Scope recommendation for coyotes

Mattj4867 · July 14, 2018, 11:24 AM

Hi all. Bought a Ruger mpr recently and want to use it for coyotes. I need help picking out a scope for it. I would prefer a scope with a objective lense of 40-44mm. My budget is $250 and am considering the Leupold mark ar mod 1 3-9x. Would this be a good option? I am new to coyote hunting and don’t know what most hunters expect from a scope when hunting for one. Thank you

Brian Pfleuger · July 14, 2018, 01:55 PM

Optics are a very personal thing. Some folks haven't use a lot of them, and have "target acquisition" issues if the lowest magnification settings are too high. Others (like myself) have had optics on virtually every gun they've ever owned and it's second nature, allowing for higher low end magnification and, consequently, higher high end as well.

That said...

It's hard to argue with your Leupold choice. You don't find many products that are consistently rated that highly, and with almost no really poor ratings.

The "lowest" quality I would recommend would be something in the Bushnell AR/223 realm, roughly $150 and 3-9x. I've used one a bit, and it does fine, if you're interested in saving $100 on your budget.

I have a Minox ZA5 that I really like and their ZL3 can be had for right about $250, in either 3-9x40 or 3.5-10x50. Most Minoz optics are multiple times that price and I find that their "low end" products out perform the price point.

Personally, I like a bit more magnification. I'd be tempted to bump the budget a bit and consider the Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12x42... I don't think I've owned a scope with a max under 12 on anything beside a 22.

Mattj4867 · July 14, 2018, 02:50 PM

Brian, thank you for the reply. I have two vortex diamondback HPs. Both are 3-12 and I have nothing bad to say about them other than weight. They are very bulky scopes with superb glass. I’ve researched some forums and many people prefer the Leupold to the vortex. I should also note that I would prefer an illuminated reticle (I’ve had a monster buck come out at dusk and I couldn’t find my reticle).

Mobuck · July 14, 2018, 05:16 PM

Every shot I've fired that killed a coyote has been directed by a scope costing less than $150(retail for less than $200) and in the late 1970's, my winter grocery money came from coyote fur. My current scopes for use in coyote hunting are 2-7x32 or 3-9x40 in the under $150 out the door price range. Burris, Sightron, Vortex

Dufus · July 14, 2018, 05:31 PM

Nearly all of them get shot with irons down here.....up to about 200 yds. That's about as far as the grass, trees, and cows will let me shoot.

NoSecondBest · July 14, 2018, 05:55 PM

I just bought a Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 in 4-12x40 and couldn't be happier with it. Your choice of 3-9 is also a good choice. For almost all practical distances your upper power choice isn't going to be a problem at all. I chose the higher power level because I like to sit at the bench and shoot groups...and a bit more power there helps a little. For hunting I could live with 3-9 on everything.

Mattj4867 · July 14, 2018, 07:24 PM

Nosecondbest, did you get it with mil dot or duplex. Is it worth the extra $60

NoSecondBest · July 14, 2018, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Nosecondbest, did you get it with mil dot or duplex. Is it worth the extra $60

I got it with the plex. I personally have nothing against mil dots, but, I think they make the reticle "too busy" when you're trying to shoot at a game animal and aren't necessary for target work. I'm not saying it's better, it's my personal preference. I just received a new Nikon today with the same set-up.....target turrets with a plex reticle. For me it just makes sense to either use mil dots/stadia lines or a target turret. No need for both. I have some scopes with mil dots and I just use the dots, I don't bother with the turrets other than to sight the gun in with. Sort of the KISS principle and it's worked for me for many years. The $60 has nothing to do with my choice. I'd pay the sixty bucks to get it my way regardless of which way cost more. I buy what I want and what I expect to live with for a good while.

Scoits · July 15, 2018, 06:20 AM

Hunted and shot a fair number of coyotes and used a leupold 2 1/2 to 8 on 3 or 4 different rifles never found it to be lacking out to 300 yds +. 3x9 will do all you need.
I keep it set on 4x and turn it up if needed for dogs over 150/200 yds.

