Need recommendations for spotting and a scope stand for the bench.
Jim

jim

It really depends on how much you want to spend. For multiple use I recommend to get the best you can afford. For just bench use you don't need the field of view and clarity of a hunting scope with the attendent price tag.

You do need a scope that will go up to 50 power to make seeing those bullet holes at a hundred yards visible.

I bought a scope from Harbor Freight for about 70 bucks. It has a fairly small field of view, but zooms from 20 to 50 and once set on a tripod is very effective for bench use at the range. I believe this scope was made in Russia and the price and optics reflect this.

It is clear enough and powerful enough for the use I put it to, but I would get a better one for hunting.

Jim

As noted, it really depends on your budget. Personally I purchased a Pentax PF80-EP with 20-60x eyepiece and am very impressed overall. The negatives with this scope are the size/weight and that eye-relief is critical but other than that it is a great scope, very imrpessive optics. Check out www.betterviewdesired.com for reviews on a number of spotting scopes.

I bought a bench stand for my spotting scope from http://www.kinneman.com/, it works quite well. I intend to modify it (longer vertical pipe) to get the scope higher but other than that it is pretty good.

Ian

Need recommendations for spotting and a scope stand for the bench.
Jim

I'm in the same boat...my 2004 issue of Outdoor Life rated the Alpen 15-30X50 (phone 877-987-8370) as the "Best Buy" at $140 and made this comment....A great scope for bench use sighting in deer rifles at 100 yards.

"Editors Choice" was the Nikon Fieldscope 82mm ED w/25-56X eyepiece (phone 800-247-3464) at $1300. Comment....Expensive but worth it.

Both have a Poro prism design made from BaK4 glass.

I've not been disappointed with Burris, Nikon, or Zeiss optics on my rifles. I lean toward the Nikon Spotter, the field scope is too rich for my blood.