Civilian spotting scopes have DR 1-2, HT 10. Most military models have DR 3, HT 11. Military ones usually come with reticles that allow range estimation using the milrad system, as well as military features such as anti-glare, Protected Sense (Vision) and attachment for night vision equipment.
Commercial
Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50 Spotting Scope: Bulk -2 to -4 (Holdout -2); Weight 1.55 lbs.; Cost $1,000; MinST: 10† to 12†; Reduce -3 to -5 / -7 to -10 range penalties; reduces darkness penalties by 1 at 12x magnification and below, no modifiers to darkness penalties at 13x to 19x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 20x to 29x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 30x and over; +1 to spot small details.
Vortex Diamondback 20-60x60 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -6 (Holdout -3); Weight 2.2 lbs.; Cost $500; MinST: 12† to 14†; Reduce -4 to -6 / -9 to -11 range penalties; no modifiers to darkness penalties at 20x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 21x to 30x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 31x and over.
Vortex Viper HD 15-45x65 Spotting Scope: Bulk -3 to -5 (Holdout -3); Weight 3.2 lbs.; Cost $850; MinST: 13† to 16†; Reduce -4 to -5 / -7 to -11 range penalties; reduces darkness penalties by 1 at 15x magnification, no modifiers to darkness penalties between 16x to 31x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 32x to 39x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 40x and over; +1 spot small details.
Celestron Regal M2 65ED 16-48x65 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -6 (Holdout -3); Weight 3 lbs.; Cost $500; MinST: 14† to 16†; Reduce -4 to -5 / -8 to -11 range penalties; no modifiers to darkness penalties at 16x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 17x to 29x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 30x and over.
Vortex Razor HD 22-48x65 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -6 (Holdout -3); Weight 3.75 lbs.; Cost $1,600; MinST: 15† to 17†; Reduce -4 to -5 / -9 to -11 range penalties; no modifiers to darkness penalties at up to 35x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties 36x to 40x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at more than 41x magnification; +1 to spot small details, reduces penalties for atmospheric distortion by 1.
Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A 20-60x80 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -6 (Holdout -4); Weight 4 lbs.; Cost $550; MinST: 16† to 18†; Reduce -4 to -6 / -9 to -11 range penalties; no modifiers to darkness penalties at 20x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties at up to 39x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 40x and over.
Vortex Razor HD 27-60x85 Spotting Scope: Bulk -5 to -6 (Holdout -4); Weight 4.1 lbs.; Cost $2,000; MinST: 17† to 18†; Reduce -5 to -6 / -9 to -11 range penalties; no modifiers to darkness penalties at up to 40x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties 41x to 54x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at more than 55x magnification; +1 to spot small details; reduces penalties for atmospheric distortion by 1.
Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -6 (Holdout -4); Weight 4.2 lbs.; Cost $1,200; MinST: 16† to 18†; Reduce -4 to -6 / -9 to -11 range penalties; reduces darkness penalties by 1 at 20x magnification, no modifiers to darkness penalties at between 21x to 40x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties 41x to 54x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at more than 55x magnification; +1 to spot small details; reduces penalties for atmospheric distortion by 1.
Recently discontinued by Vortex Optics, but still available from vendors and
probably the best value for money in high end spotter scopes. A
30x wide-angle eyepiece with MRAD reticle is available (Cost $390; Weight 0.3 lbs.; Bulk -5; Reduce -5 / -9 range penalties), turning the spotting scope into a fixed magnification optic while it is mounted.
Nightforce TS-82 20-70x82 Spotting Scope: Bulk -4 to -7 (Holdout -4); Weight 4.25 lbs.; Cost $2,650; MinST: 16† to 19†; Reduce -4 to -6 / -9 to -12 range penalties; reduces darkness penalties by 1 at 20x magnification, no modifiers to darkness penalties between 21x to 40x magnification, adds 1 to darkness penalties between 41x to 54x magnification, adds 2 to darkness penalties at 55x and over; +2 to spot small details, reduces penalties for atmospheric distortion by 1.
DR 3; HT 11. These scopes start out made by the Czech company Meopta and similar quality is available as the
Meopta MeoStar S2 82 HD for a few hundred dollars less (may have HT 10).
Government stores
M49 Observation Telescope 20x55: Bulk -4 (Holdout -4, tripod Holdout -3; combined Holdout -5); Weight 2.75 lbs. (5 lbs. with M15 tripod in use); MinST: 13†; Cost $200; Rugged (DR 6; HT 13); Reduce -4 / -9 range penalties; adds 2 to darkness penalties; -1 penalty to spot small details; add -1 to penalties for atmospheric distortions beyond 1,000 yds.
The listed stats are for a heavily used specimen made by one of several contractors (Seiler, Argus, etc.). Surplus and vintage specimens sell for $100 to $500. The clarity and lens quality varied somewhat within the M49 milspecs. Better specimens would not suffer the -1 penalty to spot small details or increased mirage penalty beyond 1,000 yards, if they were in truly pristine condition, and, optionally, might only increase darkness penalties by 1 and would be well worth the full $500.
M144 Spotting Scope 15-45x60: Bulk -3 to -5 (Holdout -3, tripod Holdout -2; combined Holdout -4); Weight 1.6 lbs. (2.5 lbs. With Bushnell QD tripod); Cost $900; MinST: 10† to 13†; Reduce -4 to -6 / -7 to -11 range penalties; no modifier to darkness penalties at 15x, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 16x to 31x and adds 2 to darkness penalties up to full magnification.
Over 30x magnification, the tripod will not adequately stabilise, but treats it as a Braced optic, with MinST x2/3. If the Ashbury Precision TACT-3 GP tactical tripod kit (Cost $650; Weight 2.9 lbs.; combined system Cost $1,500; Weight 4.5 lbs.) is used instead of the very light Bushnell, it will stabilise out to full magnification and have Bulk -2 to -5.
Made by B&L, Litton or Bushnell. Based on the B&L Elite 15-45x60 with some alterations demanded for military use, the current civilian version would be the
Bushnell Elite 15-45x60. The listed price is for a surplus military version, which go for $800 to $1,100 in real life, though the M144 is still in use with regular US Army units. Civilian versions have DR 2; HT 10 and may lack features of military models, but go for only $250 to $650 without tripod.
M151 Improved Spotting Scope 12-40x60: Bulk -2 to -5 (Holdout -3, tripod Holdout -3; combined Holdout -5); Weight 2.1 lbs. (5 lbs. with Ashbury Precision TACT-3 GP tactical tripod kit); Cost $3,300; MinST: 11† to 14†; Reduce -3 to -6 / -7 to -11 range penalties; reduce darkness penalty by 1 at 12x to 15x magnification, no modifier to darkness penalties at up to 31x, adds 1 to darkness penalties at 32x and up to full magnification; +1 to spot small details; reduces penalties for atmospheric distortions by 1.
The military version of the
Leupold Mark 4 12-40x60 Tactical Spotting Scope. The unit price includes the ca $650-$800 tripod kit and an adapter to attach a night vision device, such as the AN/PVS-14. DR 4; HT 12.