What is Your favorite Groundhog or Varmint rifle scope??

[std7mag]

I'm using Redfield Revenge 4-12X40 with the Accu Ranger Varmint reticle.
Rifles are a Stevens 200 rebarreled to 250 Savage, and a Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts both running 90gr Sierra BlitzKings.

While the glass probably isn't as clear as the Leupolds, and B&L, i like the ranging reticle.

 

[dantiff2]

I've found that for me, the fixed (16x) Super Sniper scopes are just plain awesome! Clear, bright and repeat adjustments make them worth ever penny. It's easy to make quick wind call adjustments with the reticles they have and hold over is easy if you're not a knob turner. They are so easy and clear my 12 year old has confirmed kills on hogs at 310 yards to date. He likes that scope more than anything else he's looked through also.

Dan

 

[Intheshop]

Old Redfield 5*, 4-12 with gloss so shiny you need sunglasses.

 

[WyleWD]

Although they are no longer made... the Nikon Monarch scopes were my favorites. With them no longer in business, I'd go with Sightron, Nightforce 5.5-22, or Valdada in a power range that I wanted and could afford. JME. WD

 

[Bill K]

Actually have two. One a Leupold and one a Vortex. light crosshairs and multi power adjustment, Although I mostly shoot them set at 10-12X. Do have other scopes, but these two are on the top of my list.

 

[KY_Windage]

Optics look excellent but the scope seems like a giant to me. We'll see, maybe I'll cotton-up to it!

When you are looking thru it you can't see how big the objective lens is.

I'm guessing you like duplex because of the very thin crosshairs in the center. I like those very thin crosshairs to go all the way across, so there is no fat part blocking my view when I am scanning for a target.

I like an integral lug that makes zooming up and down easy (usually called a "throw-lever").

The big objectives gather more light, but just as important they increase the size of your exit pupil at any given magnification, which makes for a better eye-box.

This is a 5-25x56 SFP scope with super-clear glass. I don't know how it gets any better for varmint hunting, so long as you don't have to lug it up a mountain or something. It is heavy (39 oz), but I want a heavy scope to help reduce jump and let me see my hits.

 

[Webster]

What are you guys running for Glass on your Groundhog guns?(Varmint guns)
I have used different stuff over the years but mainly use Leupold 12x FX, and Varix III 6.5-20x40 and 8.5-25x40 with Target Turrents and my favorite Fine Duplex reticles! I been wanting to try a new scope but dont see any that would suit my needs. Todays scope are to busy and too Tactical for my old school ways i guess. I would love to find a new scope for a new build i will have finished soon.

8x18 Leo. I am left handed 77 yo. Had cataract surgery both eyes. When I was asked to read the eye chart I could read the bottom line on the 20/20 chart with my left eye. I asked if they had a 20/10 chart I could read the bottom line. Any scope I need help finding GH in Central Ohio.

 

[searcher]

I think you would really like the Nightforce NXS in the higher power options with the smaller dot reticle. There is nothing busy in the lens - just the dot. They have turrets but also have turret caps so you don't worry about settings getting moved accidently. Great Glass and priced on par with any other scope with good glass. For a scope that is 95% as good in actual field use - but at half the price - the Sightron III in the higher power options with dot are great as well. I used to use Leupolds but, despite most working just fine - I had some problems with a few of them. No problems with these scopes, though. I have a Swarovski 5x30 that has the best glass I have ever looked through - even better than a high-end 80x March I have.

 

[powderbrake]

I have preferred the Leupold 8.5-25 until I got a Nightforce NXS in 8-32. I use a dot reticle in both. I am moving to a 12-42 NXS. I believe that having a higher power allows a better sight picture and hold. I do not do any "glassing" or searching through the scope, I do that with binoculars.

 

[ACF]

I just put a Sightron SVSSED (27008) scope on my long range 22 CM rifle. I've only been out a few times with it, but so far I'm really liking it. The glass is good, turrets dial fine, the fine focus is excellent, and the eye box is very forgiving. I've been able to run it at 35 power most of the time, and on those special days, crank it up to max. Well worth looking into in my book.

