Scope suggestions for a new coyote rig

[Schilly97]

I've recently acquired a new coyote rifle it's a custom built 22-250ai and I'm curious what everyone is running for scopes or something they would suggest. Preferably looking for something with a 50 mm objective or bigger

[marky_mark]

What’s your budget

[elkhunter11]

I have the Zeiss HD5 3-15×42 on all of my varmint rifles. I would be looking at the Zeiss V4 or V6 series scopes in 3-12, or 3-18 magnification. If you go with good optics, you don't need a 50mm objective, but if you want more weight and a higher mounted scope, bot the V4 and V6 are available in 50mm.

[Schilly97]

[QUOTE=marky_mark;4245786]What’s your budget[/QUOTE

Don't really have one lol I want a good scope I don't want any cheap vortex junk

[EZM]

I'd have a look at one of these ...

Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x56mm CDS-ZL2

Low magnification for those crazy running coyote circus shoots and enough magnification to get him out to 500 yards or more

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/compa...5x56mm-cds-zl2

[blackburbot]

Sightron makes good glass for reasonable price. With the new nightforce NX8 on the market lots of "older" ATACR are great prices now on gun nutz.

[Dean2]

If you have the sheckles hard to beat the Swaro 3.5x18x44. I can see game at 600 yards WAY past legal shooting light so no need for bigger objectives unless you are hunting where night shooting is legal. I also used a Leupold 3.5x14x40 VX3 shooting hogs in Texas at night. No illuminated reticle, though that would have been handy, but also no problem shooting hogs to 250 yards at 1 in the morning. I will say that sometimes the big objective is handy. Used a Lieca 3x10x72 night shooting tiny deer in Germany with no snow and little moon. That Leica made it look like daylight despite bush in the background and dark ground in the foreground.

[rafternk]

Wolverine Sports Red Deer has near new VX3 6.5 X 20 X 50 stainless with rings set up with ballistic 22-250 turret and Sunshade in original box with transferable warranty for sale. I think you were asking $1100 for it. I was looking for a matte finish or it would be on my 22-250.

[Twisted Canuck]

Without breaking the bank, I put an older (NIB) Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x 50mm on my .22-250. It is a good scope for the money imo.

https://www.wolverinesupplies.com/pr...16x-50mm-matte



If you wanted something better, I'd look at the Leica ER scopes (I have a 3.5-14x on my 7mm Rem Mag, with fine duplex). Those are pricey, but amazing optics.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gu...a-er-35-14x42/

[Popcan]

Try to get a scope that runs at least 18 / /22 /24 Magnification. may not always use it but it's nice when it's availalbe in certain circumstances. A notch in the belt is a notch in is a notch in the belt. The more options at your finger tips the better.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Popcan

Try to get a scope that runs at least 18 / /22 /24 Magnification. may not always use it but it's nice when it's availalbe in certain circumstances. A notch in the belt is a notch in is a notch in the belt. The more options at your finger tips the better.

I am more concerned with the minimum magnification, I want no more than about 3x on the lower end, when a coyote comes running in, but won't stop, so I have to shot it on the run at close range. 12-15x is plenty of magnification , even for long range shots.

[Osky]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I am more concerned with the minimum magnification, I want no more than about 3x on the lower end, when a coyote comes running in, but won't stop, so I have to shot it on the run at close range. 12-15x is plenty of magnification , even for long range shots.

Well said. I always thought putting them in my lap was the goal no?
These days everyone wants to kill them 3 kilometers away.... times change.

Osky

[tikka250]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I am more concerned with the minimum magnification, I want no more than about 3x on the lower end, when a coyote comes running in, but won't stop, so I have to shot it on the run at close range. 12-15x is plenty of magnification , even for long range shots.

I totaly agree! The avg coyote kill is about 150 yards on a called in dog. My main rig is a 3x9 and it has accounted for coyotes out to 400 yards. If I decide to upgrade it will be a 4-16 just for a little more on the odd long range coyote.

