feedback on scopes for a 220 swift

[redranger1]

ok guys, i know scope topics have been brought up alot lately but i have a differant question. my rifle is a bicentinnial semi heavy barrel ruger m77. ive been lookin fer a while fer a scope and ive held off cause im just unsure. i think ive put a price limit onround $300 but ill give a lil more if im convinced its worth it. anyhow, ive pretty well narrowed it down to a super sniper 10x42. i cant imagine that a fixed power wont suffice. what do you fellas with 220 swift er similar calibers think?

 

[Art Eatman]

Years ago I had an original 77 HB in the Swift. I put a Canjar single-set trigger on it. I think I had a Redfield in 3x9. It typically got 3/8 MOA for five shots with the Sierra 52-grain HPBT. I was mostly shooting feral cats out to 300 yards. DRT, every time.

I'm no fan of high-magnification, fixed-power scopes. Sometimes a cooperative critter is closer in, and it takes a bit of time to find him with a narrow field of view--and he's quit being cooperative. That's why I generally leave a variable on the low magnification; it seems like there's always time to go up, but never enough time to go to the low setting if needed.

I dunno. Seems to me like the VX2 Leupold is as good as one needs, and I'm guessing that somewhere around 4.5x14x40-ish or thereabouts oughta work just fine. I've never had a problem to 500 yards with scopes of no more than 10X.

Art

 

[GunGoBoom]

what's the purpose

I think Art is exactly right..... for hunting. But I think for target shooting or long-range varminting, you will want quite a bit more power, up to 24x or more - particularly for target shooting. Just depends on the use. A small bullseye is very hard to see at 200 yds, even on 10x. Also, will you be using it in low-light situations (i.e. hunting), or again, well-lighted situations (target shooting)? If the former, then good/expensive glass is needed; if not, a cheaper scope will work fine.

 

[swifter]

My .220AI wears a B&L 6-24X40, stays on 6X mostly...

Tom

 

[redranger1]

well i must admit guys that this gun will be a multi purpose gun. but i dont think ill see any shots beyond 300 yrds. and to be more specific on its use, id say bout 80% will be hunting.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have a 6-18 Bushnell on my similar Ruger .22-250.
It usually stays on 12-14x for target shooting, I am not a varmint hunter.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Since the .220 swift is a 600 yard praire rat cartridge, I'd go with something at least 24x with a very fine reticle. I have a Weaver 4-16x on my .17 Rem, and those 'dogs get pretty darn small past 400 yards. But that is pushing max range for the little .17.

Here's a few suggestions:

Weaver (model 849470)

Leupold

Nikon

Bushnell

Burris