I need to get a scope for prairie dog and coyote hunting for my .22-250. I’d like to keep it under $1100. I would ideally like an illuminated reticle but also like the looks of the Leupold Varmint Hunter reticle, which isn’t available illuminated.

Which of these would be the best set up and which other scopes should I consider?:

Leupold 4.5-14x50 VX-3 with Varmint Hunter reticle

Leupold 4.5-14x50 VX-3 with one of the available illuminated reticles (which one?)

Trijicon AccuPoint 5-20x50 (which reticle and which color illumination?)

Jack,
I have no experience with coyotes, but any scope with a Leupold VH reticle is supreme for prairie dogs. I have a VH 6.5-20x on my 22-250 and love it. However, it looks like the 4.5-14 only has the Boone and Crocket illuminated reticle, so I would go with the standard VH reticle.

At that price point, look at a Zeiss Conquest.

LWD

A Weaver tactical is also worth a look.

MFH

I'd choose the Leupold 4.5-14 with the B&C or VHR, but I'd go to the 40mm objective as the 50mm does nothing for you (other than weigh more, cost more, and place your eye so high that your cheek is off of the stock comb) unless you wish to actually hunt by moonlight unaided by artificial light.

Stonecreek--Hunting by moonlight unaided by artificial light, doubtful a person could tell the difference between the two. The 40 at 8X and the 50 at 10X would be identical in that dept.

Of the three, VX-3 4.5-14x50mm Long Range Illuminated Reticle. I'm not a prairie dog shooter but I would think the illuminated dot reticle would be good for small targets.


http://www.leupold.com/hunting...range-illum-reticle/

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:
At that price point, look at a Zeiss Conquest.

LWD

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