4x12x40 enough?

[03mossy]

I'm will be buying a scope for a new .223 and am looking very hard at a new Redfield 4x12x40 for the price and they really do look like a great scope. but am wondering if this is enough magnification for a prairie dog/yote/target gun. thoughts?

[JCalhoun]

How far do you plan on shooting?

[03mossy]

I'd like to say 500-600 yards but actually i'd say i would very rarly shoot past 300 yard

[wapaloose]

I still use an old Redfield 4x12x40 (1960 ) on my 22-250 for anything out to 4-500 yrds.

[dcloco]

Prefer the 6-18x40 VX II from Leupold (with turrets). Better to have just a bit more than you might need.

Almost all of my prairie dogs are shot with any of the scopes on 16 or 18 power.

[Blue Avenger]

Prefer the 6-18x40 VX II from Leupold (with turrets). Better to have just a bit more than you might need.

Almost all of my prairie dogs are shot with any of the scopes on 16 or 18 power.
I use 8x32 and skip the spotting scope for short range target shooting.

[ajlandis]

I would say you're in the right range. I may consider a 6-18, but it really just depends on how far your shots will be. You can shoot 300 yard coyotes and prairie dogs just fine at 12x (just like 4x @ 100 yards), but much farther, things get small and target shooting isn't real precise. At the same time, calling coyotes in the brush with a scope that only goes down to 6x can lead to some frustrating situations when a dog pops up close and you can't find him in your glass. You will be much happier with an lower-powered scope, wishing you had more, rather than having a high-powered scope, wishing you could turn it down some more.

[pa hog]

I'm looking into a Elite 6500 Tactical in 2.5-16 should be a good compromise, for up close and the 500+ shots.

[03mossy]

I'm looking into a Elite 6500 Tactical in 2.5-16 should be a good compromise, for up close and the 500+ shots.


I think that might be a touch out of my price range, but yeah that would be perfect.

thanks for all the replies, you all make good points. Redfields new site launched today http://www.redfield.com/ and i sure would like to give a new american product a chance. I could always use it for a while on the .223 then move it to something else (my Omega needs new glass) when i need to upgrade the .223 scope.

[chet10FP]

never heard of these scopes...

for that range, i'd probably go with with a SWFA Super Sniper, a Bushnell 3200 or 4200 Eleite or a WOTAC / Falcon from www.sightwonders.com

for the Super Sniper or Bushnell, you can buy on eBay or www.swfa.com

for up 300 yards, i use a 10x42 WOTAC. i don't need a spotting scope for up to 200yards using shoot-n-see peel-n-stick type targets....