Mattj4867 · July 15, 2018, 07:19 PM

I am completely torn between Leupolds Mark AR mod 1 3-9x40 and the VX-3i 3.5-10x40. Any more suggestions?

NoSecondBest · July 15, 2018, 07:31 PM

Yeah, throw this one into the mix...it's on sale right now.
https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-pros...fov-matte.html

agtman · July 15, 2018, 07:37 PM

Always learn to shoot with iron sights first.

That obvious point made, any quality 2x-7x, like the Nikon on my 5.56 'yote AR, will be sufficient for 99.9% of the ranges at which most shots are taken on these animals.

Brian Pfleuger · July 15, 2018, 07:53 PM

If my googl-foo isn’t failing me, the AR Mod is 1/2 MOA adjustment while the VX-3 is 1/4.
That would make the decision for me. Personally, I wouldn’t have 1/2 MOA on anything I shot farther than a crossbow.

Mattj4867 · July 15, 2018, 08:20 PM

Brian, it’s actually .1 mil adjustments. I’ve always owned MOA scopes, so this is very new to me. I guess one click is equal to .36 in at 100 yards. Am I missing something here? I’ve read a couple of reviews about the AR mod 1 doesn’t transfer light well at dusk. This further complicates things because light transmission at dusk is one of my main concerns.

Brian Pfleuger · July 15, 2018, 08:36 PM

Well, they’re both 2nd FP, both fixed parallax. The Mod has slightly larger FOV. The VX has more magnification.

Even 1/10 mil is nearly 50% larger per click than 1/4moa. Does it matter? Probably not, but it would to me.

I’ve had some illuminated reticles. Maybe not great ones, but I’ve always found, under hunting conditions, that by the time I can’t see the unlit reticle, even the dimmest setting is bright enough to wash out the image. I don’t like them. YMMV.

My gut tells me the VX is a better choice. Quick glance tells me it’s probably also 50% over your stated budget.

Is it worth it? How long will it take you to forget that you spent an extra $100? It’d be worth it to me.

std7mag · July 15, 2018, 08:46 PM

I haven't had the good fortune to try a Luepold yet.
Shot/shoot with some Vortex Crossfire II's, and a couple of Diamondbacks.
Have really been enjoying the Sightron scopes i've bought lately.

My 2 "coyote" rifles( Ruger 77MKII in 257 Roberts, Stevens 200 with 250Savage E.R. Shaw barrel) are both wearing Redfield Revenge 4-12X40 with Varmint Accuranger.
Decent glass, but as the name suggests, has internal range finder.

NoSecondBest · July 15, 2018, 09:45 PM

Quote:

If my googl-foo isn’t failing me, the AR Mod is 1/2 MOA adjustment while the VX-3 is 1/4.
That would make the decision for me. Personally, I wouldn’t have 1/2 MOA on anything I shot farther than a crossbow.

Sorry Brian, your Google let you down. It's mil rad, about 3/8 inch (.036) actually, and there's nothing wrong with that. I did read one article on the net where some "expert" wrote that it's 1/2 inch. He was incorrect....surprise, an "expert" got it wrong. I called Leupold to verify and it's definitely mil rad. Many high end scopes are that way today and the military is making some remarkable shots with these scopes. I'm old school and it was hard to change. Once you do it's not all that bad. FWIW, light transmission? Same glass as the VX-2. Pretty decent for the money. I own several VX-2s and several more VX-3s among other Leupold scopes. No problem with light early or late in the day with either. My Mark AR Mod 1 also has an adjustable objective...25yds to infinity.

jmr40 · July 15, 2018, 10:51 PM

Don't over think this, any decent 3-9X40 scope will do what you want. A budget of $250 limits things though. For my money the Burris FF-II with long range dots selling for about $199 is the best scope under $300. There isn't much anything under $350 that is better. Leupold makes a good scope, but in this price range the Burris is a better scope. With a $300-$500 budget Leupold is one of the better options.

Scoits · July 16, 2018, 06:18 AM

Go with the Leupold —cry once and use it for the next 20+ years.

Mobuck · July 16, 2018, 06:53 AM

"Go with the Leupold —cry once and use it for the next 20+ years."

