Poll: Range and magnification

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52hubcap

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What is the normal/average distance you shoot at coyotes (with a rifle) and what power scope (or setting on a variable) do you normally use?
 
For me, its usually between 75 and 100 yards, with my 4-12 power nikon set to six while calling. Over bait, 125-150 yards, with the scope dialed up to 12 power. Hope this helps
 
Originally Posted By: TonyTebbeAverage shot is 50 yards. I have 3x9 scope that hardly ever goes off of 3 power.

Tony

Same here, maybe 60-75 yards on average and my scope hardly ever goes higher than 3x.


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: TonyTebbeAverage shot is 50 yards. I have 3x9 scope that hardly ever goes off of 3 power.

Tony

Exactly, or I'll just use a shotgun.
 
Average shot is around 100 yds and I usually leave the scope at 8 power. I suppose I could reduce the length of that average shot, but see no reason to allow them to get any closer than 100yds. The likelihood of having problems goes up exponentially the closer you allow them to get to you.
 
50-100 yards and keep my scope as low as it goes. That either 2.5,3,or 4 power depending on the gun. One day ill learn a simple 3x9 will do the trick.
 
Some sets are short range (25-50yrds), some are long range (250-500yrds). Some I'm down on my miniumum power, some I'm at max power. I generally like my top end magnification somewhere in the 14-24x ballpark, which puts me 4-6x at minumum. If I'm hunting a set where I might be overlooking 300yrds all downhill, I might turn up to 20x while I wait since I'll likely see them coming in from a long ways off. If I'm watching 100yrds where they might get under me before I notice them, then I'll turn down to the 4-6x ballpark.

But, then again, I'm definitely one of the few people on here that prefers to use high magnification scopes. Sure, I CAN shoot out to 300-500yrds with nothing more than a 3-9x, but I definitely don't prefer to do so.
 
My rig has a 6-24 target scope on it and 99.9% of the time is all 6x. The only time I zooom in is if thay are hanging up/sitting down over 200 yards out, I have plenty of time to dial up & shoot then.
Standard range is from 60-100yds.
I practice to 700 yds on the gun range though.
 
im w/ the 3-9 guys, runnin a 4-12 on my ar and 6-24 on my 22-250, most shots a 50ish....i have never had a prob killing a standing target at 20 yrds or less on 6 power...my experience.....
 
10 yards to 100 yards. I hunt the desert during the day mostly. I have a 1.5-5x20 vx3 and keep it on 1.5 or 2 most of the time. I see no need for more than that even if the shot was at my max range of 300 on coyote size animals. More power is fine so long as it holds up and stays there. What happens most the time is he is just standing there and soon as I turn up the power for more precision he decides to start moving and it becomes a pain to track him as he goes behind bushes. If he busts me and I have to take a running shot it is even worse. Low power takes some getting used to. Just center it on the chest and squeeze. Its not about precision. It is about taking the shot right now before the chance is gone. You don't need to count the hairs on him. so long as the x is on it you will hit it.

However, I use this same gun as much or even more for shooting jackrabbits. With such a small target I often have to just aim center mass beyond 100 yards. If I had a 2-7 or the leupy 2.5-8 it would be a lot more versatile in this regard. Guess I should just get a second gun for jacks :)

 
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I always leave my scope on the lowest possible power setting. There's always time to turn it up if a coyote stays way out there but, you never have time to turn it down when he shows up on top of you already.
 
Originally Posted By: Predator StrikeforceI always leave my scope on the lowest possible power setting. There's always time to turn it up if a coyote stays way out there but, you never have time to turn it down when he shows up on top of you already.

Now that's the smart way for sure. I have been whacking coyotes for 30 years and not havimg the scope on its lowest power will come back to haunt you. You can crank the scope up if you have a hang up but it's very hard to turn it down if one is rushing you.

I am at the age now where I don't want carry the shotgun and the AR. When I hunted with both I would keep my scope on 6X all the time. I have a Trijicon RMR side mounted on my Scope for close up work now so I still keep the scope on 6X.
 
Originally Posted By: Predator StrikeforceI always leave my scope on the lowest possible power setting. There's always time to turn it up if a coyote stays way out there but, you never have time to turn it down when he shows up on top of you already.

This is how I treat all my variables.

And even on a quick shot, 3x will still work at longer distances. 9x sucks for up close...
 
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