Scope for squirrels at 400 yards?

[RopinFool82]

Hey guys, first post here, been checking out the forum for a while. Anyways, I just bought a new Remington SPS Varmint .223 that I will use for everything from squirrels, pigs, coyotes, deer and whatever else I can throw lead at, at ranges from 0 to 400 yards. My question is what sort of scope should I top it with. After doing quite a bit of research I am pretty sold on Nikon. Now the question I have is power. I can only afford about 300 bucks with rings and a base, so that limits me to either a Monarch 3-9x40 or a Buckmaster 4.5-14x40 (or a Burris Fullfield 4.5-14x44). Will a 3-9 suffice for my long distance shooting (taking on squirrels at 400 yards) or am I going to need to step up to the 14 power to shoot at that distance?

Thanks in advance

 

[wildcat]

Ropinfool82, look at one of Leupolds VX-I, Rifleman scopes. I have one in 4x12x40mm with duplex reticle and its a great scope. I paid $245.00 for mine, and I bet you could get bases, rings and scope for around $320.00. I hope this helps you out.

Wildcat

 

[royinidaho]

The Buckmaster 4.5-14!

 

[Dead Beat]

just bought the buckmaster 4.5-14 $259 from the optic zone

DB

 

[Iron Worker]

I just bought a 4x16x40MM Bushnell 4200 Elite from the optic zone for $349.00. I was trying for a used one on e-bay the auction got up to $325.00 . I said dang I can buy a New one for $24 bucks more. Ask optic zone for opinions on elite 4200s. Much better then most mid priced scopes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jssbastiat]

Don't get the 3x9, I'm having the same problem here in alaska trying to get precise head shots on beaver, fox, etc at long distances and the 3x9 is just not enough, for me!....and for the prices these guys have stated for the x14's, etc, that's where i am going!

 

[Desert Fox]

Whatever you choose, make sure it has fine duplex or better yet a dot reticle. I have a Bausch & Lomb Elite 4000 on my 222 Remington Mag, excellent glass and 1/8 click dial, perfect for long range shooting except the darn reticle is so thick for squirrel shooting. At 450 yards, the squirrel can hide in the reticle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Cruise E-Bay and see if you can find an old 8X32 or the 6X24 Burris Signature or a 4X12 or 6X18 Vari-XII Leupold with fine duplex. They can be had for about the price of a Nikon Buckmaster or the Elite 3200. Excellent squirrel scopes IMO.

 

[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]

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 .....