Need help on varmint scope and bullet

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bruchawk

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So I bought a t3 in 223 for a dedicated varmint rifle, but I am at a loss as to what kind of scope to put on it. I would like to keep the price under $1000. Also any suggestions for a bullet would be appreciated as I plan to relaod. Quarry will be gophers and coyote's.
 
I too, have a Tikka Varmint in 223. , its 1:8 twist and have found a 75gr A-Max to be ideal out to 500m and a good day out to 1000.

The scope is a Vortex 2.5x10 PST ,SFP. The reticle has fairly thin 'wire' and is no handi-cap shooting small targets, it tracks well too. May not be fur friendly though.
 
for both gophers and coyotes you cant beat the Vmax. i shoot vmax in all my varmint guns and its explosiveness cannot be matched. gophers turn to pink mist and coyotes it expends all energy in the chest cavity with little to no exit. at times it may cause splash at higher velocities at close range but for the most part i am happy with them. as for a scope i have everything from 3-9 up to 6-24 and for coyotes i like a 4-12. having something with a reticle made for the caliber is also a plus for the odd 3-400 yard shot but its not needed if you shoot lots and know your holdovers.
 
I use a t3 223 for varmint/plinking too and use the Vortex Viper HS LR 4-16x50. Parallax adjustment, elevation turret, nice range of magnification. $839

Took a couple coyotes last winter with it on 4x @ 30 yards. Plenty of field of view, and on the top end 16x you can see the target very well at 500+y
 
Leupold VX-3 4.5-14X40mm Fine Duplex... they can be had for around or under $700 on the used market.... check the EE... they are $1000 new.

For bullets try the 50, 53 and 55 grain V-Max... but the real honey for me has been the Hornady 52 BTHP.
 
todbartell said:
how do you find the 25-06 for pelt damage?
Click to expand...

In all honesty Mark, about all I've tried it on to date is some long range work on Crows in conjunction with my varmint/pred caller. If I get to the central interior next fall for a Moose hunt with my Son who lives there, the plan is to brig it along for a couple of days of Coyote 'thinning'.
When I decided to go for the 25-06 it was because I already had something available in 22 cal. My Son has it now, a Ruger #1 in 22-250. When I gave that to him it was because I replaced it with this old classic.







An old Winchester custom in 219 Donaldson Wasp. May take them both to the interior.
 
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I wouldnt rule out some of the heavier rounds like the 69gr TMK's. I think they hit harder. Ive only shot one yote with it so far, but Ive read alot of good things about these newish bullets. As for gophers Ive also shot a couple with em this year and they blew them in half like nothing. If thats what your after.

If your looking at trying to snipe gophers I think a higher power scope would be the ticket. This way if a coyote hangs out a ways and you got all your dope figured out, it should be a problem. :) I havent played with one but I would like to check out a sightron s3 6-24. You should be able to pick one up here on the EE for that price.

With all that, this rifle would make a nice lil practice rig for when your bored at shooting things at 100yds.
 
I like a lot of scope on varmint rigs. Here's a Veracity 4-20x50 on my .204 that really maximizes its potential. I have another in 5-25 for sale.

 
I'm a fan of the 6.5-20x Leupold. I prefer more magnification for gophers, especially the smaller ones (pocket gophers my dad used to call them).

As for bullets, well, anything accurate will do the trick on gophers. For Coyotes I would stick to a 55gr softpoint. Should do the trick nicely. But in reality anything 55-65gr will do nicely for coyotes.
 
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