I have a Redding Spotting Scope that I have used for about 20 years and I think it's time for something a little better. I do alot of shooting with the varmint class rifles and need something that I can see .17 to .22 cal. holes in the black at 100 yards. My old Redding is pretty marginal. Is there anything out there for under $500 that will help these old eyes. Thanks for any help you can give me!!!

Panhandlepr

Finding those tiny holes in the black at 100 yds will be a challenge for any scope!

Just about all the scope makers have entry level scopes on the market anymore. A Bushnell Spacemaster or a Cabela's Alaskan series would be my choice. I have a Minolta, but don't know what they run these days.

Try to get something with a minimum 60mm objective. An 80 would be better. Power range from 20-45 or even 60 if getting the 80mm objective.

Jackfish can probably come up with some more expert advice.

I use a 50 power variable scope and you can see the bullet holes from a 204 ruger at a hundred yards.

I'll vote with kdub on needing good optics. Buy the best you can afford. The bigger the objective the more light it passes. Good optics can be expensive, but will pay dividends years down the road.

Don't overlook a good tripod to go with that scope. I like one of the clip on the window tripod adapters when I'm out running the back roads.

I have one of the Bushnell Spacemaster 15-45x scopes. I like it pretty well. At the time I bought it, I also looked at most of the other brands in the same price range, and thought it looked like the best for the money. The tripod that comes with it leaves something to be desired, but all the others did too.

I think the Spacemaster would do what you want at 100 yards. 200 yards would be a different matter. At 200 yards, I can't see .224 caliber holes in the white or black. I can see .243 caliber holes at 200 yards though. One solution to the problem would be to use the Shoot-N-See type targets. Those really stand out well.

Going to more magnification and higher resolution does help sometimes, but then you start to have other problems, like shimmer/mirage when it's hot, or vibration from the wind, that makes it difficult to see. A really heavy and solid tripod can help with the wind, but there isn't anything that will help with the shimmer/mirage problem.

I've been looking at this one. Have heard it's a good spotter and it is under $500.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-ultima-100ed-spotting-scope.html

That is a great price on the Ultima, but it's a big, heavy scope. Great for the range, but I wonder about packing it up a mountain? My old Spacemaster is 2 lb vs. 4.5 lb for the Ultima. Add the extra weight of a tripod that can handle it.

Bye
Jack

[QUOTE=Jack Monteith]That is a great price on the Ultima, but it's a big, heavy scope.

I agree, it's a range only scope but I wonder how clear it is. Optics Planet lists it on their best pick and best seller list so it might be a good deal. They have the same model without the ED lenses for just over $300.