Scope for squirrels at 400 yards?

[mark223]

magnification, retcule patterns etc. is all a matter of taste. However I suggest you get something with 1/4 MOA adjustments, not 1/8th. You'll get between 10 and more likely 15 MOA movement per turret revolution from most 1/4 MOA scopes and only half that from the 1/8 MOA scopes.

Therefore if you shoot at 400 yards you will most likely use around 7 1/2 MOA elevation from a 100 yd zero. That would be all of, maybe more than a full rev of the elev knob. IF you have never missed a target because you were one (or more) full revolutions off, and didn't realize it, then you haven't shot alot of long range stuff yet. Sooner or later you will do it.

The only reason 1/8th or 1/16th clicks exist is to make a false click have less error to it. If you over rotate and and then finish your adjustment with a few "Clockwise" clicks, you eliminate any false click movement, or should I say lack of movement.

In my experience, if a shooter shows up on the line with a scope that has 1/2 MOA or better yet, full MOA clicks, he probably is not new to LR shooting. He will make up any 1/4 MOA diff with slight hold over or under.

Of course, the BEST thing to use is the "best thing" you already own, at least until you can afford something better. A cheap gun with bad glass is more fun than no gun and no glass!

Semper FI .... mark

[locotrician]

stay away from the leupy vxI and rifleman series of scopes they have the leupy name but they are junk. the vxII on up are all good to go but the nikons you mentioned are a better scope then the riflemans/vxI

[Akkill]

Originally Posted by locotrician

stay away from the leupy vxI and rifleman series of scopes they have the leupy name but they are junk. the vxII on up are all good to go but the nikons you mentioned are a better scope then the riflemans/vxI

+1 on that and you will neeed more than 9x on your scope , those squirrels are small and you need not only big magnification power, buy the best glass you can , save a little more and jump to zeiss or khales 1" tubes

[C.E.G2860]

Well the way I look at it, is if you only going to go to 400 yards. use open sights.
But if your looking to shoot them little gray squirrels at long range, like 800 yards or more get a ZEISS 6.5X20 with Rapid Z 1000 reticle. You can hit that squirrel in the head at 1000 yards and not ruin them back straps on that little rascal. Good hunting, and remember tree barking them don't count.
Boy! I can already taste the squirrel pot pie.

[locotrician]

i wanna see you knock a squirrel in the head at 1000 yards .....