What Power Scpoe for 223 Varmint Gun?

[retired]

if you add some heavy bullets in the mix, there is no reason to stop at 300.

Depends on distance you plan to shoot. For a 223 Rem you're probably looking at under 300 yards. A 4 x 16 will work very nicely with a 223 Rem. I have several on my 223 Rems and I'm very satisfied with them.

 

[jepp2]

Several years ago on my first ever PD hunt, I took 3 rifles with the following scopes:

3-9, just not enough magnification
6.5 - 20, perfect
fixed 36X, terrible, couldn't find the dogs with that much magnification.

Like others have mentioned, I consider 6.5-20 to be just right. I favored the Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle, but really like the Sightron MOA-H. I have shot some 8.5-25 Leupolds, but rarely use the added power above 20X. I'm a hold over shooter, and for distance and wind, you really need some sort of repeatable reference in your scope to maximize your hits.

I also much prefer the side parallax focus. Much easier to adjust than on the objective. When I am hunting, I am either looking through binoculars, rangefinder, or rifle scope basically all the time. After 8 hours of that, it can tire your eyes. You will appreciate the better optics.

 

[F224]

Picking up a 700ADL Varmint in 223 Rem today. lt will be used strictly on Prairie Dogs..

Just trying to decide what power LEUPOLD scope to mount on it...

Thanks,

282

The 223Rem excels inside of 400 yards for prairie dogs. You really don't need more than 10-12x on the top end. If you can't see them well enough to shoot at that max power setting, then you need a bigger gun. I used a fixed 6x for years and at about age 50, went to a 3-9x. My experience has validated the US Army study from the 1960's than anything over 16x is excessive and mirage becomes a serious problem above that. I have killed thousands of prairie dogs, and do not own any scopes over 14x.

 

[markT]

VX-III 8.5-25x50 mm LR
1/4 MoA Target Dot.
I own 7..
The 6-20 x50 works well too.
I leave mine on ~16 x or 18x and don't screw with it..
Leupold makes a good product. And you know that.. Best of luck with your decison.

 

[searcher]

I think it depends on what your tube diameter is and quality of scope. I have a 30 mm 2-10x that is a joy compared to my old 1" tube Leupolds and such with much higher power. I shoot squirrels mostly - and I don't like eye-strain after a day in the field so I tend to use higher-powered optics like 8-50x, usually running it at 30x or more until the mirage kicks in. If I were after coyotes or ground hogs - I'd think much lower power would be in order like up to 18x. Big thing is the better the scope you get - the lower the power you will find you need - and the more effective the scope is at high power settings.

 

[Milo 2.0]

I threw 5-22 NF on one of my AR's for awhile, loved it, especially shooting heavy bullets, not much splash at distance, helps pick it up. I also had it on a 10-22 for awhile.
I have friends that use 223 trainer rifles with 6-24 Kahles on them, I guess it depends on what you actually want to see. It's an annoyance to me watching some clown try to prove his 10 power is 1K capable, because the first words out his mouth is "where did it hit".

 

[people]

Any of the variables with a high end above 10X and a low end below 10X will work just fine.

Conditions and your shooting style (off the ground, off a bench, off the back of a vehicle) and distance will determine what you really can set your scope at.

 

[retired]

may have been true in the 60's but today's snipers run high powered scopes. std for the mk 13 and AI 300 win mag is the night force 5.5-22x-56. chris kyle used a 8-32 on occasion. the quality of optics is much better than in the 60's.

The 223Rem excels inside of 400 yards for prairie dogs. You really don't need more than 10-12x on the top end. If you can't see them well enough to shoot at that max power setting, then you need a bigger gun. I used a fixed 6x for years and at about age 50, went to a 3-9x. My experience has validated the US Army study from the 1960's than anything over 16x is excessive and mirage becomes a serious problem above that. I have killed thousands of prairie dogs, and do of own any scopes over 14x.

 

[F224]

may have been true in the 60's but today's snipers run high powered scopes. std for the mk 13 and AI 300 win mag is the night force 5.5-22x-56. chris kyle used a 8-32 on occasion. the quality of optics is much better than in the 60's.

Yes they do run higher powered optics today, but seldom if ever use more that 14-16x when mirage is a problem. Optics's have improved but physics have not.

