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If one wanted a cheap rifle and scope combo to use as a truck gun and some field carry what would be a reasonabley accurate combo? I am thinking Stevens in .223 with a Leupy VXI -4X12X40 with LR Duplex reticle. | ||
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Cheaper yet would be a used Remington 700, or Ruger M 77. .223 is a hard hittin' economical round, but 22-250 and 220 Swift are my favorite center fire 22's. The 6m/m Remington is tough to beat in windy territory. You're spot on with Leupold as there is no such thing as cheap glass on a working rifle that is sure to suffer some hard knocks. | |||
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In canada the best cheapest rifle around is the Stevens 200, you can get them in 22-250 or 223. Up here they are $369.00, likely a lot less down south. Then for optics, an inexpensive 4-12 Bushnell Banner will handle all the recoil a 223 is going to give. Then go to Wal,mart and pick up some of the Winchester white box value packs, they are 40 rounds per box, real accurate and cheap ammo for coyote action. Now you are good to go. FS | |||
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Fasteel, you hit the nail on the head!..I don't have a Stevens but have several Banner scopes and they are very good even if they are cheap...I used to hunt Coyotoes a lot back in the 80's and I found the 22-250 to be a better cal. than the .223...I also found that Rem. bulk HP bullets were accurate and deadly with out a lot of fur damage...maybe the newer plastic tips bullets are better today on fur I don't know, but I never found the Rem HP to be wanting... | |||
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In the U.S., I'd suggest going with a Stevens 200 in 223, 22-250, or 243 with a Simmons Whitetail Classic in either the 3.5-10x40 or 3.5-10x50 version. Since the 40mm objective version will mount lower, I'd opt for it if I was buying this for myself. The difference in perceived distance between 10x and 12x at 300 yards is just 5 yards, 30 yards at 10x and 25 yards a 12x, not enough to make a difference when shooting coyotes. If Natchez Shooter Supply ships to Canada, they have the Simmons 3.5-10x Whitetail Classics on close-out sale for under $60. Jeff | |||
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As soon as you mention the Leupold scope, I know you really aren't interested in a truly inexpensive rig. Leupold doesn't make any inexpensive scopes. (I don't know if they make any CHEAP ones; I won't get into that...but they don't sell any I would consider inexpensive.) (And yes, I have & use a number of Leupolds. Just have never cared for their pricing structure, and therefore more often buy other makes as well.) Further comment on the Bushnell scopes...I have a Bushnell Banner (a really inexpensive scope) which has been on a pre-'64 M70 FW .358 for 34 years and still works just fine. It was on the rifle when I bought it from old Joe DeSaye up in Turner, Montana and, as it was not broken, I never "fixed" it. Not the quality of a Leupy's lenses, but has "hauled the mail" reliably year after year after year. My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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Depends on your definition of inexpensive. I also included the words decent and reasonable. Inexpensive to me means a product which will do its job day after day with little or no maintenance, or further time and money spent by me. This would mean that the rifle requires no tuming whatsoever. Take it out of the box, clean it, mount the scope and start shooting. I don't want to mess with it - just throw it in a corner when I am not using it and forget about it. Same with the scope. I want one that holds its zero once it is dialed in the way I like. I also need one that I can see out of in low light conditions. I know and trust Leupys will do this based on the ones I have owned and do own. I have owned and used Bushnell products in the past. I have not had good luck with them so I will not use them. | |||
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In that case a leghold trap might be best. You don't even have to be there when it catches the 'yote. Sorry, I didn't realize you also wanted minimum involvement. Anyway, there are lots of scopes out there that cost less than Leupys and which are reliable. And something else to think about... I've shot Leupys in competition for many years and I can understand why they carry such a good warrranty. They probably have to. I have never had one I didn't need to send back for warranty repair after a year or two of competiion service. Never to the lenses or the lens housings, but to the adjustment mechanism(s). So, as the saying goes, "You pay your money and you take your choice". Best of luck with whatever you buy. Hope it meets your needs to a "T". My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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If you don't want to tume it(?) the Stevens isn't the rifle you are looking for!  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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I meant "tune" of course. I would be more than happy to entertain suggestions of what combination of rifle and scope would be more fitting in your opinion. I don't mean to be rude - but just critisizing my choices without suggesting some specific alternatives (makes and models included) is of no help whatsoever. I might even be convinced (heaven forbid) to purchase another Bushnell scope if one can provide the specific model for me to investigate further. I just have not yet owned one that would hold its zero or track properly so one can understand my hesitation. | |||
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Stevens or Savage...IMHO would be your best choice for a rifle...they're cheap and accurate right outta the box. The Savage will run a bit more than the Stevens, but it has the AccuTrigger wich can easily be adjusted (I know you don't want to tune, but it's so easy to adjust the trigger, no real bother at all) by anyone with at least a minimum of tool knowledge. It looks like your mind is made up on the scope, a good choice. My BIL has a Leupold and he loves it. I'd say your first choice can't be beat for a gun that you buy, clean, mount the scope, sight in, and "toss in the corner" for whenever it is needed. If that's all your using it for, the Stevens will be more than adequate! | |||
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Stevens 200 with Burris full field II 3x9 | |||
