1-6 or 3-18 power for predator hunting

[Altoonabcm157]

Looking for opinions, I’ve never done a whole lot of predator hunting but I will be spending some time doing this pretty soon. The area we will be hunting will allow shots out to about 700 yards, I will be using an AR chambered in 5.56. Currently I run a 1-6 lpvo optic on it. Do you think it’s worth getting a dedicated 3-18 or something in a similar power range or stick with the lpvo.

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I would opt for the 3-18x optic. But understand that a shot out to 700 yards with your AR-15 in 5.56mm is going to be very iffy. The velocity loss on a bullet like that will be such that the coyote/fox will have long moved onward. Besides, you would really want to call them in closer.

I am waiting for my 3-18 to arrive for my AR, but only plan to shoot out to 400 yards. My other calling rifle is in 22-250 and I use a 4-14x and usually only set it to 5-6x. With that round, I am not worried about long rang shots as it is just a laser out to 350-400 yards.

Good luck sir!!

 

[Northpark]

I just use my 5.56 with a 40gr vmax at 3400fps with a 1-6x on it for all my predator hunting. Shots out to 350 or so are no problem but I seem to shoot most of my predators at less than 100 yards despite shots being available out to over 1000 yards. I usually hunt with a buddy who carries a suppressed 6.5CM and is usually the designated shooter while I play clean up. His longest kill was at 10x at 700 yards.

 

[Altoonabcm157]

Realistically I don’t plan to shoot all the way out to 700 with the 5.56. I’d rather call them in closer with that caliber. I have no issue with the 1-6 for ringing steel out to those distances, just was curious if there’s a real reason to have the extra magnification for this task.