I just picked up a savage 10 predator in.204 and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what optic I could use for shooting coyotes and pdogs. Is there any .204 dedicated scopes out there? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
.204 40gr scope suggestions
- Thread starter dogreaper65
- Start date
Just got a Nightforce 5-20x56 SHV in the mail today! I also got the Nightforce unimount and I'm putting this on my new Rock River ATH AR15 with a 18" SS match grade varmint barrel. I will be using it for coyote, varmints and plinking at the range. This scope has the same glass quality as the NXS. It's 100% Nightforce! You can get the 4-14 non illuminated for $900. I paid $1200 for this one which is the MOAR illuminated reticle. It's a perfect hunting scope! This won't be my last SHV for sure. I highly recommend it.
LarryDScott
Site $$ Sponsor
An 8-32 SIII Sightron,equal or better optics
than a NF, has lifetime warranty. Spend the
savings on bullets/powder. You will be happy.
LDS
than a NF, has lifetime warranty. Spend the
savings on bullets/powder. You will be happy.
LDS
A 3.5 X 10 Leupold VR 3. Worry more about the low end mag than the high. All of the coyotes I have shot have been moving so I always carry my scope on the lowest power when hunting. If you see something a long way out you should have time to crank the power up, but when they are moving you don`t have time to crank it down. Most of my varmint rifles wear the old Vari X ll Leupold scopes. I do have rifles with 8 1/2 X 25 Leupolds on the, but they set on a tri pod for the long shots while I hold on to the AR with a 3 x 9 on it for those busting out close.
rcol317
Silver $$ Contributor
3 on what Larry says, I also have sold all my Nightforce. Take note what is said about 8 x for a hunting rifle. If your lowest setting is 8 you may find yourself limited hunting coyotes with small field of view. I've found a value in Vortex scopes for the $ spent. Rick
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
1+ on the Nightforce with the low range ability for close-in shot ability, otherwise, Sightron SIII 30x. I'd go Nightforce all the way but the higher power Sightrons do just as well at half the cost of the Nxs's, for example. I have several of both and like them equally. Personally, I like more power than the SHV's offer for shooting the Belding ground squirrels - but is more than plenty for the larger stuff. If you are going to carry it around, I'd look at the Nightforce compact 2.5X10 as it has a small footprint, much lighter weight, great for close-in shots and just enough power to make the longer ones on small targets. This is one of the best for coyotes ever made and surprisingly few manufacturers offer scopes in this size/weight/magnification configuration that are any good.
thekriebles
Gold $$ Contributor
stinnett1981 said:
+2 These scopes are very impressive!
I would look for a scope with a low end of 2.5 or 3x and a top end of 15x or so with a ballistic ret. ( like a varmint hunter ret. by leupold ) of some sort for the pdogs.
varmintshooter said:
What he said. No point in having to much magnification on the top end since mirage is generally an issue when shooting PD's.
To clarify just a bit - about the only time it is possible to use the higher magnification is early morning, as the day heats up the mirage becomes like looking through a swimming pool at higher power. Spend the money on a scope with good optics rather than simply looking for more magnification, higher magnification with poor optics is a losing game.
I have been very satisfied with the Leupold VX-3 6x18 for the uses you have specified. With a little careful shopping they can be had for $500 with free shipping.
drover
So many folks have high magnification scopes that are unnecessary and a hindrance for hunting. Stay with a scope that's somewhere between 2-10 and 3-12. I happen to know someone that has a Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x40mm for sale.
I would agree with varmintshooter et al, I've found that I'm usually overscoped in the field, most of mine are 6.5-20, and I usually end up using about 12X max. My personal favorite in hunting scopes currently is Leu VX-R; I have a couple in 3-9 & want to get another in 3-12 for my heavier 308. The illuminated dot in the reticle is a big help to me. Incidentally, one of my 3-9's was purchased from a member here who took a mountain goat at 700 yds with that scope.
Get one of these and don't look back. Once you get it mounted, sighted in, and Chronied... go to their Ballistic Calculator, and then get ALL YOUR DROPS and WINDAGE for all those little lines and dashes. You can use this BDC Reticle or turn the turrets. With a 204, windage and drop will always be a factor... so you might as well get a scope that gives you MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/lrbc
Vortex Viper HS Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-24x 50mm Side Focus First Focal XLR Reticle Matte
http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/lrbc
Vortex Viper HS Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-24x 50mm Side Focus First Focal XLR Reticle Matte
I just found you a deal on a Vortex PST 4x16x50 FFP MOA ... 695.00
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2762708&#Post2762708
EDIT.... I just found out that it has a EBR-1 Reticle... which is still good... but it's not the XLR that I like.
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2762708&#Post2762708
EDIT.... I just found out that it has a EBR-1 Reticle... which is still good... but it's not the XLR that I like.
Groundhogs at 1500 yards or so need magnification to aim. I would imagine that prairie dogs at 400 or 500 yards need some magnification also. I would rather have plenty and not need it then not have enough. I prefer to hit the head or eye if I want. An 8x32 Sightron S111 has the best of both worlds. Plus it has the best glass for the money. I prefer not to use a reticule to hold over but click with a chart. An 8x on the low end has plenty of field of view and on 32 I can watch him blink. Mattvarmintshooter said:
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
daniel brothers said:Get one of these and don't look back. Once you get it mounted, sighted in, and Chronied... go to their Ballistic Calculator, and then get ALL YOUR DROPS and WINDAGE for all those little lines and dashes. You can use this BDC Reticle or turn the turrets. With a 204, windage and drop will always be a factor... so you might as well get a scope that gives you MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
http://www.vortexoptics.com/content/lrbc
Vortex Viper HS Long Range Rifle Scope 30mm Tube 6-24x 50mm Side Focus First Focal XLR Reticle Matte
To each his own and certainly nothing against Vortex, but that is waaaay too much junk in the field of view for my liking. I much prefer zero stop with a simple reticle such as a dot and crank the knobs. If you are after running game mostly, you may want something like the Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle. As for power, it depends how far out you want to shoot. 3-15 should cover most situations. 5.5-22 if you're shooting small at 500 yards and beyond. Too much low end power in hunting situations is not a good thing IMHO.
Junk....? Man you need to get off your drugs.... or maybe start taking some....LOL.
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