Scope for .223?

[Aix sponsa]

Hello all! I am new to this, but I would like to know if anyone has any experience and/or opinions on the matter. I recently picked up a tactical mini-14. I love it! Anyway, I would like to get a scope for it. I was interested in the Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 with the bullet drop compensator reticle, because I have found it at a good price. Anyone know how well it works with a .223? Is it caliber specific? I know that I saw a Nikon that had the BDC reticle for the .223, but it was about $329. I'd like to know about the prostaff. I have spent a LOT of money recently, and I need to save a few dollars lol

Also, anyone have any experience with the Bushnell 6-24 power mill dot scope??

Thank you in advance!

 

[rcmodel]

Here are complete instructions for using the Nikon BDC reticle.
It is generic in nature and will only give an approximate hold-over with any specific caliber.

http://www.nikonusa.com/fileuploads/pdfs/BDC_manual.pdf

Bushnell 6-24 power?
Only thing I can offer is, don't get too carried away with excess power on a mini-14.
A 24x scope would make a 100 yard target appear to be 4 yards away!

But you will give up a lot in brightness, field of view, and being able to hold it steady enough to shoot it unless you sand-bag it down on a benchrest.

24x magnifies the target 24x, but it also magnifies your shakes, wobbles, & heart-beat 24x.

And mirage & air currents on a sunny day will make it unusable at long range.

rc

 

[rbernie]

My sporting (as opposed to varminting) 223 rifles use either unmagnified red dots or 1x-4x scopes. My varminting rifles use more magnification, but are precision bolt guns or ARs with bipods and such.

 

[seantyler09]

.223 is made for within 300 meters. If you are looking for a scope go 3-9x40 you will get a nice field of view and will be able to shoot close up as well. another thing is don't set your heart on a certain brand right away, shop. I actually bought a cheap scope from wal mart I liked better than most $200 dollar pieces, it was a center point with the illuminated rectical.
oh yeah mil-dots are usually for 30-06 check into the one you want to buy though. The drop of a .223 is far different from a 30-06 and I would check into the barrel twist of your .223 because you actually will have bullet rise.

 

[rcmodel]

Say what?
Bullet rise is going to be there with any caliber.

By necessity, the bore line is going to be aimed above the line of sight at longer ranges to make up for the trajectory of the bullet.

No bullet actually gains altitude like an airplane due to lift.
Every bullet begins dropping the instant it comes out of the muzzle.
Rifling twist rate has nothing to do with it.

BTW: Actually the trajectory & drop of a .223 & a 30-06 are very similiar out to 400 yards or so.

rc

 

[Aix sponsa]

Thank you all. I decided that I definitely didn't want the Bushnell, anyway....I bet that thing is long as all get out. My first choice will be the -12x40 and second choice would be 3-9x40. I understand that a 3-9 will be fine, but I already have a 3-9 on my .308 and .30-06, and I would like to change it up a bit. I plan on using it on coyotes and pigs. One of my best friends is a rice farmer, and pigs are costing him lots of money. So...I will carry the mini or my .30-06 as they are both semi autos and I have mags for plenty of bullets. When a chance to get the pigs comes up, I could care less if I place a perfect shot with my bolt action...I want to aim, fire, fire, fire, fire, fire.... and try to get as many of the suckers as I can. Thanks, again.

 

[wannasupra]

i have to agree, i've got a leupold 6-18x42 vxII on my AR, but it's a varminter, on a bipod with a 24" barrel. i have more trouble getting on target at higher power, and the eye relief is very difficult to settle into. i'd look for a 3-9x50 if i could find it. and a bullet drop reticle isn't necessary if you get a tac scope with the windage and elevation adjustment knobs exposed. you zero at 200m and can click to adjust for more or less distance or wind, rather than using kentucky windage. actually, i found the M68 fantastic for targets all the way out to 300m, but it really depends on what you're shooting.

 

[788Ham]

I've got a Simmons 6.5X18X50 on my Rem. 788 in .223, you can't get much better than this for under $200 bucks, about $109.00 from Midway. You can really get in close with this rig{ sight-wise}, not a top of the line Louie, or Bush, but it will help get the job done.

 

[BigN]

Depends on how far you're going to be shooting it. A 223 is a good round with quite a bit of range capability but if you're going to be shooting within a hundred yards don't waste your money on a souped up scope.