What’s a good optic on an AR when hunting coyotes?

[MoneyWaster]

I’m going to hunt coyotes next winter in Northwest Nevada with an AR chambered in either 17-223 or 20-223 (haven’t decided yet). I’m trying to figure out the best optic for shooting from up close to about 250-300 yards max. Would a LPVO with a 1-8 magnification range be a good choice? Watching coyote hunting videos on YouTube, it looks like there are frequent shots up close, so a low end of 1-2 seems appropriate. I’m not sure as I’ve never hunted coyotes before. This will be my first venture. If there are as many out in the desert as there are in the suburbs, hunting should be pretty productive.

 

[Mark M.]

My opinion, and it's just an opinion, I use a nightforce 4-14 f1 illuminated

 

[MoneyWaster]

My opinion, and it's just an opinion, I use a nightforce 4-14 f1 illuminated

Thanks for the response Mark. I have a couple of questions.

What magnification setting do you find yourself using the most?

Do you typically leave it at 4x and zoom up as necessary?

Do you ever find 4x to be too high when the yotes are up close?

 

[Mark M.]

I don't find 4x to high, not at all, I find myself operating mostly at the 8-12x range out to 200-300 yards, I do find the extra magnification useful at times

 

[B23]

My opinion, and it's just an opinion, I use a nightforce 4-14 f1 illuminated

I'm currently trying to decide between a NF ATACR 4-16x42 and Leupy MK5HD 3.6-18x44 on my Seekins SP10 6.5CM.

Both scopes are fairly pricey but at present, are my two top pics.

 

[MoneyWaster]

I appreciate the responses guys. It looks like I was off on my mag range needs. I’ll look into other options and see what’s appealing. I like a small scope on an AR to keep the weight down and to keep it overall a compact package. I’m definitely not looking for something with a large objective lens on it.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have had problems at 1.5-1.75 power locating coyote in grass/low brush from 90 yards and out. Never have had an issue at 3 and up. If you go with the 20 cal, I had great performance from 40 gr Nosler BT's this winter.

 

[JFrank]

A buddy uses this Night vision scope, I have no idea where he got it

 

[alf]

I topped mine with a Leupold VX-R 2-7x33 with the Firedot duplex.

 

[MoneyWaster]

I topped mine with a Leupold VX-R 2-7x33 with the Firedot duplex.

Alf, have you hunted with it? If so, how did it work out?

 

[alf]

Alf, have you hunted with it? If so, how did it work out?

I love the Firedot duplex.

 

[Dub]

I use a 4-16x50 Vortex with illuminated rectical. If you hunt at night the illumination of the rectical is critical

 

[sawcarver]

Either 4-16x50 vortex or 3-15x Burris for me

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

3.5-10x40 Leupold for me. More than 50% of my coyotes are shot within 100 yards, 80-90% shot within 200 yards on 3.5x. Generally there isn't time to fiddle with the power ring on called coyotes, at least where I hunt. I want a low-mounted scope that points naturally. I don't know how low you can get a scope on an AR, but on a bolt rifle you can get them very low with Talley rings/bases.

Occasionally I will have a coyote hang up at a distance, or catch one mousing in a pivot. Then there's time to dial up to 10x.

I had a 1-4x Leupold on a .22LR for shooting jackrabbits (mostly running). Anything lower than 3x turned out to be pretty useless, so I switched to a 3-9x.

 

[5spd]

3.5-14. Nikon's on my coyote rigs, usually on 3.5 or 5x for all shots under 300 yards

 

[F224]

2-10/3-12/4-14 are plenty, inside of 300 yards you really don't need more than 6-9x at the most.

My primary coyote gun is a Blaser R93 in 6XC with a 20" barrel and a 3-9x Trijicon Accupoint. For night shooting it's an AR15 with a suppressor and a Trijicon Reflex with a PVS-14 night vision scope.

 

[Jason_A]

I'm currently trying to decide between a NF ATACR 4-16x42 and Leupy MK5HD 3.6-18x44 on my Seekins SP10 6.5CM.

Both scopes are fairly pricey but at present, are my two top pics.

I have been really curious about the mk5hd’s myself. Would love to hear how repeatable the clicks are since that tends to be a strong suit for NF.

 

[AWS]

RPG 16" Burris 4X 1.5-6x40mm German #4 with illuminated dot.

None of the cartridges mentioned will need anything other than holding on fur to 300 yards so fancy reticles and precise turrets are not needed. I find that large FOV's make finding and following moving coyotes much easier. Bold reticles work for me on called coyotes, German #1's, German #4's with illuminated dots and heavy duplex's work for me.

Most of my coyote rifles and combo guns wear 1-4 and 1.5-6 scopes, I do have one with a 2-7 on it just because the rifle is very petite and the scope is a perfect fit on it and I have a 22-250 with a 2.5-10 and another with a 2.5-8 on it. I've never been under scoped with these.

Savage 22-204 Sightron II 1.5-6x40mm

Model 70 Meopta 1.5-6x40mm German #1

Bernardelli combo gun Leupold 1-4x20mm heavy duplex

German Drilling 1-4x20mm Leupold

I can post a lot of different styles of rifles and combo guns for coyote hunting but mostwill wear 1-4 to 1.5-6's.

I like to experiment with rifles and scopes for coyote hunting, some years I hunt up to 5 different states. Low power variables with large FOV's rule for called coyotes, "There is always time to turn a scope up, never enough time to turn them down"

Good luck with your choice and good hunting

 

[B23]

I have been really curious about the mk5hd’s myself. Would love to hear how repeatable the clicks are since that tends to be a strong suit for NF.

I've heard they're good, but I have numerous NF scopes and I know they are, so I'm still somewhat on the fence between the two. I like the magnification range of the Mk5 better and I like the slightly better 44mm obj. but my NF scopes always track, return, and hold zero like few others. So I'm still a bit undecided.

 

[MoneyWaster]

RPG 16" Burris 4X 1.5-6x40mm German #4 with illuminated dot.

None of the cartridges mentioned will need anything other than holding on fur to 300 yards so fancy reticles and precise turrets are not needed. I find that large FOV's make finding and following moving coyotes much easier. Bold reticles work for me on called coyotes, German #1's, German #4's with illuminated dots and heavy duplex's work for me.

Most of my coyote rifles and combo guns wear 1-4 and 1.5-6 scopes, I do have one with a 2-7 on it just because the rifle is very petite and the scope is a perfect fit on it and I have a 22-250 with a 2.5-10 and another with a 2.5-8 on it. I've never been under scoped with these.

Savage 22-204 Sightron II 1.5-6x40mm

Model 70 Meopta 1.5-6x40mm German #1

Bernardelli combo gun Leupold 1-4x20mm heavy duplex

German Drilling 1-4x20mm Leupold

I can post a lot of different styles of rifles and combo guns for coyote hunting but mostwill wear 1-4 to 1.5-6's.

I like to experiment with rifles and scopes for coyote hunting, some years I hunt up to 5 different states. Low power variables with large FOV's rule for called coyotes, "There is always time to turn a scope up, never enough time to turn them down"

Good luck with your choice and good hunting

Love the German drilling. When I was a kid I thought that they were so cool.

Yeah, my initial thought was that the 1-6 and 1-8 optics seemed ideal. So far most of the responses have indicated a preference for higher magnification. You seem to be successful with the lower power variables though.