Gopher Optics?

L

lpel

CGN Regular
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Location
Brandon, MB
I am looking for some "sage" advice on optics for shooting primarily gophers and some paper. I have a Rem 700 VLS in 204 and an SPS in 17 Fireball. One sports a Mueller Tactical 8.5-25X44 and the other an older Bushnell Banner 4-12X.

What is the optimum power required for such shooting? What about target turrets? And what type of cross hairs would work best? Any place I can do additional research?

I am thinking Leupy but will look at others. Range varies to date from 100 - 400 yards. Thanks.
 
I shoot a lot of varmints and only used a 3x9x scoped .22. It can be turned down for the close shots and opened up for the longer up to 150 yard shots. Your 4x12 should be close enough for that type of shooting.

I have been to the Brandon range and is it a nice range. I enjoyed shooting there. The 8.5x25 is great for the 200 to 500 yard targets . I have tried out to 1000 with my 6x25 but it seems a little shy on magnification for me.

Usual fare for varmints are .22s but have "reached out" with my .223 Savage and 270 Browning. this coming year i will try my scoped 25-20 Winchester lever for the closer ones and a 30-06 Midland Parker Hale for the long shots.

Target turrets only if you are really serious about paper shooting. They seem to get in the way if you are critter shooting. And cross hairs can be whatever you get used to and feel comfortable with. I shoot with a variety and to each their own.
 
I am a hard-core gopher slayer and coyote executioner and I use an SPS Varmint in 204 and the scope I use for that gun is a Mueller Eraticator 8.5-25X50. I have no issues with magnification, in fact I often throttle back to make acquiring them easier.

For competitive shooting, I use Nightforce and Leupold, and I've had those scopes out shooting hay rats, but I like the Meuller just fine, and I'm far less woring about dumping it off my tailgate.
 
I am using a Millet 6-25x Target Turret MilDot- That 25x is great for paper, but I rarely shoot higher that 12x for sod rats - especially beyond 200 yards. Lets you see the impact, or correct for windage / elevation in relation to the little bug'r you narrowly missed.:sniper:

Hakx
 
I have had a 15x Weaver on my 17 Mach IV (the "original" 17 Fireball) for 10 years and its all the scope I need out to 300 m. Foe my 204 , 22-250, 22-250 AI and my 6mm AI I use scope of at least 20x and higher. To reach out and "touch: something at 350 + m the higher powers are needed. Since most gopher shooting is done under good light conditions a large objective is not needed.

Most of my scopes are Leupold but I do use some Unertls for that"old time" feeling.
 
Scope advice

More magnification is not always better. I am known to go crazy over shooting gophers from time to time.:D

I personally think that 6-18x is where you want to be. I have higher magnification however I don't use it on the highest setting and I think going a step down from 24x and getting better glass is the best idea. I would go for something like a leupold or equivalent in the 6-18x range and with a fine duplex reticle or a mildot set up if you want to go fancy.

The other thing that good glass does is not put as much strain on your eyes after a day of shooting. Out there all day squinting through poor or cheap glass will give you a headache at the end of the day.

Greg
 
223 has a VXL 6.5-20x56 varm reticle, 56 cause it also is low light yote rifle
204 has VXIII 4.5-14x40 BC reticle
22 hornet has VXIII 2.5-8x36 BC reticle
223 7615 Tac truck gun has VXIII 1.5-5x30 illuminated reticle

So I guess I'm saying go with leupold, :rolleyes:
 
is 6.5-20 or 6-18 to much for switching from coyote to gophers?

I'm mean 6x in close (under 100yrds) seems like alot of magnification, but yet seems just right for warm sunny days nailing vermin.:confused:
 
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