Recommend a good optic.

[Alaskapopo]

I just picked up a heavy barrel .223 Ruger 77 with a Laminated stock for $335. I want to put a good optic on it. I am thinking a Leupold VXIII line with something like the 6.5-20 x40. I bought this rifle because it was a good deal and I want to use it just for paper punching and perhaps predator hunting. (Wolf Coyote ect )
Pat

[Cold Zero]

Seems like to much power to me. Coyote and Wolf shots are sometimes taken on the run. You may be better off with some more field of view. Consider Leupold V.X. 3, 4-14x. 4x for running shots, 14x if you have to reach out there. Good Hunting.

[Damascus]

+1. I would go with a 4-14/16x as well.
IMO, the best "bang for your buck" scope out there is the Nikon Monarch 4-16x42mm SF Mildot: http://www.opticsbestbuy.com/Nikon-Monarch-Rifle-Scope-4-16x42-SF.html
BUT, if you've got the funds for a VX-III, and can save for a little while longer, one of these might be worth looking into, an unbelievable power range, and from what I hear, glass that can compete (compete, not beat ;)) with Leupold's quality, the IOR Tactical 3-18x42mm: http://www.valdada.com/product/2db3f757-a005-4e3d-a442-ea0370a2a1a8.aspx
Looks quite heavy though, but for a target/varmint rifle, that shouldn't be a concern.
Also, IMO, Zeiss Conquest scopes are worth looking into:
The Rapid-Z 800 and Mildot models are what I would look at: http://www.4scopes.com/4_5-14x50.htm
Or perhaps the 44mm version, if you're not gonna be out in the dark:
http://www.4scopes.com/4_5-14x44.htm
Or the 6.5-20x version, if you're going to be killer paper most of the time:
http://www.4scopes.com/6_5-20x50.htm

[Alaskapopo]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Pat

[Sam]

I love my Nikon Buckmaster 6x18. Available from Midway for $300.

[Alaskapopo]

One more question how about Bushnell Optics like the 4200 Eliete? How do they compare to Leupold.
Pat

[Damascus]

The 4200 Elite, IMO will compare to Leupold's VX-II line, perhaps a bit better than the Leupy. The 4200's are Bushnell's best optics, IMO. Support is also good with Bushnell, I once had a 4200 4-16x that got a chipped objective lens - I got it back, fixed, 15 days after the day I mailed it.
After responding to your post the first time, it caused me to see the Zeiss Conquest scopes again, and is making me want one of the 6.5-20's SO BAD!!! lol.
Also, have you looked at the Millet LRS and TRS scopes? 35mm tubes should offer a wicked range of adjustment - if the glass is good it would be a great deal.

[theJanitor]

bushnell 6500 is out now (http://www.longrangesupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=99_123_48&products_id=388)

[Alaskapopo]

I ordered the 6500 thanks for the tip.
Pat

[theJanitor]

^please post a review of it after a bit if use. thanks

[Alaskapopo]

Will do when it comes in and I get a chance.
Here is a pic of the rifle.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/bolt%20action/Guns003.jpg

[ra2bach]

I just picked up a heavy barrel .223 Ruger 77 with a Laminated stock for $335. I want to put a good optic on it. I am thinking a Leupold VXIII line with something like the 6.5-20 x40. I bought this rifle because it was a good deal and I want to use it just for paper punching and perhaps predator hunting. (Wolf Coyote ect )
Pat
how good is good enough? the guys on the sniper sites seem to like the Falcon optics in variables, or possibly the Super Sniper fixed power scope if you want something .mil style without breaking the bank.

I'd also give one of our sponsors, the Vortex optics a look-see. again, these appear to be very well received scopes for the money.

obviously, none of these are going to stack up against the best in class, but you gotta decide what you can live with - performance/durability vs. $$$.

personally, I'm probably never gonna rope down from a helo or be days and miles away from a replacement if something did happen to go wrong with a scope so I temper my scope lust with dollar greed.

for the kind of shooting I do, it's more important to have an excellent spotting scope and/or bino rather than piling all my money into an aiming device. (assuming it is of sufficient quality that it is reliable). the difference in optical quality between the high-end and the upper middle is much more expensive to bridge than from there downward...

[uscbigdawg]

Dude. Definitely go easy on the power. My sniper told me this. More people have been killed with scopes between 3 and 9x than any other range on the planet. Less is more when it comes to scope magnification. Keep in mind too...it's not like that caliber has the horsepower to go out and get it too far.

Great looking rifle BTW.

Rich

[motorcopm4]

You can spend thousands on scopes but IMO for the money I use the 10x Super Sniper

[Alaskapopo]

You can spend thousands on scopes but IMO for the money I use the 10x Super Sniper

I believe Optics is one area you should not worry so much about money.
Pat

[Damascus]

There's an old saying about this that I like:

American's will put a $100 scope on a $1000 rifle. Euro's will put a $1000 scope on a $100 rifle.

I, unfortunately, must go with the Euro's on this one.
You're rifle is only as good as it's scope. Just my 2 cents.

[motorcopm4]

There's an old saying about this that I like:

American's will put a $100 scope on a $1000 rifle. Euro's will put a $1000 scope on a $100 rifle.

I, unfortunately, must go with the Euro's on this one.
You're rifle is only as good as it's scope. Just my 2 cents.

What good is a $100 rifle If it wont hit what your looking at with the $1000 scope :)

[Damascus]

I know, I know, it works both ways :) Just depends on your personality. Like a "glass is half empty or is it half full" kinda thing.
Me, I don't own, or keep around me, rifles that are not of at least decent accuracy (1 MOA minimum), so for me, all my rifles are capable of using the full potential of top end optics.
I think everyone should at least match the cost of their rifle with the cost of the scope, and at least 3/4 the rifle cost for a short range or frontier type rifle. :)

[uscbigdawg]

I quote Jacob Bynum from Rifles Only. Buy the best rifle you can afford. Take a loan out on the glass. If you can't see it, you can't hit it. That doesn't mean in magnification either. That's quality...meaning repeatability.

Rich