Varmint scope

[centershot]

I have two Vortex 6.5X20X44 with the BDC. They are dis continued but you can still find them for < $300.

 

[powderbrake]

I like the Nightforce NXS 8-32 for prairie dogs. The more power the better, when you are pulling the trigger. When you are using the scope to find them, 8 power is about max, due to field of view.

The Leopold 8.5-25 is also good.

 

[kochie]

I like the Nightforce NXS 8-32 for prairie dogs. The more power the better, when you are pulling the trigger. When you are using the scope to find them, 8 power is about max, due to field of view.

The Leopold 8.5-25 is also good.

Ok thanks

 

[effendude]

For walking varmint rifles, I have some Weaver V Series 4-16X scopes, light, clear and repeatable. For longer range rifles, 8-32X and 12-42X NF Bench Rest and NXS models.
Scott

 

[snert]

For groundhog and PD I like the Leupold VX11 (or 111) in 6-18, or 6.5-20. Target turrets and a simple plex. I have not owned, only looked thru a "varmint" cdc in the 6-18 and to me that would be perfect. I use the plex at 12x as my hold off windage and elevation for "don't have time to click" moments. I also use Weaver 10X T-10 in both steel (original) and aluminum (Japanese) and they are the cats britches for 100-300 yard PD and out to 500 on groundhogs. I even use one on my 22 for tree squirrels.

But then me and my budget are still 1980

 

[Daddycaddie67]

I have two Meopta 5 6.5X20’s great scopes well priced. The center dot is a little big but usable. I also have a Leupold 6.5X20 with the VH reticle, love the reticle but the eye relief is a little too finicky for me. E

 

[lawman29]

Well coyotes mostly I like a clean reticle sfp either is fine also

Okay. For coyote hunting using a call you're in a dynamic environment not good generally for twisting turrets therefore I like the varmint type reticles. Leupold has made several configurations in the VX3 with side focus; 6.5-20x40 (short turrets), 6.5-20x50 (tall turrets) and 8.5-25x50 (tall turrets). The tall/target turrets have removable caps that would allow you to dial. You can find these used. They currently offer the varmint reticle in the VX6HD 4-24x52 34mm tube and the boone and crocket reticles in a 3-18x50 30 mm tube.
Burris Signature HD 5-25x50 offers a ballistics E3 reticle (65 moa of adjustment), Steiner has 6-24x50 Predator 4 E3 reticle (like Burris) but only 20 moa of adjustment. Steiner Predator 8 (jump in price) has the same reticle in a 3-24x50 (40 moa of adjustment). Swarovski Z5 has a 5-25x52 with a BRX or BRH reticle but you can't dial. Zeiss Conquest V4 line are nice scopes several reticles in 6-24x50, the one closest to a varmint type would be the Zbi #68 (don't care for it to much clutter). They did make a nice reticle but discontinued it.

 

[alf]

With coyote calling on the menu, my choices are different.

I'd pay attention to field of view on the lowest power of any scope you are considering. The absolute minimum for me is 30' at 100 yards, with 40' being better.

 

[Adam in WI]

Find a good used Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x. Good field of view, enough top end, and weighs ~17 ounces if I remember right. Also relatively compact for its power.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

some of the older Japanese fixed power scopes are very good. I think we get more scope for our $ with fixed power. Japanese scopes are starting to get premium money on ebay. I have a used 6x24 made in japan that is excellent. B and L, and Tasco are good.

 

[Tommie]

Optics preferences are as varied as firearm preferences. First thing to decide is whether you’re a knob cranker or a holdover and Kentucky windage shooter. Knob crankers usually use some form of SFP simple crosshair reticle. Holdover shooters usually go for some form of Christmas tree reticle in either FFP or SFP. And the FFP vs SFP thing is totally subjective. Figure out what works for your eye and brain.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Anything with a fine reticle will do. Weaver v24 on my 17hmr, tract toric 4-20 on the 6 creed, vortex lht on the 17 hornet (my least favorite except the weight), athlon ares btr 4.5-27. Overall for the price I like athlon scopes the best.

 

[Hiredgun81]

Leupold vx5 3-15 with htmr reticle is my favorite for what you’re wanting to do.

 

[Pyscodog]

Once again I'm agreeing with Alf. You need FOV more than power. Most coyotes aren't gonna stick around long enough to range him, then dial your scope. I've always been a "if he's headed my way, keep coming" type of hunter rather than I can see him take the shot. YMMV!

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Oh i didn't notice this is for coyote not small varmints. Disregard everything I said previously. Any scope that goes down to 1 or 2x and sfp. 1.5-5x20 vx3, 2-10x40 tract toric are 2 I like. If shots beyond 150 -200 are common you must be doing something wrong. Even in the wide open desert almost all my shots are inside 150. Optimize for the common shot not the rare one. The tract has really nice turrets if you need to dial for the rare long shot.

 

[kochie]

Oh i didn't notice this is for coyote not small varmints. Disregard everything I said previously. Any scope that goes down to 1 or 2x and sfp. 1.5-5x20 vx3, 2-10x40 tract toric are 2 I like. If shots beyond 150 -200 are common you must be doing something wrong. Even in the wide open desert almost all my shots are inside 150. Optimize for the common shot not the rare one. The tract has really nice turrets if you need to dial for the rare long shot.

Ok thanks been looking at a lot of different brands of scope’s including tract .

 

[Gabe22BR]

Ok thanks been looking at a lot of different brands of scope’s including tract .

Any of them are good-
Just depends on what you’re going to do with them…
My groundhogs, crows, deer, squirrels from 50’-to 800yds know no difference in what is looking at them, but I can see eyeballs at them distances…
Now for FFP or SFP, I prefer the latter, don’t want my hash marks to move or reticle to change size, at different yardages…

Comes down to how deep your pockets are.

I got my scope as a back up SR scope if needed..

 

[kochie]

Any of them are good-
Just depends on what you’re going to do with them…
My groundhogs, crows, deer, squirrels from 50’-to 800yds know no difference in what is looking at them, but I can see eyeballs at them distances…
Now for FFP or SFP, I prefer the latter, don’t want my hash marks to move or reticle to change size, at different yardages…

Comes down to how deep your pockets are.

I got my scope as a back up SR scope if needed..

Ok thanks I perfer sfp myself

 

[AlNyhus]

For calling coyotes, the Sightron S-Tac 3-16 with the MOA reticle is a good one. Athlon has some 2-12's that have good reticles and impressive FOV's down low.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Leupold VX 5 3-15