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Hi,

What is the minimum power spotter scope that I'll need for a 1000 yard range? I just wanna pinch some pennies. Are any of the following O.K.?

Barska 20-60x60 Black Hawk Spotting Scope, incl tripod ($129.99): http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Bushnell Trophy Spotting Scope, incl tripod ($219.99): http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Burris High Country Spotter, w/ integrated lens cap, no tripod ($199.99): http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Tripod costs $25-40.

Thanks,

At 1000 yards you are not going to be able to use any cheap spotting scope. I have trouble seeing at 300 yards with a cheap spotting scope.

If you really want to have an effective scope for 1000 yds you cannot expect to find something cheap. I will suggest 36X, but give some a try. All our eyes are different.

Jim

One has to define target size and expected optical resolution, no?

If you have some flexibility on the range, consider a remote camera (FAR less than a very high powered scope, and more flexible). Here's an example
http://www.6mmbr.com/targetcam.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How good are your eyes? Some guys shoot long distance with iron sights.

Brilliant Idea Ikd! I just hope I don't accidentally shoot the cam as I will be new at 1000 yard shooting. I have only shot 25-100 yards before (mostly 25 yards). I think I have an ancient b&w sony handycam somewhere....

I looked at some websites and it seems that no spotting scope at 1000 yards will be able to see a 0.5 inch bullet hole. You are actually spotting a 4 inch bright orange disk that the rangemaster will put over your bullet hole. That will take forever to sight in a rifle and the rangemaster might not do this if there is no competition that day.

Cool, this idea is cheaper AND better than a spotting scope. That's why this is the best gun forum!

Thanks again,


P.S. Ikd, the website you posted said that you can shield a cam from bullets by putting it in a metal pipe. I laughed so hard that I nearly fell out of my chair. Like any metal pipe is gonna be bullet proof to anything that can shoot 1000 yards such as a 50 BMG! Ha, ha, ha!

Ikd, to show my appreciation, if ya want, I'll let you shoot the 50 BMG if you're in Mingus, TX. Bullets cost $5-10 each at local DFW gun shows and Cabela's. First shot is on me. Bring your own ammo if you'd like to shoot some more. My wife is fussing about the amount of money I've spent on stuff lately so it may take a couple of weeks to get a scope to test it out with.... Not all scopes can survive the shock wave from firing a big 50, so finding one within my usual el cheapo price range will be hard.... I think I've read somewhere that a big 50 has more powder in it than a grenade (don't know if it is true).

Thanks for the offer...I shoot my own .50, but it uses black powder and is fired with a flintlock. A far more "interesting" hobby...although I'll never be accurate beyond 150-200yds with it

What kind of BMG do you have? I recently posted a picture of mine in the "weapon to bring to a Zombie apocalypse" thread. I'm looking for a 1,000 yard range around here. I do have an invitation from my brother to come out to Colorado and shoot prairie dogs at 1,000 yards.

-davidtx

I actually don't have a 50bmg and I don't have any guns as my wife forbids it. However, I did buy one for my Dad.... Sometimes, it is easier to circumvent the Mrs instead of colliding with her head-on. If you're looking for a 50bmg friendly range, the closest that I know of is Tac Pro in Mingus, TX.

Prairie dogs?! I don't think anything will be left to eat after getting shot with a 50bmg! You'll probably have a fine red mist after the prairie dog gets shot.

I purchased for my Dad the Serbu BFG50. It is inexpensive ($2200+) and it is a 0.5 MOA gun, per other users' posts on the Serbu forum, the THR forum, and other forums. It also has relatively little recoil compared to other 50 BMG's. It is a single shot rifle. Some people don't like these and favor the semi-autos. To those people, I ask, "At $5 a shot, can you really afford to shoot a 50 BMG semi-auto?" Besides, have you ever seen a 50 BMG ammo round? It is roughly 6 times bigger than a 30-06. With THAT much more recoil, do you really think that you can visually re-acquire a target fast enough to take advantage of the semi-auto's theoretically faster 2nd shot? Unless you are a millitary pro that practices all day long, every day, I seriously doubt any amateur can actually take advantage of the faster rate of fire of a semi-auto 50 BMG. I certainly can't.

The following is not the pic of my gun (I don't own any, remember? ), but it is a pic of the gun:


A Barrett "light 50" (M82A1) costs $8650 for just the gun only. For that price, I could buy a Serbu, a scope, a lifetime supply of ammo and still get change back!

Serbu BFG50: $2200
Bushnell Elite 3200 scope: $220
1000 rounds of Barrett M33 Ball ammo: $5000
Total: $7420

I bought mine from a family member. It was custom built by RMC. It has a Walther barrel, MacMillan Brothers action, Jewell trigger, Tasco scope and custom stock. I shot it a few times a couple of years ago and it doesn't kick much at all - but then it weighs 63 pounds with the scope on it. I'm having a hard time finding a case to fit it's 60" overall length. If I keep it, I'm sure I'll end up reloading and doing some load development.

Google 1000 yard prairie dog.

I just noticed this book on 1,000 yard shooting. I may have to order that.

drjoker wrote:A Barrett "light 50" (M82A1) costs $8650 for just the gun only. For that price, I could buy a Serbu, a scope, a lifetime supply of ammo and still get change back!

...to invest in an extra trauma plate and duct tape to mount it to your back with, and a tactical wheelbarrow to carry it all in perhaps ? You don't work security as part of a 3-man Rapid Tactical Force at a local Shopping Mall do you by any chance ? Be honest now - we won't break your cover.

Of those three spotting scopes at Cabellas, I found the Burris to have the clearer and brighter image quality.

But the other posters are correct. You're not going to be able to spot the bullet hole at a thousand yards made by any caliber under about a 40mm Bofors cannon round — assuming you have time to look before executing a tactical somersault and getting away. Fortunately, there is a small market for old pack howitzers, and you can probably find one if you look hard enough.

drjoker wrote:Prairie dogs?! I don't think anything will be left to eat

Eat?

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs[/youtube]

davidtx wrote: I'm having a hard time finding a case to fit it's 60" overall length.

Cabela's is having a 10% off sale for all NRA members. So, if you're not a member, become one now so you could save some major dough on your next big purchase. Join up and get on Cabela's mailing list (sign up online) and go shop at the beginning of February!

Here is the item you're looking for at Cabela's:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

Sweet gun you've go there davidtx!

Annoyed Man, thanks!

boomerang, yes, eat. I had a neighbor who would cook me all sorts of crazy stuff. I paid her every month to shop and cook. She was really into hunting and gathering. Some stuff she's caught and cooked for me; local fish, frogs, crawdads, rabbits, nutria, wild boar, dandelions, etc. Hey, prairie dogs are rodents just like rabbits and nutria, so I figure, it would probably taste similar.

Skydivesnake, yes, you caught me! I'm a mall ninja/rent-a-cop security guard at a local mall. My daily routine is;
1. wake-up
2. drool over food court chick
3. beat up skateboarders
4. cruise the gun forums on company time
5. eat donuts
6. go home and sleep in my mom's basement


Have fun,