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I was going to use a FX3 6x42 on my .223 for coyotes but am wondering if I should goto a variable with more power?


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The 6x will be fine.

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Originally Posted by harv3589
I was going to use a FX3 6x42 on my .223 for coyotes but am wondering if I should goto a variable with more power?


All the time. Good choice.



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Originally Posted by harv3589
I was going to use a FX3 6x42 on my .223 for coyotes but am wondering if I should goto a variable with more power?


Good choice. The best wolfer I ever knew, a long time pro, used a fixed 4 power. FWIW I'd be more concerned about wanting less power once in awhile than needing more. laugh



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Yep, 6x36 w/fine tapered crosswire on my Ruger #3 Swift, shot lots! One day I got 3 in about 10 seconds, Mom and kids, she got it first then the youngin's ran straight away, bad move.-Muddy

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I use a 3-10x40 and 98% of the time it sits on 6X.

Should be darn near perfect for most calling situations.

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You are asking a question on if a 6x will be good for you, not giving information as to your type of calling terrain. If you are hunting in thick brush were 50-65 yard shots are long shots, then 6x may be too much. If you hunt in terrain with scattered brush and 125 yds is a long shot, you are border line good with 6x.

If you are hunting in open terrain, with scattered trees and brush, you are probably good to go.

6x trying to pick up a coyote coming in on a hard run at 35 yards will be on top of you in 2 seconds and the shot will be taken at 15-5 yards. Chances are you will be taking this shot after he has seen or winded you on his way back out with his after burners on...difficult indeed.

I would take a 2-8, 3x9, 3.5-10, 3-12 over a fixed 6x anyday. It is always great to have options.

I hunted coyotes all over the West and Mexico for years. I tried every type of scope on the market for flexibility. We hunted in all kinds of terrain from close in brush to the wide open areas of N. Nevada and farm areas in S. Arizona.

My favorite scopes for all applications are the old Burris signature 3x-12x, 4-14 Leupold, and the 4x16 Bushnell.

Coyote rifles are also crow, jackrabbit, and rock chuck rifles.

I tried the 1-4,1-5, in close quarters, but in those situations, I was better served by a 12ga with 3" mag #4 buck. When the coyotes get in real close, they are hauling azz from seeing/smelling you or your partner or your tracks. When a coyote has the afterburners on at ranges of 45 yards and less, a full choke 12ga with #4 buck is a hands down winner every time.

In the mid 80's, we had some terrific number of coyote hunters in the S. Ca. area. On a State Hunt, there were as many as 300 hunters or more leaving check out to go and hunt. The Leupold 3.5x10 was the scope that dominated in the teams. In those days hunting in Mexico, we would get as many as 56 animials on a weekend competition hunt, with many teams getting 30-50 animals, all kinds of distances an terrains were encountered.

I knew all the top contenders that would represent the top 20 teams and you would not ever catch a fixed power anything on one of their rifles. We all met at the rifle ranges(few as they were), talked of guns, loads, etc. In all teams that were in the top 20, the Leupold 3.5x10's and some form of 3x-9x were on most all the guns, and when Leupold came out with the 4x14, about 40-50% of the teams switched to it, or at least on their back up rifle.

Terrain has a huge impact on the scope that you choose, along with your particular ability to pick up moving targets.

It is just a hobby, so enjoying playing around with what could be right for you and your hunting terrain.

Good luck

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I think keith is spot on.

Your hunting style and terrain dictate your scope selection, if you hunt open country a 6x will work well. Mixed terrain will change things a lot. Waist high sage, manzanitas and greasewood can have coyotes at your shoelaces before you see them, sitting on a mound 300yrds away, sneaking across an opening or coming down a hillside out there a ways.

I like a 1.5x6 scope on a bolt gun and most of my shots are on 1.5x. On a combo gun I use a 1x4. I always keep them on the lowest power, it's hard to dial them down on a close shot but you have plenty of time to dial them up when a coyote is out there a ways.

A coyotes kill zone is fairly large and it isn't that hard to make long shots even on 1x or 1.5x.


After the first shot the rest are just noise.

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It will be mainly open country...so it sounds like the 6x will work just fine


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Originally Posted by harv3589
It will be mainly open country...so it sounds like the 6x will work just fine


Dang right it will Rob, good luck!

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Keith,

Nice post explaining why the contest hunters used variable scopes in your area.

One question about those hunts you mentioned back in the mid 80's, were they hunting all night too? I was just wondering if the higher magnification might really help when you have eyeballs in the light at 200 yards.

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Originally Posted by keith
Originally Posted by harv3589
It will be mainly open country...so it sounds like the 6x will work just fine


Dang right it will Rob, good luck!


Thanks Keith!


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Keith for 90%of use intended the 6x will be great.You would be amased at just how far 6x will let you shoot in hunting situations...ScottyO

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I like a variable. When I hunt the corn fields and such I take my rifle topped with a Leupold VXII in 4-12x40. My woods is real thick where 60-70 yards is all I can see. There I take my AR15 topped with a Trijicon 1 1/4-4 power scope.

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I doubt that a 6x scope would be the limiting factor in how far you can shoot a coyote in a hunting situation.


After the first shot the rest are just noise.

Make mine a Minaska

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Big fan of the Leupold 6X36mmAO.


DMc


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Thats what I use 90% of the time, Leupold 6x36. Doesn't stop me from shooting waaay out there. Don't always hit, but a 12x wouldn't help me with that!

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These threads always crack me up.


"Give a lazy man the toughest job, and he will find the easiest way to do it"
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Originally Posted by FC363
These threads always crack me up.


Why?

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For a few years, I killed called Coyotes with a Ruger #1 and a 6.5X20 Leupold. 6.5 power was too much in a lot of my situations; but I made it work because that's what I had. I prefer something like a 3X9 or 3.5X10.

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