optics for a Coyote gun
I have been looking for low-mid power optics, I'm on a limited budget or around 300$. So far I am liking the price of the Nikon P-223 3-9 x 40 ( 200 with mounts), I was also looking at the falcon menace 1.5-5 x 30 but i have been hearing that they do not hold up. Out of these 2 what would be the best choice, Is the p-223 a good scope for the money? or would the falcon provide better quality of glass
Originally Posted By Libilaw:
I have been looking for low-mid power optics, I'm on a limited budget or around 300$. So far I am liking the price of the Nikon P-223 3-9 x 40 ( 200 with mounts), I was also looking at the falcon menace 1.5-5 x 30 but i have been hearing that they do not hold up. Out of these 2 what would be the best choice, Is the p-223 a good scope for the money? or would the falcon provide better quality of glass
1-6 or 2-8 would be my preference, with mildots....
I don't like 1-4,6,8 variables by themselves for coyote hunting. I hunt the CA deserts. When calling, a coyote can show up at 10' or 200 yards. The million dollar question is
"What magnification should I use at the beginning of my set?"
Since there is a possibility of a coyote turning up close and dynamic, it would seem to make sense to set the magnification at 1x and dial up for longer shots. However, it gets more complicated. What if you have a coyote on the run at 150 yards? Sure, you can dial up your magnification and run the risk that he sees your movement. But, how do you know where he will stop his charge? Barking to stop the coyote doesn't always work. If you dial up at 150 yards and he doesn't stop, you have to dial back down.
This is way too much movement, activity and mental effort when all your attention should be on the coyote.
There are no perfect solutions. However, the one I like best is a TA11J-G with an Aimpoint T1 in a Larue LT-724 offset mount. The Aimpoint can handle the up close hard chargers and the J ACOG will give you accuracy at a distance. The J ACOG shoots the most accurate for me of all the ACOGs. The only disadvantage is that it can be easy to drop into the ACOG when you are surprised by an up close coyote. Even with training, the tendency is to mount your gun in a normal upright fashion when the startle reflex kicks in because every other gun you have ever fired in your life is mounted normally. Even if this does happen, you can roll to your T1 pretty fast.
Because most coyote hunting is done (for me) on animals less than 100 yards away, I tried using just a RDS. It seemed like it would be the perfect, fast solution. However, I found I needed the ACOG for getting a better sight picture in both daytime and low light. Coyotes do a great job of blending in and some magnification helps getting this sight picture.
P.S. The scope doesn't have to be an ACOG. A 3-9x40 would work as long as you have the RDS for the hard chargers up close.
i usually have a range finder on me so mil-dots are not really essential. But i need quick adjustibility (aka turrets) in a small package. I was thinking about getting a rds but it would not cut it for the 300+ yard shots, Most of my hunting will be done in the mountains so ridge to ridge shots happen a lot.
I would get a 3-9 with a red dot mounted to the side
If you are hunting in low light, you certainly can't beat good glass for light transmission. I would always error on the side of Leupold.
i also suggest and eotech xps 2-0 with a magnifier for what you are doing.
i looked at the p223 at my local shop, clarity was pretty good, and it seemed to gather light rather well. i did notice that it was out of focus until about 30 yards. i might just go with this scope, im hoping that its repeatable and will take the abuse.
Honestly I looked around at AR-specific scopes for a while but I was not that impressed with what I found. I was looking right in your price range as well.
I ended up going with a Redfield Revolution 2-7x33mm w/ the Accurange reticle. You can find it for around $190. It's clear as day, excellent glass, and dead on at 200 yards (which is the farthest I've shot it so far). I plan on shooting it out to around 300 yards or so.
Just in case you were unaware, Leupold actually owns Redfield so it's Leupold glass they have.
Just my 2 cents but I've been more than happy with my scope.
i was looking at the redfields, but the lack of quick adjustibility turned me off, i just ordered the p223 and i will let yall know how it goes
Cool man. Hope it works out for ya!
Originally Posted By moabxjeeper:
Honestly I looked around at AR-specific scopes for a while but I was not that impressed with what I found. I was looking right in your price range as well.
I ended up going with a Redfield Revolution 2-7x33mm w/ the Accurange reticle. You can find it for around $190. It's clear as day, excellent glass, and dead on at 200 yards (which is the farthest I've shot it so far). I plan on shooting it out to around 300 yards or so.
Just in case you were unaware, Leupold actually owns Redfield so it's Leupold glass they have.
Just my 2 cents but I've been more than happy with my scope.
I actually purchased the exact same scope for my coyote-busting/general-purpose AR. It's got fantastic glass(at its pricepoint) and as you mentioned, is dead-on when you do your part. The Accu-Range reticle is fantastic for taking quick shots as well.