 

[searcher]

The thing about those "low powered" varmint scopes is that you can't dial them up when you want or need more magnification. Trying to spot a squirrel sticking his head out of a hole at 500 yards with a 12x really sucks compared to a nice quality, modern, higher-powered scope. "Retired" is right about the optics of the past. I used to shoot an M40-A1 in the Marines in the 70's and frankly, I wouldn't even stick that 10x Unertyl on my .17 HMR nowadays. Once you move on to today's far better stuff - there is no going back.

 

[Gary Wiant]

Check out the new Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24. I have 2 coming 1 will be going on my Savage 11 BTH .223 not sure where the other will land.

 

[retired]

which has little to do with the question of which scope ? as long as it is a variable, and you can recognize mirage, you can adjust for it. and even if you are correct 16x is a bunch more that what your 3-9x

Yes they do run higher powered optics today, but seldom if ever use more that 14-16x when mirage is a problem. Optics's have improved but physics have not.

 

[sw282]

l decided to put a Leupold VIII 3.5-10x40 3/4 Mil Dot on my 700 ADL 223. l think l got it used off flebay or gunbroken 6 or 7 years ago.. The box says "Custom Built for Savage Arms lnc''.... Then a 'Leupold Custom Shop' label dated 11-26-07...
For a one inch tube scope the reticle seems a bit BUSY. I called Leupold and asked what it would cost to change it to fine crosshairs or a floating Dot... $200 was my quote!:-( l think I will leave as-is for the moment.
While sighting in yesterday l had no trouble seeing 22cal holes @ 100yds. Scope is very clear and the resolution/clarity is GREAT

 

[markT]

$200 to change the reticle from Leupold? Wow. The last one I had done was $75. It was on a VXIII.. I wanted it the 1/4" target dot changed to 1/8".
This was about 3 years ago.

 

[dolek]

$200 to change the reticle from Leupold? Wow. The last one I had done was $75. It was on a VXIII.. I wanted it the 1/4" target dot changed to 1/8".
This was about 3 years ago.

It's for real,Leupold does not work cheap .This was the response I received about changing out the dials. I was hoping to buy the parts and do it myself so I asked them if I could just purchase them directly...

Quote : "We can install target dials on that scope. You would need to send it in to have this work performed. The cost would be $150 plus tax for just the elevation or $225 plus tax for elevation and windage."

 

[powderbrake]

for P dog hunting, I still have a VX3 6-20 on my 223, but went to 8.5-25 on my 22-250, and then an 8-32 on my 6BR. My next scope will be a 15-55. You can't have too much scope power for prairie dogs, particularly those ones that are way out there...... or the spooked ones that just put half a head out. You can always dial it down.
I use a target dot on all my scopes and range and measure wind for all the longer shots.

 

[markT]

+ target dot!!
Range and adjust elevation.. +++!

 

[retired]

this is why i hesitate to post on some threads.
the op asks a question and then ignores the advice of the majority.

l decided to put a Leupold VIII 3.5-10x40 3/4 Mil Dot on my 700 ADL 223. l think l got it used off flebay or gunbroken 6 or 7 years ago.. The box says "Custom Built for Savage Arms lnc''.... Then a 'Leupold Custom Shop' label dated 11-26-07...
For a one inch tube scope the reticle seems a bit BUSY. I called Leupold and asked what it would cost to change it to fine crosshairs or a floating Dot... $200 was my quote!:-( l think I will leave as-is for the moment.
While sighting in yesterday l had no trouble seeing 22cal holes @ 100yds. Scope is very clear and the resolution/clarity is GREAT

 

[Milo 2.0]

this is why i hesitate to post on some threads.
the op asks a question and then ignores the advice of the majority.

I want and desperately need your advice, but you have me blocked.

 

[sw282]

this is why i hesitate to post on some threads.
the op asks a question and then ignores the advice of the majority.

Advice/0pinion. l always value the advice or opinion from others.. Helps me decide what's best for me.. Tho its only a 10X scope the clarity is unequaled... Clarity rules for me.. Kinda like an old 4 Leupold l had years ago. That 4X was so clear l could see 30cal bullet holes with it @ 100yds... l have another VXlll on my 221FB 700Rem. A 4.5-14x, lts still not as clear, nor images as crisp and defined as this 10X...
Thanks to ALL for the advice/opinions expressed..


282