a better spotting scope, but not significantly so for the $700 price difference for a beginner.
It's not a Kowa, but it is worth checking out for starters on a budget.
__________________
"Do, or do not. There is no 'try'." - Yoda
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Indian is offline
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04-26-2008, 17:36
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Fayetteville NC
Posts: 3,533
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Just visited that site. Looks like a winner and I would give it a try as the cost is low enough that even if it is not what you want, you can always give it back for the stated deal.
I am sorely tempted to give it a try even though I have a Kowa, Leica and Kowa Highlander binos. Nope can't have enough optics. Of course, I don't really own them all, they are available to me at work.
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Hold Hard guys
Rick B.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is knowing it is great on a hamburger but not so great sticking one up your ass.
Author - Richard.
Experience is what you get right after you need it.
Author unknown. 
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longrange1947 is offline
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04-26-2008, 21:43
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#7
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Asset
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indian
For an entry level spotting scope, check out a Konus at: http://www.jarheadtop.com/KONUS.htm
Jim Owen sells them for $235 including shipping and will buy them back for $100 and donate them to the Marine Junior team at Camp Perry.
I have one and we used it along side a Kowa at a reduced match last weekend. For the 2-300 yard targets the Konus was very good and we could see mirage very well and see .223 holes without problems. The Kowa is a better spotting scope, but not significantly so for the $700 price difference for a beginner.
It's not a Kowa, but it is worth checking out for starters on a budget. |
+1 on the Konus. Bought one last year, I can also see .223 holes easily to 300 yds, and it works better than a much more expensive Leupold I used to have.
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-- What we do in life, echoes in eternity.
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maximus is offline
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04-29-2008, 00:14
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#8
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: VA
Posts: 1,149
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I will pass along the well wishes, you can be sure. I start class in the Fall. BUT IN THE MEANTIME..... I have a lot of shooting needs to get done. Since the range rules won't allow me to site my ifle in the good ole fashioned way (prone), I have to find a scope and a rest. I only want to do this one time if I can.
I appreciate all of your advice and input!!
GURL
__________________
The question is never simply IF someone is lying, it's WHY. - Lie To Me
We must always fear the wicked. But there is another kind of evil that we must fear the most, and that is the indifference of good men - Boondock Saints
Iraq was never lost and Afghanistan was never quite the easy good war. Those in the media too often pile on and follow the polls rather than offer independent analysis. Campaign rhetoric and politics are one thing - the responsibility of governance is quite another.
- Victor Davis Hanson
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AngelsSix is offline
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04-29-2008, 08:25
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,804
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Sounds good.
Your instructor is always glad to see his students working hard and shooting good groups.
Bring your best shot groups in the first day of class and show them to him, I am sure that Mark would love to see them.
Best of luck with the spotting scope and benchrest.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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05-16-2008, 21:04
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Occupied Pineland
Posts: 4,701
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Finally found where I stashed the data on the alternate spotting scope. Check out http://www.vortexoptics.com/. They are supposed to be par or better with the Konus. Good reviews from strange sources (bird watchers, etc. - surprising who appreciates affordable quality).
__________________
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero (42B.C)
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Peregrino is offline
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04-15-2011, 17:45
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#11
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,823
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Good information in this thread, thanks.
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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04-15-2011, 18:15
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#12
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Potomac River
Posts: 925
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Quote:
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My personal favorite for the scope (price/quality) is a Kowa 82mm.
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I use a Kowa 82mm. The 82 has been discontinued I do believe. I do not have ED glass but I can still count elk times at 3 miles. Do not buy the variable eye piece as it is worthless. Instead get two single power lenses. I use a 22 WA and a 32 WA as I use mine for hunting. I also use it for 1K F-class and a lot of people will have them on the line at F-class. You will need a good tripod that holds it still in moderate winds. What I use is a Vanguard Alta 233AO. Most people use some version of Manfrotti or if weight is an issue then carbon fiber Glick
A good rear bag is as essential as a good rest. Like a fool my rear bag costs more than the el cheapo rest I use. Protektor is a good brand. Make sure you fill it with Heavy Sand which is really good stuff.
Attached is a picture of how I set up to shoot antelope at long range. The spotting scope , video camera, and rangefinder are all on tripods and the rifle is on bipods and the Protector rear bag.
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