Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scope for a walking varminter

Thats pretty much where Im at. The 4 power for any calling I might do (havent been in years), 6-9 power for groundhogs. I like the option of going higher than 9 for target work, which is what this rifle is primarily used for. Ive always favored low power variables and 4, 6x. Never owned a scope over 9x, so kinda an itch I want to scratch.

I'm a pretty big fan of the Weaver scopes also. For the money they are hard to beat! They tend to have a little less forgiving eye relief or sweet spot in them compared to some of your higher end scopes but the glass and appearance of the reticle are pretty decent.

A 4-12 RedField Revolution would also be a solid choice.


... there's lots of options

I hear ya, I was a 2-7 guy for a lot of years, usually a Leupold VX-1 or II, then I tried a weaver classic V7, wow. Still my favotite short tube scope. I've always wanted a V16, but not sure they are worth twice the cost of so e of the other 4-12/14 options. Natchez had a sale on then which I missed out on, might wait a while and see if they run it again.

Have you ever had the chance to look through or use a RedField Revolution? I run several on rifles and rate them about same as my Weavers ... maybe even a touch better. They tend to be a bit heavier overall and the power adjustment seems a little harder or stiffer to turn but that would be my only minor complaints or opinions. Glass, reticle, eye relief, and FOV are all nice!

Fixate the things that steer boolits and forget the Fluff.

The 6X MQ Fixed Fhuqker has no equal and is at ease at spittin' distances,or at a mile or better.

I do it daily.

Hint.

Feel free to regale us with lies of "varmint" killin...... laffin

More magnification with good glass trumps less magnification with good glass.

To make a blanket statement like that is just simply trolling or you just simply are that naive...

My rifles are all walking varminters 223...2-222's....17Rem...17FB. They all wear Leupolds with plex reticules.

VX3 2.5-8 is my favorite but if I'm shooting any kind of distance my old peepers like a 3.5-10 or 4.5-14.

Anything over 14X is too heavy and mirage becomes a problem.

Last 3 walking varmint rifles wore:

Leupold 3-9X EFR
Redfield Revolution 4-12X
Leupold 4-12X AO VX2.

Wish the Gold Ring Boys made the full size 3-9X AO again.

I have a 2.5-8X but it's going on a deer rifle. Think it a little small up front in looks, for a chuck/yote zapper.

Hard to beat the SWFA 6x. Fast reticle, clear glass, great internals, unbeatable price. I use a SWFA 10x because they never show up close for me.

SWFA 6x42 works for me......

Leupold 3x-9x works very well for me.
This coyote was about 65 yards away when I killed it.


This was around 200 yards away. Killed it up in Northern New Mexico,January 2016.


I leave the scope on 6x and have no problems with coyotes near or far.

TomM1: I am a "Leupold kind of guy" through and through and have "walking" type Varminters with BOTH the power ranges you mention.
My advice is this buy a quality scope in either power range but be sure it has the adjustable objective feature.
And my first choice in brands is a toss-up between the wonderful Weaver V-16 and the ever trustworthy and American made Leupold 4x12 with A/O both with the Du-Plex style reticle.
Best of luck with whichever you choose - DON'T though skimp on scope power - there WILL be times when your "walking Varminter" will need that 12 or 16 power top end!
I know, I been there.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Two things that have virtually disappeared from the market that were very useful IMHO are 8x scopes and crosshair reticles. Way back when, I had a Garcia Sako .223 with a Lyman 8x scope. The fine crosshair (crosswire) reticle in that scope was perfect for the purpose. I bitterly regret trading that little jewel for something else that was soon gone with the wind.

I think that a fine reticle is worth a couple of Xs of power for shooting that requires close holding and keeps the flexibility of a lower power for shooting up close and offhand and other less-than-steady positions. For your use, I'd think about one of the fixed 6 Leupys with the wide duplex or better, a Custom Shop crosshair.

Or just find an older fixed 8 somewhere.

T3 in 223 VX3 2.5-8 with a M1 elevation turret.

Received 2 weeks ago the SWFA3-15x42 Great quality FFP scope, illuminated reticle, glass coating, also got the lever. Expensive but excellent

I topped my sporter 22-250 with a Redfield 3-9. Before that, it was a Leupold fixed 4. I may go back to the 4.

Any good 3-9 or 4-12 scope of your favorite brand.

What I don't get is those who advise an adjustable objective (AO). What is the point? Most scopes are parallax free at 100 - 150 yds, if the varmint is closer then just shoot it, you will not have time to adjust the AO anyway. If it is a further then just shoot it - parallax will be a minimal, if any, issue.

drover