Would appreciate advice on which scope for a 223 for use on small game.
Maximum range 300 yards, 99% within 200 yards.
40mm objective or thereabouts, 14 - 16 maximum power.
Budget under $400

I have a 16x swfa ss on my 700 5R 223 and like it very much. $300. There are folks here who beat on theirs a lot more than I do and speak highly of them as well..

I have a 4-16 on a bolt 223. way too big for my type of shooting.

I recently installed a Redfield Battlezone 3x9 on a light 223
i will use mainly as a bumping around jeep gun. So far it seems a good choice for the purpose. I really like the mildot reticle
for holdover shots. It also has a programed knob for elevation changes on the 223 or a 308. I paid under $200 shipped for it.

6x would work fine or a 3-9x for a variable.

I agree with you. I have a 3-9x40 on my 223 and it is plenty within the usable range of the cartridge, prairie dogs up to whitetails. Top of the morning to you Scott.

3-9x40 or used Leupold 3.5-10x40.

I use my 223 mostly for paper and groundhogs.
A Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 with a varmint reticle works beautifully.
A little over $400 though

Weaver V16 on sale at Natchez. I can't think of anything better under $400 in that power range. I think they are about $150 off regular price right now. Fairly short eye relief but should be fine for a 223.

Depends what you're going to shoot more frequently. If shooting gsquirrels or pdogs, greater magnification is (IMO) a plus, while less magnification may be more useful for shooting called predators.

I have a variety of scopes on my 223s; from a 2-7x33 on my short AR15 to a 6.5-20x40 on a 26" Remington 700 parts gun. My most frequent used 223s are a Remington 7 MS parts guns with a 3-9x33 and a Remington 700 LVSF parts gun with a Weaver 4-16x42. FWIW, Natchez Shooter Supply is currently selling the Weaver 4-16x42s with a 223-Plex reticle for $220. Another less expensive, but good, 4-12x40AO scope that I like is the Sightron S1.

I have 6x18's and 6.5x20's on my 223 - BUT I keep them set at 9 power for field use. I only use the higher magnification for paper shooting.

drover

I tend to run my variable scopes at either extreme, lower magnification when moving and higher magnification when standing over-watch. The Seven MS parts gun with its 3-9x33 is a called predator rifle for tighter creek-bottom cover and probably spends the majority of its time afield set at 3x. The 700 LVSF parts gun is my open country "walking" coyote rifle, so the 4-16x42's higher magnification comes in handy when you spook a coyote and it runs a couple of hundred yards out where it feels safe enough to stop and look back. Sometimes they are safe under cover, but sometimes they leave enough body exposed such that 16x really helps making a long shot on a small target. At least it has worked for me.

Depending on the small game/application, I could be happy with 6x up to about 12x max. For ground squirrels, I've used up to 18x, but my favorite scope for that was an older Vari-X II 4-12 with AO, and I wouldn't go any bigger than that again.

I just use a 1-4x Leupold on mine. Fine for 'yotes to 300 yds.

Most of my shooting with the 16" AR-15 is at shorter ranges.

just looked thru a pair of Vortex 2 x 7 Crossfire Scopes donated by Vortex for our Mickey Coleman Memorial Christmas Youth Project...

I know these are under $400.. but after looking at one of them...
I am not going to replace any Leupolds, but my next scope purchases are going to be Vortex...

they have some nice stuff with some nice features if these low end scopes are any indication...

fine optics...

one my own 223s, which are all bolt guns I have scopes ranging from 1.5 x 4 to 6.5 x 20....they all work fine... for plain simplicity, a good 3 x 9 covers a lot of ground...

My most recent mount on one of them.. on a Ruger VT with a heavy barrel, was a Bushnell AR 223 Optics in 4 x 18....I think it has a lot of features for the price, and the optics are pretty good for my standards... ( but I don't have the best eyesight in the world... but this one works..) my shooting requirements on this rifle are sage rats out to 300 yds normally...many being the height of a 12 oz soda or beer can...only skinnier...

Put a 6x SS with milquad on my lefthanded 223AI build. Like it.

Would say for your applications a leupold 3-9 would be about perfect. Get a model with a holdover reticle any you are set for the ranges you mentioned and beyond.

I would go 3-9x here too for most versatility perhaps. I had a straight 10x on a 22-250 for awhile and that worked out as most of our predator hunting involved shots of at least 200 yds. But that doesn't sound the best for you.

I also am inclined toward proper proportion between glass and platform; ie, I won't put a barbell sized scope on a light CZ 204 or 223 but something more petite and svelte so the balance as well as how it looks to my eye isn't all fubared. So, it depends for me at least, on your rifle too - as I would put a heavier higher powered scope on a "varmint configuration."

I have to agree here. Oustide of getting crazy deals on used, I lean toward Vortex. I would go with their normal diamondback. CameralandNY has their stuff on their demo list. If you ask, they'll also give you an additional 10% off (or at least they were until they move; which is next couple of days).

http://www.cameralandny.com/demos-vortex.html

~$150 for a 3-9 DB or ~$190 for a 3.5-10x50 is a really good deal. Only downside, the models on sale are V-plex if that matters. I do like their BDC though.