I need some advice on a scope for a .22-250 AI that I just ordered. I am currently using a Leupold fixed 14x. I'm OK out to 250 yards or so but after that the woodchucks start to get preety small. I'm not opposed to a variable power scope but I would like one with fine crosshairs.

Any suggestions? What seems to be the best scope for woodchucks out to 350 yards?

Thanks for your time.

I use a 3x9 on mine and it works good out to 650-800 yards for coyotes and such.
The brand is up to you.

Well, my 22-250 AI wears a 4.5 X 14 Leupold scope and I have no complaints with it.

I guess you could move up to a 6.5 X 20 scope if you feel you need the magnification. I have them on several heavy barreled 22-250 rifles and my 6mm Remington. With the 6mm Remington I have killed prairie dogs at over 750 yards, so that scope should serve you well for long range.

I changed the scope on my 40XBR 22-250AI PD rifle, a few years ago. I went with the Leupold fixed 24X AO BR scope, with a fine duplex reticle.

It works very well for longer shots on small critters........that is....until the mirage gets bad.

Kevin


Kevin

On my .22-250, I have a Leupold 6.5-20x with the fine crosshair and dot. This rig got me into the Varmint Hunters Assn 500 yard club with multiple kills witnessed at over 600yds. One was a laser-measured 702. Yeah, ridiculous, but I just had to try it. Took four shots.

My varmint rifles are scoped with different optics, something usually on sale or discounted at closeout.

I really am fond of the now discontinued Bushnell Elite 4200 in 6-24x 40mm I bought several at closeout. Also like the Leupold 6-18x VX-II with fine duplex reticle, a bit lighter scope. The .22-250 A.I. I'm building will wear a Nikon Monarch 6-24x 50mm Side Focus scope I have on hand at first, the Nikons do not have the optical clarity of the others to my eye, so it will be replaced by a Burris Black Diamond 6-24x-50 with special order fine duplex reticle. Even the Clearidge Ultra XP 6-20x-40mm from The Optic Zone is a great bargain at $320, they have the optical quality of the Bushnell Elite 4200 (made in the same factory with the same glass) in a no frills package. The Weaver Grand Slam is another good choice. Having begun varmint hunting with nothing more than Leupold 3-9x scopes in the late 1960's I find most modern scopes to be superior instruments without breaking the bank.

I use 10-12 power on my scopes for prairie dogs, that enables shooting out to 500+ without a spotter.
The reduced field of veiw at higher magnification makes it harder to see the hits or misses and I like to see the hits. I do have 6-24, 5-20, and 4.5x14 and usually shoot all around 10-12x.

Mine is topped with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14. I usually hunt yotes, so it sits around 6 power most of the time. Since you are wearing a 14 already and want more power, you will obviously want something with 20 or 24x.

I am an advocate of buying the best you can afford, and I usually follow the "buy nice or buy twice" rule. But, if money is an issue, the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 is a very impressive scope considering its price tag.

My limit for any rifle short of bench rest competition is 4x12 and 3x9 suits me fine..

It amazes me that some can belive in their minds that scope power makes them a better shot..

My rock chuck rifles are 3x9s or 2x7s, so I can make the close shots and the long shots..

I had a friend of mine who had a big target 4 x 22 as I recall..He missed about half a dozen coyotes because he couldn't find them. I finally turn his scope down to 4X to his dismay he killed every dog he shot at for two days running and some at very long range.

the big scopes just have too much paralax to deal with and heat waves are the culpritt here in Idaho...Much of our varmint shooting it over the hood of a pickup and the heat comes up and really messes with a powerful scope.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve A:
Mine is topped with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14. I usually hunt yotes, so it sits around 6 power most of the time. Since you are wearing a 14 already and want more power, you will obviously want something with 20 or 24x.

I am an advocate of buying the best you can afford, and I usually follow the "buy nice or buy twice" rule. But, if money is an issue, the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 is a very impressive scope considering its price tag.