Maybe a true statement 20 years back but now it's questionable.

603Country · July 16, 2018, 07:58 AM

For years I used nothing but Leupold scopes. Then I decided to try a Burris Fulldield II, and I liked it so much I bought another one. JMR40 is right, in that it’s a lot of scope for the money.

And I bought a couple of Vortex Viper PST FFP scopes, and I like them just fine, but the next scope I buy will be a Leupold. It will be a VX5 3-15 CDS, with the variable intensity Illuminated dot. And for the record, the illuminated crosshairs on the Vortex Vipers are too bright even at lowest intensity and wash out the deer/coyote/hog.

taylorce1 · July 16, 2018, 08:31 AM

You might take a look at this scope: Bushnell Custom Gold 1.5-6X32 Bushnell has a good warranty and Camera Land will stand behind every product they sell, so if you have issues you can get help from them as well. I have no experience with this optic, but Camera Land has always been great and I'll try just about anything they sell if I have a need for it.

I like low powered optics with illumination on AR rifles. If the target is inside 100 yards just put the dot on hand squeeze the trigger, no need to come off the lowest power setting. If the coyote hangs up out there a few 100 yards then dialing up to 6X is capable of handling that.

I use a SWFA SS 1-4 on my AR and really like it. However, I didn't know if you wanted to go that low of power. I usually wait until the Tax Day or Black Friday sales to buy SWFA optics.

Picher · July 17, 2018, 11:10 AM

I have mostly Leupold VX2 3-9x scopes on my rifles, but that model is being phased-out. You might still be able to find one at about $300 on-line.

Scope power has little to do with accuracy. Hard to believe, but the aiming error, apart from parallax, is nearly the same from 2X to 20X.

If you're not used to scopes, make sure to get one that has it's lower power at 2X or 3X. Upper power for general hunting can be 7 or 9X, but a 20X is not worth using for general hunting. It is also too much power for many weather conditions, especially heat waves. They're usually a lot bulkier and heavier.

**44 AMP** · July 17, 2018, 12:10 PM

Its your money, buy what makes you happy. Lower power is better for moving targets.

Since getting the Internet, I've read a lot of people saying "you should spend at least as much on the scope as you do on the rifle".

I think the guy who created that saying made scopes or made money from selling them.

Half a century of hunting, my "expensive" scopes were old steel Weavers, and if it cost 1/4 what the rifle did, it was "expensive".

I never missed any shot because of the scope.

craddleshooter · July 17, 2018, 12:53 PM

Although it may seem odd i put a 3-9x PFI 22 Long Rifle Rapid Reticle on my AR (www.rapid reticle.com). I just recald. the reticle to the trajectory of my load. I'm shooting the JLK 65 Low Drag at about 3050 mv. IMO, it's one of the finest reticles/optics i've used in it's price range for intermediate-range shooting.

July 14, 2018, 11:24 AM	#1
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Scope recommendation for coyotes Hi all. Bought a Ruger mpr recently and want to use it for coyotes. I need help picking out a scope for it. I would prefer a scope with a objective lense of 40-44mm. My budget is $250 and am considering the Leupold mark ar mod 1 3-9x. Would this be a good option? I am new to coyote hunting and don’t know what most hunters expect from a scope when hunting for one. Thank you

