All posts by moondog
Gosky 13-40×50 Spotting Scope
If you’re looking for a good cheap long-range spotter, don’t bother watching. This is a “dumpster diving” review of a budget spotter I’m only using for 50yrd pistol matches or 100yrd rifle matches. In this case, size and weight are key deciding factors.
The 13-40×50 GoSky is one of the best rated compact spotting scopes on Amazon (which doesn’t mean much since most of those reviews are fake or underinformed). It retails for about $99 but I purchased it on sale for $70 putting it closer in price to a SvBony SV28. Making this the best spotter I’ve tried that currently retails for under $100.
PRO
- Well built eye-piece with an independent rotating zoom dial.
- Good to Great optical clarity for a sub $100 “budget” spotting scope
- Nice geared tripod that works better than it looks
CON
- Warm cast on image
- Cheap looking tripod
- Clunky company website with minimum info
USAF51 RESOLUTION
Group: -1 / Element: 5
PRODUCT LINK
Amazon https://amzn.to/2VEKYH3
SvBony SV28 15-45×50
SVbony is one of the bigger brands in budget-to-midrange astronomy optics, so I wanted to see if any of that telescope expertise made it down to their least expensive spotting scope, the SV28.
The optic clarity is in the top 5 for 50mm scopes and for a $60 scope, I suppose it’s actually pretty good. But the image is noticeable chromatic aberrations at high magnification. Personally, if your budget is $60, I’d recommend saving a bit more and buying an Orion or GoSky.
PRO
- Built in Sun Shade
- Compact and light (as are most 50mm scopes)
- Budget price
CON
- Small objective lens
- Chromatic aberrations
USAF51 RESOLUTION
Group: -1 / Element: 3
PRODUCT LINK
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fxAyQ3
Solar Back Up Camera
The Solarst rear view back up video camera kit was sent to me by MyGekoGear for this review. This is a solar powered wi-fi camera that fits on your license plate frame and allows you to wireless add a rear-view video camera to any vehicle.
It’s an easy way to install a back up camera to a car, truck, RV or trailer without complicated wiring and professional installation. The license plate has a built in solar panel to recharge the battery powered camera which connections via WiFi to a 4″ LCD monitor that you install on your dash or windshield.
PRODUCT LINK
https://shop.mygekogear.com/products/solarst
15% Off code: MOONDOG15
Spotty Scope: Barska Colorado 15-40×50
The Barska Colorado is a spotty scope instead of a spotting scope (feel free to use this Dad Joke). It is a compact spotting scope with a nice list of specs and a rugged exterior, that is in a word: disappointing. Well, there are many other words you can use to describe it, many comprising of four letters.
The old adage, “You get what you pay for” is certainly true here. The scope was less than $35 on Amazon and 3.9 stars out of 5 with almost half of its reviewers giving it 5 stars. These reviewers either have never seen through another spotting scope or are awaiting cataract surgery? There is one positive thing I have to say about this scope: I can still return it.
If your friend asks you about this scope, remember: friends don’t let friends buy Barska.
PRO
• Cheap
CON
• Blurry
• Milky
• Terrible optical performance
USAF51 RESOLUTION
Fail (no groups or elements could be resolved at 100 yrds)
PRODUCT LINKS
Barska Colorado https://amzn.to/3flcTlO
Celestron 20x binoculars: https://amzn.to/3rQWuuy
Vilux 12x binoculars: https://amzn.to/3A68Wcq
CCI Mini-Mag ammo test: Ruger 10/22 vs. Marlin 60
I’ve been shooting CCI Mini-Mags since the ’80s and it’s always been my gold standard for 22LR. But it’s been decades since I actually measured how it shot in my Marlin 60. I thought it was high time I re-checked my baseline assumptions.
In a previous ammo test with Aguila Super Extra HV, I found very little difference in performance when shot with a Ruger 10/22 and Marlin 60. The results in this test were even more surprising to me, with the Ruger 10/22 slightly edging out the Marlin 60; which I always thought was the more accurate rifle.
Of course, my rifle isn’t your rifle. Ammo and gun manufacturing technology change and improve. What this is a perfect example of is: it’s never a bad idea to periodically take new readings of your old standards.
Ulanzi U70 Pano Ball Head
The Ulanzi U70 Panoramic Ball Head is a high-quality photo/video tripod head with a 3/8 base and 1/4 adapter. It offers a pan on top of the ball head, a feature only found on high end tripod heads that cost hundreds more.
PRODUCT LINK
Amazon https://amzn.to/3gHmvs9
Subscribe to my new gadget review channel: https://www.youtube.com/moondogrd
Riton X1 Primal 4-16×44
Riton lent me one of their X1 Primal 4-16×44 rifle scopes to review. The X1 Primal is an intro level 1 scope in their product line. It is one of the least expensive 16x zooming premium scopes on the market; a good value in a hunting scope. Its unique RUT reticle features a semi-open central dot which I found well suited for long-range target shooting with a 22LR as it allows for clear visibility of small bullseyes.
If it does have a fault, it is the quality of the image at 16x magnification. The scope loses a lot of sharpness and contrast at full magnification. Worst yet, its eye box gets very small making it unsuitable for hunting at 16x, when targets of opportunity are mobile and require rapid change of aim. Still, it’s a quality scope at under $200, where its competition only boasts 9x or 12x power.
PRODUCT LINKS
Optics Planet https://shrsl.com/325oo
Amazon https://amzn.to/3iW4sQl
OVERALL RATINGS (out of 5)
Build: 5
Glass: 4
Reticle: 4
Holds Zero: 5
Box Test: 5
Turrets: 5
Eye Box: 3
Value: 4
Aguila Super Extra HV Good or Dirty? Redux
YouTube and Google are the bane of any shooting sports enthusiast. While both platforms are the most used services in the entire internet, they are some of the least 2A friendly. My original Aguila Super Extra HV video was recently reclassified by YouTube as no Ad Suitable, which means they reduce what little Ad revenue they share with me by 90%.
Ad suitability — Confirmed by review This video has been confirmed by manual review as not suitable for most advertisers. It remains fully playable and is eligible to earn subscription revenue from YouTube Premium.
I made a small change and re-uploaded it. We’ll see if this gets struck down to.
Bad Blood 2021 Highlights
We were forced to reduce our event by 50% due to COVID restrictions but over 500 players attended this year’s event. Marxists achieved a fifth consecutive victory, edging out Black Shirts.