Thread: Spend money on a spotting scope or buy a scope with higher magnification?

I went through the same exercises about 2 years ago, here are my thoughts on it now:

9x magnification seems to be borderline for my eyes to see bullet holes at 100m depending on the glass quality. It is doable with the likes of VX Freedom, Fullfield II and Diamondback level of quality, but 12x definitely makes it easier. However since your scope's max magnification is 9x, I wouldn't bother getting another scope. As others mentioned, the optical quality of a typical 3-12x scope deteriorates quick once you get above 10x. The extra magnification offers better ability for spotting bullet holes on the range, but is unlikely to add any value for hunting, especially during low light.

Instead of a spotting scope, I ended up spending $180 on a secondhand camera with a 40x zoom. (Canon 740HS). It was used to spot bullet holes at the range without trouble. A zoom camera has a few advantages over a spotting scope:
1. Cheaper - To do the same job with a spotting scope you may need to spend significantly more
2. Can track shots by taking a photo of the target after each shot
3. Can take footage of live animals from long distances away
4. Lighter to carry and takes less room for hunting trips

Those Nikko Stirlings that come in package deals have actually got decent optical quality in my experience.
So I suggest keeping your setup as it is, buy a $200~$500 secondhand zoom camera, you're then covered for the range and the hills.