Budget spotting scope to learn about mirage?

[bellavite1]

In my everlasting quest to better myself I am now studying mirage effects to medium range (500yds) shooting.
I have been working with my Vortex PST set at max magnification (24x), but still having issues...
It is my understanding that a higher magnification spotting scope (45x, 60x, 5000x?) would actually be beneficial, so I am now in the market.
Budget is limited (yeah, THAT is a surprise!), topping at $200.
What would you guys consider to be the best bang for the buck?

[earplug]

Can you buy a eyepiece for the Vortex? $200.00 will buy you a eye strain.

[USMC88-93]

That would have been my first question, is it a Vortex model that has alternate eye pieces available if so what are they?

[bellavite1]

An alternate eye piece as a "magnifier"?
When I mentioned my Vortex PST I should have mentioned it is a rifle scope, mounted on my rifle.
Is there such a thing as a rifle scope that has a replaceable eye piece?
I guess I am lost here...

[C Ward]

I think there was an assumption of the current glass being a spotting scope , some of which come with interchangeable eyepieces.

24x is more than enough magnification to see mirage , the biggest thing to do to not focus on the target but at intermediate distance . Heat and humidity are huge factors contributing to seeing mirage and a cool dry day the mirage is going to be way harder to see .

And for your original question save your money 200 $ on a spotting scope is not going to be worth it . Spotters are actually all about glass quality unlike a rifle scope and 200 $ spotters have crap glass that will not be up to the same standard as your rifle scope .

[USMC88-93]

An alternate eye piece as a "magnifier"?
When I mentioned my Vortex PST I should have mentioned it is a rifle scope,
..

Sorry I presumed you were referring to a spotting scope and not a rifle mounted optic.... My bad.

[bellavite1]

Ok, I get what you guys are saying...
So, what would be my best option for the intended purpose?
It looks like even the ones around $500 tend to have focusing issues at the max magnification settings...
Any suggestion?

[Hoser]

You dont learn about mirage at huge magnification. Field of view and clarity are what you want.

More than one National Championship has been won by people using a long eye relief 27X spotting scope.

[bellavite1]

You dont learn about mirage at huge magnification. Field of view and clarity are what you want.

More than one National Championship has been won by people using a long eye relief 27X spotting scope.

My issue is mostly "seeing the angles " of the waves.
Just the other day I could have sworn that the mirage at the GGC was showing me at least 7 mph, with the waves running left to right almost flat, but I obviously failed miserably: I corrected for 1.5 MOA at 550 yds and sure enough my hit was 1.5 MOA to the left of my bullseye...
I know the theory, but somehow my eye confused a boil for an almost horizontal wave.
I am hoping that more magnification might help me see more details of the waves and, comparing it to what I see through the riflescope, learn what I am actually seeing.
I hope that is one of those things you can't unsee and it will just click to me...

[C Ward]

Making speed calls with mirage is just practice and shooting in the wind , no short cuts really. Put some flags by the targets so there is a reference to compare to .

A boil and a 8ish to 10 ish mph wind can look a lot alike , gotta factor in what you see and feel at your position too , grass , leaves , bushes moving , what you feel on your face , etc.