So I'm getting a little fed up with my simmons range finder, and I'd like a cheap spiffing scope for use at the range for load testing. Also planning on getting a phone mouth to film though it. So don't need that super crazy clear german glass or something.Any how for any reccomdations for a good range finder for under $150 and a spotting scope for under $100 ?

I've got a bushnell arc 1000 that I've had for 8 or 9 years that stays in my bow pack all season and I've had times I've sat all day in rain and such without taking it inside and drying it like I should and never had an issue with it. Essentially I'm saying I've abused it over the years and although I dont think they make that model anymore bushnell would be the brand I would look at if I was to buy another one. Also that's not being a bushnell fanboy or anything because I loathe their trail cameras.

I doubt if you can find a spotting scope for under $100 that would be worth having. You might find a Konus that would work for what you want but it still will be over $100. My advice is save your money till you can buy a decent scope and not buy a real cheap one and it can't do what you want. I have ran our club's high power rifle matches for over 20 years and seen a lot of people wish they would have saved up and bought only one scope instead of 2 or 3 till they got what they needed.

You can get good, or cheap, but not both.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/tasco-5-45x50mm-fc-spotting-scope.html - if you're going cheap Tasco is the way to go. Better than the other cheap scopes.

I like my to Nikon range finders. Spotting scope maybe check out ebay. I bought a used Bausch and Lomb that works very well for my needs

I use my same old redfield range finder that I have abused. It is ok, the read out was fading until I was out on a real cold day and then it started working like new again. As far as spotting scopes for $100 I would think twice. I have a vortex diamondback and I put it on a tripod but I find myself using my binoculars mounted on the tripod more often. When your binoculars are stable they become a lot clearer. My advise is to get a decent pair of binos and put them on a tripod. I would suggest a pair of 10x42 or maybe 10x50. You can get phone mounts for binos too. Just something to think about.

x100

buy good brands used, look around relentlessly until you find the deal for you.

I'm in the same but different boat, looking to get my first rangefinder but can't decide if I just go cheaper by buying used or get a "nice" one to use for years. I'm hoping to use it for bowhunting and hopefully eventually rifle hunting out to 400 max. I'll be watching to see what folks say! Everyone I talk to says to get one with colored numbers and TBR, but having never used one it's hard to say. For your uses I'm thinking a used one might be your best value.
Lots of guys on hunting forums upgrading and selling their black number knes. Happyy trapping! ScottW

How far are you wanting to spot and range?

If you're hunting antelope and want to be able to see what newspaper he's reading at 850 yards... Better save a while.

If you're wanting it for ranging/spotting for your YT videos at 200 yards max then you can afford to scrimp... A little. If you have $250 right now, decide which item (spotter or rangefinder) is the highest priority and get the best you can at that price point. Then save up some more and get the next item. It sucks and takes some discipline... But you won't be sorry that you bought the best you could afford.

I've been looking for a spotting scope for a while... I'd really like to be able to try them out at the distances I shoot at... But as of yet no one has offered to let me do that. So I'm still trying to decide.

My rangefinder is a Hawke Endurance 1000. It's pretty decent but I paid almost $300 for it. I don't necessarily believe it was the absolute best deal for my money... But my local guy had it in stock and let me try it out so I knew what I was getting... Which is a big deal to me. I like to see how well things work before I lay down money. Especially glass. That's experience talking, trust me.

Here's another thing about rangefinders... Each model is advertised to range at a certain distance... 600, 1000, 1500, 1800 yards/meters. If you just need a 600 yard ranging ability, get the model rated for 1000 yards. The performance tends to get iffy once you get much past 75% of the advertised range... so if you start trying to reach out to the rated max range you may be a bit disappointed especially if it's foggy, misty, or lots of dust in the air. If there's $40 difference between the two, spend the extra $40.

Mike

Honestly 800 yd is probably gonna me my absolute max and that's going to be rare . My long range is only 400yd but it's gonna get used the most at 100yd more than anything. Mainly want the spotting scope so I don't have to have my $300 digital cam at the 100yd mark and have bubba shoot it thinking it's a target ( I've had close calls)when I do load testing at the public range. Would like to be able to just have the camera with an adapter hooked to the spotting scope so I can have it next to me at the bench and record the target.

As for the range finder a late part of it is gonna be inside of 600 but Tim thinking I wanna get one with 1000yd would be best. Just really want something that's actually going to range off of game

Wolfdog91 are you shooting at the range north of Gloster on HWY 33? I have never been to it just curious how for you can shoot at it.

Yeah woodsman spring ? It's decent I reckon only goes out to a 100yd berm though, decent over hang and set of benches but other than that it's a 30,50 ,and 100yd dirt berm

Make it hurt only one time Wolfy.

I borrowed a buddy's Bushnell rangefinder for a day and that convinced me cheap wasn't the best for distances. I ended up buying a Leopold rated for twice the distance I figured on and am dang glad I did.

Now I'm in the boat of needing a good spotting scope too. I'm saving ! lol

Wolfdog, make a list of the features that are must have... and features that would be nice but not really necessary.

Do some online research of the models that have those features in your price range and figure out which ones are a fit for you. Then call around to your local places and see if they have any of them in stock. Then go look at them, handle them, play with them, look through them, etc... Once you figure out which one you want you can buy local or order online... You might save a few bucks online but if there's an issue returns are a hassle.

Mike