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Hey Toadhead, A 40mm scope providing usable Low Light visibility, even in a VariX-II would surprise me, even on Deer size animals. That is based on experience with "older" VeriX-IIs. I do like 50mm for Low Light. Actually, the bigger the better. I've used Leupold HEAVY Duplex Reticles since they first made them available. They are only beaten by Illuminated Reticles, and then they are beaten soundly. The thinner Reticles simply can't be seen in Low Light conditions because they become lost in whatever plant growth you are looking toward. Nor can they be seen on a Deer. Had to pass on some HUGE Deer because of just that.  However, some Illuminated Reticles can be too bright on their Lowest Setting and that will prevent you from seeing past the Reticle. It depends on the manufacturer to get this critical aspect correct.As usual I agree with AC that there are a lot of excellent - less expensive - scopes available today.  Dosen't mean they are all error free, because they are still all man-made(just like Leupold). Since you are interested in a 223Rem, that will make it much easier for the scope of your choice to withstand the recoil. Best of luck to you. | |||
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At one time Tasco and Bushnell were good buys.....cheap and they worked fine. IMO they both have been taken over by new owners and I no longer have a clue who makes a good and thrifty scope.....so I have limited my risk by buying Leupold the last six times!....so far with no regrets /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Personally I think the Mod. 200 is a great choice for a truck rifle. I have 7. The triggers are a little rough and require a little work to smooth them out and reduce the pull. Some require a small amount of touch up to make them feed properly. This really isn't a great amount of tune up but is something you should be aware of. Having had good and bad results with some of the cheaper scopes as well as the more expensive ones I do not consider myself to have enough expertise to give you sound advise.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Don't overlook a used gun. For the truck, a Rem 788 is just about perfect. They have decent triggers, and I've NEVER seen one that wouldn't shoot sub-MOA. A Howa is another good candidate as they shoot well right of the box. For a rugged, knock-about scope, the Nikon BuckMasters is reasonably priced and offers lots of performance for the $$. Jon at www.theopticzone.com has about the best price you'll find anywhere on Nikons. The Burris FFIIs aren't a bad choice, either, and Jon has super prices on those as well. I know you said you don't care for Bushnells, but the Elite 3200s are not typical "Bushnell." These compare favorably to the FFIIs are are only slightly behind the Nikon BMs in overall optical performance. If you don't mind a closeout item, eabco.com has the Pentax 4.5-14x42 Pioneer with the Ballistic Plex reticle for $239. It is essentially the equivalent of the Burris FFII which sells for a good bit more than the $239. As to Leupys, I'd take a Nikon BM any day over the Rifleman or VXI series. Bobby Μολὼν λαβέ The most important thing in life is not what we do but how and why we do it. - Nana Mouskouri | |||
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Me too Regards FS | |||
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Mine isn't exactly a truck gun; more of a tractor gun. I call it my 'cat gun'...feral cats, groundhogs and other pests. An inexpensive beater. What is it? H&R Handi rifle, breakopen single shot in .223 Rem. It's topped with a very old Redfield widefield 6x scope. Not much to look at with its hardwood stock and rough machining. But never fussed with it and it always bags what it's aimed at. Even head-shot whitetail does culled for crop damage. I sent the receiver back to the factory and had a 16ga full choke barrel fitted...total cost with shipping, $65. (However, the rifle buttstock doesn't allow for proper sighting down the shotgun barrel. I use it to pressure test shotshell reloads.) So, rifle and shotgun together cost ~$250. Probably the 'cheapest' you'll find. And made in the USA. | |||
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and they are good shooters.... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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I've purchased several Bushnell Trophy scopes over the last 2 or 3 years. I think they have a durable build and decent glass. About a hundred bucks. | |||
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I have a Stevens 200 in .223, and a Nikon Buckmaster 3x9 scope I bought "reconditioned by Nikon" from Midsouth Shooters Supply on it. The scope was around $130, and the rifle was under $300. It's sick how accurate this combo is for what I have in it $ wise. I did smooth the trigger, and I do have some feeding issues that I need to address, but nothing that I can't take care of myself, and I'm sure no gunsmith. I'm happy with mine. Si tantum EGO eram dimidium ut bonus ut EGO memor | |||
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Look for a good used gun & scope. If you shop with an open mind and eye, and don't lock in on a specific manufacturer or model before you start your search I'm sure you can find a good rifle, with a good trigger, in the caliber you prefer. Then spend what you've saved on a good, not extravagant, used scope. My experience suggests to me that used guns and scopes with decades of successful hunting left in them are thick on the ground. Sei wach! | |||
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Nice pumpkin seed VD.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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I was thinking the same thing, nice picture of a Pumpkinseed sunfish. I wonder what the Free 500.gif is about though. | |||
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Free 500 is about one of the members from the political forum got banned for speaking his mind and principals, when it was not accepted as politically correct by moderators, especially aimed at Prez Elect Obummer... Life Member: The American Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Jan 20, 2009.. Prisoner in Dumocrat 'Occupied America', Partisan in the 'Save America' Underground Beavis..... James Beavis..... Of Her Majesty's Secret Service..... Spell Check Division "Posterity — you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." John Quincy Adams A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded, "Because they don't make a 46." Duhboy....Nuttier than Squirrel Poop... | |||
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