spotting scopes under $1000

[Slimdog350]

I keep hearing vortex or swaro ....vortex must be pretty good then....who sells vortex around here son I can check them out

I myself have been looking at spotting scopes and have narrowed it down to the vortex razor hd. Find a dealer with one and check them out but if you want to purchase one pm Elknut on this forum and he will hook you up!

[deerhunter_98520]

Thanks for the input guys  that's exactly what I was wanting to hear....so unless I come across a great deal on a swaro it will probably be a vortex or Leupold gold ring.....OK so now what do you guys like straight or angled eye piece...advantages/disadvantages? I've only used straight

[JPhelps]

Straight is better for target acquisition and when being used on a Ridgeline. The downfall is the tripod will need to be taller (stability) and the neck will fatigue faster.

The pros for the angled is the lower tripod height, glassing out of the bottoms and more comfortable over long periods.  Downfall for me is not being able to quickly find the target.

With that said I prefer a straight spotter.

[Alan K]

Straight is better for target acquisition and when being used on a Ridgeline. The downfall is the tripod will need to be taller (stability) and the neck will fatigue faster.

The pros for the angled is the lower tripod height, glassing out of the bottoms and more comfortable over long periods.  Downfall for me is not being able to quickly find the target.

With that said I prefer a straight spotter.

Well said, straight for me too!

[deerhunter_98520]

Good enough reasons for me straight it is

[teanawayslayer]

Can you really "easily" count points on a buck 2 miles away? What x magnification are you talking about? Legit question. Not trying to be a smart guy.

that's at 60x.

[Crunchy]

I rarely use the 60 power unless I really want to get up close.  For reference this is a bull from last week at 20 power using my phone camera at I think was 3 or 4 hundred yards.

[deerhunter_98520]

Where was this spot at so I can check it out with my Bushnell to compare 

[cbond3318]

Straight is better for target acquisition and when being used on a Ridgeline. The downfall is the tripod will need to be taller (stability) and the neck will fatigue faster.

The pros for the angled is the lower tripod height, glassing out of the bottoms and more comfortable over long periods.  Downfall for me is not being able to quickly find the target.

With that said I prefer a straight spotter.

Well said, straight for me too!

  I have a straight view Nikon and can be on target instantly almost aiming the spotting scope before looking thru it. I spent ten minutes with my buddies angled scope and was lost as soon as I put my eyes thru it. The straight does take getting use to what glassing positions are most comfortable but become habit quickly.

[BULLBLASTER]

I went with angled. Seemed easier for me to usee on a tripod amd the window mount.

[Bill W]

I favored straight eyepiece spotting scopes for hunting and angled for target shooting.   My first straight eyepiece scope also had a set of big "peep sights" on one side that allowed rough aiming at an object.  They were situated so that the object was then in the scope's field of view.    Might be a good add on for an angled eyepiece spotting scope as they shouldn't be too hard to align.

[scottcrb]

Tagging. Also I used a swarovski last elk season and the angle eye piece is hard to use on a car window mount .

[teanawayslayer]

my previous nikon was straight.  The new swarovski is angled.  It took quite a few times of using it to get dialed in on my target. I mainly use it in the high country and the angled is the only way to go.

[deerhunter_98520]

I checked out the vortex razor hd today and all I can say is wow is that clear...I'll be purchasing one of those like a lot of you recommended 

[Elkohol]

I checked out the vortex razor hd today and all I can say is wow is that clear...I'll be purchasing one of those like a lot of you recommended 

Good choice I ordered mine last Monday.. Can't wait for it to arrive!