Scope info from coyote hunters...please

[Birdguy]

I know this is an optics question but I want info from the guys hunting coyotes not just everyone with an opinion. The mods can move it if there is an issue.

  OK, I recently purchased a Howa 1500 in 22-250, I plan on using it mostly for coyotes but we are now planning a trip or two to Montana for all rodents that are ground dwelling  . I am looking for information on scopes for this gun. I am not opposed to spending some $$ on a good scope but I cannot see spending $1000 on a coyote/varmint gun. My deer rifles have Leupolds either XV-2 or 3 in 3-9 or 4.5-14, do I need that kind of money in a scope for this gun as well? How does the Nikon Monarch compare? What about one of the Nikon Coyote Special series in 4.5-14? Does someone make a good scope in 6-20 or so that does not cost $1000? This should be a real nice gun to shoot,(heavy but nice) and I would like to set it up so my Wife and Kids will be successful with it as well. Thank you for the information that I know will come my way.

[calib]

get a vx 2 or 3 in 6-18 and that will do all you need. print out some drop charts and if you have to dial or just hold for longer shots and wind

[JohnVH]

how far can you shoot?

[jayrod9528]

I use a 6.5x20x50 Vortex Viper and I love it. The thing you will see is every one has a different opinion. I know some guys are all about FOV for coyotes some like big glass. I think a middle ground scope is the best. The most important thing is to get a scope on the gun and practice different angles and situations and get good with what you have.

[carpsniperg2]

I really like something with at least 12 power on the yote guns. I like a 4 or 6 on my low settings as well. I have several vx3 6.5-20 in use right now and if you are calling or anything like that You will often times find yourself wanting a lower power on your scope. On 6.5 a moving yote is hard to track at close range.

[204chucknorris]

I use a 6.5x20x50 Vortex Viper and I love it. The thing you will see is every one has a different opinion. I know some guys are all about FOV for coyotes some like big glass. I think a middle ground scope is the best. The most important thing is to get a scope on the gun and practice different angles and situations and get good with what you have.

I couldn't agree more. I have some very inexpensive scopes and they have worked just fine as well.

[LEN]

I just am getting done building a 223. And have bunch's of yote and varmint guns. Between the son and I have most of the medium priced scopes or have had. We just set side by side Leo vx3 lr  30 mil in 6.5x20 8.5x25 and the 1" also ,Vortex 6x20, Weaver grand glam 6x20 plus two or three name brand scopes and also in the 4.5x14 Leo and others. I just got my second Weaver grand slam 6x20 because of the side by side comparison not the price, They  are just putting in better glass. And for the $400 you can't beat it. Now for close in yotes you need to get a little used to the 6x low end but I have done one with a run in and out on a tight logging road with a 6.5x20 LR leo but I was used to the 220 swift and it did the job up right. So I guess in short at this time Weaver will get my money. Now I did not check out the weaver 4.5x14 but I would think it would be good too. Oh and for rodents 20x so you can get a really crisp  and up close view.

LEN

[rynokron]

Depends on your terrain. Most of the time coyotes are too close, not too far away. For my AR-15 I went with a Vortex Viper 2x7x32. Just sighted it in yesterday. $200 at Cameraland. It's a great coyote scope for me most of my shots are under 200 yards. Had a 3x9x40 on it before, but put that on my 30-06. The Vortex Viper 3x9x40, or Nikon Monarch 2.5x10x44 would be good choices too. On my .243 I have a Bushnell Elite 4x16x50. It's a pretty nice scope, but I never turn it up past 10x. Field of view and quality glass are more important than big magnification to me.

[AWS]

While I'm one of the FOV guys, most of my predator hunting rigs carry 1x4 to 1.5x6 scopes.  When you throw in small targets like sage rats and PD more power will be useful and if your coyote hunting is in more open country like eastern WA wheat country and scabland.

One of the best deals out there right now is the Vortex Viper 6.5x20x44mm for $279 from Camarland.  I have one and another aquaiontance has three.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/vortex.pl?page=vortexviper6-20x44

[jayrod9528]

I would take a serious look at Vortex. They are good glass with the best warranty in the business. Leopold are nice and they have a great warranty if the scope itself fails Vortex just goes to that next level. They have a *censored* happens warranty. If you break it in any way they will replace it. Not saying you want to smash your scope on a rock but, you could and they would replace it.