July 14, 2018, 01:55 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Optics are a very personal thing. Some folks haven't use a lot of them, and have "target acquisition" issues if the lowest magnification settings are too high. Others (like myself) have had optics on virtually every gun they've ever owned and it's second nature, allowing for higher low end magnification and, consequently, higher high end as well. That said... It's hard to argue with your Leupold choice. You don't find many products that are consistently rated that highly, and with almost no really poor ratings. The "lowest" quality I would recommend would be something in the Bushnell AR/223 realm, roughly $150 and 3-9x. I've used one a bit, and it does fine, if you're interested in saving $100 on your budget. I have a Minox ZA5 that I really like and their ZL3 can be had for right about $250, in either 3-9x40 or 3.5-10x50. Most Minoz optics are multiple times that price and I find that their "low end" products out perform the price point. Personally, I like a bit more magnification. I'd be tempted to bump the budget a bit and consider the Vortex Diamondback HP 3-12x42... I don't think I've owned a scope with a max under 12 on anything beside a 22. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 15, 2018, 07:53 PM	#13
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	If my googl-foo isn’t failing me, the AR Mod is 1/2 MOA adjustment while the VX-3 is 1/4. That would make the decision for me. Personally, I wouldn’t have 1/2 MOA on anything I shot farther than a crossbow. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 15, 2018, 08:36 PM	#15
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Well, they’re both 2nd FP, both fixed parallax. The Mod has slightly larger FOV. The VX has more magnification. Even 1/10 mil is nearly 50% larger per click than 1/4moa. Does it matter? Probably not, but it would to me. I’ve had some illuminated reticles. Maybe not great ones, but I’ve always found, under hunting conditions, that by the time I can’t see the unlit reticle, even the dimmest setting is bright enough to wash out the image. I don’t like them. YMMV. My gut tells me the VX is a better choice. Quick glance tells me it’s probably also 50% over your stated budget. Is it worth it? How long will it take you to forget that you spent an extra $100? It’d be worth it to me. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 15, 2018, 08:46 PM	#16
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I haven't had the good fortune to try a Luepold yet. Shot/shoot with some Vortex Crossfire II's, and a couple of Diamondbacks. Have really been enjoying the Sightron scopes i've bought lately. My 2 "coyote" rifles( Ruger 77MKII in 257 Roberts, Stevens 200 with 250Savage E.R. Shaw barrel) are both wearing Redfield Revenge 4-12X40 with Varmint Accuranger. Decent glass, but as the name suggests, has internal range finder. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

July 14, 2018, 02:50 PM	#3
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Brian, thank you for the reply. I have two vortex diamondback HPs. Both are 3-12 and I have nothing bad to say about them other than weight. They are very bulky scopes with superb glass. I’ve researched some forums and many people prefer the Leupold to the vortex. I should also note that I would prefer an illuminated reticle (I’ve had a monster buck come out at dusk and I couldn’t find my reticle).

July 14, 2018, 05:16 PM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Every shot I've fired that killed a coyote has been directed by a scope costing less than $150(retail for less than $200) and in the late 1970's, my winter grocery money came from coyote fur. My current scopes for use in coyote hunting are 2-7x32 or 3-9x40 in the under $150 out the door price range. Burris, Sightron, Vortex

July 14, 2018, 05:31 PM	#5
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	Nearly all of them get shot with irons down here.....up to about 200 yds. That's about as far as the grass, trees, and cows will let me shoot.

July 14, 2018, 05:55 PM	#6
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	I just bought a Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 in 4-12x40 and couldn't be happier with it. Your choice of 3-9 is also a good choice. For almost all practical distances your upper power choice isn't going to be a problem at all. I chose the higher power level because I like to sit at the bench and shoot groups...and a bit more power there helps a little. For hunting I could live with 3-9 on everything.

July 14, 2018, 07:24 PM	#7
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Nosecondbest, did you get it with mil dot or duplex. Is it worth the extra $60

July 15, 2018, 06:20 AM	#9
Scoits Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2017 Posts: 178	Hunted and shot a fair number of coyotes and used a leupold 2 1/2 to 8 on 3 or 4 different rifles never found it to be lacking out to 300 yds +. 3x9 will do all you need. I keep it set on 4x and turn it up if needed for dogs over 150/200 yds.

July 15, 2018, 07:19 PM	#10
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	I am completely torn between Leupolds Mark AR mod 1 3-9x40 and the VX-3i 3.5-10x40. Any more suggestions?

July 15, 2018, 07:31 PM	#11
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Yeah, throw this one into the mix...it's on sale right now. https://www.natchezss.com/nikon-pros...fov-matte.html

July 15, 2018, 07:37 PM	#12
agtman Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: midwest Posts: 2,374	Always learn to shoot with iron sights first. That obvious point made, any quality 2x-7x, like the Nikon on my 5.56 'yote AR, will be sufficient for 99.9% of the ranges at which most shots are taken on these animals.

