I'm in the process of purchasing a LH Ruger Hawkeye .223 and will most likely will buy a new scope for it.

It will be a walking varmint rifle but I'll shoot more from the bench than in the field.

I would like to keep my purchase at approximately the same price as the rifle ($600 or so) and would be interested in hearing what others would recommend. Power, objective bell diameter, reticle and quality are all to be considered.

So lets have a good discussion of your favorites, non-favorites and some you just wonder about.

I put my money on most the recomendations your going to get will be the Nikon brand line. Seems like a good made product and the prices are right. Im sure the Leupold scopes are nice, but there price tag is crazy sometimes for us weekend warrior hunters and shooters who only make 50k per year...

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most the recomendations your going to get will be the Nikon brand line

There's better and there's cheaper, but the value for what you pay is exceptional. A $150 Prostaff is a much, much better value than many scopes costing 2x as much.

LWD

Easy-peasy... I'd call Doug from www.cameralandny.com and see if he still has a Zeiss Conquest available from this sale (he likely does):

http://forums.accuratereloadin...241080711#1241080711

I personally like the 6.5-20x50, but I could easily live with a 4.5-14x44.... (in fact, I have 2 of those). Both the 6.5-20 and the 4.5-14 are EXCELLENT scopes!

I have tried to save on scopes many times. I have bought Weaver Grand Slam, Nikon Monarch, you name it - because they were supposed to be as good as the Zeiss for less $$$. Sadly, with all these scopes, there was always something that was not just right - the Grand Slam was very difficult to adjust for diopter, the Nikon never produced small groups etc etc. In the end, in mid-priced scopes, there were very few scope lines I was always completely happy with: Zeiss Conquest and (if I could pay the extra $$$) Swaro AV. Leupolds have been good to me, but IMHO they don't quite compare to the Zeiss in optical quality, and they are fairly pricey these days. But I do like Leupold scopes, the service is second to none and they have finally improved their adjustment mechanisms for vindage and elevation.

- mike

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Have you looked at a Sightron SII or SII Big Sky?

I'd have to second Mike on the Zeiss Conquest. I have a 4.5-14 on my Sako 223 and IMHO it's about the perfect scope for that setup. I like the side-focus it's optically excellent and they have some good reticles available..................DJ

for a walking rifle my favorite is a 4-14 or 4-16 type. nikon is excellent as are others. watch the physical dimensions, to big isn't a good thing to walk around with. if it were me on a ruger 223 i'd put a nixon 4-14 buckmaster or monarch & spend the rest on ammo

What type of varmints are you shooting? Coyotes, Bobcats or prairie dogs?
IF they are larger varmints you might want to try a 6 X 42 Leupold with a fine crosshair or dot. If you are shooting smaller critters than you may want more magnification. I have a older Sako Vixen in 223 with a Leu 6 X 42 and it works great.

EZ