scope size

aylor70

aylor70

New member
I was wondering whats a good magnification to use for coyote huntin. We have a couple 3-9x but i was thinkin if i get a new gun i would probably want a new scope since our other ones are currently on a gun. I was loking at something around the range of a low mag number such as 6-8 that can be adjusted to a high one such as 20-30. Something like a 6.5-24. Any opinions
 
24 to 30 won't be of any help to you... but if they come in close, the 6.5 will be too high.

I would think a 3-9, or a 4-12 would be the best compromise.
 
cool i have been looking at a 4-12 i just didnt know if that would be enough power. 3-9 are very easy to find too.
 
All four of my predator calling rifles have the same scope ridng on top, 1.5X6, and they have never been "not enough" glass for called coyotes.
Called coyotes will be, or should be called into 10-50 yards, so big glass is just not needed, a 3X9 is a good scope to use also, lots of them out there, but I prefer the lower power scopes, bigger field of view, easier to get on target, perfect for called coyotes.
 
In Calling situation you have a lot of awkward shots and the higher Mag. you have the more critical the eye relief is the lower Mag. scopes have more forgiving eye relief. Of course that depends of the type and brand of scope you get . Hope my ramblings help.
 
I have a 4-16 on one rifle that I use when I'm calling and if I'm walking I use a straight 4 power that way if you need a snap shot you don't have to worry about what power it is set on. The gun I use for calling vary seldom gets off of 4 but once in a while when a dog hangs up at 250yds it will get turned up to 10 or 12. I wouldn't be to concerned about 20 to 30 max power I would be more concerned about objectives. To give you more light gathering in low light. That is what I look at.
 
I think that would depend on;

- the type on area you are hunting in. Here in Indiana I have a mixed bag of terrain, open fields to thick woods.

- Hunting practices, do you like your coyotes to come in as close as you can get them before you shoot? If so, a coyote at 30 yards is pretty darn big even on 3 x.

- How far do you shoot comfortably, at 9x at 300 yards you can see the coyote pretty good.

These are my reasons for having a 3-9x50 on my rifle, which I leave on 3x all the time now. It is easier to turn it up for a long range shot rather then tring to turn it down for something really close. IMHO.

Good Luck and Good Hunting,

Scott
 
Well, This will be my first coyote gun, and i am new to the sport, so the only thing i can answer there is the terrain is pretty open, mainly pastures and fields.
 
You didn't say what caliber your rifle is and whether or not it will ever be used for prairie dogs or groundhogs but I'll share what I consider to be the most versatile predator/varmint scope.

It's a bit spendy but Bushnell makes a 4-16x40 Elite 4200 scope that has incredibly clear optics and the rain guard lens coating.

It's 4x on the low end has never been a problem for me up close and 16x has never let me down even on long shots on prairie dogs.

Jon and Tammi of The Optic Zone usually have VERY competitive prices and are really great people. They also support Predator Masters as paid advertizers.

Their shipping is included in their prices.

Optic Zone Elite 4200 4-16x40

$bob$
 
Most folks choose a scope for their calling rifle that is too high in power, too low in field of view and too touchy in the eye relief department. A straight K4 Weaver would fill the bill for 95 percent of coyote hunters. I went to a 3x-9x-40mm because sometimes I like to turn the power up to look at something. While hunting, the scope stays on 3x or 4x, because field of view is wider and eye relief is less critical. A few scopes that will get the job done on poor man's budget, are Weaver V9, Bushnell Elite 3200 and Simmons Aetec or Pro Hunter. If you save your money and purchase a Nikon Monarch in 3x-9x-40mm you will never be sorry.
 
Before I "knew better", I hunted with a fixed 4 power scope on an old 243. I hunted with that combo for over 20 years.

Now I have all the "right stuff". New AR, new bolt gun, high dollar scope, and I can shoot little tiny groups on paper targets with high dollar scope.

I have found that killin' coyotes has very little to do with scope power or rifle. As a matter of fact, my "old fashioned" set-up still is the best thing I've used to date.

Sometimes less is more /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I would put more emphasis on quality than on the higher magnification models. I have had a Bushnell Scopechief 4 x 14 on my Browning Abolt 243 for 8 years, and had a Bushnell Trophy 6 x 18 before that. I have shot nearly every coyote I have killed with the 6X magnification. Like Rich Cronk, I use the higher magnification to take a look at a distant object that could be Wylie, but I like the 6X on this particular scope as it is really clear with tremendous light pickup power. I have found that a good quality scope at 6X will give you more detail than a lesser quality scope at higher powers.
 
I'm in the lower power group. I've used a V-3 Weaver on a .223 Rem and never felt under scoped for the country I was in,heavy sage and rolling hills. The rifle now wears a 2x7x40 Swift Premier, the V-3 was moved to a 375 Win. I have a K-3 on a 218 Bee and and am waiting patiently for Burris to bring out their 2x7x35 FFII Ballistic-plex due out the end of June, it will go on a 6mmm/.223 that should arrive at the same time. For really open country I have a V-10 (2x10x38) on a .243 Win that I seldem use.

A good 3x9 should do just fine to start and in a few years after you've got a few fur checks you can adjust up or down to fit your hunting style.

AWS
 
I run a 3.5-10x that is normally on the lowest magnification, for the reasons already mentioned. Some times the 10X is useful, particularly when the coyote stops behind a bush or tree and only leaves a part exposed. A head shot at 100 yards is easier at 10X than at 3X but on the flip side when a coyote is trotting straight in on you at 10 yards, darn near any scope is too much.
 
I would go w/ 4.5-14x40 long range leupold! I have one now along w/2 monarch one 6.5-20x44, and 4-12x40, every shot but one(100yds) at night or day in mn has been under 40 yrds, the only thing I would change if I did another purchase would to buy a leupold 4.5-14x40 lr with Illumination. I would probably have to go with a tactical because they only offer it in the 50 mm objective, which to me is a waste of time/money. I'd trade the weight of the 50mm for the weight of the illumination. Also the 50 mounts higer and one's eye can only take in soo much light at night anyhow. Now if leupold offered that new vlx in a 4.5-14x50 lr with illumination that I would consider for the low mounting. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
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