[Dick284]

[Lefty-Canuck]

I actually just put a 1-8x24 RITON Tactix X3 on my coyote rig, I think it’s going to be awesome for a calling setup. It’s on a semi .223, 200m max is good for a calling rifle.

LC

[coyotecaller]

I agree with lower magnification. My average coyote distance called in around 80 yards. And we like em within shotgun range. If you’re shooting over a bait, then yes for sure, you’ll need/want that big magnification. But calling, you should be able to get em close. We shoot anything broadside under 100 yards. And when calling, we can tell when a coyote is gonna sit in our laps or hang up.

[catnthehat]

favorite magnification for me on baits is a 3-9X, I have taken dogs out as far as 371 yards with the Duece using 3-9X
if I am cruising and spotting I often would take another rifle with a higher power scope and longer range cartridge, but the .222 has ben my goto for over 40 years
Cat

[FishOutOfWater]

Originally Posted by Schilly97

Don't really have one, lol I want a good scope. I don't want any cheap Vortex junk.

So buy a high-end Vortex... Or a mid-range, depending on the conditions you plan on using the rifle. You get what you pay for.

Is this rifle going to be exclusively shot off your patio, or do you care if a $3000 optic gets beat up while slugging your rifle thru the bush ?

What is your intended range of engagement ? Under 250 yards only ? Under 500 yards ? Up to 1000 ?

Do you plan on ranging the animal, and dialing ? Or do you want a "point & shoot" dealio ?

Here's a list of optics used at the latest ELR (extremely long range) Match in Wyoming. Gives you an idea of what brands the Pro's use.

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/...unt-and-rings/

Below you can see what scope brands the 100+ shooters surveyed used in this year’s Wyoming ELR match:

[FishOutOfWater]

You should look at the Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56mm, the locking turrets come in handy when in the bush.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/14194...56-riflescopes

BTW, I have a Vortex HS-T (6-24x50mm) on my 223 coyote rig...
Works just fine, had the scope 5 years and still dials & returns to zero perfectly.

[Big Lou]

I’ve been searching for the perfect coyote optic for some time now. I’m still undecided if it exists but depending on your hunting style, there are options that come darn close. All the bases and rational have been covered in previous posts. I call 90% of the time and pack a rifle + shotgun so I’ve played with a few combinations. Right around 50% of coyotes I take are with the shotty. 6.5-20x56 I did not care for besides just driving around. 4-12-40 was doable but I found 4x was still a touch much for my preference on the low end. 3-18x44 is very nice and I’ve adopted a couple of those on big game rigs, I liked them so much. The rifle I’ve been running most as of late wears a 2.5-16x44 and I love it also. Very functional and I’ve done some pretty fast and close in work on the low end. I tried getting away from packing two guns for a bit, running a bull pup rifle with a 2x red dot. Really liked this pairing but didn’t cover all my bases but my goodness, you can stack up multiple fast movers in close in short order. I’ve been deliberating building a specific calling rifle. Depending on weight and balance established, I’d give heavy consideration to a 2.5-8 or 2.5-10 if the rifle ended up being on the more compact/lighter weight side. Not very often do I find myself needing much more on the big end than that. But that’s just me.

[KBF]

Odds are if you walk around if the ice and snow enough, you are eventually gonna fall and land on it. At least that’s what I do. Got an old weaver K6 wide angle eye piece( think that’s what it is) has a big dent in the tube and still works. Sometimes I wonder why I took it off

[teledogs]

I use a Zeiss Conquest 5-25x50 on my 223. The rifle is used for coyotes mainly but I use it for long range gophers and paper/gongs to 700 yards so far. The extra magnification is great for smaller targets at long range but I rarely (if ever) use it for coyotes, usually 10-15x max for coyotes. Plus I don't push the 223 past 300 yards on yotes. I think the scope is great but if it was solely a coyote rig I'd probably go with a plain Leupold 4.5-14x40. Good luck with your decision, lots of opinions here.

