What to do ?????

[dse]

 

I would keep the 8s add the 15x56hd swaro's and a spotter if you choose. I use 10x42 ELs and the 15 hds, just picked up the 20-60x65 ATS. This scope is complete garbage! If I was looking for a spotter I would only consider the Swaroviski STX.

Really ?

How is it garbage ?

 

 

It was ok from the time it was light enough to see till the sun came up, usable up to about 40x. Once the sun was up if you got off 20x all you could see was heat rays. Even at 20x it wasn't great, I could judge better in my 15s. Definitely not what I expected from Swaroviski.

 

On my way home from the hunt I stopped by the Outdoorsman's and looked through the STX with the 65mm lens, just to compare apples to apples. Day and night better! At 3:00 with full sun could see needles on the cholla at 1900 yds.

 

In my opinion the STX would be absolutely worth the $3500. On the other hand the ATS was a $2200 paperweight.

[CouesFanatic]

You get heat rays with every glass. It has nothing to do with the optics. If you think that Swaro spotter is junk, you better not look through the other 97% of spotters because they are a lot worse.

[firstcoueswas80]

 

Highest end 12s, and best spotter you can afford.

What would you consider the best spotter ?

Depends on your budget.

[dse]

You get heat rays with every glass. It has nothing to do with the optics. If you think that Swaro spotter is junk, you better not look through the other 97% of spotters because they are a lot worse.

 

 

I understand heat rays will always be there, but side by side when the ATS was unusable above 20x the STX was still amazingly clear on 60x. If it doesn't have anything to do with the optics, what would cause this?

[Rumhunter84]

 

 

Highest end 12s, and best spotter you can afford.

What would you consider the best spotter ?

Depends on your budget.

Why do all you guys do that ? I kinda understand but I asked for it

 

just say what you think the best spotter is ?

[Big or Bust]

Meopta S2 or Swaro 95 mm...

[Zeke-BE]

I had 12s glad I went with 15s! I can see lots of details on antlers with my Cabelas Euros out to a 1000 yards, and pick out spike bucks out of the group. But I bought 8s Athlon Cronus from Douglas-Gun-Guy for the hunts in the pines or thick stuff.

[kwp]

 

You get heat rays with every glass. It has nothing to do with the optics. If you think that Swaro spotter is junk, you better not look through the other 97% of spotters because they are a lot worse.

 

I understand heat rays will always be there, but side by side when the ATS was unusable above 20x the STX was still amazingly clear on 60x. If it doesn't have anything to do with the optics, what would cause this?

If they were side by side and you saw heat waves in one and not the other then it was likely just the focal distance that each scope was currently set at. The only time optical clarity comes into play with heat waves is that lower end optics are so blurry that the heat waves blend in with the blurriness.

 

To the OP? Like others have said, get the highest quality binos you can afford as you'll spend way more time in the binos than a spotting scope. Then save your $$ for a Swaro spotter.

[firstcoueswas80]

Meopta S2 or Swaro 95 mm...

We do that because it's pointless to suggest a $5000 spotter if you have $500-$1000 to spend.

 

And what greg said

[rossislider]

 

 

 

Highest end 12s, and best spotter you can afford.

What would you consider the best spotter ?

Depends on your budget.

Why do all you guys do that ? I kinda understand but I asked for it

 

just say what you think the best spotter is ?

Hands down, the best spotter is the Swaro 95. But buying it also means one of your kids won't be going to college.

[Big or Bust]

If you guys haven't run the meopta S2, you are seriously missing out but I won't scream any louder....

[cjl2010]

If you guys haven't run the meopta S2, you are seriously missing out but I won't scream any louder....

Have you weighed it?

[Rumhunter84]

Ok maybe i should have went into more detail about my situation I have a bonus coming first of next month !

 

So I need to buy the scope for my rum that I'm getting from Phoenix custom rifles

 

Nightforce nxs

 

And like I said I sold swro NON-HD 15s

 

After my scope i have about 6500.00 left

 

I'm just juggling around on what to buy just buy HD 15s

 

OR 12s and a spotter

I already have a good quality tripod from the outdoorsman

 

Thanks for all the input I really appreciate it And what series spotter ATS or ATX/STX

[CouesFanatic]

It really depends on what distance you are glassing and what you are using it for. I prefer 10's and a spotter. 12's are a good compromise. But I would never use the 15's on an archery elk hunt and the 12's would be pretty overkill for that as well. But for a Coues rifle hunt you are going to need the higher power.

[twigsnapper]

I glass with a few guys who only carry 15's. we are constantly getting out my spotter to double check game that even in 15's you can't get enough detail to judge. Since you can afford a nice set binos and a spotter I recommend 12's and a 65mm spotter. I went through the whole 95mm or 80mm or 65mm. Basically came down to weight. Spot the game with your binos, then get the spotter out to check details, points..... the larger objective spotter is not as beneficial if you aren't actually spotting game with it so the weight savings of the 65mm is worth it. The 95mm stx is unbelievable but unless you are a road hunter or a linebacker the weight probably isn't worth it in my opinion. It really boils down to what kind of hunting you do. My friends in WY swear by the the large objective angled spotters but that's cause they hunt mule deer and antelope from their trucks. They came down coues hunting this December and the big spotters stayed in the truck after the 2nd day. You may consider the 65mm stx.