Burris are made locally here (northern Colorado) Good products at good prices.
Burris/Bushnell. Go cheap to start and go from there if you feel you need it. $89+ but within 150 they all are good.
Do NOT get a Barska!
You are correct that you pay for good glass. I generally put my good money on the rifle scope and get by with a low end spotting scope.
For 6 hundo you can get a Nikon. Optics planet.com
I have a Kowa that has excellent optics. I’m not sure if they are in your budget or not; I found mine at a Goodwill, like new, for very cheap.
Kowa
If you plan on having it for a long time, and you really want to enjoy it, buy the best you can. Good glass is a pleasure to use.
Alternatively, you could get a small reflecting telescope, I have a Celestron I use for stargazing as well.
If ya wanna try a bunch out in realtime find where the local benchrest matches are held. There'll be a line of fine glass posted behind the firing line. Generally accompanied by some great guys that love ta help someone else spend money. Also check with the reallong range hunting guys.
Good luck...
If I had too much money, I’d get this, just for my big boy toy box:
I have a Nikon Fieldscope and I can see Saturns rings crisply. It’s more expensive but you get what you pay for, especially with optics.
Are you looking for a spotting scope for shooting, or, more like just observing (birds, minor astronomy).
I have no clue about the shooting aspect (don’t currently own a rifle), but, at 100/150 yd range, I would look at some good binoculars that can be mounted on a tri-pod. 10x50 should do the trick at that range, and, you don’t have to hold them.
You can also pick up some really good telescopes and tripods for about $600 from Explore Scientific. I have bought several of their products (a 5 inch refractor/tripod and eyepieces) that I am quite happy with for astronomical purposes. With that, you can get great views of terrestrial objects as well as some great views of things in space.
Woodland Hills (telescopes.net) is a GREAT distributor. They have good prices and a very knowledgeable staff.
Not sure you need to spend 600 for the purpose you stated.
Vortec!
For what you describe, you could get by with something like a 20-60 X 60 Simmons scope for about $150. I agree with the posters that recommend getting the best optics you can afford. It’s really hard to wear out, and you’ll use better optical equipment for more things and use it for longer periods without feeling like your eyeballs are being pulled out.
Suggestions: fully multi-coated optics and an inert gas-purged interior, which will keep moisture and mold out of the scope. That will be appreciated if you use it in all different kinds of weather.
And read reviews online for whichever ones you look at.
And save a little money for a good case for it. Protect your investment. 🔭
Just a little word of warning: in the astronomy community, we have the “ new scope curse”. When someone buys a new scope, it rains for two weeks!
Happy scope hunting, I’m sure you’ll find a good one!😀
Thanks to everyone for the great advice.
For just a bit more than your ceiling price of $600,I think you can get a Leupold. You won’t regret it. It’s not a top end Zeiss or Swarovski,but those are MUCH more money. The leupold will give you good eye relief, which is helpful if you wear glasses, and some very good optics.
Bkmk