[HuntWithABrittany]

Originally Posted by Schilly97

I've recently acquired a new coyote rifle it's a custom built 22-250ai and I'm curious what everyone is running for scopes or something they would suggest. Preferably looking for something with a 50 mm objective or bigger

I have a Vortex 6-24x50 with a 30mm tube and illuminated reticle, sun shade and a level. Amazing scope for the price. I got the mrad version which is 0.1 mrads per click (about 0.36" at 100 yards) with 2nd focal plane, but now I have to do all my ballistics tables in mrads instead of inches. Keep in mind if you're at max zoom you have to have a good cheek weld and proper scope positioning to quickly find the animal in the scope. You can use it at other zooms but then you have to multiply your mrads. Like 12x zoom is 2x mrads, 6x zoom is 4x mrads, etc.

[6.5 shooter]

Leupold VX11- 2-7x or a Bushnell SC- 2.5x8.... plenty of scope

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by FishOutOfWater

So buy a high-end Vortex... Or a mid-range, depending on the conditions you plan on using the rifle. You get what you pay for.

Is this rifle going to be exclusively shot off your patio, or do you care if a $3000 optic gets beat up while slugging your rifle thru the bush ?

What is your intended range of engagement ? Under 250 yards only ? Under 500 yards ? Up to 1000 ?

Do you plan on ranging the animal, and dialing ? Or do you want a "point & shoot" dealio ?

Here's a list of optics used at the latest ELR (extremely long range) Match in Wyoming. Gives you an idea of what brands the Pro's use.

the pro's use???

those guys even kill coyotes? good lord man

maybe see what a guy like les johnson runs on his .22-250 and then we can talk, this a coyote hunting thread fyi, not some wanna be sniper rifle thread

the pro's to refer here would be those that win coyote calling championships or contests, what do they run?

cripes even if you prefer to road them from black dodge dually off the pool noodle, you don't need those telescopes...lmfao, this thread about to be lit

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

Leupold VX11- 2-7x or a Bushnell SC- 2.5x8.... plenty of scope

i was thinking the same thing for magnification ranges, i'm all leupold though, you'd get most of em that way no doubt, still dial up those hangers if you needed to, those are low odd opportunities anyway

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Osky

Well said. I always thought putting them in my lap was the goal no?
These days everyone wants to kill them 3 kilometers away.... times change.

Osky

Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x 50mm ishhhh sounds about perfect.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

the pro's use???

those guys even kill coyotes? good lord man

maybe see what a guy like les johnson runs on his .22-250 and then we can talk, this a coyote hunting thread fyi, not some wanna be sniper rifle thread

the pro's to refer here would be those that win coyote calling championships or contests, what do they run?

cripes even if you prefer to road them from black dodge dually off the pool noodle, you don't need those telescopes...lmfao, this thread about to be lit

Les uses a Simmons 6-24 predator quest scope. And a shotgun

Dog soldier runs an axeon 4-16x50

Al Morris uses nightforce and us optics

Torry Cook runs a shotgun

Just for starters

Not sure what tony tebbe prefers??

[Stinky Coyote]

lol, slight backfire there, was that post sponsorship, what did he use to win all those competitions

i got the old dvd's from before he sold himself, from recollection he was 4-16 at best and was a good running shot at many hundreds of yards, and to his credit he called very open country 99 percent of the time, so that is a consideration on magnification but he had his close range stuff covered with the shotty

argument for a one gun only guy, you don't want to be 6x on the minimum side, another issue i have is putting lots of stands in, i tried varmint large scope rigs and most of the time the handling and slowness of them was a hinderance not a help, best coyote calling rig i had was a cz 527 american .204 ruger with a 3-9x type scope, it was quick handling and easy to one hand on the sticks to get in position etc. a joy to carry for many stands a day, as long as you scope or reticle for some hangers then it's tough to beat the lower or general purpose big game hunting magnifications for a coyote scope

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

lol, slight backfire there, was that post sponsorship, what did he use to win all those competitions

Most of those guys are sponsored now. For comp hunts many are taken with shotguns.

And of the day pick something you can afford in a magnification you think will work best for you.
Personally I like the 2.5-10, 4-12 range. Killed some dogs wayy out there with both up top of an accurate 22-250, but can also smack the close up hard chargers.