July 15, 2018, 08:20 PM	#14
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Brian, it’s actually .1 mil adjustments. I’ve always owned MOA scopes, so this is very new to me. I guess one click is equal to .36 in at 100 yards. Am I missing something here? I’ve read a couple of reviews about the AR mod 1 doesn’t transfer light well at dusk. This further complicates things because light transmission at dusk is one of my main concerns.

July 15, 2018, 10:51 PM	#18
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Don't over think this, any decent 3-9X40 scope will do what you want. A budget of $250 limits things though. For my money the Burris FF-II with long range dots selling for about $199 is the best scope under $300. There isn't much anything under $350 that is better. Leupold makes a good scope, but in this price range the Burris is a better scope. With a $300-$500 budget Leupold is one of the better options. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

July 16, 2018, 06:18 AM	#19
Scoits Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2017 Posts: 178	Go with the Leupold —cry once and use it for the next 20+ years.

July 16, 2018, 06:53 AM	#20
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"Go with the Leupold —cry once and use it for the next 20+ years." Maybe a true statement 20 years back but now it's questionable.

July 16, 2018, 07:58 AM	#21
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	For years I used nothing but Leupold scopes. Then I decided to try a Burris Fulldield II, and I liked it so much I bought another one. JMR40 is right, in that it’s a lot of scope for the money. And I bought a couple of Vortex Viper PST FFP scopes, and I like them just fine, but the next scope I buy will be a Leupold. It will be a VX5 3-15 CDS, with the variable intensity Illuminated dot. And for the record, the illuminated crosshairs on the Vortex Vipers are too bright even at lowest intensity and wash out the deer/coyote/hog.

July 16, 2018, 08:31 AM	#22
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	You might take a look at this scope: Bushnell Custom Gold 1.5-6X32 Bushnell has a good warranty and Camera Land will stand behind every product they sell, so if you have issues you can get help from them as well. I have no experience with this optic, but Camera Land has always been great and I'll try just about anything they sell if I have a need for it. I like low powered optics with illumination on AR rifles. If the target is inside 100 yards just put the dot on hand squeeze the trigger, no need to come off the lowest power setting. If the coyote hangs up out there a few 100 yards then dialing up to 6X is capable of handling that. I use a SWFA SS 1-4 on my AR and really like it. However, I didn't know if you wanted to go that low of power. I usually wait until the Tax Day or Black Friday sales to buy SWFA optics. __________________ NRA Life Member Last edited by taylorce1; July 16, 2018 at 08:38 AM.

July 17, 2018, 11:10 AM	#23
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	I have mostly Leupold VX2 3-9x scopes on my rifles, but that model is being phased-out. You might still be able to find one at about $300 on-line. Scope power has little to do with accuracy. Hard to believe, but the aiming error, apart from parallax, is nearly the same from 2X to 20X. If you're not used to scopes, make sure to get one that has it's lower power at 2X or 3X. Upper power for general hunting can be 7 or 9X, but a 20X is not worth using for general hunting. It is also too much power for many weather conditions, especially heat waves. They're usually a lot bulkier and heavier.

July 17, 2018, 12:10 PM	#24
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	Its your money, buy what makes you happy. Lower power is better for moving targets. Since getting the Internet, I've read a lot of people saying "you should spend at least as much on the scope as you do on the rifle". I think the guy who created that saying made scopes or made money from selling them. Half a century of hunting, my "expensive" scopes were old steel Weavers, and if it cost 1/4 what the rifle did, it was "expensive". I never missed any shot because of the scope. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 17, 2018, 12:53 PM	#25
craddleshooter Junior member Join Date: March 9, 2018 Location: NY Posts: 90	Although it may seem odd i put a 3-9x PFI 22 Long Rifle Rapid Reticle on my AR (www.rapid reticle.com). I just recald. the reticle to the trajectory of my load. I'm shooting the JLK 65 Low Drag at about 3050 mv. IMO, it's one of the finest reticles/optics i've used in it's price range for intermediate-range shooting.