Chris

 

[B23]

If I'm dialing for distance and wind, I'll take a NF NXS or ATACR every time. The tracking of NF scopes, up, down, and back to zero, is second to none. As was already mentioned, they are on the heavy side, but I don't know a single scope in that class of optics that isn't equally heavy. If it's holdover shooting, I'm less concerned on the exact scope.

 

[Mike Lum]

For varmints i used both Vortex Viper PST-2 5-25x FFP MOA Some may say its a cheap scope but sure as heck noticed the difference when I downgraded to a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 FFP.
Ran the Viper last year hunting coyotes with 22-250, basically most all shots within 500 yards. Great for long shots but almost forces you to run a shotgun on your lap for the aggressive ones that run your caller.

Still looking for a good scope specifically for coyote stands that will let me make the 400 yard shots with clarity and precision of at least MOA grouping (4 inches @ 400 at least) at that range yet not block the amount of peripheral or have the adjustment factor these target scopes have in a close range scenario.
Something 4-16 smaller than 50MM sounds bit better but I don't see many FFP hunting scopes with elevation marked in reticle in that range at all in the leupold, vortex, burris, IE mid range. Can't step up to Nightforce price range, would cost 4-5x the rifle i shoot and the budget just isn't there. Couple that with all of the low grain ammo in 22-250 they are cranking out now that you need to stabilize in a 1:14 twist I'm stuck with on this Tikka you often are left with the frangible ammo that if you hit a coyote under 100 yards with you just wasted your pelt. Manufacturers don't seem to make solid or core lock style under 50 grains.. Hornady had the GMX 50 and recently discontinued this as well.

I use a Burris scout scope forward mounted on my 1895SBL 45-70 and love that fast targeting, but magnification on those scout scopes is severely lacking, but thats not for the coyote pelts

Have yet to find the solution so still double gunning my coyote stands with the PSTII and Rem 870 Predator loaded with BB for in close. This works but having to carry out a second platform adds to bulk and noise moving out to the stand.

 

[scope eye]

By far mine is they
Swift Premier Long Range Rifle Scope 6-24x50mm

actually I have them on all my rigs centre fire, rimfire, or pcp pellet rifle.

 

[Yote Hunter]

Hard to beat the old Leupold 12X with Target knobs for the money out to 700 plus yards

 

[sscoyote]

Are you guys kidding me--the greatest (and coolest) long-range groundhog (or small target) optic of all time was UNERTL. Ha just kidding, but I sure loved mine in the day. Killed many with my old 2" 20X on top of an Eddystone/29"barrelled 25-06 with some gouged out stock of some sort I picked up at a pawn shop in Baltimore in the mid-80's. But it shot really good with 75 gr. Hornady's.

Besides that the greatest piece ever written about long-range chuck shooting was the Foreword in Bob Bell's book, "All About Scopes and Mounts" many years ago now. I think it was entitled "In the Beginning". He tells the story of a single long-range shot he made on a chucks head at 400-some yds. with an old Buhmiller-barrelled 243 Improved-like cartridge, and his trusty UNERTL. Great write-up I thought.

 

[coldboreshot]

An original Horus Vision Falcon 5-20x50 w/ H25 mil reticle on my .223 Prairie Dog platform.

 

[CT10ring]

Leupold vx-3 6.5-20 or 8.5-25 with varmint hunter reticle is my favorite by far. It is the gold ring standard by which all others should be judged.

yup. hard to beat either.

 

[CT10ring]

I like the 8-32X NF BR / NP-R2 reticle. just amazing glass. useful reticle.
Swaro 3.5X18X w BRX reticle is good. THIN reticle, too thin for hunting, good for varmints.
useful holdoff & holdover hash lines. superb clarity. 18X is just enough magnification.
Have an old Leupold 12X Adj AO that is amazing. Easily 25 yrs old. fwiw.

I find that I use about 1/2 "available" magnification.

1. better for mirage.
2. for me, no spotter. spot your misses and wind, w recoil.
3. more up and down air time for PD's visible.

 

[CharlieNC]

Totally depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[Bobbyboy6br]

Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle. Once you know the distance, and where your rifle shoots. It's easy.

Hi I’m bob I just picked up a Leupold vx3 8.5x25 50 mm Varmint hunter reticle can’t wait till next spring to hunt wood chucks with it . Had a vx-6 7-42 but noticed it loses light when you boost up the power