Rifle Scopes $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

zlman · Mar 11, 2012

Time to upgrade the optics. This scope will be used for prairie dog shooting out to 500yds. Looking for high magnification and a bdc or mil-dot reticle and side focus. I previously had a Nikon Monarch with BDC but the circles that nikon uses in their bdc are too large to my eyes and distracting, sold it to help finance an upgrade.
Three that I'm considering so far;

Leupold vx-3, 8.5-25x50, varmint hunters reticle. This scope is a little over my budget but I really like it so far. The reticle lines are very thin.

Bushnell Elite 6500, 4.5-30x50, DOA 600 reticle. About $200 cheaper than the leupold, reticle lines are thin and seems like a good scope but I have zero experience with bushnell.

Sightron SIII SS 8-32x56, mil-dot reticle. I've read good things about sightron and the price is right but I read a review which pointed out the large size of the mil-dots. Exactly what I don't want.

Some might say I'm going overboard on magnification but I really like to be able zoom in and besides p-dogs are pretty small at several hundred yds.
Any other suggestions or comments on the three I mentioned are appreciated.

calling4life · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I use the SIII in 8-32x56 mil, just ordered another, this is common amongst users of the SIII, they are a great scope.

I've owned the bushy 4.5-30, it doesn't stack up to my SIII, but was a decent scope in its own right.
I really don't consider that leupy in the running, but that's just me.

You can also look at the SIII with their moa reticle, the center dot is 1/4moa, .25", on 24x, so on 32 it is even smaller, something in the area of .17", about 1/6moa.

Joop · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I've shot a couple of the Leupold scopes with the varmint reticle at prairie dogs. While I do like the scopes and that reticle does have a lot of advantages over a duplex or straight BDC, I prefer a mildot or "mil-hash" type reticle. I find it easier to hold off/over with that style reticle, given that they have more reference marks to use.

I'm currently using the Bushnell 4200 and Elite Tactical (both FFP mil/mil)on my bolt guns and a Millett TRS-1 (mildot-bar) on my AR and they all work great, well beyond 500 yards. My wife's gun has a Nikon Monarch with mildot reticle, which is excellent for the money, as well. In the $1000 or less range, I would also consider the Vortex Viper PST. Their reticles would be perfect for P-Dogging.

ETA: I'm not sure where you'll be hunting, or exactly what time of year, but I've found that I rarely use any magnification above 16x out in western SD, in the summer. The mirage is usually bad enough to limit you to that magnification. Not trying to dissuade you from more power, but it's something to consider.

P.S. Just saw that you're in MN. What part?

Senderofan · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I've got two Sightron SIII's and think they are a real strong value for their price point. One of my scopes is an 8-32X...which has optics that are nearly identical to an 8-32X NightForce I used to own. I would second the S III SS 8-32x56 LRMOA scope if you want the exposed turrets. I've got the TD, target dot. I've used all 32x when shooting PD's in Montana..out to 850 yards and I greatly appreciated having that amount of magnification available. But as was mentioned...you can run into mirage trouble with that much magnification.

Good Luck....You probably wouldn't go wrong with any of your choices. But for me....The sightron has been an excellent choice for the price point. Very nice glass, nice...repeatable turrets and strong price.

Wayne

farrier · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I use a Sightron S111 LRMD 6.5-24X50 and it is more than enough for what you want to do. Can't speak to the higher mag. Glass is as good or better than my Leupold Mk.4 6.5-20 M5. I've used it on steel out to 1100 yds. with no problem. No problem with size of mil-dots or reticle thickness.
Mike

supermag99 · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I sold my Leupold and have since bought two Sightron 10-50X60 scopes. Getting ready to buy a third. I have one on a 6BR benchrest gun, one on a 338 Lapua and the third will go on a .204 Ruger AR. In my opinion you can't have "too much" magnification. Mine rarely come off of 50 power.

Bill Larson · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I used alot of different scopes out on the prairie shooting pdogs.....222`s,22-250-220 swifts-243...out to 500yds.
I use a muzzle breaks on all my rifles.... not so much to reduce recoil but so you can see bullet impact.... and results....that way you see`m fly.....
Settled on leupold var-x-111 6.5x20 with it usually set on 12x-14x
bill larson....

95LTZ · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

Another option would be a used Nightforce BR in either 8-32 or 12-42 power.

zlman · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

Looking closer at the Sightron line up. Do they have AO, side focus?

zlman · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've shot a couple of the Leupold scopes with the varmint reticle at prairie dogs. While I do like the scopes and that reticle does have a lot of advantages over a duplex or straight BDC, I prefer a mildot or "mil-hash" type reticle. I find it easier to hold off/over with that style reticle, given that they have more reference marks to use.

I'm currently using the Bushnell 4200 and Elite Tactical (both FFP mil/mil)on my bolt guns and a Millett TRS-1 (mildot-bar) on my AR and they all work great, well beyond 500 yards. My wife's gun has a Nikon Monarch with mildot reticle, which is excellent for the money, as well. In the $1000 or less range, I would also consider the Vortex Viper PST. Their reticles would be perfect for P-Dogging.

ETA: I'm not sure where you'll be hunting, or exactly what time of year, but I've found that I rarely use any magnification above 16x out in western SD, in the summer. The mirage is usually bad enough to limit you to that magnification. Not trying to dissuade you from more power, but it's something to consider.

P.S. Just saw that you're in MN. What part?
</div></div>

Southern, hour s. of the TC

cb_tikka · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: zlman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looking closer at the Sightron line up. Do they have AO, side focus? </div></div>

Depends on the scope. The scopes in this thread have side focus. SIII models with SS in their name have side focus.

Senderofan · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I really think you'd be happy with either the 6-24x or the 8-32x SS LRMOA scope. 24x for 500 yard is really pretty decent. If you want to stretch it our further then probably the 8-32x.

Good Luck,

Wayne

erslll · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I have a pair of Sightron 6-24s and really like them. Money well spent.

105amatt · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I have the VX-III, but I just have the fine duplex. I think the VH is a bit busy. Either one is a damn fine scope. I can make out p-dogs past 1k with no problem.

Matt

pistolpacknpete · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

Vortex pst sfp cross hairs are super fine on the 6-24 not so much on the ffp if you're on 24 power

uncledog57 · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

+1 Vortex PST, great features. Very clear glass and a warranty that is second to none. They will fix or replace no questions asked. The only two things they do not cover is theft or loss.

zlman · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

Thank you for all the replies, lots of help. I was really sold on the leupold but seems the sightron is the more popular choice. I've got till May to get something else ordered, mounted, and sighted before the next PD trip, I'll have to keep my eyes on the for sale board.

George63 · Mar 11, 2012

Re: $1000 limit. Long range prairie dogging scope

I have a few bush 6500's the 2.5-16 is great but IMO the 4.5-30 pushes the magnification too high for the glass quality/50mm objective, I have a sightron 10-50 and the AO adjustment went out after only 200 rds, I will see what they do for cust service, so far I am not impressed by their policy of charging a service fee for warranty work on a 1000$ scope that screwed up when practically new

I am trying a zeiss 6.5-20, BDC for .308, shot show demo for 850$ looks like a good value

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