What TR said.
Addendum: Think of spotting scopes like digital cameras - price and quality are roughly linked. <$300=<3.3meg, $500-1000=+/-6meg, and >$1200=8meg. How much resolution do you require? How much can your eye distinguish under average conditions? (Notice - I did not mention magnification.) I still have the 20x Bushnell Sentry II (probably at least 25 y/o) I bought used in a pawnshop 15+ years ago for <$40. I used it for most of that time and still maintain it for a loaner. (It keeps the mooches from putting their grubby paws on my Kowa.) I upgraded because I couldn't see .223 holes in the black at 300yds (really because it wasn't
). Until you need that level of resolution say thank you to your wife, keep what she gave you (marriage maintenance) and spend the extra money on bullets for practice (or whatever you need a spotting scope for). If you really can't stand/use the one you have, check out
www.champchoice.com. for an inexpensive "beginner's" scope. FWIW - Peregrino