Scope for prairie dogs?

[effendude]

I really like my NF scopes for prairie dogging. BR 8-32X and NXS 12-42X, all with NP-2DD reticle. I rarely go above 20-22X but the clarity is unreal. Most of my shooting is within 300 yards so dialing isn't a big deal but the NF tract consistently if needed.
Scott

 

[10XSHOOTER]

The OLD Leupold 8X or 10X fixed power scopes were perfect for dog scope. Any more power and the mirage out west will make a dog over 250 yds invisible. When the Cusotm shop would do work. You could have target knobs put on them If you wanted to dial.

 

[ken158]

PD hunting/shooting is the only time off the range you get to really use and appreciate your equipment - rifles, scopes, binoculars and range finders. This is also the time when your equipment can fail outside the gun safe. I have bought, sold and traded my way up to high value items over the years which include Coopers, 40X’s, Nightforce, Swarovski and similar quality. I enjoy good triggers, small groups and clear scopes with positive adjustments. No disrespect to anyone that is just starting out because we all started somewhere and if you remain in the hobby you will enjoy better equipment over time. Without getting into a brand war and realizing even the best can fail, I have seen way too many lower to medium range optics and rifles fail to the point where they were worthless until repairs can be made. This is not what you want on any hunt whether it be a safari, deer hunt or PD shoot. Buy the best you can afford and you will enjoy the benefits which will also retain value.

 

[1raggedhole]

I prefer Leupold VX-3 in 6.5-20x50 with varmint hunter reticle. Best one I’ve found for wind and ranging. Lifetime warranty is also great, although I’ve never had to use it.

 

[Tommie]

I've taken a liking to the Burris Signature HD with E3 reticle. As for ballistic reticles and wanting them to match your ballistics, I feel that's chasing your tail. At what altitude, at what temp? I'd rather have good repeatable turrets, and a reticle with enough reference marks to be able to make minor adjustments.

The best answer

 

[Damon555]

I used to subscribe to the "more magnification the better" mantra.....Over the last 5 years I have migrated to one brand and magnification for 99% of my p-dog shooting.....The Athlon scopes I use are all 2.5x15....I have 2 Midas BTR's ....

and one Ares BTR.....

There are some minor differences but these two models are in the sweet spot between performance and price. I wish I had a couple more!

 

[JSH]

I have seen some interesting combos. I have come to the conclusion that everyone’s eyes are enough different that there is no best.
I am near sighted and color blind, red,green and brown. I struggle at times with “things” that are in plain sight to many, yet “things” in the back ground and shadows stand out and some can’t see.

I have various Leupold,Bushnell, Burris, Sightron and now Arken. Most are able to go to a higher power than I use most of the time. 14-18X sees a lot of use with me. But if conditions are right I can use the upper end, or spot for some one.

Reticles, I have come to like the dot center rather than a traditional cross hair. I can see more of a small target with the dot. Imho, the Sightron S TAC is a heck of a scope for the $ and even better when caught on sale.

 

[long40shot]

I suppose it is all the scopes I own, I'd pick a leupold 6.5x20 with a hash reticle. I usually don't go past 16 power though. I don't dial much, I prefer to hold over and for windage.

 

[Daddycaddie67]

On a recent PD hunt two scopes stood out for me, a 4.5-18 Bushnell LRTS with the G2 reticle and a Meopta optica5 with the Z plus reticle. With the Bushnell I had a couple hits at 600ish and 425, the Meopta is on a 223 which I used on the majority of the 300 yd. and in. Both scopes are very clear and seem to hold zero as I dialed for verticals and held for wind for which in S. Dakota there was plenty of

 

[Alguapo]

Obviously with all the different answers it is a personal preference. Application and the amount you want to spend will help you make a selection. I am a fan of a few. Vortex HST 6-24 X50 works well for me on a couple of 20 Practicals. I also shoot a Nikon Monarch 6-24X50 on a Savage 204 LRPV. A Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X42 on a Cooper Phoenix .204 . And a couple of Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 on a Savage 93R17 17 HMR and CZ 457 American 17 HMR. A Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-20x50 on a Custom Remington Varmint Special .243. And lastly the .223 carries the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40. As you probably already know the Nikon Scopes are no longer made. Go to your local range and see what others are using. Wouldn't bother me to let someone look through my optics to see how they really work. Have fun and good luck with your selection.

 

[vonb]

I ended up ordering a Meopta Optika 6 FFP with the MRAD1 RD (Ilya Koshkin develoed) reticle. Meopta glass to me is really sharp for the money with good contrast. I racked my brain for days and considered several of the ones mentioned here. The Meopta is short on some things but it's also not S&B prices either. I wanted a Christmas tree reticle so it should fill the bill.

 

[jepp2]

I ended up ordering a Meopta Optika 6 FFP

I think you will be happy with the FFP scope for prairie dogs. I prefer it, since once I get my wind reads, if I need to change power due to mirage, I use the same hash mark on the reticle. For big game low light I use SFP for the reasons mentions about the reticle visibility at low power. But with prairie dogs, the lighting is great and I shoot on max power usually.

 

[3Sigma]

I ended up ordering a Meopta Optika 6 FFP with the MRAD1 RD (Ilya Koshkin develoed) reticle. Meopta glass to me is really sharp for the money with good contrast. I racked my brain for days and considered several of the ones mentioned here. The Meopta is short on some things but it's also not S&B prices either. I wanted a Christmas tree reticle so it should fill the bill.

This is what I was going to recommend. I have one waiting for a barrel to get finished. Looks as good as my Leupold so far, though haven't tested it in field conditions yet.

The other one would be a Tract Toric 2.5-15 x 44, in either FFP or SFP.

 

[AndrewB]

I have gone from Leupold 6-24 to 12-42 NXS to 5.5-22 NXS to 8-32 BR Nightforce. That 8-32 power range is my personal preference and, IMO, the Nightforce bench rest scopes have better glass than the NXS and they are less expensive as well. I used to use the christmas tree reticles, but once I started to dial, my hit %'s went way up. I like a plain, thin cross hair, since I am dialing anyway.

I like the hit when the cross hairs are centered on the PD. My OCD kicking in.

 

[bloc]

I've adopted a philosophy that takes into account quarry size, range to target (with exceptions), quality of glass.

For ground squirrels (and PDs though I haven't shot them), I want the best possible glass for small targets at long range.

I figure rifles come and go, what with barrels shooting out, new preferences vis a vis calibers, etc.. So I view the scope for my squirrel shooting to be the primary expenditure and centerpiece, and will sell a rifle before I even think of selling the scope I put on it.

So I've ended up with a favorite and a good second place.

My favorite is the Second Focal Plane NF 5.5-22 NXS 50mm, and my runner up is an SFP NF 5-20 SHV 56mm.

I'm likely to be burried with those scopes and my chainsaws, all of us inside my 2002 Tacoma TRD.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

For PDs i have really found the FFP to be the hot ticket. I love sfp too. What I like is an average adult pd is about 9 inches standing. I can estimate distance using the reticle knowing this. I have athlon ares btr, midas tac, tract toric, razor. On a budget I love athlon. If you got the cash, tract toric. If you must go SFP, probably a sightron or Leupold.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I prefer Leupold VX-3 in 6.5-20x50 with varmint hunter reticle. Best one I’ve found for wind and ranging. Lifetime warranty is also great, although I’ve never had to use it.
View attachment 1454117

I have one of those with that reticle. How much are they worth? Mine is mint.

 

[alf]

All my prairie dog rigs have Leupolds with their Varmint Hunter Reticles.

Several have M1 knobs for when I want to play beyond the hash marks.

Simple and clean......