Varmint Scopes

Beeatease · 01-17-2006, 10:04 AM

I've had a Leupold 8.5 x 25 Vari X III scope on my Varmint rifle (Remington ADL .223) and decided to change it out. Way too much scope for coyotes.

I am looking at the Leupold 4 x 14 Long Range Varmint which has the windage and range reticles on it.

The Boone & Crockett ones have heavier lines than the Varmint one does,which make sense for smaller game.

Have any of you tried these scopes and your thoughts.....

Thanks

skein · 01-17-2006, 10:16 AM

I like your idea of the 4 X 14. I have a 6 X 18 Leuie on my 22-250 because I had a vision of 400+ yard shots at coyotes in the veldt. It just hasn't panned out. Most of my coyote shots are within 80 yards or less, and even when I'm rock chucking or sage ratting, I rarely crank it up past about 12 power due to mirage. Field of view is a good thing when old Wiley is sneaking in and slipping through the brush at 30-40 yards, and that 4X wideview should give you that in spades.

Let us know how it works out.

Skein

Big Billy · 01-17-2006, 10:32 AM

I agree with Skein, good choice for big varmints, here in Montana we have a lot of prairie rats, and they get smart pretty quick, I have a 6.5 -20 vari-x 3 and could possibly interested in your 8.5-20 for prairie rats if it is for sale?

traks44 · 01-17-2006, 10:39 AM

You will be much happier with the 4-14 I would assume 50mm?

Having used both scopes I would also say that a boone & crocket reticle or varmiter are not 100% needed. You will have target turrets so you can just dial in. IMHO, I prefer less clutter in my scope for fast shots but the ability to dial in for longer shots. Brackets in scopes do have a place and situation such as quick target rangeing, but I am either really close to my target or really far away. Whichever you feel will fit your needs better?

Beeatease · 01-17-2006, 02:35 PM

I'll have to re-think it a bit and look again at the product line....40mm vs. 50mm and the reticles....

Thank you Gents.... :smile:

Big Billy · 01-17-2006, 02:52 PM

beaeateese I have both a 40 mm and a 50mm objective in the 6.5 to 20 in a vari-x 3 and it is very hard to tell the difference if cost is a factor, they both have mill dot reticles so I can put them on a prairie rat @ 400 yards and still see the rat. for what it's worth

Hunt'nFish · 01-17-2006, 03:00 PM

I just picked up a 6.5-20x50mm Vari-X III from Leupold that I had them put the Varimint reticle in. The main differance between the two is the varmint reticle is setup for flatter cartridges and has an extra line and 20mph wind drift dots that the B&C reticle does not have. The Varmint recticle is also setup more for the flatter cartridges.

Also I was told the B&C reticle can only be installed on the newer VX III scopes but the Varmint reticle can be installed on the older Vari-X III's. Not sure why, that's just what they told me.

The jury is still out on this setup for me. It's kinda complicated and requires you abandon the Max Point Blank Range sight in method which I am so fond of. I have a call in to them to get the exact subtension data for the lines.
Hunt'nFish

Big Billy · 01-17-2006, 03:04 PM

Good luck. Let me know what you find out about the older scopes because mine are both pre 1998 models, thanks

billc_sbio · 01-17-2006, 03:18 PM

Not that it answers your question (about what scope you might like to put on your rifle), but I think as far as semantics go here, you already have a great "Varmint" Scope on there!

But, what you're looking for is really a "Predator Scope", which is a big difference in this particular application...

Hmm...maybe something up to as much as 14X, and as low as 3X-4X is what I'm thinking! Probably with a 40mm Obj., they're much more rugged, less bulky, mount lower and are lighter. Your eye won't know the difference, except for maybe 15 min. on either end of the day.

Beeatease · 01-17-2006, 03:44 PM

Yes, I've used the 8.5 x 25 for both coyotes and sage rats. it's great for the rats but having a Yote pop up at 75 yds is a bit much with it set at 8.5

Price difference between the 40 and 50 is $ 130.00

Decisions....decisions

I have the stock Leupold Vari X II 3 x 9 on there now....maybe I'll just keep that there for the time being.

Those "Varmint" reticles looked pretty cool...I was wondering how useful they are in reality. Maybe if I were doing stationary targets all the time it would be worth it.

But then I have the 8.5 x 25 for that.....

(I'm conversing with myself as I'm writing)

Hmmmmmmm

billc_sbio · 01-17-2006, 04:23 PM

Nothin wrong with the 3x-9x X 40 Leupold!

I'm not really sure how "great" some fancy reticle is really going to be/help on a walking/stopping/trotting target, like a 'yote?!!

My galfriend, Miss Lil, has a 3.5-10x X 40mm VX-III on her .270. It seems like that would be another great scope for 'yotes too!

My own 'yote rifle's a .223 Sporter and it has an older Redfield 6-18x X 40 scope on it... It's worked for everything from Rockchucks to Coyotes and it might not be my 1st choice these days, but it works pretty well...I bought it, cheap, from a friend. :grin: Think I'll leave it on there.

billc_sbio · 01-17-2006, 04:28 PM

Hey, another idea...

Get a couple of sets of QD Scope Rings and the appropriate base/s for your rifle.

Sight in your rifle with BOTH of your scopes...

Then, just switch back & forth, depending upon the type of hunting you're doing?!! :shocked:

You won't even have to re-sight in! :grin:

Ni! · 01-17-2006, 04:48 PM

When you have a coyote strafing past you at 20 yards you'll want the lowest power setting you can find, and when you've got one hanging up at 400 yards barking at you you'll want the highest setting (or close to it) that you can find. I've never had a scope that went beyond 9x and I've killed coyotes out to near 400 yards with it. Given the limited zoom range available to you, you'll have to make a tradeoff at one end or the other.

My choice would be towards the lower power scope, since I'm trying to call them in close anyway. I kill more coyotes at close range than I ever will at long range, so I setup my gun accordingly.

Ni!

Beeatease · 01-17-2006, 06:00 PM

The QD is a good idea.....

That's what I like about IFish...... :grin:

OuterLimits · 01-21-2006, 10:36 PM

I have a Leupold 4x14 Vari-X III on my Remington VSF .223, a Leupold 6.5-20x50mm Vari-X III on my Remington VSF 22-250 both for long range prairie dogs.

But the one I like the best for the close work in the Leupold 1.75x6 Vari-X III on my Remington M7 MS .223. The smaller magnification will give you a better field of view for those closer shots.

Beeatease · 01-23-2006, 10:07 AM

Well, after contemplating the cost of a new scope I took the advice and bought QD rings and base.

Mounted them and also got a bore sighter so when I'm out and about I can check the scope without firing it. They rings are tightly mounted to the bases, but I feel better knowing it's correctly aligned.

Thanks again for the great advice.......

John

Hunt'nFish · 01-23-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

But the one I like the best for the close work in the Leupold 1.75x6 Vari-X III on my Remington M7 MS .223. The smaller magnification will give you a better field of view for those closer shots.

Good advise! A lot can be said for a quick handling .223 and a low power scope. For close work, I reach for my Mini-14 w/ 2-7x30mm Vari-X II. You can shoot with both eyes open w/ a 2x but 1x or 1.5x would be better.
Hunt'nFish