Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Suggestions for a well balanced scope for a Sako Vixen 222 Rem?

I'm edging closer to buying the Sako Vixen in 222 Remington that's been calling my name. The gun has a sporter weight barrel, not varmint contour, and it would most likely see service as a "walking varminter" or as second-gun to my Bushmaster LRPV AR during ground squirrel shoots.

That said: what scopes should I be looking at? I don't want to overwhelm the gun with a big 30mm 6.5-20, but I do want the capability to take ground squirrels out to 250 yards. Since the gun will be carried a bit, I'm willing to sacrifice power, and some optical quality, in return for good balance and handling.

M8 6x36

Dang, I just sold one of those

Get another.

Or, an M8 4x or FX-II 4x or 6x36.

A few pics may be of value,



Sako vixen (varmint) in 222 with Leupold 6 x 20 x 40 vari-X III,
Sako S491 in 222, 4 x 12 x 40 nikon monarch
Sako AII, sporter weight 220 swift w/ Leupold 2.5 x 8 Vari X III

While not a Sako, this cooper in 22 hornet model 38, though a single shot, would qualify as walking varminter. It sports a 4.5 x 14 x 40 Leupold vari x III which to my way of thinking does not over power the rifle.


GWB

Thanks Geedubya!

I have a 6x36 leupold on mine But a 2.5-8 vx3 gives a little more eyesight range and is almost the same size , Don't make the usual mistake of Bigger is better, it will make the little rifle unbalanced. also if you go bigger, higher mounts will be required.

Pull that Leupold 2.5-8x off the classifieds before I buy it and you end up spending more for a scope that's no better for your 222. I have a similarly configured rifle with a Weaver K6 (Japanese made) that's about perfect as a walking varminter. Ward

Sorry Ward, that scope sold an hour or so ago I want a top end of a bit more than 8x if I'm going to have any more weight than I would have with a fixed 6x.

I have an old sporter weight bofors 223 vixen with a 1971 vintage 3x9 leupold (its a 41mm objective) i know a 3x9 is "boring" but it works well. popped a coyote with mine a couple of weeks ago.

I had a 7.5x M8 on a L579 243 and it was at that time one of my most consistent gun/scope combo setups for mid range varmint shooting next to a 223 with a 12x. Simple/effective, lil more zoom than your 6x's.

Keeping the weight in check and balance is a great thing to do. It will 'feel better' handle better and let you squeeze with confidence in field positions w/o wanting to hurry the trigger.

A 4-12 or 4-14 would be my 'highest end' of a variable but a svelte 8x36 M8 would be perfect if you found one IMHO. Would look and balance very nicely, PA is set at 300 on the non ao. The AO model has a 42 or so obj. as the 7.5s (latter came/w and w/o AO).

65BR: that's what I was thinking, the older fixed power 8's and 10's were wonderfully balanced.

To update the thread: I got a good deal on a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 with their wide duplex range estimating reticle for this project; I'm going to the store tomorrow to give the Vixen another looking at and if all is well, she'll be coming home with me tomorrow. Will advise; thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

I recently picked up a Krico 222 Rem and grabbed one of the Pentax Pioneer's that Doug is selling for $90. Same scope as the Burris FF-II so a bargain that is all I need for a 222.

Well, got down to the store earlier than I had expected to be able to and gave the rifle a better looking over. In light of what I've learned about Sako's in the past week I decided to pass, the markings looked faint and the bluing was matte which indicated to me that it had been refinished; the stock was a very nicely done copy of the original, the different forearm dimensions gave that away. So, all in all it just wasn't a good buy.

I recently bought a Sako 243 cobbled together by a long gone local gunsmith. It shoots well and that's the problem. The stock is a total abomination, it needs to be reblued and the barrel is probably a Douglas with an unknown round count as that's what the local smith used most. I didn't pay much but the rollover comb, inlays and Tasmanian Tigerwood stock make me go to the range when no one else is there to see what I'm shooting. Ward

O45, there will be more, search the auction sites, they trade hands often it seems. Personally, when it comes to 22s, I like the Deuce and Fireball myself, though understand the ammo/brass advantage to the 223.

Btw, I had a 10x ao and a few 12x. The 10x AO w/duplex seemed 'just not quite enough' on longer shots/smaller targets but my 12x, an M8 AO as well, using a CPC reticle NEVER was found lacking as very useful in field. A 24x drove me nuts and was relegated to paper only. I do think Leupold would have a place for a comeback w/7.5 and/or 8x fixed, but the fixed power market is obviously not a large one, no fault of the scopes IMHO, just not what the industry has pumped. I think those 2 w/AO would be the ticket on a light vixen, but a 12x would give you a lil more for paper/load refinement and you would never be lacking I believe in power to shoot w/in your criteria at those small rodents.

As good as the latest FX series glass is, the old M8s are very good scopes IMHO. Always up to the tasks when I did my part.

I got Leupie's VX3 4.5-14x40 AO w/ varmint hunter reticle on my .223rem. Still need to play with it more. Just got it sight in,and put on paper at 100yards. Haven't play with it at longer ranges yet. Hard to find ammo right now.

Leo