Bullet Holes @ 500 Metres. Photograph?

[Leadlauncher]

Hi,
I am a target shooter. I purchased a Swarovski ATS60 spotting scope at great expense, to view my targets at 500 meters. Alas I wasted my money. You cant see the holes, as too much mirage. Are there any options that will work with telephoto lens & cameras? I know absolutely nothing about photography. Any comments appreciated

kind regards

[Scottes]

A camera lens can't compare to the magnification of your spotting scope.

I's say you need a telescope of some sort.

[Jon]

If by "mirage" you mean the image across that distance shimmers too much, you can only try something of higher magnification, like a bigger telescope. A Swarovski spotting scope's about as good glass as you're going to be able to get, and that shimmer's not from the scope but from the air, which you're having to deal with anyway.

[John_T]

That shimmer will be there whenever the ground is warmed by the sun and there is little or no air movement. I can't imagine how any other scope would be any different under the same circumstances. Try it in the cool morning or evening before you give up on the Swarovski.

You might also want to check if Swarovski have interchangeable eye pieces with different magnifications.

[JZaun]

Not sure but I think the ATS60 is a 60mm scope. Thats about 2.3 " The highest power would be around 100 under the best of conditions and 100 won't see bullet holes at 500 yards. It may be able to pick them out well at 100 if the light is good. For 500 yards you need big diameter to gather more light and allow more power. Say a 5" scope might do it with good optics and good conditions.. I use a 90mm (3.5") at 100 for 223 holes and it is just good enough for 100 yds. :? More power the dimmer the view, thats why you need a bigger diameter for more light. Thats what allows more power. But you still need good optics and conditions.. Forget camers lens for that job!

JZ

[Scottes]

When I hit the lottery I'm going to install webcams behind berms in front of the targets, then display the pic on a monitor at the shooting station.

Yep, I can't wait until I hit the lottery.

[JZaun]

When I hit the lottery I'm going to install webcams behind berms in front of the targets, then display the pic on a monitor at the shooting station.

Yep, I can't wait until I hit the lottery.

Yes, We have a guy in our club that does that with a loptop and web cam, works great. He even use it on the 100 yard range. He has not gotten the wireless to work yet but working on it. Other than the cost of the laptop it wasn't too expensive . If I can afford a laptop I'm gonna try it..

JZ

[Belmondo]

I use a 90mm (3.5") at 100 for 223 holes and it is just good enough for 100 yds.

JZ

Jerry:
You might have hit on the answer here. If you can see a .223 hole at 100 yards, you should be able to see a 1.000 hole at 500 yards. He just needs a bigger gun......a lot bigger. :shock: :wink:

[Jon]

Like 20 mm HE? He should be able to see that from 500 yards without the scope. Is the target there? Yep. Well you missed.

[JZaun]

I use a 90mm (3.5") at 100 for 223 holes and it is just good enough for 100 yds.

JZ

Jerry:
You might have hit on the answer here. If you can see a .223 hole at 100 yards, you should be able to see a 1.000 hole at 500 yards. He just needs a bigger gun......a lot bigger. :shock: :wink:


Yea a little over 1" will work or about 20, 223's touching each other, you could see one big hole for every 20 shots, hummmmm

Now we know why the longe range shooters have pit duty :D Yep raise and lower targets and mark them for the shooter to see where they hit. OMG I hate pit duty, don't do it any more :D I just stick with 100 yard shooting on reduced targets, Can't see good enough for the long line anymore, D!@# I'm never gonna get this old again :( It stinks!!!

JZ

And belmondo you are catching me!!


:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tom W]

I use a 90mm (3.5") at 100 for 223 holes and it is just good enough for 100 yds.

JZ

Jerry:
You might have hit on the answer here. If you can see a .223 hole at 100 yards, you should be able to see a 1.000 hole at 500 yards. He just needs a bigger gun......a lot bigger. :shock: :wink:

I don't know about the availability of a 1.000, but there are .50's available for a price.

Actually, my friend shoots high-power rifle (.308) at 500 and 600 yards. He's got a reasonably decent spotting scope, but its probably inadequate for that range. What he does benefit from is that the range he shoots at has a pit at the target area where a partner can mark the target for scoring purposes between sets of shots.