Originally Posted By Libilaw:
i was looking at the redfields, but the lack of quick adjustibility turned me off, i just ordered the p223 and i will let yall know how it goes
I leave it at 2x 99% of the time, unless I need a better ID. Check out this scope, it's great :)
Originally Posted By Libilaw:
i was looking at the redfields, but the lack of quick adjustibility turned me off, i just ordered the p223 and i will let yall know how it goes
nice,but you could have gotten a burris fullfield 2 2-7 for 150 on amazon
PSA just posted a Vortex 3x9x40 special for $199 on facebook.
Originally Posted By M4coyotehunter:
I don't like 1-4,6,8 variables by themselves for coyote hunting. I hunt the CA deserts. When calling, a coyote can show up at 10' or 200 yards. The million dollar question is
"What magnification should I use at the beginning of my set?"
Since there is a possibility of a coyote turning up close and dynamic, it would seem to make sense to set the magnification at 1x and dial up for longer shots. However, it gets more complicated. What if you have a coyote on the run at 150 yards? Sure, you can dial up your magnification and run the risk that he sees your movement. But, how do you know where he will stop his charge? Barking to stop the coyote doesn't always work. If you dial up at 150 yards and he doesn't stop, you have to dial back down.
This is way too much movement, activity and mental effort when all your attention should be on the coyote.
There are no perfect solutions. However, the one I like best is a TA11J-G with an Aimpoint T1 in a Larue LT-724 offset mount. The Aimpoint can handle the up close hard chargers and the J ACOG will give you accuracy at a distance. The J ACOG shoots the most accurate for me of all the ACOGs. The only disadvantage is that it can be easy to drop into the ACOG when you are surprised by an up close coyote. Even with training, the tendency is to mount your gun in a normal upright fashion when the startle reflex kicks in because every other gun you have ever fired in your life is mounted normally. Even if this does happen, you can roll to your T1 pretty fast.
Because most coyote hunting is done (for me) on animals less than 100 yards away, I tried using just a RDS. It seemed like it would be the perfect, fast solution. However, I found I needed the ACOG for getting a better sight picture in both daytime and low light. Coyotes do a great job of blending in and some magnification helps getting this sight picture.
P.S. The scope doesn't have to be an ACOG. A 3-9x40 would work as long as you have the RDS for the hard chargers up close.
Set it at three power and forget it then. I can hit small targets center mass with irons at 300 yards, so using a 3x setting on a scope will definitely get you out to that distance with very good clarity, all whilst still being pretty quick to pick up the target.
sooo, optics planet is sold out and i don't want to wait. How good is the burris fullfield II? Is the Ballistic plex reticle that they use on the thinner side? I really do not like thick reticle lines.
If you could spend a bit more the VX-R 2-7 X 33 Firedot 4 might be ideal.....
I have a 1.25-4 which is quite nice but the 2-7 is what I am looking at for my 6.8 middie
OP- If you are still considering the P-223 3-9 Midway has them in stock with the free Nikon P223 mount.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/918271/nikon-p-223-rifle-scope-3-9x-40mm-bdc-600-reticle-matte
$199 plus the free mount is a pretty good deal, shipping is usually less than $10 for me from Midway.
I have a 1-4 on my AR, but my ranges are limited up to couple hundred yards on most stands. I do plan on getting a throw lever to adjust the magnification on the fly, been caught off guard a couple times.
Originally Posted By Sheetz:
I have a 1-4 on my AR, but my ranges are limited up to couple hundred yards on most stands. I do plan on getting a throw lever to adjust the magnification on the fly, been caught off guard a couple times.
yeppers....those "cat tails" really come in handy....have one on my Vortex PST 1-4
Originally Posted By Libilaw:
sooo, optics planet is sold out and i don't want to wait. How good is the burris fullfield II? Is the Ballistic plex reticle that they use on the thinner side? I really do not like thick reticle lines.
To me it's on the thinner side and if you buy off amazon they will let you return it for free if you don't like it.
I'm looking for a scope for the same purpose and am really curious about the nikon. Is that a good deal with the free mount or should I not let that make the decision for me. I like vortex and don't have any experience with redfield. Anymore advice would be helpful
Originally Posted By 9divdoc:
If you could spend a bit more the VX-R 2-7 X 33 Firedot 4 might be ideal.....
I have a 1.25-4 which is quite nice but the 2-7 is what I am looking at for my 6.8 middie
yes. the small lit center dots are about as good as it gets. providing they dim down enough.
I replied in the Mamba scope thread. The Mambas reticle is to bright for night time hunting.
the cheap Primary Arms 1-4 is getting good reviews on some varmint boards. I guess the dot on the PA scope dims down very low and theres no light reflection in the tube. I'm gonna try a couple this fall.
I really don't think you can beat a small low powered lighted dot in a Coyote scope.
Hard to beat a good 3X9 for MOST applications.
Hard to beat a red dot for up close hard chargers or coyotes moving laterally on the run.