Well said Steve A, I own a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 and wouldn't hesitate to buy another for a calling rifle! Coincidentally I also have a 4.5-14 power on my 22-250 a Burris FFII, all anybody would need, even for the long shots!

mine wears a 6-24

If you are going above 14X I would recommend a good quality variable, like a leupold or a Night Force.

That way on high mirage days you can dial down the power.

My favorite 22.250 is a Model 70 SA and it wears a 6.5 x 20 Leupold on top...

The very best varmint scope, IMHO, is the Leupold 16X target scope with fine crosshairs. They don't make these anymore. I have three of them, on .223, 22-250 and 6mm Rem rifles. The optical quality is unbeatable! I have been tempted to try one of the new Leupold variables with the varmint hunter reticle, but haven't so far. I also have a .243 with a 4-12 Vari-x II and friction dials. It does very well, too, but the resolution on the variables doesn't seem quite on par with the fixed 16X. I had the same scope in 24X, but it's too much mirage and blacks out easily under recoil. The mechanical repeatability of Leupold scopes, in my experience, is hard to beat. It's resolution that counts, not magnification. I can detect a groundhog's nose peeking out at 1000 yds with any of these 16X Leupolds.

It's all a trade off. If you go to more power, your field of veiw suffers and mirage can play havoc. I tried a 24x FCH and a 36 FCH and was not at all satisfied. The field of view made it damn near impossible to find the dogs on out there and mirage quickly became a problem. And too, focus was on on going thing since at that power, a difference of just a few feet can get your target all fuzzy. I finally found a 6x14 FCH AO was about right for me. I wasn't having to constantly fiddle with the AO and I could spot the dogs with a lesser power and then dial in on them.

6.5 x 20 Leupold. I've got 3.

I also run a Leupold 6.5-20x50 LR/T w/varmint reticle on my 22-250AI..... It's a very nice piece of glass.... The reticle does a great job with wind and distance estimations, practice, practice.... I'm still running 55gr VMAX at about 3800fps....

A 4x16 is what I used forever on my 22-250 and a 3x9 on my .22 long rifle.
Believe it or not even a well hit prairie dog can still crawl off after being well hill with a .22-250 at 320-340 yards.

You will have a wonderful time on this trip.
Oh yeah Figure @ 1000 round a day with the .22 and @ 150 or so for the .22-250 and alternate them espescially the .22-250 to prolong the barrel If it gets too hot to touch use the .22 for a while.
Cal30

Not that my opinion is any more or any less correct than any one else's, but I use a 3x9x40 on one 22-250 and a 6x18x40 on the other.
I like my 6-18x40, don't get me wrong, but I can agree with what some are saying about too much magnification. I suppose this is why I have held on to the 3-9x40.
Ultimately, I guess it depends on the kind of shooting you plan on and the range you expect to be at when so doing. I think that the "correct answer" here is that about all the scopes have their place and or applications.
Secretly, the main reason for having these two particular scopes mounted to my rifles; I bought them as a package deal and that is what they happened to be wearing at the gun shop....
And I prefer the word "frugal", rather than "cheap-skate".

I like my Bushnell 6500 scopes. Good glass for the money. I mounted 4.5-30x50 on my varmint guns. I also use 2.5-16x42 on some rifles. These scopes are a great value.

I'm in agreement with the thoughts that more power doesn't make you a better shot and once you pass 14 or 16, you're not helping yourself.
Whatever you put on the rifle, I'd make it a varible to help deal with mirage and field of view. I've tried fixed powers of various strengths and they just are not as adaptable as a good varible. With the varible, you can use the low power to scan for targets and then dial in on them to a higher power.

I have an older Leupold 12X on my swift. It has been fine except for night hunting in which case it may be sunup before you find the coyote in the scope. Too much magnification for night shooting. On my Big 6, I have a Leupold LPS 2.5X10X45 with a 30 MM tube. It is great for night and daytime shooting as well. I have been looking around for one of the 4.5X14X40 Leupold for my next project.

Leupold VXIII 4.5-14 Usually never leaves 4.5