[Special T]

My bro in law and cousin have the Nikon predator masters in the 3x9, they both wish they had the 4.5x14. They really like it for shooting coyotes, and I personally think Nikon is a great bang for the buck scope.    When i went on a prairy dog shoot My Brother in law brought a 17hmr with a scope with a HUGE apature, and i could look thought that thing forever! It wasn't an expensive scope but a big FOV makes up for a lot.  Hope that helps.

[Bofire]

Buy what ever scope you like but I think you are backwards, I think you need a better scope on your varmit/predator rig than a deer gun.
Carl

[FALFire]

Most of my scopes are 4.5-14's I have one 6.5-20 and like all equally well. It has a lot to do with the average terrain you will be hunting in. I hunt a lot of wheat fields and the extra power is great. If you hunt mostly in the heavily wooded areas the lower powered scope would likely fit the application better. I agree with Bofire, spend the money on good glass for smaller critters.

[Da stump]

just picked up an ar and threw a bushnell 6.5 to 18 on it.  Figure for close in i will use my 17 hmr

[Birdguy]

Thank you ALL for the feedback, I knew I would still get a lot of different answers but this way I get them from folks who are actually speaking from experience not just how they feel about certain brands. We do most of our coyote hunting in Okanogan, shots range from pretty close to 400+ yds. I figure I will let my son shoot the close ones  .
I am leaning towards a 6.5-20. I like what I have found so far on the Vortex Viper, will likely be ordering one of those, but will also be looking into the Weaver line as well.

Carp, that was the type of info I was looking for thank you.
Len, the comparison info is priceless, thanks for taking the time to share your findings, saves some of the rest of us some time and $$ hopefully.
AWS, thanks for the link it has some good general info on it as well.
Bofire, I get exactly what you are saying, I am into the coyotes as conservation (of the deer and birds  ) and at this point I do not get to do it enough to justify that much $$. If I really get into it, I can always upgrade if needed and put what I buy now on my son's future setup  . Right now I want to get out see how much I enjoy it and I know having good equipment will help.
FALFire, I have been reading your coyote posts for years it seems like and following coyote madness is probably most of it, if you are happy with your 4.5-14's I would bet they will work fine for me as well.

[furbearer365]

This may sound backwards to what you are thinking but here it goes.  I (hopefully) shoot my deer/elk gun a couple of times a year and when i do they are standing still and hopefully within 300.  I actually cant see spending a ton of money on a gun i shoot once or twice a year.  I like a good scope on my coyote gun because i need it to perform on animals way out there, up close, on the run, and not always broadside.  For evey shot i make with my deer/elk gun, i make 20 with my 223.  So i like to spend the money on the one that gets used the most and demands the all sorts of range.  I have a Nikon Monarch 6 x 24 x 44 with the target dot.

[Heredoggydoggy]

On my last build I put a Burris 30 mm LRS 4.5-10 scope.  Its an AR 15 chambered in 20 LBC, which is a 6.5 Grendel necked down to .204.  Even in open country I carry it at 4 to 5x so targets are easy to find.  I can always crank the magnification higher for far away shots.  I'm putting an Alpen 6-24x50 on my next build, a 6mm6.8SPC but I don't have the barrel yet, so I can't give a recommendation.  My 17hmr squirrel guns have Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14and Sweet 17 6-18 scopes, and both are good.  The glass and warrantees are so much better than they used to be, that it's just a matter of choice.  I do like lots of magnification on small critters like squirrels and PDs.

[Heredoggydoggy]

PS: I also have a Nikon 4.5-14 Coyote Special scope on a 22-250 Remington 700.  Seems to be a nice scope, but I haven't used it much.  But I may have to if my AR 15s get banned. 

[Bofire]

  I run Leupolds VXIII   3.5X10X40/50 on all my center fire rifles. Duplex and matte. You can use them as a range finder as it is 16 inches from crosshair to top of post taper. look at something you know the approx size of, coyote height about 18 inch  average, turn the power until it fits and look at the range on the power ring. Not as good as a range finder but very usable.
Carl

[MadHatter]

On my .308 is a 8-32x44, which is kind of overkill unless you are hunting somewhere you can really reach out, or you have really leery yotes.  I tend to use it in places that are hunted more heavily where the coyotes are more educated and don't like to come in too close.  For general purpose out to about 500 I have a Leupold 4-12x40 on my .25-06 and that works really well.  I just tend to keep it on about 6 unless I have one hanging out that wont come in.  Ideally I like to have a 6-24 with mil-dots.  For me its the best of both worlds.  I can use 6 close in and still have out to 24 for the longer range stuff.  I also prefer mil-dots because I use it for holdover.  On my .308 I will actually dial the range in on the turret though.

I think really its just a preference.  See what works for you...