Scope recommendation for a .223

[66gt350]

Scope recommendation for a .223 *Update*

Hey, I'm going to be going back home to South Dakota this summer and I'm looking forward to doing some prairie dog hunting again. In the past I've just used a .22 lr with a cheap 3x-9x scope. But now, I'm looking at buying a remington 700 LV SF in a .223 and when it comes to a good varmit scope, I'm lost. I'm looking at spending +/- $400 on a scope. I've been to one gun shop and they've said go with Leupold. And another gun shop says Leupold...ewwww...get a Zeiss. I'm afraid to go and ask at the other gun store here in town, who know's what they'll say...it seems that what ever brand they sell is the best.

I've done some searches around the net and found some good information, but I want to be certain of what I'm getting before dropping that much cash into a scope. Also, what would a good recticle be?


thanks

rob

 

[Zak Smith]

A Leupold will serve you fine, and it's in your price range.

A finer reticle (ie, thinner lines) will make sight pictures on small things easier.

 

[Art Eatman]

I have a little Ruger 77 Mk II in .223. I stuck an old Vari-X II 3x9x40 on it and have been just happy as a pig in...Oops, sorry, Grammaw. These seem to sell used around $150 or so; bought one from here at THR, for another rifle...

Art

 

[Sharps Shooter]

I've had good luck with Leupolds.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Leupold

I can't imagine a better scope for prairie dogs than Leupold - maybe a 12X - I prefer single power and I used a 16X on a .22-250 but found the restricted depth of field annoying.

While I might wish for a Swarovski on a trophy rifle in the belief that the Swarovski has better low light performance and is better able to show me the difference between horns on 2 animals both far away and in the shade under trees at the edge of dark timber - I consider prairie dog shooting a social activity done in full day daylight with little regard for the very finest detail.

There are some differences in how rugged the reticule is - again I don't see this as meaningful for prairie dogs with a .223.

 

[P0832177]

If I was spending money right now I would look at two scopes
A Weaver V16 can be had for under 300 bucks the optics are clear and it has good repeatability. U would be well severed with mounting in Loopy PRW rings on PRW bases. Sightron 6-24X42mm this is nice scope. I have to say the Weaver V24 seems milky in the higher powers setting. The Sightron would be under 400. Another option for about the same price and I have one is the Bushell Elite 4200 6-24.

 

[theCZ]

Look at Nikons also, it's my opinion that Nikons are just as good as Leupolds, but a heck of a lot cheaper. That being said I do own a Leupold that is pretty nice, but it's not on any of my rifles currently.

 

[dakotasin]

leupold vx-2 6-18x40, standard reticle. if you decide to go w/ the varminter reticle, get it, and the lvsf in 22-250...

 

[66gt350]

Thanks for all the replies...I'm still not sure which way to go. I guess I'll figure that one out when I'm down at the gun store. I'll have 10 days to figure it out during the "cooling off" period here in PRK.

hey dakotasin -- what part of SD are you in? I grew up around the Black Hills. It will be nice to get back to the ole stompin' grounds.

rob

 

[dakotasin]

right now, i'm in eastern sd, north of sioux falls. we're wanting to move, but that looks like it is 1-2 years out...

do most of my serious doggin' out near the hills, but when i just want to play a little, there is a town much closer to home that affords shots out to maybe 500 yards. not nearly as many dogs as the hills area, but the short ranges are a good warm up for when i get out there.

i hunt the hills every year for deer, and donate to the hills elk fund every year(read: i still haven't drawn). have some friends in deadwood, and in-laws in sturgis...

 

[66gt350]

update

UPDATE

I think that I've settled on what scope, after talking with the shop where I ordered the .223, they will even tweak the trigger to get a good crisp 2 3/4 lb. trigger on it. I'm going to be getting the Leupold VX-II 4-12 40mm with the fine recticle. That should suit my purpose of prairie dog hunting just fine.

thanks for all the advice.
Rob

 

[TMaas]

I'm from Southwest MN. Didn't know there was any P-dog's in eastern SD. What town is this in? I just purchased a 223 around the middle of the month, hope to go after some 'coons and coyotes when I take time to get it sighted in.

 

[66gt350]

I've never spent much time in eastern SD. I grew up and spent most of my time around the northern Black Hill, Belle Fourche and Rapid City. But this summer, I'll be heading a bit south of the hills...not sure exactly where.

 

[dakotasin]

66- my in-laws live in sturgis, belle, and newell, so i know the area very well. enjoy your vacation, and get some quality time in w/ your rifle/scope. my first year of doggin' was done w/ a leupold vari-x2 4-12 on my 22-250. it will work very well for ya out to 400-500 yards.

tmaas- yep, there are towns in eastern s.d., but not on the mn border or anything. hope you understand, i am not about to give up my prime doggin' location on a public forum. you would have an easier time breaking into fort knox. s.d. is a popular destination for prairie dogs even though montana, wyoming, and colorado have more dogs... most people come from the east, and s.d.'s location on i-90 (north) gives all these folks from the east (ny, pa, etc) a stright line drive, and sd is far closer than the other states (less drive time, more shoot time). so, if i gave up a location in eastern s.d., i'd have nowhere to dog in very short order because it would cut an additional 4-5 hours off their drive times.

i don't blame these folks - everybody should shoot a couple dogs if they can, but i like shooting 'em, too! and the e.s.d. population is not big enough to sustain that kind of shooting...

sorry for the tangent, but just wanted to clearly define why i can't/won't divulge that info in public.