Ideal optic for coyotes

[Hunter673786]

Currently just have a red dot on my AR for coyotes should I upgrade and get a magnifier maybe an LPVO

 

[PlumberED]

What sort of terrain are you hunting?

 

[Hunter673786]

it varies a lot mainly the rocky mountains of CO but also the plains of ND

 

[mjspeers]

Not so sure about an AR, but on my bolt 22CM, an NX8 2.5-20 F2 is perfect.

 

[dirtytough]

Definitely FFP, fairly low mag on the low end, and a decent sized objective for those first/last stands.

 

[Hnthrdr]

2-10 or 3-9 seem to work well, hunting timber I like a red dot or a shotgun, lots of sets in the mountains can have a further out field of fire 2-500 yards and then a close one, say under 100. 2-10 seems to fit the bill though

 

[mcr-85]

I have a 5-20 on one rifle and a 4-12 on another.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[Sunset606]

My opinion, and it's just an opinion, I use a nightforce 4-14 f1 illuminated.

 

[PlumberED]

My opinion, and it's just an opinion, I use a nightforce 4-14 f1 illuminated.

I second the NF SHV 4-14 F1, I have one on a .223, though it is a little heavy at 30 oz. If you want something lighter the NF SHV 3-10x42 weighs 22 oz. or the NF NXS 2.5-10x42 weighs 20 oz. I have three of the SHV 3-10x42 mounted on various ARs and the scope seems well suited for those platforms, lightweight and durable and I don’t have to fiddle with the zero. I’ve used NF, Condition One, Vortex and Leupold mounts. Out of the three I like NF the best.

 

[BLJ]

I have an Athlon Argos HMR 2-12 with the AHMC reticle on my 223.
Basically a duplex with an illuminated .7 MOA dot in the center. It’s worked well for me in varying terrain.

 

[justinspicher]

A red dot/magnifier is about the same size and weight as some LVPOs. I’d take a look at a good 1-6x or 1-8x LVPO. On my AR I use a 1-8x and on my bolt gun I have a 2.5-10x. Both have worked well for me on coyotes.

 

[lhbackcountry]

i have loved my 1.5-6 on ar10

ideally would like a thermal but the wallet and lady will never allow it

 

[Wildhorse]

I run a 2.5x10 GLX on an ar build and a halosun green dot with 3x magnifier on a shotgun. No complaints with either but I really enjoy the 2.5x10 glx

 

[Wildhorse]

Oh the wife runs a GLX 4x16 on her .223 bolt gun and loves that as well she had a vortex 1x8 on it and returned it right after zeroing it she didnt like it so I slapped it on another ar ti try it out and hated it as well.

 

[TheGDog]

Whichever ever optic you end up going with... when you make a stand don't forget to drop it down to lowest mag. And if they do come in close-quarters, train yourself to aim with both eyes open! Then it doesn't even really matter what the low-end of the optics mag range is as much.

But yeah, regular thickness of habitat, 3x should be low enough. If tends to be thicker than norm, 2x or even 1x, can be even better. Also depends if you're okay with adding a buncha weight to the rifle. Bigger objectives and better glass = more weight.

As last lite starts going away, ya have to keep going down in mag range in order to be able to have a clear sight picture, since it increases exit pupil. So bigger objective can earn you a lil bit better sight picture for longer in failing light.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

I really like the 3-15 or 18 power range, low enough for close in stuff, but plenty capable for stretching it out on dogs that hang up out there.

And after dealing with swfa on a scope that broke due to nothing related to their manufacturing and them taking care of it all, I would highly recommend one of their scopes. This one has been dialed since I mounted it.

 

[mcseal2]

I haven't found the perfect one yet at least at a price I'm willing to pay. I think it would be a 1-10x with a fairly fine center crosshair and the ability to light the center dot of the reticle for low light. Reliable turrets for dialing those longer shots where one hangs up and I'm using a heavier, slower, bullet from my AR. Wind holds in MOA on the horizontal crosshair.

What I mainly use is a 5-20x Huskemaw with a 45 degree mount and a Burris Fastfire 3 red dot. Similar to the set-up I see Geoff use on the Last Stand videos. The red dot handles close shots or surprises, the scope I leave on 6-8x for longer shots. Using a little more magnification, I don't have to make extra movement adjusting power for most shots. The scope can be dialed up to work great on longer shots when one hangs up further out. It's been a good enough set-up I haven't tried to buy a true top end 1-10x.

 

[gethuntin]

I like second focal planes and use an MOA reticle so I tend to leave it and hunt at max power and have always used a scope range that maxed out at 14 or 16x until last year i tried 24x. It was way too much and i am going back to the 14-16 x max.

 

[Dirtbag]

I really like to have something in that 15-20 power on my top end. Works great for when they hang up way out there and also helps If I am shooting prairie dogs, marmots and jacks.

 

[Reddish]

I've messed with a lot of different scopes for coyotes. I used to run higher magnifications, but have shifted down to 2-10 or 3-9 now. I have a SWFA 6x on my .223 now that has worked pretty well. Fast movers in brush can be a challenge, but I should be packing a shotgun in those places anyway.